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.

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!

25-year-old Colt Johnson from Farwell, Michigan, won the title of Michigan Ringman Champion at the 17^th 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.

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.

JOHN BEECHY WINS COVETED GOTOAUCTION.COM MIDWEST AUCTIONEER CHAMPIONSHIP

BYRON CENTER, MICHIGAN – Professional auctioneer, John Beechy from Goshen, Indiana took top honors at the GoToAuction.com Midwest Auctioneer Championship – one of the most popular auctioneer competitions in the nation.

As one of the most recognized auctioneer voices of the Midwest, growing up in Northern Indiana sale barns among the Amish culture, John was inspired to become an auctioneer. John Beechy began his auction career in 2009, after graduating and becoming a licensed Auctioneer from Reppert Auction School located in Auburn, Indiana.

As a resident of Goshen, Indiana, John travels to sell whole-sale automobiles, special classic and collector cars, memorabilia antiques, equipment, and livestock. John conducts over 250 auctions per year, specializing in contract auctioneering. John has effectively surrounded himself among other successful auctioneers, and leaders. John has earned several titles, such as: 2013 Indiana Auctioneer championship, the 2014 Michigan Ringman Champion, the 2016 Michigan Auctioneer Champion. John has competed for several years in the GotoAuction.com Midwest Auctioneer Championship, finishing in the finals several times.

Among other achievements, John has served on the Indiana Auctioneer Association Board of Directors from 2013-2016. Additionally, he has achieved the highest designation an auctioneer can receive in 2019 from the Certified Auctioneers Institute, and Contract Auctioneer Specialist provided by the National Auctioneers Association.

Being a member of Indiana, Michigan, and National Auctioneer Association, allows John to be continually up to date on auction industry changes. John serves annually as an auctioneer for many charity events, such as Opportunity Enterprise, Crohns Disease Foundation, and Connection for Abusive Women and Children Foundation.

Since 2015, John is a quarterly teacher at the Reppert Auction School. This gives him the opportunity to give back to the auction profession that originally inspired him. Among auctioneering, John enjoys the lake, golf, and time with family and friends.

The GoToAuction.com Midwest Auctioneer Championship saw a field of 31 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 Omer Kauffman of Fountain City, Indiana (5th place), Merlin Hershberger of Navarre, Ohio (4th place), Keith Beechy of Dundee, Ohio (3rd place), Jeremy Garber of Circleville, Ohio (2nd place) and of course, the Champion John Beechy. 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 co-founder and Marketing Director, Kenny Lindsay, CAI.

Hall of Fame

SID MIEDEMA HONORED WITH THE MICHIGAN AUCTIONEERS PRESIDENT’S AWARD OF DISTINCTION

PLEASANT, MICHIGAN – In a room packed with hundreds of his friends, family, and professional colleagues, Sid Miedema, an esteemed business owner, and professional auctioneer, was awarded the annual President’s Award of Distinction. The annual recognition is awarded by the President to the “most influential member of the Michigan Auctioneers Association.”

Sid Miedema co-founded Miedema Auctioneering in 1984. Today, Miedema Auctioneering has grown into Miedema Asset Management Group, which consists of Miedema Auctioneering, Miedema Appraisals, Repocast.com, Orbitbid.com, LastBidRealEstate.com, OAS, RangerBid.com, SSL Corp LLC, and OrbitBidCharity.com.  Annually, the companies conduct over 500 auctions and appraise millions of dollars’ worth of assets. He is a licensed real estate broker and is regularly sought after to conduct educational seminars for his colleagues throughout the United States.   Currently, Sid Miedema serves as the President of the National Auctioneers Foundation.

Sid Miedema is a first-generation auctioneer who served on the Board of Directors and became President of the Michigan Auctioneers Association in 1992. He was crowned the grand champion of the Michigan Auctioneers Championship in 1995. In 2005, he received the highest honor of his professional career by being inducted into the Michigan Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame.

Sid is a great businessman who puts his employees, clients and customers first.  He taught his children work ethic by getting them up early to go to auctions and like many auction kids, running clerk sheets as early as age 5.  He has taught his family and employees the importance of being a member, attending conferences, taking something back with you, and implementing them. “….being honest, and a Christian is more important than making money. He is very involved in the church, Christian schools, and many other organizations. He is a great role model and Christian example, and someone I look up to and truly aspire to be like.” Said his son and the 2022 President of the Michigan Auctioneers Association, Jordan Miedema, CAI, CMA.

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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 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.

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Ridge Bollheimer Wins 2023 Michigan Auctioneer Championship & Michigan Ringman Championship!

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 world’s 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 Jackso

n College and The Ohio Auction School. He received an Associate’s 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.

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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 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.

 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 Wilbur 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.

ALL IN THE FAMILY- JORDAN MIEDEMA BECOMES THE THIRD MIEDEMA TO WIN MICHIGAN AUCTIONEER CHAMPIONSHIP.
ELECTED AS PRESIDENT OF RENOWNED ASSOCIATION HOURS LATER

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. The 5 Finalists were Ridge Bollheimer (Clarklake, Mich.), Grant Cole (Beulah, Mich.), Jeremy Miedema (Byron Center, Mich.), Jordan Miedema (Byron Center, Mich.), and Darby Walton (Upper Sandusky, Ohio). 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.

 

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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.