Amy Whistle has been a staple in the auctioneering industry for nearly two decades, carving out a name for herself in a male-dominated field. Now, her daughter, Kelsey Whistle-Edge, is following in her footsteps, bringing a new generation into the business.
Amy, who became fully licensed in 2005, never envisioned herself as an auctioneer. The opportunity arose when she sought to balance work and raising her two young children. While working at the local YMCA daycare, a conversation with Chrissy Kurtz changed everything.
“I asked her, ‘Is there such a thing as a woman auctioneer?’ And she said, ‘Yeah, actually, Bill’s sisters are all auctioneers,’” Amy said. “She told me to go talk to John (Kurtz), and when I did, he told me what I needed to do. About four months later, I was fully licensed in real estate and as an auctioneer.”
Though she understood the industry well, mastering the skill set took time.
“It took forever,” Amy said. “I was never one to talk in front of people. I wasn’t in speech or drama in school – I was a complete recluse. It was completely out of my comfort zone.”
Amy faced a few challenges in the industry, but nothing that slowed her down.
“Not being from here was a big thing, and I didn’t have a good chant right away,” she said. “The older guys, they wanted to roll on. They didn’t have time for my slow chant, so I got really good at working the ring.”
Years later, Amy’s success has paved the way for her daughter to join the business. Kelsey earned a bachelor’s degree in occupational safety and health in 2023 and recently became an apprentice auctioneer.
“The biggest challenge for me has been adjusting to the unknowns,” Kelsey said. “Going from a salaried position to a commission-based income is scary. But I have a lot of support, and being able to lean on my mom makes it easier.”
Kelsey grew up around auctions, often helping her mother at sales during the summer.
“I would go with her, she’d pay me $10 an hour, take me to McDonald’s, and I thought it was the best day ever,” Kelsey said. “I worked the ring, ran clerking sheets, and helped hold things up for bidders.”
Now, she is beginning to manage auctions under the guidance of experienced auctioneers, including Amy.
“She had several mentors when she started, and I have that same support here,” Kelsey said. “It’s a lot of teamwork. I’m working on an auction with Jim Goetz soon, and it’s great to learn from different people.”
The auctioneering industry has changed significantly in the past two decades, particularly with the rise of online auctions and digital marketing.
“A lot of people thought live auctions would be a thing of the past, but we still have a huge following,” Amy said. “We offer online bidding, but it’s not our primary focus. We do whatever works best for our clients.”
Amy was recently named the Kentucky Auctioneers Association’s Auctioneer of the Year.
“I was very pleased and proud,” she said. “But it’s not just me – it takes every single one of us to have a great year.”
For Kelsey, the goal is to build a solid reputation in the business.
“The bar is set high,” she said. “I want to be respected in the community and known for my good work. At the end of the day, we all want to get paid, but I don’t want to get paid and have everyone hate me. It’s about treating people right and leading them in the right direction.”
