Good People.

If you read my other blog: Buck Up Baby & Ride With Jesus, you will know that I am at a "tryin' to figure things out" stage with my AUCTION career. BELIEVE ME...I ain't quittin. I'm just tryin' to figure out how to make this work into my life & how to make this AUCTION COMPANY what I want it to be...not what everyone else thinks it should be. I'm tryin' to really figure out what is REALLY important to ME & how to have that SHINE THROUGH in my company. It is SO much easier from the outside looking in, to see a better way of doin' things. One of the most VALUABLE LESSONS I've already learned is to spend time with it. Don't rush things.....AT ALL. Most importantly.....GO WITH YOUR GUT!

I have to say that I am SO BLESSED to have GOOD PEOPLE in my life! I have a CREW that just keeps hangin' on in there with me, supportin' me, helpin' me, & just flat out BEING GOOD PEOPLE! They won't ever know just how much I APPRECIATE THEM!

I know I've blogged about this before to, but in this industry, there are AUCTIONEERS that will HELP you & there are AUCTIONEERS that won't....for all kinds of reasons: busy...they feel threatened, they may be a bit territorial, they've been burned & its hard to trust people... No matter the reason - GOD BLESS the HELPERS.

I want to give a BIG shout out to ELCO AUCTIONS in Odem, Texas. Danny is another person that has no idea how much I appreciate him. If you are anywhere in the Corpus Christi area you need to be sure to go check out his auction. When you are new to a business & your learnin'...it is SO GOOD to have someone that you TRUST to call & ask questions....& not feel like a dummy about it.

Another group of folks I want to give a shout out to is LIQUIDATORS AUCTION in Nachadoches, Texas. JUST GOOD PEOPLE....is all I have to say. Give those folks a call if you need to settle an estate!

That's all for today. On another note...THESE PEOPLE ARE AWESOME, but I would never know how awesome they were if I wouldn't have had the COURAGE to BUCK UP BABY! I called EVERY auction company in the coastal bend area when I got my license & Danny was the ONLY one that called me back, took the time to talk to me, and give me a chance to work for him. With my crew....I knew I needed good people I could trust, but I also knew that I had NO IDEA how much I could pay them or IF I could pay them. It's not real easy to tell folks that, but I wanted to be extremely REAL with them. There is nothing like working as a team, when you have one heck of a team to work with. With ole' Samantha from Liquidator's Auction... I remember being SO shocked to see ANOTHER young, female auctioneer in class. I honestly thought I'd be in a room with a bunch of ruff & gruff old fellas. To my suprise there were a few other ladies, some young guys, SOME ruff & gruff older fellas & little ole' Sammie. You know how it could've went. We could either choose to like each other & get to know each other OR NOT. I am ever so thankful for that girl & ever so thankful that we both had enough sense to BUCK UP & learn from each other & learn together.

BREATHE......

So....I have to say. We worked our little tails off for our March 30th auction. Talk about feelin' spent!! I have just now been able to relax & feel a little rested. Now it's time to tie up a few loose ends & gear up for the next one.  I sure learned a lot. A WHOLE LOT.....

I'll be honest. It wasn't as big as I was hopin', but it was all right. I don't know why I think everything will be the way I picture it.

We got LOTS of compliments about our crew, the consignment items we had, the way we conducted the auction, the check-in/check-out process. REALLY....everything was good, BUT we could have used more bidders.

I mean if it would have been pourin' down rain it could have fixed that. If we'd had more than 5 weeks time to organize, advertise, & gather consignments it would have helped. If I had had the LLC set up earlier than what it was - it would have helped.

The fact of the matter is. We didn't. That is NO ONE's fault. We did everything we could as fast as we could - while we were still workin' our full time jobs & livin' our full time lives.

We oughta be pretty stinkin' PROUD of ourselves. I mean....we had people talkin', saw faces we had NEVER seen, got MORE COMPLIMENTS than complaints. We know what to FOCUS on next time. We KNOW what can help us IMPROVE.....and NOBODY DIED!

My CREW has not abandoned me. In fact...they're ready for the next one. My Nachadoches people from Liquidators Auction said they're comin' back!

Eventually I'll learn how to not be SO hard on myself!!

