Written By: The Country Today
Kendall Thiel of Thiel and Thiel Auction Service, Chilton, along with a new board of directors, were sworn in as president of the Wisconsin Auctioneers Association during the annual Wisconsin Auctioneers Convention in Stevens Point.
A fourth-generation auctioneer and professional ringman, Thiel conducts dozens of real estate, personal property and benefit auctions throughout the state, helping raise millions of dollars for several nonprofit organizations. In 2015, he won the WAA Ringman Championship, and he has been in the finals of the State Champion Auctioneer contest at the Wisconsin State Fair. He has been an active board member of the WAA and many other organizations, is a member of the National Auctioneers Association, a past Realtor of the Year in Calumet County and a licensed real estate appraiser and broker.
His family auction business will soon be a century old. Thiel’s great-grandfather, Andy Thiel, started the business and was followed by his grandfather, Randy, and father, Jerry, who started in the business in 1972. Thiel has worked with his father for more than 27 years. Thiel is married with three children and, in his free time, enjoys traveling and spending time at his cabin, hunting and fishing with family and friends.
Along with Thiel, the WAA board of directors for 2018 consists of President-Elect Jeffrey Hines, Ellsworth; Vice President David Allen, Cross Plains; Treasurer Beaner Stockwell, Dorchester; Past President Carol Wagenson, New Lisbon; Director Jim Gavin, Reedsburg; Director Jenny Gehl, Dousman; Director Curt Kramer, Prairie du Chien; Director Rich Ranft, Beloit; Director Bridget Siler, Rochester, Minn.; and Director Scott Werlein, Mondovi.
Directors are elected for a three-year term, and those who hold an office have a one-year term, with the exception of the treasurer, who has a two-year term.
Upcoming WAA events include the 2018 Livestock Marketing Association Auctioneer Championship Contest on June 9 and the Wisconsin Championship Auctioneer Contest held at the Wisconsin State Fair on Aug. 7. The WAA Legislative Committee is involved with various bills pertaining to the auction industry, and this fall, the organization will conduct Continuing Education courses for credit for auctioneers in Wisconsin and neighboring states.
