Future of auctioneering on display at Rainbow of Hope contest
Young auctioneer Joni Miller takes his turn pounding out a bid cadence and encouraging people to bid during the Rainbow of Hope Foundation Auction on Friday, July 23. A dozen budding auctioneers faced down their nerves as part of the auctioneer contest.
The nerves and anticipation of prattling off a rapid-fire cadence to entice bidders is something that puts butterflies in the most ardent and polished auctioneers.
Imagine what it can do to young up-and-comers looking for their big break or to get a foot in the door.
That opportunity arose on Friday, July 23 at the Rainbow of Hope Foundation annual auction at the Mt. Hope Auction facility.
As part of the event, budding auctioneers are asked to join in the start of the auction, where their efforts begin the auction process. This year a dozen young men put themselves out there in front of the huge crowd to show off their skills in the world of auctioneering, and the judges were impressed again by the quality of talent on stage.
The trio of judges included Steve Mullet, owner of Mt. Hope Auction, as well as renowned local auctioneers Steve Andrews of Andrews Auctioneer and Dave Kaufman of Kaufman Auction & Realty. Together the two men have accumulated what former U.S. President Abraham Lincoln would term “four score and seven years” of experience, yet each can recall their first foray into the world of auctioneering and the nerves that accompanied their first effort.
Kaufman said his first performance was an auction in Kidron about 50 years ago. He can still recall the feeling of terror that accompanied the performance, calling it “not very good.”
“I came home that night and said, ‘I think I’ll give this up.’ I wasn’t very good at all,” Kaufman said.
He pushed past that and fortunately stuck with it, and he has since grown his company into an incredibly respected auctioneer and realty business that has expanded beyond Ohio’s borders.
Andrews’ experience was similar, and it came before he went to auction school, making it even more hair-raising. He said once he came back from school and started working in the more controlled atmosphere in the sale barn on a weekly basis, it helped him groom his abilities and shaped him into one of the most respected auctioneers in the area.
Both men said the only way to really get good at the art of auctioneering is to practice, practice, practice, and both men also are thrilled to see so many young people coming up through the auctioneering world who are ready to commit to that effort to get better.
Both also said even though they are long on experience, the thrill and excitement each auction brings as they grab the mike and start entertaining the masses and driving bids still creates an aura that is both exhilarating and nerve-racking.
Andrews said in judging the entrants, the judging panel was looking at their cadence, stage presence and how they were able to command an audience.
“You can tell when someone is really nervous, and most of these guys are, but they really handle themselves well,” Andrews said.
The dozen young men who dared challenge those nerves and did a fantastic job of rattling off five items apiece included Daniel Miller, Nelson Miller, Mike Bowman, Daniel Beachy, Victor Hershberger, Lavern Troyer, Merlin Miller, Joni Troyer, Jadon Miller, Jayme Pennell, Jake Yoder and Kyle Garber.
The judges tabbed Daniel Miller, Victor Hershberger, Jadon Miller, Jayme Pennell and Kyle Garber as the five to move into the finals, and there, each had a chance to showcase their skills on seven different auction items.
In a tight battle, it would be Garber taking home the top prize, with Hershberger earning second.
The prize money for the event is sponsored by Kaufman Realty & Auction, and auctioneer Jr. Miller, who serves as organizer of the event, said this year’s crop was extremely talented.
“We’ve been doing this a number of years, and top to bottom, this year’s group was as talented as we have ever had,” Miller said.
One day, perhaps one of these dozen participants will be seated where these two longtime auctioneers were judging the contest. If they are, they may look back at this opportunity and think to themselves that this was where they decided they were ready to make the commitment necessary to give what it takes to be an auctioneer.