The 2019 Wisconsin State Champion Auctioneer and Novice Champion Auctioneer Contests were held in Stevens Point on Sunday, January 27th. Jenny Markham-Gehl from Genesee was crowned the State Champion and Troy Krueger from Eau Claire was named as the Novice Champion.

Contestants were judged in several areas including their presentation, voice/bid calling chant, and how effective their auctioneering is. The competition, hosted by the Wisconsin State Auctioneers Association, drew competitors from around the State.

Markham-Gehl is a proud graduate of World Wide College of Auctioneering and has pursued the Benefit Auction Specialist Designation offered through the National Auctioneers Association. Less than 1% of Auctioneers throughout North America hold this designation.  Markham-Gehl currently owns and operates Bravo Benefit Auctions and Consulting Group, a Milwaukee area based fundraising company offering professional auctioneer, ringmen and consulting services to help nonprofit organizations throughout the Midwest raise funds at their charity gala auctions. Jenny is a proud member of the Wisconsin and National Auctioneers Associations and currently serves as a director for the WAA.

Krueger started in the auction business at age 17 and is currently employed at Andrews Auctions in Eau Claire. He is a graduate of the World Wide College of Auctioneering.

The State Champion Auctioneer serves as the goodwill ambassador for the auction method of marketing and licensed auctioneers in Wisconsin. In addition to the prizes awarded, the next champion auctioneer will also represent the State of Wisconsin in the International Auctioneer Championship (IAC) held at the National Auctioneers Association (NAA) Conference and Show set for July 9-13 in New Orleans, Louisiana.