Mount Pleasant, Michigan – Ridge Bollheimer of Clarklake, Michigan, won the titles of Michigan Auctioneer Champion and Michigan Ringman Champion for the year 2023. This is the first time that one contestant has won both competitions in the same night!  The Championships took place on February 3 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), Caleb DeKorne (Cedar Springs, MI), Ridge Bollheimer (Clarklake, MI), Colt Johnson (Clare, MI) and Darby Walton (Upper Sandusky, OH). For winning the title Michigan Auctioneer Champion, Bollheimer received a championship buckle, trophy, and he will compete in the International Auctioneer Championship in July in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The contestants were judged by accomplished auctioneers, including National Auctioneers Association Director, Mike Fisher, International Auctioneer Champion, Bryan Knox, Michigan champions Art Smith and Doug Sheridan and perhaps the worlds most recognizable Ringman, Sam “The Hitman” Grasso. The Michigan Ringman Championship contestants were judged on four categories:  Crowd/Buyer Interaction, Performance, Relaying Bids and Communication with their Auctioneer, and Appearance/Presence.  Also taking home honors were Brad Stoecker (Dimondale, MI), 1st Runner Up, and Greg Holiday (Belleville, MI), 2nd Runner Up.

Not to be confused with a ‘Bid Spotter’ – the professional Ringman is an occupation in the auction industry essential to professionally conducted auction events.   In layman terms, the auction ringman works in unison with the auctioneer. The Ringman is a skilled negotiator who is confident, energetic, and assertive to help make the bid happen instead of simply waiting for the bid to happen.

Ridge Bollheimer was born and raised in Clarklake, Michigan. He was first introduced to the world of auctioneering at a young age, while attending many livestock and machinery auctions with his father. Ridge continued to enjoy the energetic atmosphere of auctions and the world of outdoorsmen, as he showed 4-H in his scholastic years, became an avid hunter, and went on to attend Jackson College and The Ohio Auction School. He received an Associates Degree in Business Administration and completed the program for auctioneering. From selling his toy animals to his family, to preparing 4-H livestock for sale to the local communities, and finally to taking the stage himself, auctioneering has always been a strong passion for Ridge.

Ridge launched his official auctioneer career when joining the Michigan Auctioneers Association and continued his devotion for the outdoors with the purchase of his own farm, Lane View Farm, located in Lake Somerset, Michigan. His seasonal dedication to Legends Ranch as a whitetail hunting guide, and the founding of Sunshine Acres sunflower fields with his fiancé Lindsay Meckley keeps their entrepreneurship moving forward. At just 26 years old, Ridge has been a member of the Michigan Auctioneers Association for 6 years and has continued to engage in strengthening his auction services while competing for the MAA. Achieving both the Auctioneer and Ringman Championship in the same night was a dream come true! His goal for this year is to expand his footprint to the communities of fundraising and benefits, while continuing to improve the abilities of his services while promoting the auction industry.

 METRO DETROIT AUCTIONEER RECEIVES HIGHEST INDUSTRY HONOR

MT. PLEASANT, MI. – New Hudson, Michigan auctioneer Kenny Lindsay, who is in his 25th year as a professional auctioneer with American Eagle Auction & Appraisal Company, received the highest honor bestowed to the professional auctioneer. Lindsay was inducted into the Michigan Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame on January 27 at the Michigan Auctioneers Association Annual Conference. He is the 42nd auctioneer inducted into the Michigan Auctioneers Hall of Fame since its inception in 1951.

 “Through his contributions as a leader in the auction industry, Lindsay’s work and legacy have created long-lasting benefits to the Michigan Auctioneers Association and the auction industry alike,” said Executive Director and fellow Hall of Famer Tricia Wiltjer.

Lindsay was instrumental in creating numerous industry-changing ideas. In 2009, Lindsay started the Michigan Auctioneers Association’s Public Promotions department. Two years later,  he introduced the grassroots ‘Auctions Work!’ marketing campaign, which proved to be a phenomenal marketing strategy adopted by thousands of auctioneers, including the National Auctioneers Association. USA Today reported, “Succinct and powerful, the message’s staying power has been evident from the outset.”

