Siblings Compete Against Each Other in International Auctioneer Championship
PITTSBURGH, PA. – Each year, dozens of auctioneers from around the country compete for the top bid-calling title in the National Auctioneers Association’s International Auctioneer Championship (IAC). It’s a friendly rivalry among colleagues who work to exhibit their talents in a bid-calling showdown.
But this year’s competition, held July 22 in Pittsburgh, Pa., had a new twist. When the field of 90 was narrowed down to 22 finalists, it included three sets of siblings:
• Brothers: Merle Booker, CAI, GPPA, of Connell, Wash., and C.D. “Butch” Booker, of Colfax, Wash.
• Sisters: Kimberly Anderson, Frazee, Minn., and Kristine Fladeboe- Duininck, Spicer, Minn.
• Siblings: Anita Espey and Mark Younger, both of Maryville, Mo.
It’s fascinating to many, but wasn’t surprising to the group, or to many of their cohorts who know that most auction businesses are family oriented, handed down from generation to generation. Auctioneering is in their blood; it’s all in the family.
The Booker brothers have been competing against each other all of their lives so it was nothing new to them.
Butch, the youngest, thought it ironic that he drew a contestant number that immediately followed his older brother’s. He told the audience, “I’ve been following him all of my life.”
When Butch captured the third place spot, Merle was quick to note, “I must have gotten fourth. He’s not much more than a point better than me.”
This was their first time to compete against each other in the IAC, the world’s largest bid- calling championship. But they have been pitted against each other in the Northwest Bid-Calling Championship. Merle is quick to note that he is the current reigning Northwest Bid-Calling Champion. Butch remarks that’s because he already won the title two years ago.
The brothers specialize in personal property, real estate, livestock and commercial and industrial actions individually and through Booker Auction Company. They credit their mother, Colleen, for the success and longevity of their business.
Competing against her sister was a great source of support for Kimberly Anderson. She said it made her feel more confident and calm.
“We were just very supportive of each other and it helped to be able to bounce ideas off of each other,” Kimberly said. “It was 99 percent support and one percent competitive.”
This was the first IAC event for each of them, and they enjoyed it so much that they are already thinking about next year.
For brother and sister, Anita Espey and Mark Younger, competing was different. Each was vying for a different title: he for the men’s division IAC title, and she for the women’s division IAC title. While working to earn the titles, both were also cheering for each other.
Winners of this year’s IAC were: Cary Aasness, of Dalton, Minn., men’s division champion, and Johnna Wells, Portland, Ore., women’s division champion. Butch was second runner-up and Eli Detweiler, Jr., CAI, of Ruffin, N.C., was first runner-up. In the women’s division, B.J. Jennings, CAI, of York Haven, Pa., was named first runner-up, and JoEllen Taylor, CAI, of Orlando, Fla., was named second runner-up.
Contestants were judged on the clarity, speed and rhythm of their chants, plus their appearance, poise, body language and eye contact with the crowd. Finalists in the competition also underwent an interview process.
It will be another year before the siblings can hope to repeat this year’s performances and possibly compete against each other again. Until then, Kimberly said she will keep practicing her auction chant at auction and also while she’s driving down the highway. Merle’s not planning to wait that long to compete against his brother.
“Even though he beat me in the IAC, he can’t beat me at basketball,” he said. The date of the game has not yet been determined.
For more information on the IAC or to view past IAC winners in action, go to the IAC Video Showcase on the NAA website, www.auctioneers.org.
* * *
With more than 6,200 members from throughout the world, the National Auctioneers Association is the largest organization of its kind dedicated to promoting the auction method of marketing and enhancing the professionalism of its members. Member benefits range from federal legislative representation to comprehensive continuing education programs, including coursework to earn the following professional auctioneer designations: Certified Auctioneers Institute (CAI), Accredited Auctioneer, Real Estate (AARE), Graduate, Personal Property Appraiser (GPPA) and Certified Estate Specialist (CES). The organization was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Overland Park, Kan. For more information on the NAA and its programs, log on to www.auctioneers.org.
# # #
CONTACTS:
Robert A. Shively, CAE, NAA Chief Executive Officer, (888) 541-8084, ext. 11
Merle Booker, CAI, GPPA, (509) 488-3331, merle@bookera uction.com
C.D. “Butch” Booker, (509) 397- 6102, cartha@colfax.com
Kimberly Anderson, (218) 334-3538, fauction@loretel.net
Kristine Fladeboe-Duininck, (320) 796-4100, fladeboeauc tion@willmar.com
Anita Espey, (660) 582-4537, byounger@earthli nk.net
Mark Younger, (660) 582-5853, byounger@earthli nk.net
National Auctioneers Association
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
email: naamemberservices@auctioneers.org
voice: 888-541-8084
web: http://www.auctioneers.org
|
