UPDATE: This post is from the 2008 contest. View the recently-posted 2009 contest recap.

8:30am
Just passed Junction City, KS, on I-70 headed to the KAA bid-calling championship at the fair. I’ll be updating this post in real time today so long as I have a charge on my phone, so check back regularly.

Photo by Aaron Traffas

10:30am
I made it here to find Alan VanNahmen, Jeff Ruckert, Megan McCurdy and an auctioneer from northwest Kansas named Lance all loitering around waiting to draw for order. I’ll post an updated roster and the order after we draw.

11:00am
We 19 contestants have drawn our order and are waiting to interview. I drew number 6. I think it was really a 9 but peer pressure said otherwise.

11:50am
I’ve completed the interview portion. I’ll post the questions after everyone’s done. I feel solid about my performance. While we wait, here is the list of contestants in alphabetical order.

Photo by Aaron Traffas

Byron Bina – Herington
Eric Bloomquist – Assaria
Eric Boone – Yates Center
Charly Cummings – Yates Center
Kevin Ediger – Windom
Greg Foote – Bucyrus
Lance Kinderkneckt
John Kisner – Hays
Tom Lindsay – Shawnee
Megan McCurdy – Wichita
Aaron McKee – Manhattan
Ty Mitchell – Oxford
Dennis Oller – Turon
Jeff Ruckert – Manhattan
Glen Suppes – Lindsborg
Jayton Tautfest – Park City
Jeff Temme – Petersburg, NE
Aaron Traffas – Sharon
Alan VanNahmen – Manhattan

…more in a few minutes.

1:30pm
We’re milling around, perusing the merchandise, waiting for the contest to start at 2 p.m.

Photo by Debra Kisner

2:40pm
I just finished competing. now I wait to see if I make finals. There are some great auctioneers here, so it’s anyone’s guess.

3:46pm
I made finals…already sold again, better than first round…happening fast…results soon…

4:07pm
Here are your results.

1. Byron Bina
2. Aaron McKee
3. Megan McCurdy
4. Charlie Cummings
5. John Kisner

9:33pm
Fixed formatting

10:45pm
Added pictures