Category Archives: Members Only

Jason Clark Elected MAA President 2025

Alma, Michigan Auctioneer, Jason Clark Elected as 2025 President of the Michigan Auctioneers Association

The Michigan Auctioneers Association (MAA) is proud to announce the election of Jason Clark as its President for 2025. A seasoned auctioneer from Alma, Michigan, Clark brings a wealth of experience and dedication to his new role.

Clark’s journey in the auction industry began over 15 years ago. In 2010, he acquired Pioneer Auction Service from his uncle, Dick Clark, after several years of apprenticeship. Under his leadership, Pioneer Auction Service has flourished, earning a reputation for professionalism and excellence in handling various auctions, including estates, personal property, agricultural equipment, business liquidations, real estate, and benefit events.

Throughout his career, Clark has achieved significant milestones. He was crowned the Michigan Auctioneer Champion in 2020, a testament to his exceptional skills and commitment to the profession. In 2021, he further distinguished himself by winning the GoToAuction.com Midwest Auctioneer Championship. In 2023, Clark was awarded the Certified Michigan Auctioneer Designation, which entails an extensive application process with rigorous certification requirements.

Reflecting on his journey, Clark stated, “I have always wanted to be a father, farmer, and auctioneer. I’m proud to say that I have worked hard to become all of these things thanks to the help and encouragement from others. I strongly encourage any auctioneer to join the Michigan Auctioneers Association and compete in the available competitions. You will better yourself and your auction business all around.”

As the 2025 MAA President, Clark aims to advance the association’s mission of enhancing Michigan’s auction industry through education, promotion, advocacy, and networking. His leadership is expected to bring innovative perspectives and foster continued growth within the organization.

For more information about the Michigan Auctioneers Association and upcoming events, please visit www.FindMichiganAuctions.com.

Bradley Stoecker Wins 2025 Michigan Ringman Championship

Bradley Stoecker Wins 2025 Michigan Ringman Championship & Earns Top Honors in Michigan Auctioneer Championship

Mount Pleasant, MI – The Michigan Auctioneers Association proudly announces that a professional auctioneer from Leslie, Michigan, Bradley Stoecker, has been named the 2025 Michigan Ringman Champion at the Michigan Auctioneers Association (MAA) Annual Convention. Stoecker also demonstrated exceptional auctioneering skills by placing 2nd Runner-Up in the prestigious Michigan Auctioneer Championship.

The event occurred on Friday, January 31, 2025, in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, where the state’s top auction professionals competed in two of the industry’s most respected contests. The Michigan Ringman Championship evaluates a ringman’s ability to work with the auctioneer, engage bidders, and maintain high energy throughout a live auction. Stoecker’s expert bid-spotting, crowd interaction, and ability to generate excitement earned him the championship title.

Additionally, in the Michigan Auctioneer Championship, which highlights the best bid callers in the state, Stoecker’s outstanding auctioneering skills, professionalism, and stage presence secured his position as 2nd Runner-Up among Michigan’s finest auction professionals. The competition featured 16 professional auctioneers from Michigan, Indiana and Ohio.

“This recognition is an incredible honor,” said Stoecker. “The Michigan Auctioneers Association brings together the best in the industry, and I’m grateful to be recognized among such talented professionals. Winning the Ringman Championship and placing in the Auctioneer Championship reaffirms my dedication to providing top-tier auction services.”

Bradley and his wife, Rachel, reside in Dimondale, Michigan, and together, they run Epic Auctions & Estate Sales (www.EpicAuctions.com), which is based in Leslie, Michigan. With decades of experience in the auction industry, Stoecker leads a team specializing in live and online real estate and personal property auctions, estate sales, and appraisals, serving clients across the state with professionalism and expertise.

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Established in 1951, the Michigan Auctioneers Association is dedicated to enhancing Michigan’s Auction Industry through education, promotion, advocacy, and networking. The MAA is the professional association for auctioneers in Michigan, continuing to be one of the leaders in the industry and is proving to continue in that direction in the future.  The Michigan Auctioneers Association is the largest representation of auctioneers in Michigan, providing a forum for networking and sharing ideas and experiences.  For more information about the Michigan Auctioneers Association and the auction industry in Michigan, log onto www.FindMichiganAuctions.com.

Colt Johnson, Michigan Auctioneer Champion 2025

Colt Johnson, Michigan Auctioneer Champion 2025

Mount Pleasant, Michigan – 26-year-old Colt Johnson from Farwell, Michigan, won the title of 2025 Michigan Auctioneer Champion at the 34th annual Michigan Auctioneer & Ringman Championships held at the Michigan Auctioneers Association convention in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

With hundreds in attendance and the five finalists on the stage, you could hear a pin drop before the Master of Ceremonies announced, “And your 2025 Michigan Auctioneer Champion is………..Colt Johnson!”  which was met with a thunderous ovation.   Johnson was stunned by the announcement and said in part, “This is truly an honor.  I don’t know what to say. I’ve been trying at this for five or six years.” Then he paused and said, “I can’t believe it yet.”  He added, “Thank you to my uncle John McConnell, my dad, Matt Johnson, and Scott Sykora, who have all been my backbone during this journey and great mentors.”  Later, he thanked his wife, Breanna for her “love and unconditional support.”

For winning the title, Johnson received a championship buckle, trophy, and entry into the International Auctioneer Championship in July 2025 in Schaumburg, Illinois.

Professional auctioneering is in Johnson’s DNA, as his late uncle, Darell Dunkle, became a well-respected auctioneer from 1965-2022.  When Johnson was a little boy, he vividly remembers attending the Clare County Livestock Auction with his father, Matt Johnson.   As fate would have it, now Colt Johnson is an auctioneer for the Clare County Livestock Auction and sells every Monday.

The 2016 Clare High School graduate attended the World-Wide College of Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa at the tender age of 15.  Immediately upon graduating from auction school, he began working with Sykora Auction Service and is celebrating his 11th work anniversary with the prominent auction firm.   Johnson also works at the Clare County Livestock, which he says, “it is the highlight of my week”.  He enjoys all auctions, but his favorite types of auctions are farm equipment and cattle auctions.

 

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Established in 1951, the Michigan Auctioneers Association is dedicated to the enhancement of Michigan’s Auction Industry through education, promotion, advocacy and networking. The MAA is the professional association for auctioneers in Michigan, continuing to be one of the leaders in the industry, and is proving to continue in that direction in the future.  The Michigan Auctioneers Association is the largest representation of auctioneers in Michigan, providing a forum for networking, sharing ideas and experiences.  For more information about the Michigan Auctioneers Association and the auction industry in Michigan, log onto www.FindMichiganAuctions.com.

Tim Bos Inducted into The Michigan Auctioneers Hall of Fame

Timothy G. Bos, MAA Hall of Fame Inductee 2025

One of the better-known and respected professional auctioneers in the state of Michigan, Timothy Bos with Bos Auctions & Appraisal Service and co-owner of the Jackson Antique Mall, was enshrined in the Michigan Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame.   The prestigious honor is bestowed after a rigorous qualification process and ultimately voted by the Hall of Fame committee.   Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is the highest recognition any auctioneer can receive in the auction industry. “Tim Bos has been and continues to be such an asset to the public with his wide range of expertise and talents. His reputation within the industry and community is impeccable, and his contributions to the Michigan Auctioneers Association is enormous.” Said Executive Director and Hall of Famer, Tricia Wiltjer.

Bos was a former semi-professional tennis player who later applied his athleticism to men’s figure skating, where he completed a certification program with the United States Figure Skating Association. He then coached a young man who finished 5th place in the Junior Olympics.

In 1984, he met Bonnie Kennedy, and the two embarked on a professional and personal journey. In 1987, he graduated from the Reppert School of Auctioneering in Decatur, Indiana.  In 1988, the Jackson Antique Mall was born, and 39 years later, the mall was recognized as a premier location in lower Michigan.

Over the years, Mr. Bos has made significant contributions to his community and has helped raise millions of dollars with various charitable organizations, including, but not limited to, Jackson High School, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, United Way, YMCA, Irish Hills Chamber of Commerce, America Red Cross, Jackson County Fair, Jackson Symphony Orchestra, and countless others.

He has received several awards, including 2012 Realtor of the Year, the 2016 Outstanding Service Award for Girl Scouts Heart of America, and the 2017 Ambassador Award from Jackson High School. Bos has been an instrumental asset to the Michigan Auctioneers Association, dedicating hundreds of hours to committee work and providing educational seminars. He was elected President of the organization in 2015.

Since 1951, thousands of auctioneers have become members of the Michigan Auctioneers Association, and only 45 members have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. The MAA is honored that Timothy Bos will forever be remembered and treasured with the highest possible recognition any auctioneer can achieve.

