Ohio auctioneer named Youngest International Auctioneer Champion

For six generations, the Mast family had farmed and raised dairy cattle in the Amish community of Millersburg. Joseph Mast, CAI, learned the value of hard work and helping others from his father as he prepared to be the seventh generation to carry on the family legacy. One day, the legacy would end and the family farm was sold. Little did Mast know that in only a few short years he would go from seeing his family’s cows sold at the auction barn to owning a major real estate auction company, traveling the world selling cars, equipment, and thoroughbred horses for millions of dollars and be recognized as one of the world’s best bid-calling auctioneers. All of this achieved before his 31st birthday.On Friday, July 15, Mast, 30, won the coveted title of International Auctioneer Champion (IAC) in Orlando, Fla., at the 62nd International Auctioneers Conference and Show. Created in 1988, the IAC is an annual competition hosted by the National Auctioneers Association (NAA) that allows the world’s top male and female bid-calling auctioneers the opportunity to compete for the world title. Sixty-six men and 17 women competed in this year’s competition. Contestants are judged on their presentation, chant, voice timbre, body language, interview answers and other performance elements of effective auctioneering. IAC champions are considered by industry professionals to be the best bid-calling auctioneers in the world. This year was Mast’s fifth attempt at the title.As a freshman at Goshen College, Mast had always planned on returning to run the family farm. When informed that the family farm was to be sold, Mast’s father handed him a brochure on an auction school and encouraged him to attend. Mast attended Missouri Auction School and quickly fell in love with one of history’s oldest professions. A rookie auctioneer, Mast would start off in the business selling pots, pans and other personal property. Interested in expanding into auto auctions, Mast traveled to Detroit to interview for a position at the major auto auction. Hired after his first interview, he would go on to conduct as many as six auto auctions a week including the Detroit Auto Auction and the Akron Auto Auction, among others. At the age of 24, Mast branched out and acquired his real estate license. Selling cars part of the week, he joined the Real Estate Showcase company in 2004. In 2008, Mast purchased the company and has grown and expanded the company to have more than 50 agents in four offices (Ashland, Millersburg, Wooster and Loudonville).Mast’s tireless work ethic and ambition would later open doors to opportunities usually afforded to more tenured auctioneers. Recognized as one of the world’s premiere collector car auction companies, Mast joined Barrett-Jackson’s elite auction team as its youngest member in 2008. Mast would join Fasig-Tipton, America’s oldest thoroughbred auction firm, as a contract auctioneer selling multi-million dollar horses in 2010. He serves as the lead auctioneer for the Akron Auto Auction, a contract auctioneer for Yoder & Frey, selling industrial and heavy equipment, as well as an agent/auctioneer for Williams & Williams, a real estate auction company. Mast is a member of the National Auctioneers Association, Ohio Auctioneers Association and the National Association of Realtors. Mast graduated from the Certified Auctioneers Institute (CAI) in 2009.Camille Booker, CAI, CES of Kennewick, Wash. will join Mast as the women’s division champion. Together, they will serve as spokespeople and ambassadors for the quarter-trillion dollar auction industry.Mast resides in Millersburg with his wife, Marie, and their three children.