Lindsay identified the critical need to educate professional auctioneers to be mindful that hundreds of local municipalities throughout the State of Michigan require auctioneers to be licensed or obtain a permit to conduct auctions. In 2015, Lindsay proposed and presided over a comprehensive guide that provides data to the professional auctioneer on the rules and regulations in specific municipalities in the state of Michigan to conduct auctions. 

Lindsay is the 2015 recipient of the MAA’s Garth Wilber Presidential Award of Distinction awarded to the “most influential” association member. In 2019, he became the Champion of the Michigan Ringman Championship.   Over the past 20 years, Lindsay has been a guest speaker at numerous industry events, including the National Auctioneers Association Annual Conference & Show. He has also competed in the International Auctioneers Championship on three occasions. In 2015, he was featured in the ‘The Legends’ of auctioneering trading card set released by the Michigan Auctioneers Association.

For more information about Kenny and American Eagle Auction & Appraisal Company, visit www.michiganauctioncompany.com or call 734-223-3277.

Mount Pleasant, Michigan – Mathias Donat was awarded the honor of 2022 Michigan Ringman Champion on January 28, 2022, at the Michigan Auctioneers Association Annual Conference in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.  Five Contestants competed for the coveted title.  Contestants were judged by a panel of five accomplished auctioneers, including an International Auctioneer Champion 5 Michigan Champion Auctioneers. They were judged on four categories:  Crowd/Buyer Interaction, Performance, Relaying Bids and Communication with their Auctioneer, and Appearance/Presence.  Also taking home honors were Ridge Bollhemier of Jackson, 1st Runner Up, and Ray Krakowski of Dryden, 2nd Runner Up.

Working his way up from auction day grunt to Auction Manager/Auctioneer for both, Braun and Helmer Auction Service as well as The Super Auction, Mathias is a first-generation auctioneer that has been constantly committed to the success of the auction industry since his early high school years.

Since the start of his career, Donat has graduated from Washtenaw Community College with an Associates in Business, Liberal Arts, and Motorcycle Service Tech I Cert.; has graduated from Ohio Auction School in 2017, become an MAA and NAA member, completed the Certified Estate Specialist (CES) designation, and has been involved in over 500+ live, online, and benefit auction events.

Specializing in management, product presentation, and straight downright selling, Donat takes pride in bringing the excitement of auction day to life! From thrilling million dollar vehicle auctions to your local neighborhood hoarder, Mathias has experienced many of the industries extremes, all the while discovering that one thing is for certain – #AuctionsWork!

“I look forward to helping the auction industry grow and thrive in this post pandemic economy and appreciate all those who gave me the opportunity to serve once again on arguably the most successful state association” states Donat.

Donat is currently a Heavy Equipment Operator (MOS 1345) for the United States Marine Corps Reserves and is the 2022 Ringman Champion.

Mount Pleasant, Michigan – Jordan Miedema of Byron Center, Michigan, won the title of Michigan Auctioneer Champion at the Michigan Auctioneer Championship. The Championship took place on January 28 at the Michigan Auctioneers Association Annual Conference held at the Comfort Inn & Suites in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. For winning the title, Miedema received a championship ring, trophy, and he will compete in the International Auctioneer Championship in July in San Diego, California.

Miedema was born into one of the most prominent auction families in the United States, Miedema Companies, owned by his father, Sid Miedema, and his uncle, Scott Miedema. Over the past two decades, he has worked in every conceivable role in the auction business. Jordan started with delivering sales sheets to working the warehouse operating forklifts. He did the gradual climb to working in advertising and marketing, and in 2018, he received his broker’s license and is now President of LASTBIDrealestate, an online real estate auction company.

Miedema is a graduate of the Reppert School of Auctioneering and obtaining his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Davenport University.   He also attended Indiana University and completed the Certified Auctioneers Institute (CAI) program, the highest designation in the auction industry.

In 2018, his peers elected him onto the Michigan Auctioneers Association Board of Directors. He proved to be such an asset to the association that he was then elected as Vice President of the organization.   On January 27, 2022, he was sworn in as the President of the Michigan Auctioneers Association – a position that his father and uncle once held several years prior.