Established in 1951, the Michigan Auctioneers Association is dedicated to enhancing Michigan’s Auction Industry through education, promotion, advocacy, and networking. The MAA is the professional association for auctioneers in Michigan, continuing to be one of the leaders in the industry, and is proving to continue in that direction in the future.  The Michigan Auctioneers Association is the most significant representation of auctioneers in Michigan, providing a forum for networking, and sharing ideas and experiences.  For more information about the Michigan Auctioneers Association and the auction industry in Michigan, log onto www.FindMichiganAuctions.com.

Wade Leist Wins World Livestock Auctioneer Championship!

What it Takes to be World’s Livestock Auctioneer Champ
For Wade Leist, it’s more than a fast cadence that draws and enthralls buyers.

by Jennifer Kiel, Editor, Michigan Farmer and Ohio Farmer
*Reprinted with Permission

At a Glance

  • Wade Leist didn’t set out to be an auctioneer.
  • More than 100 auctioneers competed from across the U.S. and Canada.
  • Selling his own stock was one of Leist’s most challenging auctions.
As a youngster, Wade Leist would help at his parents’ auction at Northern Michigan Livestock in Gaylord, Mich., but he never thought he could be an auctioneer.
His father was an experienced auctioneer, but “I was pretty sure I didn’t want to be an auctioneer; it wasn’t on my radar,” says Leist, 44, who notes he looked at it as more of a gift rather than a skill.
It wasn’t until a truck ride conversation with older brother Ed that he considered it. “He told me he had an auction instruction tape and was going to try it,” he says. “I wondered if I could. If he can try it, and he doesn’t know how to do it, then I guess it is a learned skill, an acquired skill, and not a born skill. That’s when I figured, I’ll try to learn it too.”
It’s not just a rolling, fast cadence that draws and enthralls buyers at livestock auctions. It takes communication, confidence, attention to detail and familiarity with the animals on auction, says Leist, of Boyne City, Mich., who was named the Livestock Marketing Association’s World Livestock Auctioneer Champ.
The competition started with three preliminary qualifiers around the U.S. with more than 100 auctioneers competing from across the U.S. and Canada. Leist earned the title after winning the Torrington, Wyo., qualifier last fall, and then edging out 29 other semifinalists in Oklahoma City from June 12-15, participating in an interview competition and then selling on the block at the Oklahoma National Stockyards.

Leist’s path to world title

Leist’s father wanted to be an auctioneer at a very early age. “Matter of fact, he used to steal his sister’s lunch box and auction it off on the school bus,” Leist says. “But that wasn’t the path I was on at that time.”
He started out of high school with the sole plan to be a professional baseball player. “I did not have a plan B,” he says. “It was like, that’s what I’m going to do and if I have a plan B, I won’t put 100% into this.”
In college, he picked business as his major, but quickly found it wasn’t for him. He dropped out, got a criminal justice certification and started working at local law enforcement agencies while helping on the farm.
Both he and Ed, who is also an accomplished auctioneer, followed in their father’s path by attending auction school and completing it in 2004. While serving in law enforcement, Leist began building his auction skills and reputation. By 2018, he became a full-time auctioneer.

What makes a good auctioneer?

Leist says being a good auctioneer requires:
  • Knowing the product value and how to merchandise the item.
  • Being a good and clear communicator, while keeping the audience interested.
  • Varying the cadence.
  • Having a pleasant demeanor that is generally likable.
  • Having respect for and appreciation of the producer and the time devoted to raising the animal.
  • A sense of business that commands respect from all parties.
“There’s definitely an element of business with a sale, a contract and a transaction,” Leist says. “But intertwined, there is some room for some lightheartedness and humor, but if you swing the pendulum too far that way, it becomes quite annoying.”
He regularly sells at Mitchell Livestock Marketing in Mitchell, S.D., flying out on Tuesday night, selling Wednesday and Thursday, and flying back that night. He also sells at United Producers Inc., St. Louis, Mich., at Gaylord, and a few other seasonal auctions.
He sells cattle, but when he’s occasionally at the Gaylord stockyard, he might be selling sheep, goats, pigs, horses and all classes of cattle.
Being effective as an auctioneer requires work. “If you are not working on something, then you’re getting worse at it,” Leist says. “I truly think the best skill an auctioneer can have is the desire and the ability to strive to get better until they’re not doing it anymore.”

