Yaden second runner-up in competition

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Jon Ross Yaden is being congratulated by Spanky and Amy Assiter of Barrett-Jackson for winning second place in an auctioneering contest. Photo submitted

July 27, 2010

By Carol Mills Staff Writer The Sentinel-Echo Tue Jul 27, 2010, 02:07 PM EDT

LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. —

A young Laurel County man was the second runner-up and the youngest in the 2010 International Junior Auctioneer Competition that was held in Greensboro, N.C., July 13 through 16.

With the exception of Jon Ross Yaden, all of the 13 contestants in the KJAC had either a family auctioneer background or had already attended auctioneer school. Jon Ross’ parents, Rick and Michelle, own a car lot in London.

The competition is held annually and is the premiere showcase of auction talent. Among the many worldwide auctioneers attending, Yaden met his idols, Spanky Assiter and Shane Ratliff, auctioneers from Barrett-Jackson, the world’s greatest collector car auction.

Yaden was awarded a full scholarship of $925 from the Ohio Auction School in Columbus, Ohio, and was offered a scholarship to Worldwide College of Auctioneering located in Mason City, Iowa, where Spanky and Amy Assiter and Ratliff are instructors.

“I plan on attending both schools,” he said.

Yaden has raised over $1,200 for the Shriners Hospital for Children.

“I’m going to continue practicing for my future career by doing charity auctions,” he said.

Staff writer Carol Mills can be reached at cmills@sentinel-echo.com.