Brothers involved in national auction

DANVILLE — A local auctioneer recently had the honor of leading a national auction that raised $153,000 for environmental causes.

Tim Busby and his brother, Pat Busby, were members of the four-person auctioneering team for the Ducks Unlimited national auction May 23 in Denver, Colo. The auction was part of the organization’s 72nd annual banquet celebration. Ducks Unlimited is a wetland conservation group that specializes in the preservation of wildlife habitats, water quality and other such causes.

The chance to help lead an auction together at such a huge venue was a rare treat for the brothers.

“The overall atmosphere was extremely energetic and upbeat,” Tim said. “I certainly think it was an honor from a working standpoint.”

Nine hundred people from all 50 states, Canada and Mexico attended the auction, and a total of 28 items were sold, he added.

The items sold at the auction included hunting trips, paintings, shotguns and other outdoor activity-related items. One item, a trip for four to Mexico, was sold for $35,000.

Among the crowd at the auction was Pete Coors, of the Coors Brewing Co., whom the brothers have gotten to know through their Ducks Unlimited connections.

Pat met Coors at another function he had helped auctioneer.

Coors was impressed with what he saw in Pat’s ability.

“Pete Coors came up to me and said, ‘You are one fantastic auctioneer,’” Pat said.

Through Coors and other contacts in the Ducks Unlimited organization including Mark Pierce — who hosted the former Ducks Unlimited television show — Pat was invited to be on the auction team for this year’s national auction.

Pat knew just who to call next.

“When I got the call in March, I immediately called Tim,” he said. “We had a ball.”

The Busbys are originally from Ridge Farm. Tim is an agent and auctioneer at Butler Busby Hicks Land and Auction, LLC, and Pat now sells real estate in Bozeman, Mont.

“It was a dream come true,” Pat said of the auction. “I’ve been bucking for this gig for a long time.”

The family has a history in the auctioneering business, beginning with their dad, Carl, who owned Busby Land and Auction Company, which was based in Danville.

Carl was an auctioneer in the area for 58 years. Pat worked with his dad for more than 30 of those years.

The family’s tradition of donating auctioneering services also started with Carl. The family has been involved in Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever for many years.

This year marked Pat’s 34th year volunteering with the organization. He started when he was in the seventh grade, when he helped Carl at an auction for the first time.

“We had fun making money, but we also had fun helping great organizations out,” Pat said.

“We’re about conserving — trying to do our part in that.”

A new business

Some parts of the real estate business are actually prospering these days — and both Tim and Pat continue the tradition of real-estate know-how their dad instilled in them.

Those with farm land to sell or who are interested in it as an investment have some very good opportunities now, because it continues to be a stable investment in an unstable economy, Tim said.

Tim is a co-owner of Butler Busby Hicks along with Frank Butler and Randy Hicks.

The business, which opened July 8, 2008, specializes in the sale of tillable acreage and recreational farm land.

The company is licensed in Illinois and Indiana.

For more information, visit http://www.bbhland.com/index.html.

CONGRESS RECOMMENDS RECORD WETLANDS RESTORATION FUNDING

Strong support for wetlands and refuges from House Subcommittee

WASHINGTON - June 10, 2009 - A proposed record increase to the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) moved a step closer to becoming reality today when the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee approved the President's request of more than $52 million for the popular wetlands conservation initiative. 

"We are very excited that Chairman Dicks, Ranking Member Simpson, and the rest of the Subcommittee also recognize the importance of  NAWCA and the benefits that restoring and conserving wetlands across the country have for sportsmen, farmers, and the public," said Scott Sutherland, Director of the Governmental Affairs Office for Ducks Unlimited. "NAWCA is one of the most remarkable success stories for conservation, and this funding increase will continue that success."

Since the program began in 1989, more than 23 million acres of wetlands and waterfowl habitat have been conserved through NAWCA.  The unique nature of the program is one of the reasons for its success: each dollar from the federal government must be matched by at least another from state, local, and private sources. 

"But because the program is so popular, this match is usually 2-3 times the federal grant, meaning that an investment of $52 million could be more like $200 million for wetlands and waterfowl," said Sutherland. "It's one of the best deals in conservation."

More than 140 Members of Congress signed on to a letter to Chairman Norm Dicks (Wash.) and Ranking Member Mike Simpson (Idaho) urging them to support the highest funding levels possible for the program. 

The subcommittee also approved a record increase to funding for the National Wildlife Refuge System, which provides critical habitat for breeding, migrating, and wintering waterfowl. The panel recommended $503 million for the program to address operations and maintenance. 

With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world's largest and most effective wetland and waterfowl conservation organization and has conserved more than 12 million acres. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands − nature's most productive ecosystem − and continues to lose more than 80,000 wetland acres important to waterfowl each year.

Neil Shader
Ducks Unlimited
Communications Specialist
Governmental Affairs Office
nshader@ducks.org
Office: 202.347.1530  
Mobile: 202.841.8147
1301 Pennsylvania Ave NW suite 402  
WashingtonDC 20004
www.ducks.org 
Ducks Unlimited Combined Federal Campaign #10235