THE HAWKEYE AUCTIONEER

Quarterly E-Newsletter

SPRING 2024

Inside This Issue:

• Letter to Members - Corey D. Fraise
• Exploring the New Iowa Auctioneers Association Website - Jordon Hansen
• Thank You to Our IAA Sponsors
• Old Dog's Can Learn New Tricks - David D. Chaddock
• Industry Calendar
• Officers & Board Members

Dear Members,

I hope this newsletter finds you well and thriving in your auction businesses as we move further into 2024. As we reflect on the successes of the past and look ahead to the future, there's much to celebrate and anticipate.

Recap of the January Convention:

Our January Convention was an outstanding success, thanks to the dedication and participation of our members. From insightful workshops to lively networking sessions, the convention provided valuable opportunities for learning, growth, and connection within our community. Special thanks to all the speakers, sponsors, and volunteers who made this event possible. Your contributions are truly appreciated.

Celebrating 75 Years of Excellence:

This year marks a significant milestone for the Iowa Auctioneers Association as we celebrate our 75th Anniversary. For three-quarters of a century, our association has been at the forefront of promoting professionalism, integrity, and excellence in the auction industry. We take pride in our rich history and the countless contributions of our members throughout the years. Let's commemorate this milestone with pride and look forward to the next 75 years of continued success and innovation.

Congratulations to the 2024 Iowa Auctioneer Champions:

• Keenan Thygesen: Winner of the 2024 Iowa Auctioneer Rookie Bid Calling Champion title.
• Tony Wisely: Champion of the 2024 Iowa Auctioneer Ringman competition.

We applaud both Keenan and Tony for their impressive achievements and wish them continued success in their auctioneering careers.

Advertising Category Winners:

Congratulations to the following members who took 1st place in different Advertising Categories:

• Chad Shepard
• Leon Martin
• Jordon Hansen
• Riley Sieren

We commend all these champions for their remarkable achievements and wish them continued success in their auctioneering careers.

Hall of Fame Inductee:

We are thrilled to announce that TJ DeMoss has been selected as this year's Hall of Fame Member. TJ's dedication, expertise, and contributions to the auction industry have been exemplary, and he truly deserves this prestigious recognition. Congratulations, TJ, on this well-deserved honor.

Champion Bid Calling Contest and Iowa State Fair:

During our convention, we had the pleasure of witnessing the talents of 13 remarkable contestants in the Champion Bid Calling contest. The finalists of this contest will advance to the prestigious stage of the Iowa State Fair on Tuesday, August 13th, where they will once again showcase their skills and vie for the coveted title of Champion. I encourage all of our members to join us at the State Fair to show your support for these talented individuals.

Supporting the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation:

Following the conclusion of the Champion Bid Calling contest at the Iowa State Fair, any member of the Iowa Auctioneers Association will have the chance to sell an item on the Bill Riley Stage, contributing to the fundraising efforts of the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation. It's a fantastic opportunity to showcase your skills while supporting a worthy cause.

Let's come together as a community to cheer on our contestants and make a positive impact on the Iowa State Fair and our beloved industry.

Thank you for your continued support and participation in the Iowa Auctioneers Association.

Warm regards,

Corey D. Fraise

Fraise Auction & Real Estate

IAA President

For those who may have missed the recent convention, exciting news awaits! The Iowa Auctioneers Association board members have been hard at work to launch a new website, promising a user-friendly experience for members and visitors alike. Let's delve into the innovative features that make this website a valuable resource for auctioneers in Iowa.

1. Modern and Responsive Design: Experience a modern and visually appealing design on the website that seamlessly adapts to various devices, ensuring a consistent and engaging browsing experience across desktops, tablets, and mobile phones.

2. Member Directory and Networking Opportunities: Explore the comprehensive member directory and interactive map, empowering users to search and connect with Iowa Auctioneer Association members. This feature enhances marketing, networking, and collaboration within the auctioneering community, allowing members to effectively showcase their specialties and expertise.

3. News and Updates Section: Stay informed with the latest news, announcements, and industry developments through the website's dedicated news section. Access articles written by board members and auction professionals, along with updates from the IAA community. The integration of social media feeds ensures a continuous stream of industry insights, making the website a go-to destination for staying updated.

