In conjunction with the Convention, Marvin Caspers, Marvin Caspers Real Estate and Auctions, Auburn, Nebraska and Randy Ruhter, Ruhter Auction and Realty, Hastings, Nebraska were inducted into the Nebraska Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame.
Marvin Caspers has dedicated his life to the auction business with over 60 years of sales. He pioneered the auction method of selling farmland in Southeast Nebraska. He began auctioning farmland in 1961, which was uncommon then. Through his perseverance, land auctions are considered the “tried and true” way to sell farmland in Southeast Nebraska today.
His auction career began in 1951 working for Col. John Aufenkamp. When Col. John passed away Marvin and his brother began their own business, Caspers Brothers Auctioneers Firm.
Marvin graduated with the Charter Class of the Certified Auctioneers Institute in 1978 and was the first (and for a time, the only auctioneer) in Nebraska to hold this designation. He served on the board of directors of the Nebraska Auctioneers Association and became President in 1983. He is a founding member of the Citizens for Free Enterprise, an organization formed to fend off proposed legislation for an auctioneer license law in Nebraska. He served on the election committee in 1984 and 1985 for the National Auctioneers Conventions and assisted with their fun auctions in 1988 and 1991. He has also judged the Kansas State Auctioneers Contest.
Marvin is active in his community and has served as President of the Auburn Chamber of Commerce and Auburn Kiwanis Club. He is past Commander of the American Legion Post 23 in Auburn. He is a lifelong member of Saint John Lutheran Church of rural Auburn and has served numerous terms on the church council and cemetery board. He is currently a member of the Stone Church Foundation. He is a member of the Nemaha Valley Lodge #4 and has served for a number of years on their scholarship committee.
Randy Ruhter is a first generation, self-taught auctioneer who was handed the microphone in 1967 at the 2nd annual Prosser Consignment Auction. Prior to that, he helped organize machinery and consignors for the 1966 auction that became the birth of the Prosser Machinery Consignment Auction.
Throughout the 70s and 80s he farmed and raised cattle with his brothers who also joined him in the auction business. In 1976, he earned his real estate associate’s license and began working at Gateway Realty/Better Homes and Gardens in Hastings. Meanwhile, the annual Prosser Machinery Consignment Auction grew into one of the largest one-day consignment auctions of its kind in the Midwest. Randy’s family carried on this tradition for over 35 year as the auction grew to over 1,000 consignors and over 5,000 registered bidders. It took as many as 40 auctioneers working in teams to manage 10 to 13 auction rings selling simultaneously.
Randy Ruhter is known for his no-nonsense, shooting straight attitude who is not afraid to share his knowledge of “trade secrets” and has presented at numerous annual conventions and seminars. He is one of the original staff of instructors of the Nebraska Auction School and has instructed for over 10 years. He’s also judged numerous state bid calling contests outside of Nebraska.
He has been very active in the Nebraska Auctioneers Association serving on the board for two years, as Secretary/Treasurer for three years, second Vice President, first Vice President and President in 1985. He is the Nebraska Auctioneer’s Association 1989 Auctioneer of the Year. He has attended every Nebraska state convention since 1975. He is a life member of the National Auctioneers Association and served on their board from 1996 to 1999. He also served on their membership committee and as the chair of that committee for two years and resided on the Agribusiness Council for three years. He is a board member and chair of the NAA Foundation and is a 2008 National Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame recipient.
Very involved in his community, Randy is a member and elder in Christ Lutheran Church. He’s founder and past chair of Adams County Lutheran Education Association for ten years and raised over a million dollars for Christian Education in Adams County Elementary schools. He’s a member of the Adams County Ag Society, serving on their board for ten years and chairing the society for six years. He’s supported the Adams County 4-H program for over 35 years by conducting county fair livestock auctions. He was instrumental in bringing the Nebraska State High School Rodeo finals to Hastings and is an active volunteer and sponsor with the PRCA sanctioned Oregon Trail Rodeo. He has also been the auctioneer and chairman to the auction committee for the 2009 Cattleman’s Ball. Sertoma bestowed the Service to Mankind Award to him for his years of service to Hastings and Adams County and he is also the recipient of an Aggie Award from the Hastings Chamber of Commerce.
He is lead auctioneer and real estate broker licensed in Nebraska and Kansas for Ruhter Auction and Realty, Inc. with a team of 10 licensed Real Estate Associates, six of which are brokers and five auctioneers.
Congratulations to both men!