Distinctly Montana Magazine

w w w . d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m 81 Fr hses, to bes of hsehd fnite, equipment, antiques, tifacts, and beyd, WE SELL UNTIL WE ARE DONE! EVERYONE IS LOOKING FOR A DEAL OR A TREASURE TO CHERISH. 10 AM Auction starts! We introduce the family or business that we are conducting the auction for that day, and then we introduce our amazing auction crew. We are all family, plus a few adopted family members. Jack "Slug" Mills and Mary Anna Mills, my sister Darlynn Williams, her son Wyre Williams, and my husband Justin Kuhbacher. Our herd all helps sometimes: Beau is a senior this year, and he plans on going to auction school. Paysen is fifteen, Baylor twelve, Courtney eight, and Den- ver is five. Terry Hupp, Curt Olson, and Darwin Smebakken are the adopted members. From horses, to boxes of household furniture, equipment, an- tiques, artifacts, and beyond, we sell until we are DONE! Everyone is looking for a deal or a treasure to cherish. The bidding cards wave up the prices. 12 PM It's lunch time, though most of the time an auctioneer works through lunch. Today is no exception. I munch on a sandwich while I ponder what makes those preserved horse hooves in the next lot… must have been a special horse! 1 PM After the no-break "lunch break" comes the highlight of the auction items. This is when we sell equipment, guns, spur and saddle collections, vehicles—items of the greatest interest and worth. 2 PM Sell, sell, sell. The day starts to become a blur. Did I eat that sandwich earlier, or was that yesterday? What's behind those boxes—oh no, are those a dozen more lots I didn't see earlier? What's in that jar? 3 PM Keep selling. I'm beginning to not even understand my own words. "I'm a bid twenty-five now thirty dollar, who'll bid thirty dollar, thank you, forty dollar where? Sold for thirty dollars, to lucky number seventy-nine!" 4 PM I'm starting to be able to see where we've been! Finally, we are making progress on the hind side. Maybe this day will be over…some day. It can be hard for some owners; I see their faces as they let go of their items. Some go onto a new adventure. Others are at the end of their work life. Sometimes we serve families of an estate, helping to get every- thing dispersed. It's an ending with a chance to be a new beginning… 5 PM Almost done! By a few minutes after five, we draw the auction to a close. Lucky winners check out at the cashier trailer, paying for their items, and we make sure they get them all loaded up. 5:30 PM Now it's cleanup time. We sweep, mop, and vacuum the build- ing, then load up the speakers and the "auction box." This box holds everything needed for a successful auction day, from bidder cards to sunscreen, bills of sale, tax exempt papers, tape, stapler, markers, color- ing crayons, first aid kit, and much more! 6 PM We shake hands and load up our herd of kids, then wave goodbye and drive back home. We are thankful for the opportunity to help others, and hope we made a difference. SEE YOU AT THE AUCTION! For the Kochbackers, auctions are a family affair

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