LEWISVILLE (CBSDFW.COM) – Auctions have always fascinated me and scared me at the same time. When I’m at an auction the fast paced chant is exciting and it makes you fell like you need in on the action. At the same time I am scared if I move wrong someone is going to think I placed a bid on something I can’t afford. In today’s Through the Lens I went to the Texas Auction Academy in Lewisville to learn more about the auction business and just what the heck the auctioneer is saying.

People from all over the country come here because this is one of the best auctioneer schools in the country. What was neat was that they came in every age and all walks of life as well. There was a girl 17 years old who decided a few months ago to follow in her mothers footsteps and become and auctioneer. Her mother is an instructor at the Texas Auction Academy and a former state and national champion auctioneer. I didn’t even know there was such a competition.

On the flip side there was a 79 year old woman who owns a mini ranch and wants to auction off her animals. She came to learn about the auction business. They tell me there is a lot more to auctioneering than talking fast and getting the bid. They learn the legal part of the business and learn about the different areas of auctions like real estate and cattle as well as art and everyday items.

Listening to them chant tongue twisters as a group is funny too but it is all so that when they get up to sell something they don’t waste time doing it. I’m just trying to figure out why Betty bought a batch of bitter butter?

SEPTEMBER 2011 TEXAS AUCTION ACADEMY CLASS – (Bottom Row, L to R): Paul Anderson, Parkville, MO; Skipper Wright, Longview, TX; Gary Holub, New Braunfels, TX; Amanda Leverett, Hahira, GA; Carissa Cruz, Pflugerville, TX; Michael Miller, Irving, TX; Kelly McDaniel, Houston, TX; Mike McKee, Lawton, OK; (Row 2, L to R): Instructor Troy Lippard; Steve Caraway, Whitewright, TX; Matt McDaniel, Gastonia, NC; Cecil McCoy, Fruitvale, TX; John Williams, Palmer, TX; David Ashcraft, West Monroe, LA; Raymond Garcia, Mission, TX; Jim Smith, West Monroe, LA; Brandon Hooper, Amarillo, TX; Instructor Montie Davis; School Administrator Lori Jones; Mike Jones, School Director. (Row 3, L to R): Mike Fazzino, Bryan, TX; Kipp Kelton, Flower Mound, TX; Alvin Livingston, Show Low, AZ; Whitley May, Sweetwater, TX; Rick Hefty, Ivanhoe, TX; David Culver, Mason, TX; Bill Winter, Flower Mound, TX; Rodney Dennis, Gainesville, TX; Jonathan Warriach, Dallas, TX; David Daniel, SR., Roanoke, TX; Steve Neely, Quitman, MS; (Top Row L to R): Bill Eagle, Whitesboro, TX; Jake St. Amant, Wesson, MS; Allan Jackson, Shreveport, LA; Curtis Watson, Haslet, TX; Richard Kaniho, Kamuela, HI; Bill Laughlin, Crocker, MO; Erol Murat, Houston, TX; Kyle Clarke, Plano, TX; Brody Blevins, Watauga, TX; Bob Price, Big Spring, TX.

(L to R) 2011 Texas State Champion Ringman: Traci Yeaman. 2011 Texas State Champion Auctioneer: Angie Meier. 2011 Texas State Rookie Champion Auctioneer: Jarod Hamm.

Richard Kaniho, Kamuela, Hawaii calls the bid and works the room during the September 2011 Texas Auction Academy benefit auction. Kaniho is the first native Hawaiian to graduate from the school. He works on the historic Parker Ranch and in the hospitality business.

The September 2011 Texas Auction Academy graduating class really got into the spirit of helping others as they raised $28,421.25 during their class benefit auction September 17th. The auction proceeds eclipsed the previous second place record that was established by the March class. The class of thirty seven came from nine states and included the school’s first native Hawaiian and a humorous Londoner.

Each class ends their term by conducting a student auction. When the smoke cleared, the auction helped raise $28,421.25. The benefactors of the event included $12,056.25 to Texas Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital in Dallas, $8,881.25 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, National Auctioneers Association Auxiliary $3,425 and the International Fellowship of Christian Auctioneers received $1,475. This was the first time a buyer’s premium has been implemented in the auction and $2,583.75 was presented to Trent Sample and his family whose home was destroyed by the recent Texas wild fires. Trent is the son of auctioneer and instructor Jim Sample.

Auction highlights included two gavel ties donated by Texas Auctioneers Association President Jim Sample that sold for $3,000, three bicycles donated by the school that sold twice fetching $1,700, an auction mentoring package by Instructor Brent Graves that sold for $2,200, Four day hunt for two in Central Missouri brought in $1,650, Historic Hawaii Parker Ranch Collectibles $865, Antique wagon
wheels for $400, Large gavel for $400, “Unsung Heroes” signed and numbered prints by Artist Joani Mangold fetched $3,425, and Four International Fellowship of Christian Auctioneers Ball Caps fetched $1,125.

The student graduation auction is the highlight of each session with all the items in the auction being donated by the students, school owners and instructors, recipient hospitals, Int’l Fellowship of Christian Auctioneers and the NAA Auxiliary. What makes the event most unusual is the auction is not open to the public and all donations and purchases are made by the students, staff, family members and guests.

During the nine day course, in addition to learning the rhythmic chant of the auctioneer, the students learn how to conduct all types of auctions including real estate, automobiles, businesses, industrial and commercial, government, bankruptcy, livestock, farm & ranch and specialty auctions. The course also covers professionalism, ethics, public speaking, auction bookkeeping, marketing & advertising, government laws and regulations and other important auction related classes.

The Texas Auction Academy annually conducts four fundraisers that coincide with each class session. “Our philosophy is that when you give, you receive” says Mike Jones, CAI, GPPA the school’s Director and founder. “There is no greater gift than to support children dealing with catastrophic illnesses or supporting ones industry” he added.

The Texas Auction Academy was established in Dallas in 1992, taught by champion auctioneers and industry leaders and is Texas Workforce Commission Approved. The school has a strategic business relationship with United Country Real Estate. To learn more about the school or enroll, go to www.texasauctionacademy.com, send an email to info@texasauctionacademy.com or call for a catalog at 972-387-4200. Follow the Texas Auction Academy on Facebook. The Owners and Instructors of the Texas Auction Academy are proud members of the National Auctioneers Association and their respective state associations.