I have to thank ALL the LOCALS that came and helped out in whatever fashion they could. I have to thank my crew again, all they people supporting this little adventure of mine, THANKS to the folks at Liquidators Auction in Nachadoches & the folks at ELCO Auction over in Odem, Texas. I REALLY am VERY THANKFUL.

Stay tuned for the next one. I'm not positive on the date. We're gearin' up to have a POW WOW & figure it all out. I KNOW the next one will be in Rockport.

We have a new website.Check it out here: www.buckupauctionservices.com.  I'm still doin' some tweakin', but it's up for everyone to look at. If anybody is willin' to leave a testimonial let me know & I'll get it up ;). We will be posting new auction, amongst other things, so check it out.

Also...I started a new blog. It's called: Buck Up Baby & Ride With Jesus. The first post is up, so check it out. Until next time.......

Yea Doggie! We're Havin' an Auction!

Well folks! It’s been awhile, but I’m not lyin’ when I say that I’ve been busier than a cat on a hot tin roof! All in a good way…

For starters…Buck Up! Auction Services is holding its very first CONSIGNMENT auction at the Round Top  Rifle Hall in Round Top, Texas – THIS SATURDAY!!! This auction is an ANTIQUE, COLLECTIBLE, & UNIQUE GOODS SPECIALTY Auction. Check out our listing on Auction Zip & keep checking back! We are continually updating!

So what’s the big deal? Why EASTER weekend of all weekends to have your first one? Well…because  this week kicks off the WORLD-RENOWNED ROUND TOP ANTIQUES WEEK. And guess what folks! The Round Top Rifle Hall is where it all began MANY years ago.

Ms. Emma Lee Turney started this beautiful commotion over 40 years ago with a set of vendors in the Round Top Rifle Hall. Since then some of the original vendors & a few others have filled the hall during the show. I actually had the honor to auction at a Gala fundraiser for the Round Top Area Chamber of Commerce & Ms. Turney was the GUEST OF HONOR.

I’d kicked the idea around when I first got my license to how it may be a good idea to have an auction during the show & mentioned it to a few friends, BUT really thought it would be somethin’ to think about down the road.

Well the President of the Rifle Hall (Mr. Lundy) approached me at my Aunt & Uncle’s 50^th wedding anniversary in February & asked if we would be interested in holding an auction at the Rifle Hall during the show. He informed me that for the past 3 shows they hadn’t had any vendors. I kicked the idea around with Uncle Mele & some of my AUCTION pals, had a conversation with the PREZ about what they were expecting & what we were expecting & just how we THOUGHT we could pull this off in 5 weeks & ran with it.

Now here we are. Almost 5 weeks later. The Rifle Hall is stockin’ the bar & orderin’ the FISH to FRY on GOOD FRIDAY night that will be available during the preview & the DeLiCiOus hamburgers that will be available on Saturday…AUCTION Day. Me & my (ABSOLUTELY WoNdErFuL, BEST PEOPLE in the WORLD kinda folks) crew are working HARD on pulling EVERYTHING together---in between our full-time jobs to make this day a reality.

I’ll be honest…we don’t really know what to expect. All we can do is pull together QUALITY consignments, have a little somethin’ for everyone, GET THE WORD OUT to EVERYONE J (or as many people as possible), give’m a place to PARK their car (free parking), take a load off, give’m something to drink, somethin’ to eat, somethin’ to do, & try as be as ENTERTAINING & hospitable as possible. We want EVERYONE involved to have a good time: the BUYERS, the SELLERS, the STAFF, the HALL, the STANDERS by, the WANDERERS….EVERYONE.

