Auctioneering Fundraisers With Halie Behr

Behr’s vibrant personality makes her a sought-after auctioneer, raising funds for local nonprofits. | Photos courtesy of Halie Behr

Anyone who’s ever been to a fundraiser knows that at some point during the event, you will be asked to donate money. But there’s a big difference between just getting out your checkbook and being at an event with leading benefit auctioneer Halie Behr. It’s a whole new ballgame with Behr behind the mic, and local nonprofits know she’s just the ticket to help reach and even surpass their fundraising goals. We caught up with Behr and learned about what makes her approach to auctioneering so effective.

What made you go into auctioneering?

I was born and raised in Iowa, and my great-uncle owned the World Wide College of Auctioneering, which held classes several times a year in Clear Lake, Iowa. My grandpa persuaded my sister and me to attend the summer auction school session in 2010, where we learned the traditional auction chant, studied the different facets of the industry, made lifelong friends and even sold real items to the general public as we were nearing graduation. I fell in love with the auction method, and it felt so natural to me. It just clicked!

Was it hard to break into such a male-dominated industry?

It’s never deterred me, but it is definitely much harder to break into the male-dominated car auction industry than it is fundraising auctions. I work in both, so acclimating is key. I have been extremely fortunate to have male mentors coach me to be tough, focused and to let my skill do the talking. A wise saying reads, “Insecurities are loud and confidence is quiet.” One of those mentors, World Livestock Auctioneer champion Terry Elson, gave me my first shot on the auction block selling cars when no one else would even look my way. His belief in me helped me to focus on my abilities to forge ahead with my career.

You always seem to be smiling and radiating positive energy. Is that part of being an auctioneer, or just part of being you?

I think most auctioneers are gregarious and charismatic. It’s in our nature to entertain, create enthusiasm and be excellent storytellers. I love what I do and am passionate about helping raise funds for worthy causes. How could I not smile at the work I get the opportunity to be a part of? It’s so fulfilling and empowering. We have so much to be thankful for, so why not lead with that in a world of complainers; maybe we can flip the script.

What have been some challenges you’ve faced as an auctioneer?

There have been many tribulations, but joining the auction profession at just 15 years old was a major test. I needed time to mature and grow—not many wanted to hire a young auctioneer, so I spent my teenage years learning from mentors and gaining experience to overcome the age barrier. Being a young female in a male-dominated industry, the number of times I have heard, “You are the auctioneer? But you aren’t an old guy with a cowboy hat,” is unreal. I’m not always taken as seriously, but I didn’t let that stop me. Perfecting my chant was also a big challenge. I’ve spent tens of thousands of hours practicing the traditional auctioneer outcry. It’s important to have a strong, rhythmic chant that folks like to listen to that builds enthusiasm and creates excitement. It’s taken over a decade to craft my auction chant—it’s always a work in progress, actually.

Tell us about an event that stands out as a big accomplishment for you. Not necessarily the one you raised the most money at, but one that was meaningful to you and has made a lasting impact on you.

I believe in the mission of every nonprofit organization and school I work with. There are magical moments at every event, but working as the auctioneer at National Jewish Health’s annual Rev the Runway event in Denver with the talented Clem Connolly in 2019 skyrocketed my career. It led to other major health care and arts organizations becoming future clients, like Saint John’s Program for Change. I toured their nonprofit, which provides transitional housing and various services to homeless women and children who need help getting back on their feet. One of the participants, a mother of three named Kizzy, led the tour and shared her goals. The next year at the annual event, Kizzy told me she was off the streets, living in her own apartment and working for the state. It warmed my heart to see that the contributions from the events directly benefited her.

At the inaugural event for the OneGoat organization, we honored a fallen firefighter and sold a $100 bill in his honor for over $1,000,and we raised close to $100,000, which helped secure the future of the organization. And I cried and cried after listening to the incredible speakers at the Special Forces Foundation—I felt that my role was even more important to help raise funds for these worthy causes after hearing them.

How do you see auctions evolving?

Technology plays a big role with auctions today. We can reach a global audience now with the use of AI and simulcast capabilities. The traditional auctioneer is and will always be essential as people crave a human connection, but technology will work hand-in-hand as our partner. Auctions are also the best way to establish fair-market value for the goods, property and items we are selling. It’s the only method in the world that establishes fair-market value through open and competitive bidding using enthusiasm and a sense of urgency.

What advice do you have to young women who might want to follow in your footsteps?

Never make it about the money, and don’t chase that dollar—it will come and fall into place if you’re doing what you love and making an impact on those around you. In whatever you’re doing, make sure you lead with a servant’s heart. Also, realize how important relationship building is. I look at most, if not all, of my clients as my friends. Build those relationships with others—you never know what it might lead to.

What are your goals for the next year?

Every year, I create a list of goals to achieve to help me grow as a person, do better and challenge myself. I would love to conduct an auction outside of the U.S. in the next year, and I would love to raise over $50 million for our charity partners to help fulfill their mission and goals. I don’t know if this will happen next year, but I would love to win another world title in the auction field, this time with my sister and fellow partner of Behr Benefits, Rylie Behr. I’d like to give back more, volunteer more of my time with the clients I am serving, and continue in maximizing their fundraising efforts. I am also celebrating the big 3-0 this October and will be in Iceland to see the Northern Lights with my nearest and dearest. Another goal is to create more down time to recharge my energy. I love snuggling with my cats Jagger, Floki and Bonnie, reading a book or watching a reality show. I love this life and look at every day as a gift from God. It all goes by too fast, so I want to make the most of the time I have here.