4. Awards and Honors: Discover a showcase of past auctioneer champions, rookie bid calling champions, Hall of Fame recipients, ring person champions, and past IAA presidents. View photos of current champions, Hall of Fame members, and past presidents, celebrating their achievements and contributions to the auctioneering community.

Call to Action: As we prepare for the website launch, we kindly request each member to update their profile information once the website is live. A video guide will be available on the website for assistance. Additionally, if your photo is missing from the awards and honors page, please submit a portrait (not landscape) photo. We welcome constructive feedback for continuous improvement (but will not accept negative feedback without a solution), as the website is a work in progress. Your engagement is crucial to shaping the evolving platform. Please remember the board is volunteers trying to work for you.

In conclusion, the new Iowa Auctioneers Association website will serve as a valuable resource for auctioneers in Iowa and the general public seeking auctioneer services. Members are encouraged to update their profiles to enhance visibility and connectivity within the community.

For any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to reach out to any current board member or contact Jordon Hansen directly at auctioneer.jordon@gmail.com. Let's embark on this exciting journey together!

Jordon Hansen

Hansen Auction Service

IAA Two Year Director

As I type this tonight in my email program while learning a new laptop and new programs, I am reminded when I got my first computer It was 1997. I would have been thirty-one years old at the time. I would hunt and peck in new word processing programs to write a letter, learned how to use AOL chat, and listened to the ever-popular dial up tone while I was waiting to get online. Up to that time I had only ever used a ten key, or pocket calculator, a smith corona typewriter, made most business calls on a land line, and I sent or received the occasional fax on a machine that needed a roll of heat paper. I bought my first auction management software which was SOLDII, and although it was still an MS Dos Program, it helped grow my auction business exponentially. In just a short time (months) Windows 97 became the big thing of the day and boy the functionality it had! You could be productive and didn't even have to know how. To say the least... a lot has changed since then. 

I managed to learn all these new-fangled things back in the day, and I grew to appreciate the benefits they provided. As technology changed (almost daily at the time), I found myself learning something new every single day. Well, what the heck happened? How did I let myself get so technologically illiterate? In short, the answer is complacency. I got comfortable where I was at. I was chasing the dream at the time and succeeding handily, I had more disposable income, so I hired more people to do things for me which didn't help the situation. I then went from a flip phone to a smart phone sometime in the early two thousands, and before long my old desktop and laptop became obsolete, But rather then replace them I reveled in their simplicity. I knew how to operate them, I was comfortable. oops...

I was doing three, sometimes four dealer to dealer auto auctions per week at the time, charity fundraising events, and I had also built quite a successful and profitable network of storage auctions That I conducted on the weekends, and I was a hired gun at construction equipment auctions, etc. I was set, or so I thought. Although I was familiar with online auction software, I only used it at the auto auctions and I had one button to hit to go to the next car when I was done selling. I would show up at the Charity Fundraisers in a tux, do my thing, get a fat check and leave. The storage auctions were still managed "Old School" with the calculator on my smart phone, and paper forms. Everything was Golden for me in the Golden State of California! It was how I was going to retire early. Then covid.... Every auction event that I relied upon quit overnight. While other auctioneers pivoted their auction businesses to meet the new paradigm, I found myself left in the dust by my own complacency in keeping up with new technologies, I even resisted learning for a while. oops again, my bad.

Fast Forward to today. I took my Iowa real estate pre-license course online and passed just today. I'm not going to say that it didn't come with its own level of difficulty for me, as I am a very tactile and auditory learner. I've got to get my hands on and then put it to practical use, as well as listen and talk about why, before I can learn it. Also, for two nights this week I helped Leroy Hoffman catalogue a 1000 lot sale using auction flex mobile (thank you Leroy for being so patient while I was learning), as that is my next planned technological advance in my business. Now if I can find Microsoft Word on this damn new computer, I won’t have to type this article for the newsletter in my email program "Old School". In closing, had I put a little effort into keeping up with technology I wouldn't have to be an "Old Dog Learning New Tricks". Don't you be either!   

David D. Chaddock

David D. Chaddock Auctioneers and Associates

IAA Two Year Director

"Thanks to all who filled out the survey that was sent out a few weeks ago! We Know that each one of you are very busy, and appreciate getting your input on where to have the conference next year. When our members speak, we listen!"

Heath DeYoung

IAA Executive Director