Whether or not this will be FEAST or FAMINE….I’ve got some people to THANK. It’s a pretty long list, so here goes: Christ Jesus for dying for a bunch of sinners like us & giving us LIFE, The Round Top Rifle Hall & all the people that are part of it, Round Top State Bank, Stephen Keng with Keng & Keng Law Firm in Giddings,  Frank Hillbolt with Round Top Real Estate, Cooper Farm, Color Craft Printing, ALL the businesses & vendors out spreading  the word & putting up flyers, my HUSBAND for puttin’ up with not havin’ a whole lot of time with me the past few weeks, my FAMILY that has helped watch my BEAUTIFUL children while  I’m out figurin’ & takin’ a look at consignment pieces & for puttin’ out flyers, ALL the people that have shown me support along the way, OUR CONSIGNERS, The Fayette County Record, Mr. Will Moon (Say a prayer for his wife. Cancer is ugly.), Mrs. Samantha Womack & her crew at Liquidator’s Auction in Nachadoches, Little Birdie Designs for getting our website up & running, KTTX, KBUK, Mrs. Stacie Brown (you didn’t know what you were signin’ up for when you started interning with me) & Mike for puttin’ up with her J, Mrs. Cathy Gau for doin’ what you do & Hubby Jeff,  Abe & Christina Pace with Pace Fertilizer Company, the ENTIRE crew that is going to be helping  ALL week long & on AUCTION DAY, & last, but certainly not least…Uncle Melvin SCHOENST for just knowin’ what he knows, bein’ who he is, & keepin’ me as grounded as somebody like me can be.

Aaannd…..BREAK!

No, but really - I hope you can all come out, you all have a good time, & you have a WONDERFUL EASTER with your families and friends!    More stories to come my friends! Go ahead & BUCK UP BABY!

Jesus Loves the Little Children...

With all the events that have happened currently & in recent weeks....I felt the need to post. Baby Heath has GRACED us with his presence & Mommy is doing her best to transition from one sweet baby to two. I'm just SO thankful for them...for my husband & our families....for LIFE & FAITH & every BLESSING GOD has EVER granted us. Tomorrow is not promised & I feel like somehow we ALL have WORK to do.

Last Friday...after news broke of the tragedy at Sandy Hooks Elementary this was what I posted: My heart goes out to everyone effected by the HORRIBLE tragedy in CT. I pray that the world we live in finds God again, we as people start to genuinely care for each other & have common respect for human life, & that we all have courage to speak up when things seem "off." My heart hurts for the families. I found this quote: "I guess when your heart gets broken you sort of start to see cracks in everything. I'm convinced that tragedy wants to harden us and our mission is never to let it." We should all hold tight to our FAITH & know that as ugly as these recent events are...those babies are with Christ Jesus in a MUCH more beautiful place.

I think WE are the only HOPE this country, World, HUMANITY has. Guns aren't the problem. PEOPLE are the problem. WE have to set expectations for our youth. WE have to CARE for people. WE have to instill the teachings of CHRIST JESUS in our HOMES. WE have to stop ONLY looking out for ourselves & look out for each other. I can not begin to imagine what those heroic teachers & sweet babies saw, heard, felt.... I CAN say that those children & teachers had FULL lives. They LOVED & were LOVED. They aspired to be more. Let their legacies live on! As we CELEBRATE their lives...let's BUCK UP & BE BETTER PEOPLE! 

A few days ago my dear friend Ali Tidwell posted this: (THANK YOU for letting me share!) I am right on, with her here!

My Wild Country

Yesterday I came home to a sobbing mother. She was watching the memorial service for the Connecticut victims and, the President had just read the names of the fallen. I don't know if there has been a heavier silence. My mother cried for the babies, the families, but she also cried in shame. Because she, like me and so many, had come to expect such violence. She didn't condone nor tolerate but she did on some level accept it. Sadly such acts have become common place as of late.

She said she didn't know what should be done but that something had to be done. Every child can't live as a target and every parent can't fear every school day.
So I will add my voice to the hopeful chorus of change.

I don't know what would have saved those children. I don't know if giving everybody a gun would have protected the innocent or only cost more lives. I don't know if he hadn't had access to a weapon that he wouldn't have found more creative ways to end the hopes and dreams of so many. But I do know that there will be no purpose to such a loss if we use it as a weapon against each other. If we use this tragedy to rip apart the religious, political or moral values of our neighbors then we have failed the angels.
We are from the United States of America and we are losing our unity. There is an ever widening gap between the citizens of this country. Because it is easier to stand behind the lines of our principles, than to speak out and come together. It's easier to roll with the tide and keep to the current. It is a polite and well behaved way to exist.

But we were not born of the meek and mild were we? We were born of the traitors of another land, the rebels of freedom, and the hard knuckled, wide eyed dreamers of a land not yet made. We are where the wild things grow, and we were never meant to fit into boxes and shy away from the different.

