Huron Expositor, 2007-03-14, Page 9The Huron Expositor • March 14, 2007 Page 9
News
Local auctioneer wins provincial championship
Susan Hundertmark
Ever since he was a 13 -year-old
working at the Brussels Stockyard,
Greg Wheeler has been practising
the sing-songy rhythm of an auc-
tioneer.
"I'm a farm kid and I spent a lot
of time on the tractor practising my
auctioneer's chant. Since I heard
my first auctioneer, I wanted to try
it. It's something that gets in your
head," he says.
Now 34, Wheeler, of RR 5
Brussels, recently won a provincial
auctioneering championship held
recently in Stratford, Ont., in the
novice category.
And, as he begins working
towards a career as a professional
auctioneer, Wheeler is planning to
compete in the national auctioneer
championships in Toronto in
September.
After spending years sitting in the
audience at auctions and volunteer-
ing at parties to auction off items
that could raise money, for example,
for couples at a stag and doe,
Wheeler decided to get serious
about his love of auctioneering and
take a course.
Wheeler took a three-week course
at the World Wide College of
Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa
where he was taught to refine his
chant.
"Twenty-two teachers taught us
different styles and ways of selling,"
he says.
"I'm a people person and I'm a
talker. This is a hard business to
get into but it's what I've dreamed
to do," says Wheeler who works
with his father at a beef farm near
Brussels and at Smith Packaging in
Seaforth as head of maintenance.
After taking the course, Wheeler
competed in the provincial auction-
eering championship two years ago
and placed sixth.
"I thought the competition would
give me some exposure and get me
on my way and it worked," he says.
During the past year, he's worked
as an auctioneer at 45 sales for both
auction companies and charities,
T Usborne
&
Hibbert
likMutual Fire
Insurance
Company
Head Office Exeter, ON NOM ISI
235-0350 • Est. 1876
Residential
Farm & Commercial
Properties
DIRECTORS& ADJUSTERS
Joe CAA*, R. 5 Mitchel 348.9705
Tam Facey, R.R. 2 Orbit 345-2947
Larry 9arimr, R.R. 2 Staffa 3452878
Jock Wyatt, R.R. 1 ki ton 229$152
Michael O'Sha, R.R. 3 &amen 225-2800
Morris views, R.R. 2 St. Paub 393-8548
Wayne Mayer
Exeter
235-1915
David Moon
Dubh
345-2512
Jason Uric
Mitchel
34/-9012
Barr Warden
Staffs
346-2777
most in North Huron.
He had an opportunity to speak
about auctioneering at the Royal
Winter Fair in the middle of differ-
ent horse shows.
"Anything can be sold by auction.
I taught a six-year-old how to auc-
tion in a couple of minutes," he
says.
Wheeler practises his auctioneer-
ing chant a half hour to an hour
every day and has set up a P.A. sys-
tem in his house to do so.
He also practises tongue twisters
to master "the rollyof the tongue -
the pop, they call it."
"I've been called a livestock or car
auctioneer because I'm very fast
and fluent but clear and under-
standable too," he says.
Wheeler says conducting an auc-
tion requires total concentration to
keep track of people's bids and the
items sold.
"It's a zone. And, you need a good
memory," he says.
He adds that auctioneers need a
good sense of humour and the abili-
ty to read body language since some
buyers signal to you with a thumb
movement or a wink.
"If the crowd is quiet and listen-
ing or tapping their toes, you know
you're doing a good job conducting
the sale. It's like a song if you're
good at it with the rhythm and the
pop," says Wheeler.
"It's an adrenaline rush. It takes
adrenaline to keep you going and
sharp," he says.
Wheeler won a trophy and a jack-
et for winning the provincial cham-
pionship.
"I think of myself as an appren-
tice right now but I think becoming
professional is right around the cor-
ner," he says.
Susan
Hundertmark
photo
Greg Wheeler, of
Brussels, recently
won a provincial
novice auctioneer-
ing championship
held in Stratford.
He is planning to
compete at the
nationals this fall.
Avon sae.a,
Maitland
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Fairness
Honesty
Empathy
Respect
Intity
Courage
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Compassion
Peneverance
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Rwp slid ty
titivating
Character
The Avon Maitland District School Board
is Seeking Your Assistance
The Province of Ontario has established new
procedures to assist school boards through the student
accommodation review process. The new procedures
call for boards to establish a public input process that
provides a complete picture of each school's value to
its students and to its respective community.
According to the Pupil Accommodation Review
Guidelines, boards must establish a "Generic School
Valuation Template" with the assistance of a public
committee. The Avon Maitland District School Board
is now seeking community representatives to join this
corpmittee in order to create the Template.
We are seeking community, parent and staff
representatives from elementary and secondary
school councils, as well as two elected municipal
representatives and two representatives of the business
community. The committee will also include trustees,
principals and senior staff.
If.you are interested In participating in this process
please apply In writing by electronic or regular mail
no later than Wednesday, March 21 to:
Avon Maitland District School Board
62 Chalk Street, Seaforth, Ontario NOK 1 WO
email: info@fc.amdsb.ca
www.yourschools.ca
F.NNrvERSTEEG
Char,
*'Canadian Food Agence canadienne
Inspection Agency d'inspection des aliments
PUBLIC NOTICE
NEW REGULATIONS FOR
HANDLING, TRANSPORTING
AND DISPOSING OF CATTLE
CARCASSES AND TISSUES
The Canadian Food Inspection
Agency (CFIA) is enhancing
regulations to help eliminate
bovine spongiform encephalopathy
(BSE), or mad cow disease,
from Canada.
Beginning July 12, 2007, there are new require-
ments for cattle producers; slaughterhouses;
4 feed, pet food and fertilizer manufacturers;
waste management facilities and others who
handle, transport or dispose of cattle remains.
Everyone involved must be prepared.
Visit www.inspection.gc.ca/bse or call
1-800-442-2342 to learn more.
Canada