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CUT BANK — It's fair to say those Heitmann men from Cut Bank are fast talkers.
Auctioneer Mike Heitmann took home the top honor during the Colorado Auctioneers Association annual competition the beginning of January. A few weeks later the Cut Bank native captured the top title during the Montana Auctioneers Association contest in Lewistown.
But he wasn't the only Heitmann winning awards.
Stephen Heitmann, a fourth grade student at Anna Jeffries Elementary School, was named the winner of the Rookie Bid Calling competition. Mike is Stephen's dad.
"Someone asked me if I wanted to enter the contest," Stephen said. "I was the only one in it, so they had to give me the belt buckle."
Typically, the rookie contest is for those new to the profession, Mike Heitmann said.
"This year, we didn't have any," he explained.
Although it was Stephen's first official round with a microphone, he's not really a novice.
"I like helping out my dad and he's been an auctioneer his whole life," Stephen said.
Well, almost.
Mike Heitmann grew up at farm auctions, tagging along with his father.
"It don't think my father ever bought a new piece of equipment," he said.
In college he started spotting for a family-run operation in Missoula and eventually ended up in the auctioneer's chair.
"I kept it up after I joined the Marines, I'd do benefits and announce rodeos," Mike Heitmann said.
In Cut Bank, Heitmann continued the work, operating MH Bar Auction. He also owned Cut Bank Hide and Fur, a business he recently sold.
Today he is commuting between his home in Cut Bank and a job with the U.S. Northern Command in Colorado.
"I do some contract auctioneer work in Colorado too," he said.
His state auctioneer titles earned him a place at the international competition, which will be held in California this summer.
"That's a showcase for contract auctioneers and a good place to get work," Heitmann said. "All the really big auction companies are there and if they like what they hear, they'll offer jobs on the spot."
Back home, Stephen is considering following in his dad's career steps.
"I was nervous in Lewistown, especially because I didn't know I'd be selling items on my own, it was a surprise," Stephen said. "But it's fun and pretty exciting."
Stephen says he may hold his own auction this spring.
"I'll have people bring their stuff and I'll sell it," he said. "But it will be my own auction, not through my dad's company."
When he's not on the auction floor, Stephen Heitmann says he likes to wrestle and play football and baseball.
He's also a Boy Scout and 4-H member.
"I raised a pig last year that was almost the state champion, it was really close," Stephen said. "But the other pig was just too good looking, so the judges gave the championship to him."
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