Whether the starched and weathered conservative or the bleeding heart liberal. We all cry when we come into this world and we all fight like hell to stay. Black or white, gay or straight, rich or poor, redneck or Yankee. We all watched in horror when the news broke, we all prayed it wasn't true, and the lucky, we thanked God it wasn't us.

My prayer for the future is that we find the united again, and regain the roar and reputation we once proudly showed.

I have never felt such a need to speak my message but I do tonight. I think I will keep speaking this message. And I will try to begin the change I seek.

Hold tight to the ones you love, and pray for the ones you fear. For we are all the wild things.

Then.....as I was reading things on my News Feed today, I came across this You Tube Video: PLEASE WATCH IT!

I have thought A LOT this past week about MY babies & how I can PROTECT them from all the evil in our world. What do I want them to know if they are placed in a dangerous, scary, unimaginable situation? HOW can I help them? Then I came across this video.

The baby in this video has got it! She speaks with CONVICTION! She LOVES Jesus, BELIEVES in Jesus, places her TRUST in Jesus. I want my babies to KNOW, without a doubt, they HAVE JESUS & JESUS has them! 

WE ALL HAVE WORK TO DO! Our leaders need to LEAD. There is SO much this country needs & I PRAY that our leadership can get over themselves & DO WORK. I pray they quit wasting time talking about it & whatever decisions they make are GENUINELY made for the GREATER GOOD, for Americans, for our babies, for our future...

I have come to realize that I can't wait on things to change. I have to be the change I want to see. I will LOVE more, speak up more, care MORE. My dear friends...I want my babies to have this LOVE for Jesus in their hearts, that this little girl has. I want her friends & cousins to have it. I want to share his love with them, so they can SHARE it with EVERY PERSON they encounter. Let us teach them to be God's present day disiples. 

God now has a precious army of sweet angels in Heaven & I am saddened that it took the loss of their lives here on Earth to open up our eyes. We need God in our schools, in our government, in our homes, but most of all we need him IN OUR HEARTS!!  BUCK UP BABY & LET HIM IN!!

Minks, Martinis, & Manure GALA!!

Hey! Hey Everyone! So....you wanna know the PLACE TO BE in Round Top NEXT Saturday?! The Round Top Area Chamber of Commerce's Minks, Martinis, & Manure Gala in HONOR of Ms. Emma Lee Turney. That's right FOLKS! That's the LADY that started it all.... ROUND TOP ANTIQUES WEEK would not be here without her!!!!

There will be a  LIVE AUCTION, TEXAS HOLD'M GUN RAFFLES, QUICK DRAW RAFFLE,  & LIVE MUSIC by the Tres DUX Band!! Bar OPENS @ 5:30 PM, event STARTS @ 6, & FOOD served by the FaBuLOuS ROYER'S ROUND TOP CAFE & TEXAS PIZZA WAGON! Yummy, Yummy to my TUMMY :)!

ALL FUNDS raised go RIGHT BACK to the ROUND TOP AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE for things like:

-Detailed Map Project of Area
-Website maintenance & Social Media Campaigns
-ADVERTISING in LARGER Texas Publications
-EXPANDING the Chamber's Community Involvement
-Building FaBuLoUs Bus Tours that benefit EVERYONE
-Creation of WELCOME packets for NEW Businesses, Homeowners, Tours, ETC.

COME ON OUT & feel free to GO by the CHAMBER OFFICE or the ROUND TOP RIFLE HALL (Thurs thru Sat - BEFORE the event) to drop off ANY DONATIONS for the LIVE AUCTION or QUICK DRAW Raffle.

For your TICKETS....STOP BY the Round Top Area Chamber Office in Henkel Square Market OR purchase ONLINE @ www.roundtop.org!

TICKET PRICES:
$30 per PERSON
$55 per COUPLE
$200 per TABLE of 8

For any other questions or concerns please CONTACT: events@roundtop.org OR tara_royer@yahoo.com!

Now BUCK UP BABY & COME ON OUT! Spit shine those BOOTS, dig out that MINK & throw on your BLINGITY BLING & COME SUPPORT the Round Top Area Chamber & have a FUN FuN TimE!!!!

