Bid Callers Anonymous

A few weeks ago we traveled north the the state auctioneer's convention. Daddy had a full day of classes on Friday so we headed to the WalMart visitor's center. The museum was really neat and contained strange returns, videos, a replica of Sam Walton's office and lots of memorabilia on the history of WalMart.  They also had Sam Walton's truck on display.

The kids all had great fun creating bar codes with their names. Of course, they couldn't leave Mommy and Daddy out and made one for us.

The main reason we attended the convention was to watch Daddy compete in the bid calling competition. The highlight for me, was that Daddy had to wear a suit. That doesn't happen often around here. In fact, we determined that it had been at least 12 years since he wore anything close to a suit (a tux for a wedding).

We had to arrive extra early so we got to practice being patient. I withheld the snacks, paper and pens until the competition started. We've attended two competitions (we missed one) where Unc competed and I knew we'd be in for a long night. The kids handled sitting, being quiet and a late supper really well.

Last year, Unc won the competition so he was the emcee this year.  Even though Daddy didn't win, it was neat to see them on stage together. He did, however, have the largest fan club!

Since we returned from the convention, I have three boys who are more determined than ever to become auctioneers. If it ever gets too quiet at your house, I'll lend you a boy who is desperately working on his tongue twisters and counting. Three at one time is a proving to be a bit much. :)

Being surrounded by four bid callers might just land me in a support group! Have you seen this commercial? This pretty much sums up what my afternoons have been like.

A Day in the Life of an Auctioneer's Family

I thought it would be fun to chronicle our life on auction day! This particular auction was out of town and I was concerned it would be very hot so we secured a sitter for Henry, Mary Claire and Liberty.

Auction days are like Christmas around our house. The boys all slept in the living room. The day began with me waking them up at 6:30.

The previous night, clothes were laid out, lunches and coolers were packed and shoes were located.

The sitter arrived just before 7 and the rest of us loaded in the van. The auction was about 45 minutes away and due to a cooler malfunction, we had to stop for another bag of ice.

Once we arrived at the auction yard, the kids unloaded the van. A cooler was placed in the office trailer and in the sound truck.

Other lunch supplies {bread, silverware, etc}, Mommy's camera, purse and laptop were also carried to the office trailer.

We open the windows on the office trailer about an hour before the auction begins for registration. Nana and Mrs. Janet check people in along with Mommy. Unc is our IT person and was double checking a few things before we began.

Before the auction started, Senator Ronald Caldwell, presented us with a Senate Memorial Citation in honor of Kenneth, the founder of Witcher Auctions.

He read the proclamation and said some very kind words about Kenneth, our family and our auction business.

 

 

I didn't get pictures of Madisyn in action because she spent most of the day in the office trailer. She ran errands and messages between the sound trucks and trailer, and helped keep up with Ben and Griffin when they weren't actively working.

 

The boys get right in the middle of the action. Ty holds the sign during the sale so that the crowd can always tell what item is currently being sold.

We ran two auction trucks most of the day. Daddy and Unc each handled the bid calling in their truck. I served as a clerk in Kent's truck most of the day {which is why I wasn't able to get pictures of Madisyn}. Before and after the auction, I worked in the office trailer.

When Griffin and Ben aren't in the middle of the auction ring, they like to "inspect" equipment.

Madisyn brought Ty a sandwich and lunch. She also prepared lunch for Griffin, Ben, Kent and I.

Griffin and Ben also assist people with loading small items at auctions.

We sold approximately 700 items in about 7 hours. Once the sale was over the crowd lined up to pay and I returned to the office trailer to help check people out.

We got home to Henry and the girls around 7 pm. Auctions make for long days, but we're thankful to be able to spend most of it together as a family.

The Family That Works Together . . .

stays together. Kent and I have always taken the opportunity to work with our children whenever possible. We want them to appreciate work and realize that it's part of life. If you develop a positive attitude towards work early, it will be beneficial for life.

Our older children do earn money when they work in the family business on auction day as they have replaced other people we paid wages {they also don't earn full adult pay}, but most of their "work" is unpaid. We're all part of the same family and what benefits the family as a whole, benefits each member.

Of course, all work isn't drudgery and working with our children is a great way to accomplish a task and spend time together. They have also learned lots of valuable skills for life. Ty is learning to be a competent equipment operator and Madisyn is learning how to run the office.

Even before Papaw passed away the kids fondly talked about past auctions and how they worked with him. Those memories are even more sweet now that he is no longer here with us.  When you own a family business, family and business are intricately woven together.

There are a lot more opportunities to work than to play in life. If you can learn to find the joy in work, life will be more pleasant. If you're always counting down the days until you have a day off, life will become intolerable.

It seems lately that we've had several comments about our children being good workers and how lucky we are that they have such a good work ethic. I am very proud of our children. They are not perfect and they are all still in a training period.  I don't mention any of this to brag on them or on ourselves. I want to share the "secret".

First, luck has nothing to do with it. Everything we have is a blessing from God. Furthermore, Proverbs 22 : 6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go". They have their strong work ethic because of training. When they were 2 or 3, Daddy let them help. As long as they can remember, they've helped with the auction business but also folded laundry, wiped off counters, and swept floors. They didn't do the job perfectly the first time and rarely complete it perfectly now, but they are learning. We are training them {along with Unc, Nana, Mammie, Granddaddy and Papaw}.  All of us {children and adults} aren't finished and are very much still in the process.

Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
Proverbs 20:11

You may wonder where the other children were while the auction was being set up . . .

they weren't quite as diligent as their older sister and brother, but they're still learning.

Papaw's Auction

Homemade goodies are always big sellers

Back in March, Papaw became ill. He was treated for Pneumonia but didn't get any better. More tests were ordered and he even lost his voice.

Even Mary Claire "helped" by providing entertainment  ;-)

It took some time to coordinate doctors and find one that would work with someone without insurance. He was diagnosed with Lung Cancer in April.

Our favorite auctioneer

Ever since I've been a Witcher, charity auctions have been a part of our lives. Kenneth has been doing them since he became an auctioneer in 1972. We always enjoy attending and occasionally manage to purchase an item or two.

Mammie and Mary Claire

 

Despite all the years of participating it charity auctions it was still a shock to have one benefit one of "us". The community support was and continues to be amazing.

Mrs. Jennifer and the smaller kids. Mary Claire is always so excited to see her!

Members of the community visited businesses and collected tons of merchandise. Ladies (and a few men) from all over the county poured time and money into homemade goodies to sell. Countless volunteers served food and prepared the community center.

We were so glad that Mammie and Granddad were able to come

Everyday we receive countless phone calls and visits asking about Papaw. The prayers and support have been overwhelming.

Henry {the cutest Ring Man I've ever seen} helping Unc take bids

I know many will never read this but I can't begin to express the gratitude we feel. We are so very proud to be part of this community {and always have been} and call it home!

Work, Work, Work

 

We own two family businesses. One of those businesses doesn't allow our children to help much in the day to day operation. The auction business, however, has a job for everyone! 

 

Long before auction day, lots of prep work must happen. We accept consignments for two weeks prior to the auction. This mean that Daddy loads up equipment (air compressors, fork lifts, etc.) to be used during check-in and on auction day.

Mary Claire and Liberty provided consulting services while Daddy loaded the trailer. They both agreed - He did a great job!

Our children rarely miss an auction. In fact, they rise earlier for auction days than they do on Christmas day.

Ty's primary auction day job is to hold the "This Item Now Being Sold" sign. Some of our auctions require the use of two auction trucks running at the same time and the sign allows bidders to travel between lines and with a glance tell exactly what item is selling.

Our open consignment auctions have everything from tractors to travel trailers to four wheelers to lawn mowers.

Of course, Ty has to take a break every once in awhile and Griffin relieved him of his sign holding duty. Griffin and Ben serve as back-up sign holders. The sign is top heavy and they aren't quite big enough to hold it all day.

Daddy, Unc and Papaw do the bid calling.

When we just run one truck, Daddy and Unc will trade off clerking (writing down who bought something and how much it brought) and bid calling.

When we start running two trucks, Mrs. Janet and I will trade off working in the office trailer and clerking. Since our children are at any auction we have, I frequently travel back and forth between them and the auction.

Ben also had his turn at holding the sign.

Madisyn has earned her keep by being the resident baby sitter. We were truly blessed to be able to borrow this camper for the kids to have a "home base". Through out both days of the auction, Madisyn kept Henry, Mary  Claire and Liberty. She played games with them, fed them lunch, made sure they got naps and took them for walks. She is a wonderful big sister! Madisyn and Ty earn full day wages while Griffin and Ben earn half day pay.