This year marks 49 years of auctioneering history for Bill Klassen of Winkler. He recalls gaining interest in this field by listening auctions on the radio with his father.

He also asked a family friend for help to get started.

"In 1968, our neighbour had a small farm auction and I went and asked him if I could do his auction, and he gave it to me, and two months later I had an auction for another neighbour, and then I went off to Kansas City, Missouri, to an auction school, and it was very hard getting into the business, but eventually I got into it, and here I am today. Forty-nine years of auctioning has just been completed last Sunday," said Klassen

He said he believes his success came from loving his job, family and staff.

"I think the love of it is the amazing thing, and to know the product, to know where my buyers should come from, that would probably be the secret to it."

He noted knowledge of machinery gave him an edge in the business.

"As farming has gone big, and fewer farmers, the same thing has happened here ... you have to have a niche to do this, and so my love has always been farm equipment ... I think that's an advantage for me," he explained.

Klassen recalled some highlights of his career, such as selling a $32,000 steam engine in Grunthal in 1994.

He also enjoys the variety in his work, adding that he has sold items ranging from a $1 grease gun to a half million dollar combine.

"It's been a blast," he said.

Klassen is also preparing for his 30th annual consignment sale on Monday. This auction attracts buyers from all over the world.

"Last year we had buyers from four countries, there are people in Mexico planning their vacation to be in Southern Manitoba on the first weekend in August because that's when that auction is. It's amazing, I love it," he said.