A Pregnant Auctioneer

So....How's that work? That was the question I asked myself when I found out I was pregnant with Baby Heath.

I do the first thing I thought of & Googled it. What did I find.....NOTHING...except pregnancy symptom sites. So....I looked a little harder and found all kinds of things about breathing devices & an older blog post from a female auctioneer (not pregnant & not about pregnancy & auctioneering). Then I think.... "Well....who could I talk to?" All my mentors are men & let's face it.... They just won't GET it or they think I can't handle it... OR they just giggle and congratulate me like my teacher did.

So folks....Here it is.... My EXPERIENCE as a PREGNANT AUCTIONEER.

LOTS of emotions were felt. Right timing? Can I still call bids? Will I have to stop the bigger I get? Could it hurt the baby? What will the auctioneers I'm working for think? What will this do to my progress? How will it limit me? Can you tell I worry a little?

I'll start from the beginning. Right Timing? What have I come to see? PERFECT TIMING! This was a personal question....that had LOTS to with other situations besides auctions. God's timing is ALWAYS PERFECT! We prayed & still PRAY for a happy, healthy baby & wanted Kylee to have a sibling. We were ready to try, then a few uncertainties with work arose & we thought maybe we should wait, but OBVIOUSLY that didn't happen :).

Baby Heath @ 31 weeks :).

Does what is going on with your full-time job REALLY matter...in the GRAND scheme of things? I KNOW GOD has equipped me & my husband with the tools I need to SURVIVE & SUPPORT my family in ANY situation. Everything in his plan is PERFECT & has a PURPOSE.

This is my favorite pic. Some people see & some don't, but it looks like he's looking at the camera. His eyes are open & you can see his sweet little cheeks & chin :).

As far as all the specific worries about being a PREGNANT AUCTIONEER.....it will all depend on your body, what you're used to, what you health is, BUT....for me.....I kept on keepin' on. I called bids in Odem up until I was 5 months pregnant. It kind of worked out as a good stopping point b/c we had to move for my full-time job. The auction in Odem is A LOT more INTENSE than some of the FUNDRAISING & EVENT GALAS I have continued to do. You're, pretty much, on your feet from 9AM until about 4 or 5PM & your catching bids, calling bids, answering questions from LOTS of bidders..... I miss it, BUT it was good timing.

I made the personal decision to keep it quiet. For several reasons.... BELIEVE ME.... I'm sure I THOUGHT about things TOO MUCH. This industry is SO different & so PREDOMINANTLY MALE that I just didn't have the energy to deal with ANY negativity. I REALLY want to do the BEST I can & DO NOT want to be looked at as WEAKER, LESS CAPABLE, SOMEONE to WORRY ABOUT....any of that. Now let me tell you.....The folks over at ELCO Auction are some of the BEST you will find.....not just as an AUCTION COMPANY, but as PEOPLE. I had only been helping them there since January & was JUST getting to know their regular bidders & to be honest....IT MADE MY LIFE EASIER....by handling it the way I was MOST COMFORTABLE with.

Lookin' a little large there :).

ANOTHER REASON I decided to keep quiet is.....working in the CORPORATE WORLD...(no matter what ANY handbook or company policy says) you have to PROTECT YOURSELF as a WOMAN in the WORKPLACE. EVERYONE looks out for NUMERO UNO & we should too! REMEMBER that ladies. I was in the middle of a potential work transition  & I didn't WANT anyone to think I was LESS CAPABLE. This is a WHOLE 'nother blog post....BELIEVE ME.

Carmine Church Auction.

There were a couple of potential auctions I was turned down for. I can't say for sure why, but if the auction was relatively close to my DUE DATE (5 months +) I would be UP FRONT about it.

I could & can PRETTY EASILY handle auctions that last a couple hours or so. At about 5 months....BABY HEATH was getting HEAVIER and my LUNGS had LESS ROOM to move, so (A LOT OF TIMES) I got winded. LUCKILY....at MOST of the AUCTIONS I've done after 5 months....I've had UNCLE MELE there. I also got a little warmer than normal :).

Again....your HEALTH & the HEALTH of your BABY are the MOST IMPORTANT things. I've been EXTREMELY BLESSED to not have to battle high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, or any other complications - Thus far & have a HEALTHY, GROWING BABY!!