Jordan’s father, Sid Miedema, Jr. was elected as President of the MAA in 1992 and won the Michigan Auctioneer Championship in 1995. Jordan’s uncle, Scott Miedema, served as President of the MAA in 2000 and won the Michigan Auctioneer Championship in 2005.

IGNACE, MICHIGAN – Professional auctioneer, Jason Clark from Alma, Michigan took top honors at the GoToAuction.com Midwest Auctioneer Championship – one of the most popular auctioneer competitions in the nation.

The GoToAuction.com Midwest Auctioneer Championship saw a field of 16 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: Noah Smith of Howard City, Michigan (5th place), Jason Lamoreaux of Belding, Michigan (4th place), Grant Cole of Beulah, Michigan (3rd place), Ed Leist of Petoskey, Michigan (2nd place) and of course, the Champion Jason Clark.  All finalists received a plaque commemorating their achievement and a cash prize.

The Champion, Jason Clark was born and raised on a small dairy farm and exposed to a lot of auctions. One of his earliest memories of an auction was a small farm liquidation that his Uncle Dick and Bill Clark conducted north of Breckenridge, Michigan. Clark says, “I remember this sale because it was the first sale I felt the excitement of the auctioneer saying ‘SOLD’ to me personally. I was bidding on a small two-wheel trailer that I could haul my pig manure in. I remember the excitement of the auction, with the huge crowd of people standing around and visiting, the auctioneers on the loudspeakers, and the food wagon – it seemed more like the county fair than an auction!” Determined to be a good auctioneer like his Uncle Dick, he practiced around the farm and sold a lot of cattle off a 4010 John Deere while feeding them. He didn’t realize it at the time, but pretty much everyone around the farm could hear him, but instead of laughing, they encouraged him.

That encouragement led to his first paying job with John Tomaschko working as a contract auctioneer. After four years working for other auctioneers, he felt comfortable enough to be in business on his own and purchased Pioneer Auction Service from his Uncle Dick. Over the fifteen years he’s been in the industry, he’s competed five times in the Michigan Auctioneer Championship. The first few times, his nerves got the best of him and was so hard on himself he didn’t come back for a few years. Every time he competed, he felt he left as a better auctioneer, so he kept trying. In 2020, took home the Championship.  “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 would strongly encourage any auctioneer to become a member of the Michigan Auctioneers Association and to compete in the available competitions. You will better yourself and your auction business all around.”  This was the first time Jason competed in the GoToAuction.com Midwest Auctioneer Championship.  He said “The appeal of this contest is that it’s all about bid calling.  I was nervous, but not having an interview made it less nervewracking.” Jason dedicated his win to his Dad and his Uncle Dick, who have both passed in the last two years.

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 co-founder and Marketing Director, Kenny Lindsay, CAI.

BRIAN BRAUN INDUCTED INTO THE MICHIGAN AUCTIONEERS HALL OF FAME

MOUNT PLEASANT, MI – Ann Arbor Auctioneer, Braun Braun, received the highest possible honor any auctioneer can receive with his induction into the Michigan Auctioneers Hall of Fame on January 31 at the Michigan Auctioneers Association Annual Conference.

Brian Braun is a second generation auctioneer, the son of Lloyd R. Braun who started Braun and Helmer Auction Service in 1971 with his friend, Jerry Helmer.  Brian’s first experience with auctions was helping his dad at auctions and attending Michigan Auctioneers Association Conferences as a kid.  After Brian graduated high school in 1984, he attended Ferris College. However, like many auctioneers, he decided college was not for him.  He left school and started a very successful landscaping and stump removal business and worked at that along with helping at auctions for several years.

In 1996, Brian decided he would pursue a career in the auction business, so he attended Missouri Auction School with Jerry’s son and his friend, David Helmer.  Right after returning, Brian’s Dad put him to work on the auction block and he has never looked back.  For over 30 years he and his partners have grown the business to be one of the most respected and busy auction companies in Michigan. With the success of the business, in 1997 he was able to purchase the Centennial Farm of his Grandparents, where he lives now.  His love of the farm and everything country is evident in the pride he takes in keeping up his property, everything painted, roofed and kept up.

Brian’s hectic auction schedule leaves little time for other things, but he always finds time to give back to his community presenting at the local Historical Society and sharing his vast knowledge of antiques, collectibles and farm primitives. With a special interest the past few years of all things, fruit jars!! He has a very impressive collection of antiques, tractors, truck & autos which would be enough to open a very nice farm museum.

