KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN – Professional auctioneer, Ashley Peters from Riverdale, Michigan which is just South of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan took top honors at the GoToAuction.com Midwest Auctioneer Championship – one of the most popular auctioneer competitions in the United States of America.

The GoToAuction.com Midwest Auctioneer Championship saw a field of 15 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: John Beechy of Nappanee, Indiana (5th place), Clayton Neal of Tiffin, Ohio (4th place), Grant Cole of Beulah, Michigan (3rd place), Sam Baer of Galion, Ohio (2nd place) and of course, the Champion Ashley Peters. All finalists received a plaque commemorating their achievement and a cash prize.

The Champion, Ashley Peters, who owns Statewide Auction Service with his brother, Avery Peters has become a well-known and respected professional auctioneer in the state of Michigan. Over the past several years, Peters has become highly sought after by other auction companies that employ him to work their live auction events.

Upon receiving the GoToAuction.com Midwest Auctioneer Championship purse of $2,500 and the championship award, Peters was noticeably surprised when he was declared the champion. Peters said afterward, “I was pumped that I made the finals. When I realized I was in the Top 2, I thought to myself, “No Way!” and when announced that I won, my mouth hit the floor, jaw hanging open. It was a pretty surreal moment.”

One of the judges commented, “This was a really difficult championship to judge based on the amount of talent. We were looking at accomplished auctioneers that compete on the national level. However, it was many of the lesser known names that do not compete in similar contests that kept this competition especially tight. In the end, Peters amassed the most points.”

The GoToAuction.com Midwest Auctioneer Championship was broadcasted live to a worldwide audience. “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 co-founder and Marketing Director, Kenny Lindsay, CAI.

To watch video of the competition, visit www.youtube.com/michiganauctioneers

Auctioneer Frank C. Leist, of Boyne City, MI recently received the highest distinction any auctioneer can receive when he was inducted into the Michigan Auctioneer Association’s Hall of Fame. The induction occurred on February 1, 2019 during the President’s Ball to conclude the annual Michigan Auctioneers Association’s Annual Conference held this year in Mt. Pleasant, MI.

Current Michigan Auctioneer Association Hall of Fame members vote each year on whether to induct nominated members into their honorable fraternity. Frank’s career was recognized as worthy of induction after considering his years in the industry, high standard of professionalism, business integrity and contributions to the industry and auctioneer association. Frank was the lone auctioneer inducted in 2019. Dozens of family and close friends were on hand during the ceremony to watch the induction and celebrate the moment with association members in attendance.

Frank’s auction career has spanned five decades selling primarily livestock, estates, farm dispersals and real estate. Frank graduated from the Reich World Wide College of Auctioneering in 1984. Frank returned after graduation and promptly went to work building a successful auction business on the grounds of integrity and honesty. Frank’s career has since seen him sell hundreds of auctions, dozens of farms, and countless estates including some totaling well over a million dollars.

Frank knew early in life that he wanted to be an auctioneer. As early as grade school he shared his talents on the school bus by auctioning off his sister’s lunch, a stunt that earned the dismay of his mother, Ruth Leist. After auction school Frank’s first auction netted a meager $100 commission. Frank and his wife, Janet invested their first commission into their fledgling business by purchasing office equipment.  Commissions became larger with each auction, but Frank’s investment into his career remained. Frank invested earnings into not just auction equipment, but into his education by earning designations in the auction industry such as AARE (Accredited Auctioneer of Real Estate), CAI (Certified Auctioneers Institute) as well as becoming a broker of real estate. Frank’s investments into his career earned him knowledge and experience that few auctioneers in the state possess.

Though he’s conducted auctions in virtually every niche of the industry. Frank’s real passion has always been as a livestock auctioneer. After graduating high school in 1973 Frank learned about livestock auctions by hauling cattle to the Gaylord Stockyard. In 1979 he and his father, Frank Sr. began hauling cattle to the Marion Stockyards where Frank would soon begin working as their auctioneer. Frank quickly and steadily became one of the busiest livestock auctioneers in the state, selling every week at markets in Marion, Clare and Alpena. During this time Frank was recognized by the Livestock Marketing Association as their Region 1 Champion Auctioneer from 1996 – 1999.

In 2000 Frank stopped working at the Marion Stockyards and began managing the stockyard in Gaylord. Frank and Janet would purchase that stockyard two years later and name it Northern Michigan Livestock. Frank continued to sell for his close friends Bud Gernaat in Clare and Gene Hanson in Alpena until both men passed away.  Both of those markets were the chief competition to Frank’s own market and his strong relationship to their owners is a testament to his character and loyalty. Frank continues to call bids and manage Northern Michigan Livestock during their weekly livestock auction on Wednesdays.