Besides my Doctors...the only person I could REALLY talk to about the whole AUCTIONS & PREGNANCY thing is my VERY GOOD FRIEND & FELLOW AUCTIONEER..... Mrs. Stephanie Womack out of Nachadoches, Texas. If you're ever in that neck of the woods be sure to stop by Liquidator's Auction. She's got a sweet little girl too & will one day....probably have to go thru this same experience. It AMAZES me how the GOOD LORD puts certain people in your life....

I was worried about my progress as an auctioneer. This should probably be a whole 'nother blog post, but I'm dumping it all RIGHT HERE. GOD has a way of keepin' us on track. At the time we may not understand it OR agree with it (so foolish, but true). In this journey I have encountered A LOT of unknowns, opportunities, crossroads, questions, & have figured out A LOT about who I want to be, don't want to be & what I want to do. POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES turned into MOTIVATORS, but not necessarily the opportunity that I expected. I'm still at a few of those CROSSROADS & still have UNANSWERED QUESTIONS, but realized....I'm dealin' with GOD's TIME & MY TIME. I don't have to make some of these decisions b/c somone tells me to OR go a certain direction - until I figured out what is RIGHT for me and MY FAMILY. That took havin'  A TON of DIFFICULT DECISIONS dumped on me (at once) to figure it out....

Last question I had for myself...will I need to quit the bigger I get? Well...I can't say my experience will be the same for everyone. I called bids at 2 auctions this weekend. My due date is November 18th & GOD-WILLING, (if I'm not havin' a baby) I'll be calling bids at one on November 10th. Granted....I WILL NOT do a big auction alone...BUT I sure as heck don't feel like its too much. I still work on regulating my breathing & SUPRISINGLY being PREGNANT has helped me with that.

FOLKS! 2012 has been a RoLLer CoAsTer of a year for me. Sometimes it's hard to have a blog titled "Buck Up Baby," when you feel like runnin' off to a FAR away land.... That's NOT exactly what I'm all about, but the idea has been TEMPTING. It has been a real MiX of REALLY GREAT things, NOT SO great things, & CoNfUsing & DiFFiCult things....and all of them having a pretty SIGNIFICANT impact on our lives. BUT...like always...the WORDS ring TRUE: BUCK UP BABY!!

SOMETIMES....you SADDLE UP, climb on & WHOOP & RIDE & PULL that head around, but you JUST GET BEAT. I don't know about ya'll....but I learned from little on that - THAT was ONLY ROUND 1. You pick yourself UP, dust off, & CLIMB on again (a little MORE DETERMINED, pissed off & MEANIN' BUSINESS). You keep at it long enough & you'll wear'm out. PERSISTANCE my friends... The LONGER you go at it - the more you'll WIN. LIFE is a MARATHON just PREPARIN' us for that FINAL JOURNEY. SO....BUCK UP BABY & give it all you got!

STAY TUNED!! UPCOMING BLOG: Martinis, Minks, & Manure GALA!!! Sounds like a BLAST doesn't it?!

Holy Moly I'm Gettin' Roly Poly :).

Holy Moly...I know....It's been another month. I'll eventually get back on track, with my blog posts.

I plan on gettin' ya'll up to date on all the goins' on & auction business, baby business, and whatever else I want to throw in here.

First of all...I've done a few auctions, since the last blog, so I'll share with ya what I learned from them & all the fun & NOT SO FUN festivities that went with it.

The auction I did right after my last blog was for the Aransas County 4-H Livestock Club. It was a GREAT little fundraiser. It wasn't a lot of items, but let me tell ya...I think I got every penny outta those folks that I could. I have to claim a few bragging rights :). The highest baked item they sold last year was $65. This year we had several hit the $100+ mark. It was funny. At first, when I would try to get the bidders name after buying an item, I'd get responses like "Stupid" - for paying so much for a pie. I know some people can't wrap their heads around it, but this little club has 7 or so kids that raise animals. It's not like Fayette County where MOST of the kids are involved, & these kiddos bust their butts with their livestock projects and are developing skills that make them VERY well-rounded individuals. In my opinion it makes you anything but stupid to support a great group of kids/cause/organization. I'm sure we've all spent money on much worse.

