Have you ever wanted to learn to be an auctioneer? Here's your first lesson

CATHY WURZER: I don't know if you have ever gone to an auction. It is so much fun. There's nothing quite like going and hearing a fast-paced bidding war, all narrated at the speed of lightning. Minnesota has a rich history of auctioneering. And starting tomorrow, the Minnesota State Auctioneers Association is celebrating 75 years with their annual conference and show. Joining us right now is an auctioneer hall-of-famer and the executive vice president of the Association, Colonel Frank Imholte. He's the owner of Black Diamond Auctions in Stearns County. Frank, welcome to the program.

FRANK IMHOLTE: Well, thank you, Cathy. I truly appreciate the opportunity to visit with you.

CATHY WURZER: Well, Likewise. How did you get into auctioneering?

FRANK IMHOLTE: I actually have gone to them since I was a kid. But I saw my bus driver doing an auction one time. And I thought auctioneers were just born that way. And he said no, he went to auction school. So within six months, I was down at auction school. I went to it in 1979. So basically, I've been doing it a number of years. And 4 of our 5 kids have all gone to auction school as well. So it's really fun. And I got active in our state auctioneers association right away, in 1979, 1980, and have been involved with it ever since. So I pretty much know most of the people that are in the business in the state of Minnesota.

CATHY WURZER: Wow. Most folks, I think, when they think of auctions, they think livestock. And they think of how an auctioneer sounds like and what he or she does in the livestock arena. But I've been blessed to have worked with some fine auctioneers in galas across Minnesota. When did auctioneering head from the livestock arena to hotel ballrooms?

FRANK IMHOLTE: [LAUGHS] It's excellent. The ballrooms are a great setting, and it's a little bit more clear chant. And several of our members are benefit-- we call them benefit auctioneers that do that. And so it kind of got away from the quick, rapid response of a chant-- right now, what do you want to give? [AUCTIONEER FAST CHANT]-- and more to, I have $1,000, would you give $1,500? Thank you, $1,500, $2,000. And they slow it down so that the bidding-- because the crowd at the gala doesn't necessarily go to an auction every day. And it's a great way to raise funds. And it's just wonderful. And matter of fact, three of our kids do benefit auctions on a regular basis.

CATHY WURZER: Say, I loved your patter there. You have a rhythm. Do you practice?

FRANK IMHOLTE: I try to do it every once in a while. I used to do it a little bit on the radio when I'd smart off to people. But it's been it's been a blessing. And I've got one of those voices that kind of scares everybody. It kind of loud, I'm sorry, that's how I am. But it has been a gift, and I've shared it with a lot of people. And when COVID came, we had to revamp what we did. And we went to doing online as well as live auctions. We only could do one live auction that year when we had a farm auction. And so for about a year and a half, all we did was online. Now it's about 50/50. My wife likes the online a little better because she doesn't have to sit and listen to me, but.

[LAUGHTER]

It's worked out very well. And we have some great auctioneers. We have some champions that have won in the contest. We usually have a contest every year at our conference. And that's coming up tomorrow night. And we've got a lot of people competing to be our new Minnesota champion auctioneer.

CATHY WURZER: OK. Now, I mentioned your rhythm, you definitely have a rhythm. And I was listening carefully to you. Because obviously, you probably do a lot of farm auctions and livestock auctions. You've got some filler words. Talk a little bit about that. What makes a really good auctioneer?

FRANK IMHOLTE: Someone that can communicate quickly and yet not lose the people. So they have to know what the bid is and what you're asking for. And so a lot of times, they use little words, one dollar, now two, two dollar, now three, would you give three, would you give three? Two dollar, would you give three, would you give four, would you give five? Would you give three, four, five? And so they just try to make it a little more lively, rather than raise the paddle at 1,000. Somebody raised the paddle at 1,200, that's kind of boring. So we'd like to make it a little more lively. And we use-- dollar works really well, now works really well. There's different words. And everyone has a little bit different chant. And you change it as it goes. You start with some words that really flow well together. And I remember when I went to auction school, the word got, G-O-T, causes a break in the chant. one dollar, two, would you give three, would you give four, would you give five, got five. And it just, it puts an ax chop into the chant. So you don't ever want to use that word in a chant. Those are some of the things you learn as you do it.

CATHY WURZER: And, of course, you've got to be entertaining. People really do appreciate that. Oh, yeah.

FRANK IMHOLTE: You got to be able to slip in. It used to be you could stop the crowd and tell a long story. Now, everything has to be one-liners. You got to say something to the effect of, well, you better get on home there, your wife might be looking for that. Or, somebody in the back will raise their hand, and I'll say ma'am, ma'am, if we were selling cows, you'd be knocking tonight.

I mean, something like that, when they're raising their hand by mistake. Oh no, and they pull their hand down. So you got to keep it fun. Auctions are wonderful. And besides all the fun and going, it's a valuable way of selling your assets and buying things. You'll only end up paying one bid higher than the last bidder. So it's really a win-win on both sides.

CATHY WURZER: Boy, I wish I had enough time with you here, but we're running out of it. What's the most unique thing you've auctioned off?

FRANK IMHOLTE: I had the opportunity to sell some burial vaults one time. It was kind of a dead-end business.

[LAUGHTER]

That was unique. We've had a lot of great-- we make our-- I joke with people all the time. I say, well, we specialize in precious metals. And they said, what's that? I said, pots and pans. You know what I mean. That stuff is our precious metals. But we make our money selling real estate. We do the estates where we're selling the pots and pans and everything else because that's what people need. But the income usually comes from selling real estate at auction. And that gives everyone first chance to buy. That's really-- and that's what a lot of the members do is they sell real estate at auction.

CATHY WURZER: What gives you the biggest joy out of this job?

FRANK IMHOLTE: I think when I see someone bring their kids to the auction and they let the kids bid on a basketball, or a bicycle, or whatever, I said that is pure joy. Because the kids are learning at a very young age. And sometimes, they run out of money when they're bidding. And they'll look at dad, and dad will tell them to bid again. And it is just, it's pure joy to see families be able to come and participate in an auction.

CATHY WURZER: Well, Frank, I have had just a great time talking to you. Thank you so much. And I wish you all the best during the conference.

FRANK IMHOLTE: Well, thank you for the opportunity to visit and share some thoughts about auctions with you today.

CATHY WURZER: I appreciate it. Colonel Frank Imholte, vice president of the Minnesota State Auctioneers Association, celebrating 75 years this weekend.

[LEROY VAN DYKE, "AUCTIONEER"] He said, oh my, it's do or die. I've got to learn that auction cry. Gotta make my mark and be an auctioneer. 25 dollar bidder now, 30 dollar, 30, will you give me 30, make it 30? Bid it up on a 30 dollar. Will you give me 30, who'll bid a thirty dollar bid. 30 dollar bidder now, 35, will you give me 35? Make it 35.