Wisconsin Auctioneers Association convention a success

The Wisconsin Auctioneers Association held their 2017 Annual Convention with the theme of “Point to the Future!”  With that goal in mind the association offered continuing education credits for all and mini-seminars to hone the auctioneer knowledge and expertise.

The WAA Convention on Sunday morning opened their doors to the general public and did an “Appraisal Fair” on items that the public brought in to be appraised by various auctioneers and appraisers from their perspective of the auction industry.  WAA was fortunate to have Tim Luke as a guest appraiser that has been an appraiser on the Antiques Road Show.  Also volunteer auctioneer/appraisers were Shirley Bauman, Carol Miller, Wayne Yoder , Jerry Thiel and Kendall Thiel.

The WAA Convention started with the dynamic speaker Tim Luke with the presentation “Expert Witness” as a number of our auctioneers will be asked to testify as to the value in various cases throughout the year.  This course of instruction had been certified by the WI Department of Saftey and Professional Services as an accredited class for Continuing Education credits for all licensed auctioneers.  Every two(2) years professional, licensed auctioneers need to have accumulated 12 credits (12 hours) of continuing educttion in order to renew their license with the state of WI.

With the first evening came the first contest of the WAA Convention was the preliminaries for the WI State Champion Auctioneer  with 13 WAA members vying for one of ten places to continue onto the WI State Fair in August for the finals. The top 10 are  David Allen, Seth Adams, Kathy Packard, Randy Stockwell, Jack Hines, Sterling Strathe, Ray Henry, Kendall Thiel, Jenny Gehl and David Bell. The finals will be held at the WI State Fair on Tuesday, August 8, in the Coliseum at the WI State Fair Park, West Allis.

Monday of the convention had a great “Novice Auctioneer” contest with the selling of the WAA Auxiliary pies and WAA apparel to the convention luncheon attendees.  Mark Oberholtzer of Owen ws announced as the 2017 Novice Bid-Calling Champion. Second place was Jim Mentink, Glenwood City and third was Robert Petts, Schofield. The “Novice” is also invited to the WI State Fair competition for WI State Champion Auctioneer.

The WAA annual meeting was held and with that came the election of WAA Board members. The 2017 WAA Board includes, President Carol Wagenson, New Lisbon; Past-President Bryce Hanson of Prairie Farm; President- Elect  Kendall Thiel of Chilton; Treasurer Beaner Stockwell of Dorchester, (new to the Executive Board) Vice-President Jeffrey Hines, Ellsworth. Board Directors are Michelle Massart of Green Bay, David Allen of Cross Plains; Jim Gavin of Reedsburg; Scott Werlein of Mondovi and new to the WAA Board Jenny Gehl, Dousman and Richard Ranft, Beloit.

The WAA “Gala” evening banquet was emceed by Tim Luke of Treasure Quest Group Inc. included the presentation of the Wisconsin Auctioneers Hall-of-Fame 2017 inductee and the honors were given to Joseph Bunczak of Rosholt. Joseph was honored by his fellow auctioneers and his extended family came in as a surprise to their father and good friend.

The second Hall-of-Fame inductee was done post-humus David Gerlach, Hartland and his son, Mike was there to receive the award and to represent his father and the family. Also from the office of David Gerlach was Patricia Fox.

The WAA Auxiliary presented two scholarships to Taylor Hansen of Prairie Farm and Maria Bunzcak of Rosholt.

The evening ”Gala” continued with entertainment the “Champion Ringman’s Competition with an auction.  Renee Jones of National Property Solutions, Inc. was the auctioneer for this event and the contestants were judged on their skills as ringman.  The title of Champion Ringman was awarded to Heidi Miller of Merton. Second was Sterling  Strathe, Eagle River  and third Jenny Gehl Dousman.  The “fun” auction continued on after the “Gala” presentations with various auctioneers bringing forward various items for the crowd to bid on and raise funds for various entities of the Wisconsin Auctioneers Association.

The final days luncheon had the awarding of the Advertising-Media Contest with the winners being:

• 1st Photography – Beloit Auction & Realty, Inc.
• 1st Digital & Social Media – Beloit Auction & Realty, Inc.
• 1st Brochure or Catalog – Hansen and Young , Inc.
• 1st Newspaper & Magazine Advertising – Beloit Auction & Realty, Inc.
• 1st Postcard or Direct Mailer – Hansen and Young, Inc.
• 1st Public Relations & Marketing – Baileys Honor Auction & Estate Service
•  BEST of SHOW – Beloit Auction & Realty, Inc.  *Digital & Social Media entry.

President Carol Wagenson closed the WAA Annual convention with a thank you and safe travels to all.  The 2018 WAA Convention is scheduled for Jan. 28 to Jan. 30 at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Stevens Point.

The Wisconsin Auctioneers Association is a non-profit trade association that exists for the purpose of promoting the growth and professionalism of the auction method of marketing and auctioneering in the state of Wisconsin. For information about the organization you can go to the website www.wisconsinauctioneers.org.