HARRISBURG, Pa. — Josh Mayhugh, of Chambersburg, Franklin County, was named champion auctioneer at the 40th Pennsylvania Auctioneers Association Bid Calling Contest on Wednesday at the 103nd Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.
Mayhugh, a third-generation auctioneer, has been auctioneering for 13 years. This was his second year competing in the Pennsylvania Auctioneer Competition.
John Stauffer of Newmanstown, Lebanon County, was named first runner-up in the contest. Elizabeth Stamm of Jonestown, Lebanon County, won top female auctioneer for the competition. David Weaver, Allenwood, Union County, was named Rookie of the Year.
The competition consisted of three rounds: a practice round, a preliminary round and a final round. In both the practice and preliminary rounds, all 25 contestants provided their own items to sell. After the first two rounds, the judges named the top 10 auctioneers for the final round.
Contestants were judged on presentation, voice control, clarity, introduction and salesmanship by eight different judges.
Those in attendance had the opportunity to bid on and purchase a variety of items all proceeds going to the Pennsylvania Farm Show Scholarship Foundation and/or the Friends of the Pennsylvania Farm Show Foundation. Previous competition winners and Pennsylvania Auctioneers Association Auction presidents came on stage to auction multiple items to raise additional money.
The top 10 auctioneers:
- Josh Mayhugh, Chambersburg, Franklin County
- John Stauffer, Newmanstown, Lebanon County
- Joel Gavaletz, Pottsville, Schuylkill County
- Shawn Carbaugh, Spring Grove, York County
- Brian Oberholtzer, Reinholds, Lancaster County
- Elizabeth Stamm, Jonestown, Lebanon County
- Chase Noll, Kirkwood, Lancaster County
- Kylee Reeder, Beaver Falls, Beaver County
- David Weaver, Allenwood, Union County
- Tyler G. Sexton, Camp Hill, Cumberland County
The Pennsylvania Farm Show draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to our capital city every year for a mid-winter celebration of Pennsylvania agriculture. It is the largest indoor agricultural exposition in the nation, featuring nearly 12,000 competitive exhibits, including more than 5,200 animal competitions, plus 300 commercial exhibits and hundreds of educational, entertaining events. Visitors get a peek into the industry that employs nearly half a million people and contributes $135.7 billion to Pennsylvania’s economy every year.
The 2019 show runs Jan. 5-12 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, except Jan. 6 when it runs 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Jan. 12, when it opens at 8 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m. Admission is free, and parking is $15.
For more information about the 2019 Pennsylvania Farm Show, visit farmshow.pa.gov.
— Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture