HINES, Minn. -- Tammy Tisland's second career truly is a "calling." The Hines woman turned from selling antiques from her shop to an award-winning auctioneer, selling items from the speaker's podium.

TALENT ON DISPLAY AT THE IOWA STATE FAIR, INCLUDING SOME EVERYONE COMPETING FOR A VERY UNIQUE TITLE. THE BEST AUCTIONEER CALL. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY FIRST ITEM HERE ON YOU. TELL ME, WHAT DO YOU ...

For the layperson, the swift speech of an auctioneer may come across as nothing more than a monotonous yodel. But it's a fine-tuned craft for veterans of the business like Ben Meyer of the South ...