My decision to venture into auctioneering is unique. Never did I aspire to be an auctioneer. That profession was never on the radar screen it just fell into my lap. For several years prior to going to auction school I would help out at a local cattle sale in Thessalon. This sale is still run by the Algoma Livestock Cooperative. They conduct three sales a year and is operated by area beef farmers. One day while working at one of these sales a gentleman who was acting as a ringman for the first time was doing a terrible job. After several bids had been missed and because I was doing another job in the sales ring anyway I started yelling out bids as I saw them. From then on I was asked to work as a ringman at those three yearly sales. In fact those three auctions were the only auctions I ever went to back then. The auctioneer who did a majority of the sales in our area was a man by the name of Charlie Wilmott. He was well over seventy years old in the early 1980's. The local Ag-rep for the Ministry of Agriculture in the Algoma District, Larry Ritchie expressed concern one day to an area farmer that when Charlie decided to retire there was no one with agricultural knowledge in the auction business. He wondered if there would be anyone younger willing to learn the profession. The farmer who was a neighbour of mine and acted as secretary for the local Livestock Co-op gave him my name. Mr. Ritchie contacted me; said if I was willing to go to auction school he could arrange some funding to help with the costs. I really don't know why I said yes but I said I'm not doing anything else. Mr.Ritchie found the auction school gave me all the information and arranged to have 50% of all my costs of going to school funded. So in March of 1987 I headed off to Woodstock, On. for auction school.

I had no idea what to expect from this profession but my time at Southwestern Ontario School of Auctioneering was a life altering experience. Within 5 days of graduating I worked at the Sudbury Auto Auction and have been there since that time. Upon graduation I contacted Charlie Wilmott and asked if he needed any help to which he replied, "I have a sale this Saturday come on over." Charlie handed me the mike and let me auction then asked me to come to his next sale to help out. Those first couple years of working with Charlie for gas money proved invaluable. As time progressed the torch was just passed on and Charlie over 80 years old by now just started telling people to call me.

I can't say there is one specific thing I enjoy selling over any other. We have pretty much sold everything that may cross our path. It is the power of the sale that still excites me not the item I am selling. Although personal property is the bulk of our auction experience we have done alot of farm, commercial and charity work. In fact over the last 19 years over $ 4,000,000.00 has been sold for various charities. I have always done this work for free if it is a charity I believe in from wetland conservation, medical support and research, local church and youth groups. My belief is if you believe in the cause you will treat that sale as important as one you are receiving personal gain from.

Friendships that have developed through a AAO membership and conventions have also aided me financially and socially. Networking with other auction companies on various jobs or just sharing experiences has been beneficial.

Editors Note: In February of 1999 Vernon received an honor from his peers in the Auctioneers Association of Ontario, when he was awarded the Grand Champion Trophy at the Association's Annual Convention and Competition. Vernon is an instructor at the Canadian Auction College in Barrie, Ontario, sharing his auction talents and love of the industry with our future auctioneers. His enthusiasm for the auction industry can be seen every time you see him sell and interact with people - something that e-bay and Yahoo will never be able to accomplish.