Selling his own stock

Etched in Leist’s memory is a Gaylord auction in September 2022 — a dispersal of his own animals. He inherited a horse leasing operation — supplying camps with horse riding programs — when his grandfather passed away.
“We sold 100 of our leased-out horses that day,” he recalls. “It was the most challenging, one of the most rewarding, fun and saddest auctions I’ve done. The build-up to that day was agonizing. I had to choke back tears, but then there were times when I was smiling because it was going really well. And then there was this overwhelming feeling of gratitude and satisfaction.”
It’s a feeling he relates to producers. He knows firsthand.
“I grew up in a cow-calf operation working for my father and my grandfather,” Leist says. “I know what it’s like to wake up at midnight to care for cows calving. I know what it’s like to have a cow chase you out of the pen while you’re trying to tag her calf. Or, to be out in the field tending to a sick calf when it’s literally 20 degrees below zero and a 40-mile-an-hour wind blowing. And I also know how it feels not to be appreciated. I want producers to know that I appreciate their trust in me, and I value what they do. I thank them for what they do, and I truly care about their success. That’s what I want them to walk out knowing.”
Being named the World Livestock Auctioneer Champ also comes with some emotions. “There’s elation, relief, anxiety, joy and surprise, and ultimately, honor and humility,” he says. “I have such a deep admiration for the other contestants and how hard they work and how talented they are. To be the one chosen is so humbling.”

Leist to travel U.S.

As the new champion, Leist, who is also husband to Sarah and father to four daughters, will spend the next year traveling the country, sharing his auctioneering skills with other livestock auction markets and acting as a spokesperson on behalf of the association and the livestock marketing industry. It’s something he looks forward to — and a responsibility he doesn’t take lightly.
“To have auction market owners invite me to come and represent them means a tremendous amount to me,” he says. “Competition is the best way to determine value, and auction markets provide that in a face-to-face business with the closest relationship with producers of any other method of marketing.”

Jeremy Garber Wins 2024 GoToAuction.com Midwest Auctioneer Championship!

JEREMY GARBER WINS COVETED GOTOAUCTION.COM MIDWEST AUCTIONEER CHAMPIONSHIP

LESLIE, MICHIGAN – Professional auctioneer, Jeremy Garber from Circleville, Ohio took top honors at the GoToAuction.com Midwest Auctioneer Championship – one of the most popular auctioneer competitions in the nation.

Jeremy Garber is a professional auctioneer specializing in selling automobiles, heavy equipment, farm machinery and much more. He especially shines in benefit auctions where his big heart meets his extraordinary skill.

Jeremy’s success began at the early age of 16, when he won the 2015 International Junior Auctioneers Championship. In 2017, he took home the Missouri State Championship title, becoming the youngest to ever win it. This wasn’t Jeremy’s first time in this competition. In 2023 he finished 2nd when the competition was held in Byron Center, Michigan.

On his days off, he enjoys fishing, hunting, golfing, or spending time with his family and friends.

The GoToAuction.com Midwest Auctioneer Championship saw a field of 32 top-quality auctioneers from around the Midwest competing for the title of the Grand Champion of the coveted auctioneer championship. The championship was held in conjunction with the Midwest Auctioneers Roundup hosted by the Michigan Auctioneers Association. The highly esteemed auctioneer championship saw five finalists including Jeremy Miedema of Byron Center, Michigan (5th place), Jordan Miedema of Byron Center, Michigan (4th place), Brad McGovern of Lima, Ohio (3rd place), Austin Miller of Amanda, Ohio (2nd place) and of course, the Champion Jeremy Garber. All finalists received a plaque commemorating their achievement and a cash prize.

The GoToAuction.com Midwest Auctioneer Championship was broadcasted live to a worldwide audience. If you missed it, the videos are available on www.youtube.com/michiganauctioneers. “This is a unique competition in the sense there isn’t much in the way of rules – other than they must wear a hat, any hat, and sell what they are selling within a two-minute time frame. Contestants are scored exclusively on their real-world auction chant – and man, do they put on an authentic show!” Said GoToAuction.com cofounder and Marketing Director, Kenny Lindsay, CAI.

Scott Sykora, MAA Hall of Fame Inductee 2024

Mt. Pleasant, MI. – Clare, Michigan, auctioneer Scott Sykora, who is in his 42nd year as a professional auctioneer with Sykora Auction Service, received the highest honor bestowed to the professional auctioneer. Sykora was inducted into the Michigan Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame. He is the 44th auctioneer inducted into the Michigan Auctioneers Hall of Fame since its inception in 1951.

“Scott Sykora’s life has been intricately woven into the fabric of the auction industry. He is the torchbearer of a family tradition that spans generations. He has preserved and elevated the art of auctioneering,” said Executive Director and fellow Hall of Famer Tricia Wiltjer.

