Duluth, MN – – The Minnesota State Auctioneers Association, celebrating their 60th anniversary met in Duluth, Minnesota for their annual Conference and Show January 14th thru the 16th. The festivities started with the 22nd Annual Minnesota Auctioneer Championship in which 25 contestants took part. Matthew Schultz of Stillwater, Minnesota was named the 2010 State Champion.
Schultz has been part of the auction profession for almost half of his life. He is a graduate of World Wide College of Auctioneering and prior to this contest won the 2002 Minnesota Rookie Auctioneer Contest. He currently sits on the Young Professional Auctioneers Advisory Committee for the National Auctioneers Association and is actively involved in both the Minnesota and National Auctioneers Association.
Schultz will now have his entry paid into the International Auctioneers Championship to be held in Greensboro, North Carolina this July. Asked to describe how he felt with one word, Schultz said, “Awesome!” As the new champion, Schultz will serve as a goodwill ambassador for the association throughout the year.
The contestants were judged on presentation, chant/voice, effective auctioneering and an interview conducted on stage. This year’s Reserve Champion was Austin Bachman of Ottertail, Minnesota. Rounding out the top five were Kurt Johnson of White Bear Lake, Theresa Ann Larson from Aitkin and Bryce Hansen of Prairie Farm, Wisconsin.
The Minnesota State Auctioneers Association inducted Loren Seifert , CAI of Pelican Rapids, Minnesota into the Hall of Fame. Seifert is a veteran auctioneer who operates Seifert Auction and Realty Company. His wife Colleen and his entire family were on hand for the induction ceremony. The MSAA Auxiliary inducted Sharon Harberts of Stillwater, Minnesota into the Auxiliary Hall of Fame.
The new president of the association is Les Stromberg of Ogilvie and the newly elected Vice President of the Minnesota Auctioneers is Andy Imholte of Shakopee, MN. Three new directors were also elected, and included Austin Bachman, Brett Walters and Chris Fahey.
The MSAA celebrated their 60th anniversary at this year’s conference and show. The association is an organization of licensed auctioneers who work to promote the auction profession.
