It is most probable that this frugal and generous woman lives in a home described as second-hand functionality. She has never owned a washing machine that she picked out herself or that did not come from an auction. A way of life, she has accepted second- hand home furnishings with grace.
As he was growing his auctioneering career, her career by default became raising kids and managing a dairy farm. The entrepreneurial spirit was kicked into high gear when he decided to open up his own local auction facility and by default she became the office manager, bookkeeper, businesswoman, human resources manager, marketer, community supporter, organizer and enthusiastic voice of the auction method of selling.
Having a chosen career as a teacher, she never missed a chance to teach all her kids the ropes of what it takes to run an auction business. Most of the math, problem solving and social skills that her kids developed, came from running a cashier’s box, dealing with customers and handing out receipts. She not only taught them the ethic of hard work, the value of opportunity, loyalty, honesty and the importance of customers & reputation but her mantra could very well have been “the family that works together stays together.”
As a person who loves learning, ideas and bettering oneself, she was the push behind going to WAA conventions early on in her husband’s career. She would always say “never have I gone that I haven’t learned something.” Each year after first attending back in the 60’s, it was get the haying done by the first of June so the whole family could go to WAA conventions. Eventually the National conventions were the choice destination for family vacations.
A natural in social settings, she meets and finds the human interest story in everyone. She continues to be the one that introduces the next friendship. She has been a one-woman welcome wagon for the WAA. She fit well (although HE was elected) into the secretary role of the growing WAA. He had the title, she did the work. In the 80’s this was position of organization, the go-to-person.
Being a writer and photographer, she always encouraged the documentation and stories of auctioneers. She wrote the very first issue of the Wisconsin Auctioneer newsletter “the Badger Chant,” the first attempt at sharing auction industry information with known auctioneers in the state. The WAA history was coordinated and brought to life by her efforts. In the 80’s she served as historian for the National Auctioneers Auxiliary. Her husband, and ultimately her auction history, is preserved at the National Auctioneers museum with a farm auction bill that she submitted.
In the prime of the association, Alice held the presidency of the auxiliary and served on various committees. The ladies auxiliary consisted of women who supported their men. It was a place of lasting friendships, a sisterhood. This group of ladies shared their lives with one another. They went on jaunts with one another. They gave one another confidence, joy and laughter. This group learned together & supported one another.
Both she and her husband always looked out for new people and took them on as special friends and made them feel welcome.
Forty years ago when Apple was not a fruit and IBM was temperamental at best, she bought her first computer. This was when most women were not even expected to balance a checkbook. She was one of the very first in Wisconsin to embrace auction software and now will not do an auction without it.
She is a forerunner for business women. She is a woman who believes we all make a difference. She is a woman who believes change is necessary. She is a woman with a heart for the underdog and disadvantaged. She is an advocate for beginning auction families. She is a woman who will find the good in everyone. She is a woman of deep faith who truly walks the walk.
A woman of great energy who dislikes growing older only because there is so much life to live, she continues to co-manage Brandau-Hill Auctions and Brandau Livestock. She is the greatest supporter of the WAA and the auction method of marketing. She has lived with her partner husband for 55 years and has passed down this way of life to their family of five children plus spouses, 13 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Congratulations, Alice Brandau, on your deserving induction into the WAA Auxiliary Hall of Fame. |
