That's all changed since the Tobacco buyout program.
I don't think there's an auction left, it's all contract sales between a farmer and company such as RJR or Phillip Morris.
Use to be even a small town could have 2 or 3 warehouse auction houses now RJR has 4 receiving stations in the whole of Kentucky.
Not sure if you are familiar with Lexington but if you go over to Angliana Ave you can see how much it has changed. Only Golden Burley is left as it receives leaf for RJR and some smaller tobacco buying companies.
Or go to the Kentucky State fair Ag exhibits, use to be a whole section for tobacco. Now just BS vendors selling fuel additives in that wing.
I use to work for the AG Market Service, and even after cutting out the middle man the price per pound the farmer gets hasn't changed much since 2000. While all the expenses like labor, fuel etc has climbed dramatically. Farmers lost price supports and insurance in form of the tobacco pool for leaf that is now rejected as poor quality.
Much of the burley production seems to be shifting overseas such as Africa. The Amish though have been picking up tobacco production in the state while most have been getting out.