May

Happy National Auctioneers Week!

National Auctioneers Week is May 2-7, 2022. Annually, National Auctioneers Week is the week leading up to the first Saturday in May, which is National Auctioneers Day.

Auctioneering is one of history’s oldest professions but began to make great strides after World War II. At this time, the sale of goods and real estate was booming, and the modern-day auction method was born.

We take this time to recognize and show our appreciation to our Steffes Group auctioneers that you will often see behind the microphone!

Bob Steffes, Founder

Bob founded Steffes Auctioneers (now Steffes Group) in 1960 and has been instrumental in the success of Steffes Group today. He attended the Reisch American School of Auctioneering in Mason City, IA in December 1959 and began his auction career selling feeder cattle at the Union Stockyards. He is a past recipient of the World Livestock Auctioneer Championship and North Dakota Auctioneer Championship. Bob has served as the president of the NAA and North Dakota Auctioneers Association and in 1999 Bob was inducted into the National Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame.

Scott Steffes, President

Scott is the President of Steffes Group, Inc and holds many titles, degrees, and awards. He is a past recipient of the International Auctioneer Championship (IAC), North Dakota Auctioneer Championship, and Minnesota Auctioneer Championship. He also maintains his real estate broker license in several states. Scott has been with Steffes since 1980 and enjoys road biking, skiing, flying, spending time with his grandchildren, and hanging out in Minnesota lake country.

• What year did you start with Steffes?
  • “That’s hard to say because I started going to auctions with my dad and my older brother, Greg as a child at the sale barn and out in the country.  From there, I used to always go when my mom clerked auctions starting when I was maybe 10 or 12 to pad and sometimes cashier because I could count change and I had neat handwriting. Plus, it was way better than sitting on a tractor and I didn’t have to get dirty.”
• Did you attend auction school? If so, what school? What year did you graduate?
  • “I went to Dick Dewees’ Missouri Auction School in Kansas City, MO in 1980.  My Dad was a sometimes instructor and it was the largest in the country.  I think we had better than 150 students.”
• What is your favorite thing about your career?
  • “Easy. The people. After that, I’d say that every single day is different.”
• What is the best life advice you’ve ever received?
  • “Nothing really except all the stuff my dad taught me about how to get along and treat people and what I learned from watching John Wayne movies.  Ha!”
• If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would it be?
  • “Australia”
• If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
  • “Salmon and Broccoli”
• If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be?
  • “Jesus Christ”

Brad Olstad, Auctioneer

Brad graduated from the Reisch American School of Auctioneering in Mason City, IA in 1977, and has been with Steffes since 1978. Not only is Brad one of our longest-standing Auctioneers, but he is also an equipment appraiser and a respected source of equipment values. He is the past President of the North Dakota Auctioneers Association, and a past North Dakota State Champion Auctioneer.

• What year did you start with Steffes?
  • “I worked with Bob Steffes starting in 1978.”
• What is your favorite thing about your career?
  • “The people and getting to know their story.”
• What is the best life advice you’ve ever received?
  • “What goes around, comes around.”
• If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would it be?
  • “Switzerland – The Alps.”
• What’s your go-to Karaoke song?
  • “Cover of the Rolling Stones” – Dr. Hook”
• If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
  • “Steak
• If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be?
  • “Ronald Reagan.”
• We’re replacing Mount Rushmore with celebrities. Which four celebrities make the cut?
  • “Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, Jerry Lewis, Martin Luther King.”

Max Steffes, Auctioneer

Max Steffes is a 3^rd generation auctioneer with the Steffes Group and works as the Site Leader for their West Fargo, ND location. Max has been around the auction business his whole life but joined the company full-time in 2013 and has extensive experience with multi-million dollar farm equipment and farmland auction sales throughout the greater Midwest. Max was born in Fargo, ND, and spent part of his time growing up in Scottsdale, AZ. He graduated from North Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and while attending college he sold residential real estate for a firm in Fargo, ND. He also is a June 2013 graduate of the World Wide College of Auctioneering. He is passionate about what he does and takes great pride in the service he provides for his clients. Outside of the work environment he likes to be active and stay fit, enjoys Minnesota lake country, reading, and spending time with his wife and daughter.

• What is your favorite thing about your career?
  • “There is very little monotony in the auction business. We are always involved or working with some pretty awesome and sometimes “unique” people.”
• What is the best life advice you’ve ever received?
  • “Keep your nose to the grindstone!” or “People never forget how you make them feel”
• If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would it be?
  • “Australia or a remote tropical island somewhere would be fun.”
• What’s your go-to Karaoke song?
  • “Karaoke and I don’t mix well!”
• If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
  • “Potatoes with steak, or some other sort of meat.”
• If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be?
  • “Teddy Roosevelt, circa 1910. The man fascinates me. City & Country…Politician & Cowboy.”
• We’re replacing Mount Rushmore with celebrities. Which four celebrities make the cut?
  • “I don’t feel qualified to answer as I can hardly name just four!”

