2019 Auctioneer of the Year, Hall of Fame and New Officers and Directors Announced for Nebraska Auctioneers Association

(Omaha, Nebraska) Travis Augustin, Ruhter Auction & Realty, Inc., Hastings, NE, has been elected President of the Nebraska Auctioneers Association for 2019-2020. Travis Augustin joined Ruhter Auction and Realty, Inc. as an auction assistant/ring man the summer after graduating college in 1995. For the next ten years, Travis also operated a row crop and cow/calf operation. This experience in production agriculture has been extremely beneficial in meeting the needs of his ag real estate and farm equipment clients. In 2004, Travis obtained his Real Estate Sales Associate license in Nebraska and in 2005 also became licensed in Kansas. In 2006, Travis relinquished most of his duties with the family farming operation to join Ruhter Auction & Realty, Inc. full time. That same fall Travis graduated from World Wide College of Auctioneering. Since that time, Travis has been involved in hundreds of real estate and personal property auctions. In 2014, Travis along with Ryan Samuelson, acquired Ruhter Auction & Realty from co-founders Randy and Barb Ruhter. Travis is currently the managing broker for the company and is actively involved in the national and state auctioneer associations. Travis, and his wife Kelly, reside on an acreage northwest of Hastings with their four children Tobie, Alex, Praxton and Annika. His election was announced at the 71st Annual Convention held at the DoubleTree Hotel, Omaha, Nebraska, May 17-19, 2019. Roy Montgomery, Montgomery Auction & Realty, Guide Rock, NE, was elected President-Elect and Scott Jarman, The Auction Mill, Cedar Bluffs, NE, was elected Vice President.Newly elected board members include Rusty Rhynalds, Rhynalds Auction & Realty, LLC, Minden, NE; Shayne Fili, Auction Solutions, Omaha, NE; and Luke Huddleston, Marshall Land Brokers and Auctioneers, Kearney, Nebraska.Also, in conjunction with the convention, Miles Marshall, Marshall Land Brokers and Auctioneers, Kearney, NE, was named Nebraska Auctioneer of the Year. Miles was awarded a commemorative plaque, Stetson hat and trophy belt buckle. Jack and Linda Underwood, Underwood Realty & Auctions, Exeter, Nebraska, was inducted into the Auctioneers Hall of Fame. Aris Rut, Rut Auction Service, Dorchester, NE, was awarded the Auxiliary Hall of Fame award.

2019 Scholarship Recipients

Awarded $1,000 college scholarships at the annual awards banquet from both the association and the auxiliary were Kacey Allen. Kacey is the daughter of Kurt & Kristi Allen, and the granddaughter of the late Keith Kort. She is planning on attending Kansas State University to major in Animal Science or Pre-Veterinary Medicine. Her ultimate goal is to graduate from vet school and become a large animal veterinarian; Piper Rasmussen, daughter of Ray & Jennie Rasmussen and granddaughter of Jack Nitz. She plans to attend Midland University in Fremont to study Accounting with the intention of becoming a Certified Public Accountant; Kaden Schow, who is the son of Kevin & Kim Schow. Kaden plans to attend the University of Nebraska – Lincoln majoring in Agribusiness. After college he wants to return home and help with the family auction business and family farm; and Adam Schultis who is the son of Aaron & Lisa Schultis. He is currently a freshman at the University of Nebraska in Kearney working towards a degree in Biology Comprehensive Wildlife. After college, he plans to become a rangeland ecologist.

Association Information

The Nebraska Association works with more than 3,500 members of the National Auctioneers Association throughout the world. The National Auctioneers Association is the largest organization of its kind dedicated to promoting the auction method of marketing.

The Nebraska Auctioneers Association is headquartered in Rising City, Nebraska.

2019 Auctioneer of the Year – Miles Marshall

Miles Marshall of Kearney was presented the Auctioneer of the Year award at the annual convention of the Nebraska Auctioneers Association in Omaha.

Marshall operates Marshall Land Brokers & Auctioneers of Kearney. He holds the distinction of having sold more than 1,000 farms and ranches throughout his career.

Miles Marshall has been a member of the Nebraska Auctioneers Association and National Auctioneers Association for 40 years. He has been a full-time auctioneer his entire career. He graduated from the Missouri Auction School in 1978. Miles served two terms as Secretary-Treasurer of the Nebraska Auctioneers Association. He was awarded the Nebraska Bid Calling Champion in 1997. He is a graduate of the National Auctioneers Association CAI (Certified Auctioneers Institute). In 2015 Miles was elected Vice President, 2016 elected President-Elect and 2017 elected President of the NeAA and then served as Executive Officer in 2018.

Miles’ professionalism, integrity, honesty and talent has been his biggest contribution to the auction business. He is an example of what an auctioneer should be. His professionalism has illustrated how effective auctions can be. He has been a mentor for many and being a real estate agent Miles has handled over 1,000 real estate transactions in his career.

Miles, along with his father (Robin) have developed their company into one of Nebraska’s leading equipment auction companies, including a very successful absolute farm equipment consignment auction they hold twice a year.

Miles has been instrumental staying at the forefront with technology, one of the first in the state to establish a web site with links to other sites, using social media, computerized clerking, cataloging and online bidding.

It has been said that in an area where there is a good auctioneer there will be more auctions; that is certainly the case with Miles Marshall. Because of his effectiveness in conducting auctions there is more ag land real estate sold at auction in Central Nebraska and Northern Kansas.

Miles served as the chairman of the auction committee for the 2010 Cattlemen’s Ball and has been active in several charity fundraising auctions.  Starting in 1995 until present, he has served as one of the auctioneers for the “GOLD” Kearney Catholic High School annual fundraiser, (Raising over $4,000,000).  Miles and his wife, Brenda, served as chairmen of the event I n 2011. He has conducted the fundraising auction for the KCHS Activities Association for many years and has sold 4-H auctions for three counties for several years. Through the years, Miles and Brenda have made many contributions to worthy causes, including their church.

Miles and Brenda have three daughters, two son-in-law’s and three grandchildren.

2019 Nebraska Auctioneer Hall of Fame Inductee – Jack and Linda Underwood

The Nebraska Auctioneers Association honored Jack and Linda Underwood, Exeter, NE by inducting them into their Auctioneer Hall of Fame.

Sometimes a challenging period is the impetus to begin an unknown journey that leads to a life of great joy and success. For Jack and Linda Underwood of Underwood Realty & Auctions, that is the beginning of their story in the real estate and auction industry.

It has culminated in their induction into the Nebraska Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame at the organization’s annual banquet held recently in Omaha.

In the 1980’s, Jack picked up some part-time work with a local auctioneer and he recruited Linda to join him. Jack clerked, and Linda “ran sheets.” The crackling energy of the auction world quickly became addictive, and Jack recognized that his outgoing wife had the personality and the passion to become a successful auctioneer herself.

Unbeknownst to Linda, he paid the tuition for the Nebraska Auction School, and insisted she attend. While she went to school, Jack did too, earning his Nebraska real estate sales and brokerage licenses. Linda graduated in 1985, earning the title of Colonel.

On Sunday, July 19, 1987, the Underwood’s held their first auction, and shortly thereafter the Nebraska Auctioneers Association named Linda Rookie Auctioneer of the Year. Now, 30 years later, after accidentally joining the industry, they are long-standing, well-known auctioneers of everything from farm equipment, real estate, and antiques and collectables.

Their exquisite care for their clients’ property is a labor of love for Linda, who with her team, meticulously cleans, packs and displays family heirlooms in their best light. She is known for merchandising and showcasing personal property at the sale in all its glory. She writes every sale bill, insisting on exacting standards for the descriptions, down to how things are capitalized! She treats every item as if it was her own, giving it the careful attention, it deserves.

As the Auction Manager, Jack oversees all aspects of each auction and has an innate talent for valuing real estate, often just looking at a parcel of land and estimating the final price that it will bring at auction.

The time they put into their auctions, treating them with utmost care, is a significant investment matched only by their love of people… both clients and employees. You might see Jack and Linda placing an order at the auction concession stand for free coffee to share with bidders on a cold day.

After a successful sale, they always share laughs over drinks with their employees, with Jack buying the first round and usually more! Sometimes, those rousing recaps have gone into the wee hours of the morning, ending only after the stories have finally run out.

While their personal connection with clients and scrupulous attention to holding the most successful auctions remains unchanged, they have adapted to the conveniences of technology, using online marketing and their website to manage the business and streamline communication with buyers and clients.

Perhaps the best indicator of the impact Jack and Linda have had on the auctioneer industry is how people reacted when they floated the idea of retirement. Suddenly, their phone was ringing with long-time clients and others begging them to hold their family’s auction before they retired!

Needless to say, retirement was put on the back burner indefinitely, and today, they continue to pour their time and their energy into sharing their customers’ most cherished and valuable possessions and assets with others who can give them a new home and purpose.

2019 Nebraska Auctioneer Auxiliary Hall of Fame Inductee – Aris Rut

The Nebraska Auctioneers Auxiliary Association honored Aris Rut, Dorchester, NE by inducting her into their Auxiliary Hall of Fame.

Aris, along with her husband Bill, reside in rural Dorchester, NE. Aris serves as Secretary/Treasurer of their family auction company, Rut Auction Service, Inc.  Aris and Bill have three children, Tom, Chad and Jackie. They also have five grandchildren,

Bill and Aris Rut formed Rut Auction Service, Inc. in 1967 and they also joined the Nebraska Auctioneers Association that same year. Aris has been very active in the association by serving on the auxiliary board of directors several terms. In 1990-1991 she served as president of the auxiliary. She has twice been chairman of the bid calling contest, as well as having attended all contests since its inception. Bill and Aris have only missed two conventions since 1967 as well as attending most of the mid-winter seminars.

Aris serves as secretary/treasurer of Rut Auction Service, Inc. and she is the clerk and cashier for their auctions. Bill and Aris purchased the Crete Livestock Market in 1978 and she served as office manager until it was sold in 2016.

Aris is also a member of the Dorchester American Legion Auxiliary.

Scroll to Top