
Lance Nichols
2023
Tony Wisely, CAI, BAS
2022
Halie Behr
2020
Michael Nichols
2019
Dean Gunter, BAS
2018
Wes Lamb
2017
Josh Larson
2016
Doug Carpenter, CAI
2015
Scott Shuman, CAI
2014
Sean Allen
2013
Emily (Wears) Kroul, CAI
2012
Adam Kevil
2011
Rich Schur CAI, MPPA, BAS
2010
Steve Linnebur
2009
Shawn Hagler
2008
Mike Heitmann
2007
Kevin Holt
2006
Walt Partridge
2005
Everett Schneider
2004
David P. Whitley CAI, CES
2003
Josh White
2002
Brian Marshall
2001
2000
Lloyd Michael, Jr.
Scott Goodhue
1999
Dan McVey
1998
No Contestant
1997
Ken Holzworth
1996
James Higgins
1995
Brian Weitzel
1994
Steven W. Holt
1993
John L. Korrey
1992
Raymond R. Holt
1991
Sammy Hamblen
1090
Ron Miller
1989
Robert L. Johnson
1988
Randell N. Smith
1987
Larry Lusher
1986
Jack Salisbury
1985
Ted Odle
1984
Jack De Nooy
1983
Fritz Rundel
1982
Otha C. “Jr.” Mass
1981
Booth Brown
1980Trenton Holzworth, 2022 Novice Bid Calling Champion, the Troil Welton Memorial Award
The Colorado Board of Directors changed the dynamic of the Troil Welton First Timers Bid Calling Contest, which has been historically CAA Members attending the annual convention who had completed their auction school training within the last twelve months of the convention being held. Competitors under this criteria were eligible to compete in the Troil Welton First Timers Bid Calling Contest on Saturday night. However, the competition is now the annual, Novice Bid Calling Championship in which the champion receives the Troil Welton Memorial Award.
This is always a spirited and fun competition in which attending association members and the public support the competitors. So what is the new dynamic of the Novice Bid Calling Championship versus the First Timers Bid Calling Contest? Competitors have the opportunity to compete against their peers of CAA Members for the first, three (3) years of their career in the auction industry unless they are crowned champion. This change in the competition rules encourages and allows new auctioneers to be competitive with fellow peers until they choose to compete in the annual, Colorado State Auctioneer Championship. The board felt this decision helps to encourage CAA Members, that are new in the industry, an opportunity to build their bid calling craft and provide them with a level playing field in the competition arena.
At the end of the evening Stoneham, Colorado’s Trenton Holzworth was crowned the inaugural, Colorado Novice Bid Calling Champion!
Trenton is not a stranger to the auction industry and is a 2nd generation auctioneer following his Dad, Ken Holzworth, and works with him in their family company, The Holzworth Auction Company. As notated on their company page, "CONGRATULATIONS Colonel Trenton Holzworth!! What goes around, comes around! In 1986, Chuck Cumberlin mentored Ken Holzworth in the Auction business. Thirty four years later, Chuck's daughter Shelly (Cumberlin) and husband, Tom Johnston returned the favor by sponsoring Trenton Holzworth's journey through the World Wide College of Auctioneering. Thank you to the Johnston Family for continuing the proud tradition of auctioneering. Chuck is smiling down on all of us."
So, what does this mean for his auction career? In addition to working in his family's auction company, Trenton is a professional ringman for the auto industry and a contract auctioneer and Ringman for fellow Colorado Auctioneers.
Trenton works with some of the best and toughest in the Colorado auction industry and continues to shine. His talent, unwavering smile and tenacity is a force to be reckoned with!
Watch future articles of the CAA Newsletter for stories about some of the first time members. Each one has a unique story about why they decided to live their dream by becoming professional auctioneers.
About The Troil Welton Memorial Award
Troil C. Welton, who spent more than 45 years in the auction business, was a pioneer of the Colorado Auctioneers Association, and was always known for his special help to new auctioneers. Following his death in 1999, the CAA Board voted to annually present the Troil Welton Memorial Award to the winner of the First Timers Bid Calling Contest held annually at the CAA Convention. Mr. Welton began his career in the barn of his farm and ranch. While milking, he would “auction” his cows every morning and evening and “sell” his farm machinery while working the fields. He was selected CAA “Auctioneer of the Year” in 1985, and was inducted into the CAA Hall of Fame in 1986. In 1987, he was inducted into the prestigious Hall of Fame of the National Auctioneers Association.