Scott Gillespie, Auctioneer

Scott joined Steffes as an Auctioneer in 2008 and looks forward to many more years of helping out customers. Scott was born on a beef and grain farm by Johnson, MN (population 29!). After high school, Scott graduated from Alexandria Technical College as well as the World Wide College of Auctioneering. He is currently farming in partnership with his brother. Scott is president of Trinity Lutheran Church, Chairman of the Big Stone County Soil and Water Conservation District, serves on the Bois de Sioux Watershed District board of managers, and is the reigning North Dakota Champion Auctioneer. He and his wife Erin have been blessed with two great boys, Colby and Colton. He enjoys shooting, fishing, and hunting of all kinds.

• What is your favorite thing about your career?
  • “Helping people when they need it most.”
• What is the best life advice you’ve ever received?
  • “Having a good friend is better than winning the lottery.”
• If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would it be?
  • “Eastern Africa.”
• What’s your go-to Karaoke song?
  • “The Cowboy Rides Away” - George Strait”
• If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
  • “Crème brûlée”
• If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be?
  • “Theodore Roosevelt”
• We’re replacing Mount Rushmore with celebrities. Which four celebrities make the cut?
  • “George Strait, Louis LaMoure, Paul Gillespie, Tom Selleck”

Ashley Huhn, Auctioneer

Ashley Huhn is the Site Leader at our Litchfield facility and is a professional auctioneer, real estate agent, and appraiser. He specializes in agriculture equipment and farm real estate. Growing up on a farm and having an understanding of the farm dynamics has given Ashley the knowledge and tools needed to assist his customers through a successful auction process. When not at work, Ashley can be found working on the family farm, spending time with family, or donating his auction services to local charity groups, such as 4-H and FFA. 

• What year did you start with Steffes?
  • “2006 – When CNH was purchased by Steffes.”
• Did you attend auction school? If so, what school? What year did you graduate?
  • “Yes in 2008.  I attended the World Wide College of Auctioneering in Denver, CO.”
• What is your favorite thing about your career?
  • “My favorite part is being able to help people.  Every auction we do is different and every auction has different reasons behind it but at the end of the day it is just people helping people.”
• What is the best life advice you’ve ever received?
  • “The key to happiness is being grateful.”
• If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would it be?
  • “Australia.   I have gone once to visit a friend but I would like to go back with my family someday.”
• What’s your go-to Karaoke song?
  • “I don’t sing Karaoke…for good reason”
• If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
  • “Prime Rib.  I am a big beef guy.”
• If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be?
  • “John Maxwell.  He does some leadership podcasts that I really have gotten into and I believe him to be one of the great communicators of our time.  It would be fun to sit down and meet with him.”
• We’re replacing Mount Rushmore with celebrities. Which four celebrities make the cut?
  • “Definitely the site leaders at Steffes Group!”

Tim Meyer, Auctioneer

Tim is the Site Leader of the Mount Pleasant, IA Steffes facility and has been in the Auction and Real Estate business for over 25 years. Tim has a background in lending and holds a degree from Iowa State University in Agricultural Business and Agronomy. He maintains a real estate broker license in several states and is a 1994 graduate of the World Wide College of Auctioneering as well as the 2006 Iowa State Champion Auctioneer. Tim and his wife are blessed with three wonderful children and live on an active family farm specializing in corn, soybeans, cow calf, and confinement swine feeding operation. In his spare time, he enjoys showing cattle with his kids, and spending time with his family and friends.

• What year did you start with Steffes?
  • “2010”
• What is your favorite thing about your career?
  • “The people.”
• What is the best life advice you’ve ever received?
  • “The most important thing you need to know, is what you don’t know.”
• If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would it be?
  • “I would like to tour the Northeast United States”
• What’s your go-to Karaoke song?
  • “Fireman” by George Strait”
• If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
  • “Dessert. Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake.”
• If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be?
  • “George Washington”
• We’re replacing Mount Rushmore with celebrities. Which four celebrities make the cut?
  • “John Wayne, John Schneider, Jesus, and Burt Reynolds”

   

Randy Kath, Auctioneer

In 2008 Randy graduated from the World Wide College of Auctioneering in Mason City, IA and immediately joined Steffes where he specializes in livestock and hay sales, forage and livestock equipment, and dairy asset management. He also coordinates farm sales, online sales, AgIron events, and equipment appraisals. Randy grew up on a family farm in central MN where they raised dairy and beef cattle as well as crops. He attended college at the University of Wisconsin in River Falls and traveled throughout North America and internationally as a self-employed cattle fitter working shows and sales. 

• What year did you start with Steffes?
  • “2008”
• What is your favorite thing about your career?
  • “Auctioneering live events in front of large audiences”
• What is the best life advice you’ve ever received?
  • “Never waste a good speech on a bad bull.”
• If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would it be?
  • “I would go back to Italy”
• What’s your go-to Karaoke song?
  • “Keep your Hands to Yourself – Georgia Satellites”
• If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
  • “Kath Land and Livestock home raised beef tenderloin.”
• If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be?
  • “Ronald Reagan”
• We’re replacing Mount Rushmore with celebrities. Which four celebrities make the cut?
  • “George Straight, Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, and Ronald Reagan”