The story of Sykora Auction Service begins in 1948 when Jim Sykora, also a treasured member of the Hall of Fame, founded this institution. His son, Scott Sykora inherited a business and a rich legacy steeped in the tradition of excellence. Growing up within the family business, Scott learned the business from a young age, starting with the jewelry wagons and picking up bids. After graduating high school in 1981, he formalized his skills at Reppert’s Auction School.

In 1995, Scott married Julie, who became an integral part of the business, working alongside him in both the field and the office. Their union also marked the start of a family, a facet of life that Scott values deeply. As a father to three children, Ryan, Jayda, and Macy, and a cherished grandfather to four granddaughters, Scott proudly embraces the title of a family man.

In the journey of Sykora Auction Service, Scott Sykora’s commitment to excellence and the business’s success became evident when he brought John McConnell on board as an exceptional partner in 1996. Together, they formed a dynamic duo, steering the company towards new heights of success and setting the standard of professionalism within the auction industry.

What makes the Sykora legacy even more remarkable is the involvement of the next generation. The involvement of his daughters, Jayda and Macy, in the family business adds a unique and heartwarming dimension to the Sykora legacy, emphasizing the importance of familial bonds in the success of the company.

Colt Johnson Wins Michigan Ringman Championship!

Colt Johnson Wins Michigan Ringman Championship!

25-year-old Colt Johnson from Farwell, Michigan, won the title of Michigan Ringman Champion at the 17th annual Michigan Ringman competition held at the Michigan Auctioneers Association convention in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

The professional ringman is an integral component of a successful public auction.  The ringman is an on-the-floor salesman who interjects a dynamic force of electricity, enthusiasm, and professionalism into the live auction event.  A professional ringman knows how to properly communicate with the auctioneer.  They work independently as a team to help generate more bidder participation.   The difference between a Professional Ringman and a Bid Spotter is that a bid spotter waits for the bid to happen.  The professional Ringman makes the bid happen by effectively communicating with potential bidders.

Also taking home top honors were Greg Holiday (Belleville, MI), 1st Runner Up, and Brad Stoecker (Dimondale, MI), 2nd Runner Up.

The 2016 Clare High School graduate attended the Worldwide College of Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa at the tender age of 15.  Immediately upon graduating from auction school, he began working with Sykora Auction Service and is celebrating his 10-year work anniversary with the prominent auction firm.   Johnson also works at the Clare County Livestock.  He enjoys all auctions, but his favorite types of auctions are farm equipment and cattle auctions.

Brad McGovern, Michigan Auctioneer Champion 2024

Mount Pleasant, Michigan – Brad McGovern from Lima, Ohio, won the title of Michigan Auctioneer Champion at the 35th Annual Michigan Auctioneer Championship. The Championship took place on February 2 at the Michigan Auctioneers Association Annual Conference held at the Comfort Inn & Suites in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The 5 Finalists in the Auctioneer Division were Kurt Mingerink (Byron Center, MI), Greg Holiday (Belleville, MI), Colt Johnson (Clare, MI), Brad McGovern (Lima, OH) and Brad Stoecker (Dimondale, MI). For winning the title, McGovern received a championship ring, trophy, and entry into the International Auctioneer Championship in July 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

During his acceptance speech, McGovern praised his faith in Jesus Christ and shared a story about how he met his wife, India McGovern who is also a professional auctioneer, at the Ohio Auctioneers Association championship in 2019 and the profound effect she has made in his life along with his father-in-law.

He was emotional when he spoke of his grandmother, who recently passed. “She believed in me, and she was my everything. She raised me; she got me through auction school. She was there. She was my rock.” Said Brad McGovern.

McGovern is a seasoned auctioneering and real estate professional, driven by a passion for excellence and a commitment to community service. His commitment to the industry was reflected when he was elected to serve on the Ohio Auctioneers Association Board of Directors from 2020 to 2023. McGovern also played key roles as co-chairman of the Mentorship Committee and the Legislative/Advocacy Committee, shaping the future of the auctioneering profession.

McGovern served as Chairman of the Youngstown-Columbiana Association of Realtors Legislative Committee, and the Legislative/Advocacy Committee. The Ohio Realtors appointed him as a state and federal political coordinator.

McGovern is the CEO of McGovern Auctioneers, LLC. Additionally, he serves as a dedicated auctioneer at Auctions on 309 in Lima, Ohio, and serves as a Realtor with CCR Realty.