Boy Scouts of America

Auctioneering
Test Lab

Auctioneering

NOTICE

These test lab requirements are available for Scouts until June 30, 2026. At that time, these requirements will disappear and the surveys will be closed. Learn more About the Test Lab.

Auctioneering Overview

The Auctioneering Badge is a dynamic blend of public speaking and salesmanship that offers Scouts the opportunity to develop essential communication and persuasion skills. Scouts will learn about the history of auctioneering, develop presentation techniques, and build rapport with an audience. They’ll engage in mock auctions to practice creating demand and closing deals while also learning how to handle challenges and uphold ethical standards. This badge fosters confidence and critical thinking skills that are powerful tools for personal growth, leadership roles, and future success.

Auctioneering REQUIREMENTS

1. Discuss with your counselor the history of auctions worldwide. Cite where these auctions were held and the types of items sold.


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2. Describe to your counselor the different roles in an auction.


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3. Describe to your counselor the differences and similarities between the auction method and the traditional method of sales.

 

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4. With permission from your parents or Guardian, contact a professional auctioneer and record an interview with the auctioneer that lasts approximately 5 to 10 minutes. Do one of the following:

 

  1. Shadow that auctioneer for a day and discuss with your counselor what you learned about auctioneering and being an auctioneer.
  2. Attend a live auction of any type. Take notes on what is occurring during the auction and how the auctioneer interacts with the bidders, and discuss them with your counselor.
  3. View an online auction until the sale is concluded and discuss it with your counselor.


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5. Discuss with your counselor:

 

  1. Types of assets sold at auction
  2. Types of customers you would be selling these assets for
  3. List the types of auction formats and the benefits of each and why an auctioneer might sell something through an online auction versus a live auction versus a simulcast auction


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6. Develop and practice your auction chant. Perform the auction chant for your counselor and at a unit meeting.


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7. Plan a simple live or online auction at your unit meeting and document the steps from start to finish.


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8. Describe for your counselor the steps you can take to become involved in the auction industry, both as a youth and an adult. Investigate and describe to your counselor what it takes to become a professional auctioneer, including

 

  1. Auction Schools
  2. Licensing
  3. Future Career Paths


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9. Complete the survey below to complete the test lab requirements

About The Test Lab

Scouts can complete these requirements in order to provide feedback and receive a certificate

You decide if this activity becomes an official Merit Badge of Scouting America.  By filling out the survey, you vote for or against this becoming a Merit Badge.  You can also suggest changes to make the merit badge more engaging.  The fate of this potential merit badge rests in your hands.  Come back and complete the survey after you finish the requirements to make your voice heard and to get your certificate of completion.

Bray Barnes

Director, Global Security Innovative
Strategies

Bray Barnes is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, Silver
Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Learning for Life Distinguished
Service Award. He received the Messengers of Peace Hero award from
the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he’s a life member of
the 101st Airborne Association and Vietnam Veterans Association. Barnes
serves as a senior fellow for the Global Federation of Competitiveness
Councils, a nonpartisan network of corporate CEOs, university presidents, and
national laboratory directors. He has also served as a senior executive for the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leading the first-responder program
and has two U.S. presidential appointments

David Alexander

Managing Member Calje

David Alexander is a Baden-Powell Fellow, Summit Bechtel Reserve philanthropist, and recipient of the Silver Buffalo and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the founder of Caljet, one of the largest independent motor fuels terminals in the U.S. He has served the Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, Teen Lifeline, and American Heart Association. A triathlete who has completed hundreds of races, Alexander has also mentored the women’s triathlon team at Arizona State University.

Glenn Adams

President, CEO & Managing Director
Stonetex Oil Corp.

Glenn Adams is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the former president of the National Eagle Scout Association and established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. He has more than 40 years of experience in the oil, gas, and energy fields, including serving as a president, owner, and CEO. Adams has also received multiple service awards from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers.