What does it take to build a life — and a career — that touches nearly every corner of one state? This week we sit down with Lori Rogge, one of a handful of female auctioneers in Kansas, to talk about growing up across the state, learning the chant, and how a 22,000-acre Flint Hills ranch ends up on the internet.

Highlights

Sydney's grandfather was such a loyal auction customer that the auction house retired his bidder number — and it's now engraved on his gravestone
Lori's parents, Gene and Connie Francis, founded Gene Francis & Associates in 1984 and have since built a global auction reach — including clients from Belgium, the UK, and Chihuahua, Mexico
Lori attended Worldwide College of Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa — and her very first auction as an auctioneer was a $10,000 painting
The auction industry has moved dramatically online; Gavel Roads Online Auctions launched in 2016 and was perfectly positioned when COVID hit in 2020
There are only three or four female auctioneers in Kansas outside of Kansas City
The SNL skit featuring auctioneer-speak went viral — and Lori loved every second of it
The National Auctioneers Association is actually headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas
Jordy Nelson (Green Bay Packers) grew up in Leonardville, and his family's Nelson Family Community Foundation is active in the community
Historic Lake Scott State Park in western Kansas sits on the only known Native American pueblo in Kansas, dating to the 1600s
Flint Hills Trail State Park is the eighth longest rail trail in the entire United States

Chapters

0:00 – Grandpa Auction Hoard
1:09 – Bomb Shelter Safe
2:21 – Welcome / Intro to Lori
3:35 – Meet Lori Rogge
4:05 – Growing Up Kansas
8:25 – Why Leonardville
10:40 – Career Path Shift
13:58 – Building Online Auctions
16:58 – Learning the Chant
27:40 – Chant Mechanics
35:51 – Reading the Room
36:10 – Auctions Going Online (Estate Sales & Collectibles)
33:27 – Estate Plans & Loyal Clients
36:04 – From Onsite to Online
37:00 – Auctioneers in Small Towns
40:40 – Why She Gives Back
44:16 – Rural Riley County Community Foundation
49:19 – Women Grow the Farm
52:02 – Hosts Reflect on Auctions
52:54 – State Park Guessing Game
44:09 – Historic Lake Scott State Park
1:00:25 – Final Wrap & Call to Action

Resources Mentioned

Gene Francis & Associates – Lori's family real estate and auction company, founded in 1984
Gavel Roads Online Auctions – Online auction bidding platform launched by the Francis family in 2016
Worldwide College of Auctioneering – Where Lori earned her auctioneer's license; locations in Mason City, Iowa and Colorado
KSU Foundation – Kansas State University Foundation, where Lori worked in gift and estate planning from 2005 to 2015
Kansas 4-H Foundation – Lori has consulted for this organization
Nelson Family Community Foundation – Founded by the family of Jordy Nelson (K-State and Green Bay Packers), based in Leonardville
Flint Hills Discovery Center – Manhattan, KS museum with an exhibit on the auctioneer chant
National Auctioneers Association – Headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy – Organization that rail-banked and helped develop the Flint Hills Trail beginning in 1995

Learn more about the podcast at askakansan.com!

This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net