Thank you Jimmie Knarvek for the photos!

The entire floor @ Paws & Taws, with some of the kiddos helping out.

Nonetheless...by the time we rolled on with the auction people changed their frame of mind. Lesson for ANYONE putting on ANY kind of auction. No matter what you or a donor think something is worth - It has to be worth it to the bidders in your audience. If you don't have a crowd that understands art...it'll be hard to get what it's "worth." Learn your audience and think about items they would like OR find other avenues to advertise the items that are not for the majority. All it takes is 2 bidders that want what you've got, BUT...they have to know about it.

I got to sell all kinds of neat stuff like: a cowboy hat signed by George Stait (boy...you shoulda seen the comotion it caused :)), welding projects made by the kids, and all kinds of goodies. Plus...I left there with a Smoker & a bunch of BEEF!!! You'll never guess how....

I guessed the weight of one of these here Market Goats :) (The red & white one). That's right! 74 lbs 8oz.... Only 1 oz off from the ACTUAL weight. SKILLS!!!

I had another auction. This one....let's just say...was a learning experience. They had the auction "advertised, organized, and handled." They just needed an auctioneer. Well....it was NOT organized the way I would've done it. In fact....It's made me look at things in a WHOLE new perspective.

Folks, YOU GET WHAT YOU PUT INTO IT. IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING....HIRE SOMEONE WHO DOES. You can raise a lot more money by doing things right. There was NO CASHIER TABLE set up, NO SPOTTERS (except who I wrangled together), NO ACCURATE INFORMATION on some of the items up for auction. On top of that the items that I was SUPPOSED to sell were put into a raffle.

By all means. We raised some money & it was more than what they had before, BUT...I don't like things done half way. SO MUCH MORE MONEY COULD HAVE BEEN RAISED & it FRUSTRATES me....if you couldn't tell. Auctions are busy, fast-paced environments and stuff happens, BUT if you have all your stations set up the way you need them - the more efficient everything will be.

From now on....if I have ANY inkling that they don't have it together...I'm not doing it. None of what happened was in my hands AT ALL, but I left FRUSTRATED & ANNOYED because it could have been SO much better. If you are not going to place any importance on an auction....DON'T DO ONE & focus on what you do find important. This group had an AMAZING OPPORTUNITY to raise money for their cause, but didn't ask the right questions to the right people. LIVE AUCTIONS at fundraising events are often the #1 MONEYMAKING element...

One person told me they expected the auction to bring more. When you take items like: Flat Screen TVs, Shotguns, Metal Art, etc.... & put them in a raffle and leave me to sell baskets packed with small things (like candles & lotion) & don't have them displayed where the bidders can see them & have incorrect information on some items - all I can do is try and get the most money that someone is willing to give. Also, if you are going to tell a donor that you are going to auction off their item & then - you move it to some other fundraising function, you should definately let them know.

I'm finished with my rant. On to more organized functions :)...

I just called bids at the annual Ledbetter Fireman's Feast. Those folks have it together. Nothing beats these little small towns where I grew up. REALLY...I mean that. Overwhelming support & a GREAT bunch of people. They even put steps beside the trailer, so I could haul my ROLY POLY self on up there :).

Me calling bids, Uncle Mele & Mr. Larry Nickel watching the crowd.

Uncle Mele callin' bids & me bein' all pregnant, being emcee & watchin' the crowd.

Hey! Hey! One more thing....being 8 months pregnant doesn't stop me! Here I am with some of my Gal Pals at the 2012 Fall Junk Prom :). No CrAzY shenannigans this time & I headed to the house a little earlier than usual, but still had a BLAST. Junk Gypsies need to open up that store ALREADY :)!

Shannon, Kacie, Little Britches Kylee, & Myself & Baby Heath in the Chandelier tent :).

Shannon, Me, Chelsey, & Kacie @ Zapp Hall.

If you need some help judging the weight of market livestock, selling baked goods, puttin' an auction together, or gettin' all GLAMMED up for Junk Prom...shoot me an email, leave me a comment, give me a call. More EXCITEMENT to come...if you can believe it.......

BUCK UP BABY & Do your best to do it RIGHT or don't do it at all!

-Heather Schoenst Kaspar
TXL#17037