A morning filled with stories, lessons, inspiration and fun at Adam’s Auction.
Earlier this week, our Silver Creek Area CEO crew bundled up and made the early morning trek out to Adam’s Auction house on Hwy 15 between Freeburg and Belleville. Even though the air was sharp and cold, the welcome we received couldn’t have been warmer. Owner Adam Jokisch greeted us right at the door with a friendly smile that instantly set the tone for the day.
At exactly 7:00 am, Adam began sharing the story of his life — one woven with grit, humility, and a deep connection to our communities. A 1988 Mascoutah High School graduate who now owns a farm in Freeburg, Adam spoke candidly about becoming an auctioneer at just 23 years old. College wasn’t financially possible, but giving up wasn’t in his vocabulary. Instead, he borrowed a little over $500 from his sister, enrolled in auctioneer school, and set out to build something from nothing.
He studied seasoned auctioneers, most of them decades older, and took notes on every best practice he could observe. Then he blended those lessons into his own unique rhythm and style — one that eventually made him a multiple-time state champion and one of the Top 15 auctioneers in the world twice!
But it wasn’t just the achievements that resonated with our students. It was the heart behind them — the importance of strong mentors, the power of being bold with your goals, and the value of setting yourself apart through work ethic and consistency.
After his brief intro, he led us into the massive auction house he built in 2017 when he transitioned most of his business online. Our students’ jaws practically dropped. The size of the space. The orderliness. The sheer variety of items displayed with such intention. They had an absolute blast exploring the collections.
What none of us could have predicted was how timely Adam’s online transition would become. When COVID hit, while so many businesses struggled, his foresight allowed him to pivot completely to 100% online auctions. Today, Adam and his team of 28 employees run auctions 51 Saturdays a year — taking just Christmas week off.
His team handles everything: packing homes, driving trucks, cleaning, managing real estate, organizing personal belongings, and working with families navigating emotional life transitions like moving, downsizing, divorce, or loss. Adam spoke gently but powerfully about the responsibility that comes with walking into those delicate moments. His top priority?
Build relationships. Make people feel safe. Earn their trust.
The business may be auctions — but the heart of it is people.
His business model is unique in another important way:
Adam also owns RE/MAX ALL STAR ADVANTAGE, giving families the option to sell real estate traditionally through him as a realtor or directly through auction — whichever best fits their needs and season of life.
To wrap up our visit, Adam invited us into the Mexican restaurant housed inside his building, a warm and unexpected gathering place where our class settled in for a deeper conversation. This is where students asked their final questions — and where two of the day’s most memorable moments unfolded.
One student gently mentioned hearing about a recent break-in on his property and asked how it affected him. Adam nodded, acknowledging the setback, but then shared something that immediately shifted our perspective. His son had been diagnosed with leukemia at just two years old. Their family walked through that unimaginable storm — and they survived it. They emerged with clarity about what truly matters.
So a break-in? A stolen truck? Frustrating — of course.
But not life-altering.
Adam reminded our students that the important things in life — family, health, character, integrity — are what truly build a person. Everything else is noise.
And before our morning officially ended, someone asked the question everyone was secretly hoping for:
“Can you talk fast for us?”
Adam grinned and instantly slipped into his auctioneer cadence, filling the restaurant with laughter. Within seconds, students were bidding each other up on a fake soda, and we’re pretty sure it sold for over $1000!!!
Throughout the morning, Adam gifted our class layer upon layer of life and business wisdom:
• If you have an idea — go with it.
• Believe in yourself — sell yourself.
• Get up every single day and be productive.
• Show up early — because work ethic is everything.
• Learn to read people. Surround yourself with good people — and remember that sometimes the best business you do… is the business you don’t do.
This visit wasn’t just informative. It was foundational. A reminder that success is built by ordinary people who choose, every day, to do extraordinary work.
Adam supports our Silver Creek Area CEO program not only with his encouragement and willingness to invest time into our students, but also as one of our badge business sponsors — something we deeply appreciate.
Our class left inspired. Energized. And reminded once again that the best lessons in business often come from the people who live them every single day.
Thank you, Adam, for opening your doors — and your story — to us.