Brian Braun is life member of the Michigan Auctioneers Association, a member of the National Auctioneers Association and holds the Graduate Personal Property Appraisal designation.  He has served on the MAA Board of Directors and has donated well over $35,000 to the association fund raiser auction, which includes the famous Memorial deer hunt at his farm.  Each year since 2004 this hunt has been the highlight of the auction, including this year where spirited bidding topped out at $3500. He also finds time to spend with his family and hosts many family get-togethers at the “Pole Barn” locally known as the place to be for deer season and generally a great place to hang out.  Brian enjoys hunting and travels with other MAA Members to hunt Elk, Antelope, Deer, Coyote and Moose.  When not in the woods hunting animals, Brian can be found hunting mushrooms, finding sheds and taking pictures. He also enjoys processing, smoking and canning many of his home grown foods and many MAA Members can attest that he is an accomplished wine maker.

He now joins is Father and both of his partners as MAA Hall of Fame Members. Lloyd Braun passed away several years ago, but Brian, David and Jerry are still taking the auction industry by storm, conducting hundreds of auctions every year.  For more information about Brian and Braun & Helmer Auction Service, visit www.braunandhelmer.com or call 734-368-1736.

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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.

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MICHIGAN AUCTIONEER CHAMPIONSHIP

Jason Clark, Michigan Auctioneer Champion 2020

Jason Clark of Alma, Michigan, won the title, Michigan Auctioneer Champion, at the Michigan Auctioneer Championship. The Championship took place on January 30 at the Michigan Auctioneers Association Annual Conference held at the Comfort Inn & Suites in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Sixteen Contestants competed for the coveted title. The Five Finalists were Ridge Bollheimer (Clarklake, Mich.), Jason Clark (Alma, Mich), Ed Leist (Petoskey, Mich.), Ashley Peters (Riverdale, Michigan), and Darby Walton (Upper Sandusky, Ohio). For winning the title, Jason received a championship ring, trophy, and entry into the International Auctioneer Championship in July in San Diego, California.

Also taking home honors were Darby Walton and Ashley Peters. Walton was the 1st runner up and Peters was the 2nd runner up.

Clark was born and raised on a small dairy farm and exposed to a lot of auctions. One of his earliest memories of an auction was a small farm liquidation that his Uncle Dick and Bill Clark conducted north of Breckenridge, Michigan. Clark says, “I remember this sale because it was the first sale I felt the excitement of the auctioneer saying ‘SOLD’ to me personally. I was bidding on a small two-wheel trailer that I could haul my pig manure in. I remember the excitement of the auction, with the huge crowd of people standing around and visiting, the auctioneers on the loudspeakers, and the food wagon – it seemed more like the county fair than an auction!” Determined to be a good auctioneer like his Uncle Dick, he practiced around the farm and sold a lot of cattle off a 4010 John Deere while feeding them. He didn’t realize it at the time, but pretty much everyone around the farm could hear him, but instead of laughing, they encouraged him.

That encouragement led to his first paying job with John Tomaschko working as a contract auctioneer. After four years working for other auctioneers, he felt comfortable enough to be in business on his own and purchased Pioneer Auction Service from his Uncle Dick. Over the fourteen years he’s been in the industry, he’s competed five times in the Michigan Auctioneer Championship. The first few times, his nerves got the best of him and was so hard on himself he didn’t come back for a few years. Every time he competed, he felt he left as a better auctioneer, so he kept trying. In 2019, he finally made the finals and placed 2nd runner up. He was so glad he didn’t take time off this year because it felt more familiar than in years past. Jason says that winning the Championship is an honor and a highlight in his life. Ever since he was a little boy, he wanted to be a good father, farmer and an 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 would strongly encourage any auctioneer to become a member of the Michigan Auctioneers Association and to compete in the Michigan Auctioneer Championship. You will better yourself and your auction business all around.”

During the conference, Jason was elected to the Board of Directors of the Michigan Auctioneers Association for a three-year term. He’s excited to serve the association and represent the industry as the Michigan Auctioneer Champion.

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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.