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A cowboy hat and a gavel

Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Hay River (Jan 03/05) - When anyone is planning an auction in Hay River, the man to turn to is Wally Schumann Sr.

The 68-year-old has been an auctioneer -- mostly part-time -- for about 30 years. And he says he enjoys it.

"It's good entertaining and socializing with people," Schumann says.




Wally Schumann Sr. enjoys being a part-time auctioneer in Hay River.


He says he began auctioneering in Fort Smith, where he once operated a second-hand store.

"It all kind of goes together in one package between a second-hand store and auctioneering."

These days, he helps out various Hay River organizations with fundraising auctions, and occasionally works for government auctions and at a Hay River auctioneering company.

In the past, he also worked for auctioneering companies in B.C. and Alberta. That was when he auctioned the most expensive item of his career -- a boat valued at about $500,000.

Schumann explains there are certain skills to being a good auctioneer.

"You've got to have a good memory for one thing," he says.

An auctioneer has to remember the bids as they happen and the value of the item being auctioned.

If he stops for a "pep talk" to buyers, Schumann also has to remember where the bidding left off.

"You've got to be quite alert," he says, adding it all comes naturally for him.

Schumann acquired an auctioneer's certificate several years ago to allow him to conduct government auctions.

That required attending a 10-day course at a college in Olds, Alta.

Among the rules he learned at the course were that the only hat an auctioneer should wear is a cowboy hat. That is probably because of the western roots of auctioneering in North America, he explains.

They are also supposed to only acknowledge a bidder with an open hand, and never point, he says. "That's a real no-no."

Schumann says an auctioneer always has to be in control at all times.

Schumann conducts about a dozen charity auctions a year.

"The people up here are quite generous with their charity auctions," he says.

In fact, he sees many people buy items for well above their value.

"They know it's going for a good cause."