Wisconsin Auctioneers Association (WAA)
WI Championship Auctioneer Contest Rules (Revised 2022)
1. The full name of the contest is “WISCONSIN AUCTIONEERS ASSOCIATION, INC. AUCTIONEER CHAMPIONSHIP.”
2. There shall be one division combined for men and women.
3. Contestants shall be 18 years of age or older, members of the WAA, register to attend the entire conference, and hold a current Wisconsin auctioneer license. An auction market, auction company, private company or business person, association, newspaper, etc. may sponsor a contestant.
4. The current Novice of the Year shall be one of the contestants but his/her entry fee shall be waived.
5. Entries, accompanied by a $100 non-refundable entry fee, must be received prior to the contest. All entries will be date stamped when received. Contestants will receive a confirmation notification.
6. All contestants must attend the contestant meeting for orientation and drawing for order of appearance.
7. The dress code used for the International Auctioneer Championship Contest (IAC) will be used, specifically: men shall wear business suits/ties and dress shoes. Women shall wear business suits (pants or skirt) and no open-toe shoes. Failure to meet the dress code may be cause for elimination at the call of the contest committee.
8. The sound system shall be preset. Contestants will be allowed to test it in advance but cannot adjust it during the contest.
9. Announcements the day of the contest will take precedence over printed material.
10. Five judges shall be selected by the contest committee. Four judges must be involved in the auction industry (one from the WAA Hall of Fame) and one may be from the private sector.
11. The WAA scoring system (attached) will be used.
12. When the contestant is called by the Emcee, the contestant shall come to the microphone and state only his/her name, city, contestant number, and sponsor(s), if any. Any reference of a commercial nature for the individual auctioneer shall be cause for a reduction of score.
13. In the preliminary round, each contestant shall sell two consecutive items. Before the leaving the microphone, the contestant shall again state his/her name and contestant number.
14. Scores from the preliminaries will determine who advances to the finals.
15. If a tie score occurs in the preliminary round, the contestant with the highest score in the Chant/Voice category will prevail.
16. All contestants will be called to the stage for announcement of the finalists. The number of finalists shall be based on the following sliding scale: 10 or fewer contestants–five finalists; 11+ contestants–six finalists.
17. There will be a drawing for the order in which finalists compete.
18. When the finalist’s is called by the Emcee, the contestant shall come to the microphone and state only his/her name, city, contestant number, and sponsor(s), if any. Any reference of a commercial nature for the individual auctioneer shall be cause for a reduction of score.
19. In the final round the contestants will answer two questions selected by the committee. A time limit of two minutes per question will apply after the question has been read. The contestant may ask to have the question repeated only once. The contestant will immediately thereafter sell two consecutive items.
20. Before leaving the microphone, the contestant shall again state only his/her name, city, contestant number, and sponsors if any.
Any reference of a commercial nature for the individual auctioneer shall be cause for a reduction of score.
21. Final scores are determined by combining the interview and bid-calling scores of the finals round.
22. The scores from the preliminaries will be used as the tie-breaker in the finals.
23. The following prizes will be awarded:
CHAMPION – $400 cash, an allowance of up to $250 for a championship ring/pendant/belt buckle, trophy, following year’s WAA dues. The winner will represent WAA and have the entry fee paid for the IAC Contest at the following National Auctioneers Association Conference and Show.
RESERVE CHAMPION – $250 cash, trophy, following year’s WAA dues.
FIRST RUNNER-UP – $150 cash and a trophy.
24. Contestants shall not be given the exact order of finish other than Champion, Reserve Champion & First Runner Up. Score sheets and judges’ comments will be sent after the contest.
25. The winner shall be referred to as “John/Jane Doe, Wisconsin State Champion Auctioneer.”
26. The champion agrees to make a minimum of two promotional appearances on behalf of Wisconsin Auctioneers Association and participate as a speaker or panelist at the following WAA Conference and Show. The champion will serve on the championship contest committee for the two following years and be present at next year’s championship contest.
27. Committee members shall not participate in the contest in the year in which they serve.
28. Past champions may not compete in subsequent contests.
29 The committee chair shall address, as needed, any and all errors or omissions regarding rules and regulations of the contest. The decision of the committee chair shall be final and binding at the time a decision is made and shall apply to all contestants.
30. All proceeds from the auction will be used at the discretion of WAA. An optional buyer’s fee may be charged.