Page 1 - 4th Qtr 2017 Newsletter TAA_FINAL

TEXAS AUCTIONEER

TEXAS AUCTIONEERS

ASSOCIATION
The Official Publication of the Texas Auctioneers Association, Inc. 4th Quarter • 2016

FIRST ANNUAL TEXAS LONE STAR OPEN WAS AN CO-CHAIRMAN TLSO
By: Troy Robinett

Overwhelming Success!

The first annual Texas Lone Star Open Bid Calling Krista contacted fairs and festivals
Contest was held with overwhelming success in the across Texas. She explained to
Historic Fort Worth Stockyards in Fort Worth Texas them what our bid calling contest
Friday October 28th. The TLSO was blessed to be a part was, what it would require
of the Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering. With a portion of and how it would benefit both
our proceeds benefiting the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital parties. After narrowing our
for Children & Steaks for Troops. options down to three, we
decided to partner with the
Fourteen contestants from across Texas and outside Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering. Red Steagall’s Cowboy
our state boarders came and competed in a TRUE OPEN Gathering brings in thousands of people from across
bid calling format. With first place taking home $3,500, the U.S. and even a few from overseas. Promoting the
second place $1,000 & third place $500. western and rural way of life to the attendees is a
major part of Red’s gathering. Chuck wagons, cowboy
A year ago, when Joel Lemley and I sat on his cooking contest, stock dog trials, cowboy poetry and
front porch in Blackwell, TX. even a ranch rodeo bring in
We discussed ways the the general public for a fun
Texas Auctioneers Association family friendly weekend. From
could promote the AUCTION our first meeting with Hub
METHOD OF MARKETING to Baker and his team, we knew
the public as a FIRST means the TLSO was going to be a
of marketing assets NOT a great fit!
last resort. We looked for
a way Auctioneers could As we began this uphill
showcase the unique and challenge of starting a new
captivating talent that is the contest, I reached out to others
Auctioneers chant. Naturally, who had taken on this task
we gravitated toward a bid both with success and failure.
calling contest. But starting It was very interesting to listen
a NEW bid calling contest about their experiences both
was a HUGE undertaking! First good and bad. A universal theme
and foremost, we needed a venue that would have an I gathered from these conversations was the amount of
opening for such an event. Bid calling contests require man power that is was going to take. One, two, or even
a lot of time and space that most events that draw in five people was not going to cut it. We need a lot of
the general public would not allow us to have. This is volunteers. Early on we reached out to members of
where our Executive Director Krista Richter stepped up the TAA board and our membership.
in a major way! continued on page 6

Happy Holidays

to you and your family

from the

Texas Auctioneers Association!