Justin Behr
2023
Trenton Holzworth
2022
Shelby Shuman
2020
Casey Panique
2019
James Head
2018
Brett Barker
2017
Cody Johnson
2016
Jennifer Clifford Spaeth
2015
Wes Lamb
2014
Graig Medvesk
2013
Mike Nichols
2012
Dean Gunter
2011
Norm Silver
2010
Rich Schur
2006
Vaughn Long
2004
Shawn Hagler
2003

Cissy Tabor
2023
Tony Wisely, CAI, BAS
2022
Mike Whitfield
2020
Josh Miller
2019Aaron Rodriguez Awarded 2022 Colorado Jr Bid Calling Champion
The Colorado Jr Bid Calling Competition is open to anyone between the ages of 13 and 18.

Aaron Rodriguez
2022
Rylee Nichols
2018
Shelby Shuman
2017
Matthew Heitmann
2016
Amanda Shuman
2015

Trenton Holzworth & Rylie Behr
2023
Shawn Hagler & Cissy Tabor
2022
Shawn Hagler Crowned
As Inaugural
Challenge Of Champions Auctioneer
During the 60th Anniversary Colorado Auctioneers Association Convention, the Challenge Of Championscompetition was held for the first time and was a new addition to the auctions that are held during the annual convention. This competition is only open to competitors that have been crowned as a Colorado Auctioneer Champion.
Contestants vied for the coveted honor of being crowned the 1st Challenge of Champions Auctioneer, a custom-designed championship belt buckle, a cash award and plaque. This contest is only scheduled to be held every 5 years and predicts to get more and more competitive throughout the years in addition to entertaining.
Shawn Hagler of Hudson, Colorado, was crowned the 2018 Challenge Of Champions winner on Thursday, January 4, 2018. Past Colorado State Champions competed in front of an esteemed panel of State, International and World Champion Auctioneer judges.
Shawn first joined the CAA in 2003, where he won the Troil Welton Bid Calling Award. Shortly thereafter, he found his way into the Auto Auction industry and discovered his love for the fast paced and demanding car auction world. In 2008, he won the Colorado State Auctioneer Championship and the 2009 World Automobile Auctioneers Championship World Champion Ringman.
After the past nine years of flying over 200 flights per year and working five auto auctions weekly in four different states, Shawn decided to slow down, be at home more and shift his business focus more to his Fundraising Auction business and to start a new venture. Shawn feels that he has been blessed in the auction business and wants to give back to the profession that has given so much to him. Shawn and his long-time friend Vaughn Long, 2007 WAAC World Champion Ringman, have started a new school, World Champion Ringman College, to train Ringmen. Shawn feels that there is a large need for more advanced Ringman training and that while Shawn and Vaughn both received several years of on-the-job training at the auto auctions while under the tutelage of World Champion Paul C. Behr of World Wide College of Auctioneering and several other world class auctioneers, not many new auctioneers and Ringmen ever get that opportunity to learn and develop their skills and they want to give them that opportunity.
This year Shawn is also using his Professional Speaking background to give motivational speeches, emcee all the concerts at the Greeley Stampede and to also speak at several State Auctioneer Association Conventions. He looks forward to the next several years of serving on the CAA Board of Directors and hopes be able to once again give back to a great association that has given him so much over the past 15 years.
Each professional auctioneer who competed became a better auctioneer because of the contest and should be congratulated for taking part.
Thank you to AuctionFlex for providing the auction clerking software and clerking the auction

Tony Wisely
2023