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Adams’ rhythm takes him to the top

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From auctioneering behind the barn to winning a Wisconsin state championship, Ryan Adams was recognized at the 70th Annual Wisconsin Auctioneers Convention. (Submitted photo)

By Correne Martin

 

Some of Ryan Adams’ favorite childhood memories were attending cattle auctions with his dad and brother. 

“Watching the auctioneer work never got old,” he reflected. “The fast pace kept me mesmerized.”

These days, it’s Ryan who is doing the mesmerizing.

In fact, the co-owner of Adams Auction Service, in rural Prairie du Chien, earned himself the title of 2020 Wisconsin State Champion Auctioneer, Feb. 7, at the 70th annual Wisconsin Auctioneers Convention in Stevens Point. 

He didn’t win himself any money; but he did bring home a large gold cup trophy and, of course, the prestige that comes along with the championship honor. It was his first time trying out for the state contest.

Twelve contestants from across Wisconsin, and one from Minnesota, competed by selling three items and being judged on criteria such as clarity, rhythm, repetition of numbers and filler words, presentation, numbers knowledge, etc. Then, a top five were selected and those contestants sold three more items each. Contenders were also interviewed, answering questions about what’s happening in the auction industry, how they help people and the future of the industry. From there, a winner was chosen.

“There was some good competition, especially the top five. It was a pretty humbling experience,” Ryan said. 

As the title holder, Ryan has the opportunity to compete in the National Auctioneers Association International Auctioneers Championship in San Diego in July, and he’s considering doing so. 

It’d be another feather to add to his cap.

Though, for Ryan, who started the business with his brother and business partner, Seth, in 2006, Adams Auction & Real Estate is about doing what they love, working hard and growing their community-minded family business.

The brothers—sons of Gary and Trudie Adams—graduated from the World Wide College of Auctioneering, of Mason City, Iowa, in 2006, and founded their first generation auction company that same year. Ryan was 20 and Seth 18. Since then, they added real estate sales to the business in 2014, and hired Megan Mahan and Gary Adams. All four have their broker’s licenses and, together, they sell in Wisconsin and Iowa. 

“It’s been quite the learning experience,” Ryan said, looking back, “and we’ve learned the hard way, not having that older generation in the family to learn from.”

In a Facebook post thanking all who’ve had a hand in his career success, Ryan added, “We took every auction we could get our hands on and quickly learned that we better appreciate the education we were getting from the auctions, because the money was not always there. We did our best for all our sellers, big and small, while keeping honesty as our main policy.”

Having put a lot of time, enthusiasm and diligence into the company, Adams Auction now holds 300-plus auctions for real estate, livestock, hay, produce, estates and benefits. They’re open to new sectors as well. They do live and online auctions.

“I love it. We’re a family business. We’re staying on the cutting edge all the time, and finding new ways to be involved in the community,” Ryan said.

The Wisconsin State Champion Auctioneer contest started in 1999, and the winner is considered the spokesperson for auctioneering in the state. It followed the State Fair Bid-Calling Contest, which started in 1991. Former area champions include Tim Slack, of Lancaster, in 2004, and, in the novice category (five years or less), Kurt Kramer, of Prairie du Chien, in 2001.

As for Ryan, he’s realizing his own ambitions—one sale at a time. From his younger days alongside brother Seth, auctioning off the same cow, over and over, behind their family’s barn, to owning their own business.

Ryan and his wife, Megan, have two children, Cash and Evelyn. He also enjoys raising Red Angus cattle, riding horse, hunting and fishing, and chatting about auctions with new and old clients, customers and friends. 

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