Frank’s legacy in the auction industry extends far beyond his own career. Frank’s two eldest sons Ed Leist and Wade Leist are both active in the auction industry as well. Frank has been a mentor to them in the industry and deserves credit for their accomplishments and success.

Frank, his cousin Jerry Schmoldt, along with Ed and Wade all currently manage dozens of auctions each year as Leist Auctioneers. Their company continues to grow and adapt within the industry to feature traditional live auctions, as well as online and simulcast auctions. Adapting to current trends has helped Leist Auctioneers manage a multitude of asset classes to meet the needs of their clients.

Frank and Janet stay plenty busy outside of the auction industry by managing a large cattle farm in the Boyne City area. Together they have three sons, Ed, Wade and Brandon, along with 6 grandchildren. Frank is honored to be the inducted into the Michigan Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame.

Mount Pleasant, Michigan – Billy Peyton of Middletown, Ohio won the title, Michigan Auctioneer Champion at the Michigan Auctioneer Championship. The Championship was held on January 31 at the Michigan Auctioneers Association Annual Conference held at the Comfort Inn & Suites in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. 12 Contestants competed for the coveted title. The 5 Finalists were Samuel Baer (Galion, Ohio), Ridge Bollheimer (Clarklake, Mich.), Jason Clark (Alma, Mich), Ashley Peters (Riverdale, Michigan), and Billy Peyton (Middletown, Ohio). For winning the title, Billy received a championship ring, trophy, and entry into the International Auctioneer Championship in July in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Also taking home honors were Samuel Baer and Jason Clark. Baer was the 1st runner up and Clark was the 2nd runner up.

The Champion, Billy Peyton is a proud member of the Ohio Auctioneers Association, the Michigan Auctioneers Association, and the National Auctioneers Association. The highly talented auctioneer is no stranger to top placements in major auctioneer championships. Peyton won the 2017 Ohio Auctioneers Association Junior Auctioneer Championship and the GoToAuction.com Midwest Auctioneer Championship in 2018. In two consecutive years, Peyton was ranked in the Top 15 finalists in the 2017 and 2018 International Auctioneers Championship. Then he appeared in the 2018 World Automobile Auctioneers Championship coming in as a finalist in that competitive contest. When not selling automobiles and equipment, Billy is part of his wife’s cattle/grain farming operation of over 800 acres.

Upon winning the championship, Billy said, “I’ve been wanting to be an auctioneer since I was five years old. I knew that’s what I wanted to do. Ever since I went to that first auction, I was hooked and I’ve made my dream come true and became an auctioneer. I’m a proud member of the Michigan Auctioneers Association and thrilled to be able to represent my association and industry this year and at the International Auctioneer Championship in July.” Peyton went on to thank his wife, Katie for her unwavering support, his parents, the Michigan Auctioneers Association, and many others that were pivotal in his early successes as a professional auctioneer.

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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.

Mount Pleasant, Michigan – Auctioneer Bob Howe was awarded the honor of 2019 Michigan Ringman Champion on January 31, 2019 at the Michigan Auctioneers Association Annual Conference in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. 5 Contestants competed for the coveted title. Contestants were judged by a panel of 5 accomplished Michigan & International Auctioneer Champions. They were judged on 4 categories: Crowd/Buyer Interaction, Performance, Relaying Bids and Communication with their Auctioneer, and Appearance/Presence. Also taking home honors were Mathias Donat of Saline, 1st Runner Up, and Kelly Merryman of Fremont, 2nd Runner Up.

Bob Howe graduated from Central Michigan University, with his Bachelor’s Degree in 1968 and Master’s Degree in 1971. He graduated from the Missouri Auction School in 1977 and held his first auction in September of that same year.

He has conducted thousands of auctions and owned three auction companies starting with Brother Bob’s Auction Service, then Heritage Action Firm which he sold in the late 90’s and finally Epic Auctions and Estate Sales which he sold in July of 2018.

He has been a consecutive member of the MAA since 1977. He has served the industry by serving as Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Michigan Auctioneers Association twice in his career, one long stint in the late 70’s and 80’s and then again recently. In addition, he completed his CAI designation in 1988 and thereafter served on the CAI Board of Governors.

This was Bob’s very first time competing in the Michigan Ringman Championship and he said while waiting in the wings for his turn that he just wanted to go out and have fun. Looking at the results, it appears that he did just that.

Bob is semi-retired and always looking to assist any auctioneer or auction company in any way that he can. He lives in East Lansing, Michigan with his wife Sheila who is also an auctioneer, ring person, clerk and cashier.

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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.