Father, son auctioneers heed the calling at Arkansas Auctioneers Association championships
A father and his son have their own callings.
Both are proven champions at it, auctioneering.
Dennis Huggins and his son Hadyn, 10, were 2022 Arkansas Auctioneers Association state champions Saturday, May 14 in Hot Springs.
Dennis Huggins has his own business in the field of auctioneering called Border Town Auctions based in Muldrow, Oklahoma. Hadyn may also be heeding the call, although he is not 100% sure he wants to talk so fast for a living.
But he can call like dad. Hadyn said singing in church a lot has helped his voice as an auctioneer. He was named the junior bid calling reserve champion at the competition in Hot Springs Saturday, May 14.
That same day, dad Dennis Huggins took the microphone in his category of competition in Hot Springs. He was named the state champion in the pro bid calling competition.
The Huggins live in Muldrow, Oklahoma, and Hadyn is a fourth grader at Roland Elementary School. Dennis Huggins has an auctioneer license in Arkansas and has been a member of the association.
It was in 1998 Dennis Huggins, 55, decided to follow the call to be an auctioneer.
"I had always been intrigued by auctioneering growing up and going to see auctions with my dad. I always wondered how those guys do it," Dennis Huggins said.
He learned being an auctioneer is a lot like being an athlete. The muscles used are in the mouth and tongue.
"It takes a lot of practice. You start out saying tongue twisters," Dennis Huggins said. "It is all in what we call muscle memory."
The Huggins will travel next to San Diego for international auctioneering competition in both pro and junior divisions again on July 25.
They were on a field trip with the Roland Upper Elementary School classmates Wednesday, May 18 at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri. Hadyn spoke by telephone during a break from the Ozark themed-park attractions. He explained how he won a trophy, but as for making a living as an auctioneer Hadyn said, "I don't know."
Cindy Huggins was on the field trip with her husband Dennis and son Hadyn at Silver Dollar City. Cindy Huggins is the band director for the district and high school choir director in Roland.
Cindy is also a licensed auctioneer and a real estate agent. Dennis Huggins said he is considered a first generation auctioneer, since no one in his family had such a calling. And Hadyn would be a second generation auctioneer.
Dennis Huggins said auctioneering work is going well. He works about 50 to 60 auctions a year.
"It's been good to use. The Lord's taken care of us," Dennis Higgins said.
Dennis Huggins said he has a shot at being a world champion auctioneer.
"I've got as good a chance as anyone else," Huggins said.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Arkansas Auctioneers Association championships won by father and son
