Welcome to 2012, everyone! A new year always brings new opportunities, and 2012 is no exception. As United Country President Mike Duffy recently posted on Facebook, “This year is going to be THE transition year!” Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “transition” as an “evolution from one form, stage, or style to another.”  Whether it is a United Country family member using a company program they hadn’t leveraged before to expand their business or a homeowner deciding it’s time to move out of the big city to greener pastures, people are always look to innovative and creative ways to transition into a better situation. How do you plan to evolve this year? Let us know!

By Kyla Barcus – Public Relations Manager, United Country Real Estate

As a child, I wandered the high grasses of my family’s 40-acre property, my imagination leading the way. Stacks of hay bales were igloos in the winter, and an oval patch of ground surrounded by trees was my hidden city. I was a country kid.

During my teenage years, I begged my parents on a regular basis to move to town on the grounds that, “There’s absolutely no point in living out in the middle of nowhere when you don’t farm anything or even own a cow.” I was certain that our long dirt road was the only thing standing between me and ultimate happiness.

As much as I complained, I knew deep down that I was lucky. There was freedom in the space and an opportunity for discovery each and every day.

My siblings and I became off-road bicycle pros at early ages, mastering the art of riding through gravel, potholes and mud mounds; never the flat, smooth sidewalks the town kids navigated. Looking back, I think that like many other parts of our country life, those bumps and puddles made us stronger and braver, ready to face and conquer obstacles, and never afraid to get a little dirt on our hand in the process.

We went fishing in our own backyard and learned to drive four-wheelers long before cars were on our minds. Appropriately, I spent one summer pretending to be a real estate agent, after my dad’s Realtor® friend gave me his old briefcase and outdated listing forms. I drove “prospective buyers” around on my four-wheeler, and by the end of that summer, I had sold every “lot” on our property to a variety of imaginary buyers.

In the summer months, my mom released us to the great outdoors by 8:00 a.m. and only called us back inside for lunch and at dark, so we found entertainment by using our imaginations. My brother regularly played “bull rider” with the help of our large propane tank. It, of course, was the bull — a natural fit for riding. Why else would it have a handle on the end? It was the toughest rodeo bull in the state, and with a pretend stopwatch, we would cheer as my brother conquered the prestigious eight seconds.

The space provided by 40-acres also meant that there was plenty of room for ‘toys.’ My dad was an avid auction-goer, bringing home the best treasures imaginable. When I was nine, he returned from an auction and unloaded a motorized miniature Model T, like those driven by clowns in local parades. It held two children, or one dad. As you can imagine, we fought like cats and dogs for a turn, and it wasn’t long before the car disappeared. For months we tried to solve the mystery of the stolen car, all the while wondering why our parents weren’t at all concerned about the theft. We eventually realized that the disappearance might have been prompted by one too many brawls over who got the next turn.

I’m happy to report that the car was replaced by something even better! That something also held four passengers … room for all of us at once. It was a used coin ride that probably sat outside a grocery store in its glory days. It looked like a huge blue cereal bowl painted with comets and asteroids. To our astonishment, we didn’t have to put money in the coin slot to make it start, nor was it timed. So, all four of us climbed inside and hit the go button. And go it did, until one of us scrambled to push stop and we all stumbled nauseously over the side to lie on the concrete below. The effects of the spinning and bobbing lasted at least 10 dizzy minutes. Shortly after recovering, we promptly jumped in and did it again. We sometimes had contests to see who could stay in the longest. I don’t remember what the prize was — probably because I never won.

One of my favorite memories was the year I tried to embrace my rural roots by planting my own flower garden in a quaint corner of our yard. Each day, I jumped off the school bus to note the progress of my creation and I was thrilled as tiny vines and plants started to emerge from the ground. One afternoon, as I ran toward the house to drop off my backpack and retreat to my garden, I found my mom at the door beside my four-year-old brother. She had her hand on top of his head and she said, “Chad has something he needs to tell you.”

Eager to get on with this strange family meeting, I looked to my brother who said, “I farmed your garden today. C’mon, I’ll show you.” As he took off in the direction of my garden, I knew this wasn’t good. There he stood, proud as could be, like a small Vanna White presenting a prize. I looked down and saw his little push-along John Deere tractor and combine in my former garden. Little plow lines danced through the middle, and my tiny plants lay in piles ready for “baling.” My perfect stone edging was now stacked like a fence to contain two plastic cows. I smile now, remembering the cute look of astonishment on his face at the fact that I didn’t see the beauty in his masterpiece. “It’s a fine farm,” he told me. I must admit that it was.

Thinking back on these memories, I regret the summers I spent loathing the isolation of country living. Now, as I sit on my parent’s front porch, I see it all so differently. Earlier today, I spotted my brother’s rusty toy tractor and combine in the back yard, and I thought to myself that they deserve to be permanent fixtures in the flower garden. My mom is pulling my daughter around the yard in a wagon with two black Labrador Retrievers chasing happily behind. I hear the locusts beginning their evening serenade.

Someday I hope to find myself sitting on my own front porch staring out at a little acreage. Hopefully my daughter will still be young enough to complain about how the country life cramps her social life, because I want her to have the same moment of awakening that I did when I realized how blessed I was to be a country kid.

It seems so fitting that my career led me to work with United Country Real Estate, where I might, in some small way, play a part in bringing others to a place where similar memories can be made.

The way I see it, United Country is a purveyor of dreams. A paradise is built in an individual’s mind, and United Country brings it to fruition. As that buyer stands amid his dream property, he’ll know he has found his freedom.

Kyle Shobe, the Livestock Marketing Association’s reigning World Champion, and auctioneer with United Country – Shobe Auction & Realty in Lewistown, Montanta, was featured last night in the television news segment “World Champion Auctioneer Brings Talents to Area Auction.” Watch the video and read the full story below.

World champion auctioneer brings talents to area auction – NBCActionNews.com.

In 1925, Roscoe Chamberlain founded United Farm Agency with the mission of providing city dwellers a ‘roadmap to the country’.  United Country Real Estate continues the legacy and commemorates the occasion with the 85^th Anniversary United Country Commemorative print. This special print, created by United Country graphic artist Kevin Anderton, portrays 85 years of United Country heritage with carefully selected images of the company’s past and present.

This collector print was introduced at our 2010 United Country National Convention Benefit Auction in New Orleans with the first print selling for $1,100. Now through a special promotion, you can buy our historic print today for a guaranteed price of $100.00 (plus S&H). 

All proceeds from the prints will go to benefit St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the nation’s top children’s cancer hospital, where no child is ever denied treatment because of the family’s inability to pay.

 
Please contact Trina Turner at (800) 444-5044 or tturner@unitedcountry.com with questions or if you’re interested in purchasing a commemorative print.

by Kyla Barcus, public relations manager, UCRE

“Do something wonderful, people may imitate it.” ~ Albert Schweitzer

February 14 -21 is National Random Acts of Kindness week. No matter how big or small, your acts of kindness can change lives and create a chain reaction to spread even more generosity throughout your community. Join us this week as we pledge to make a difference through random acts of kindness. Please visit United Country’s Facebook page to share your acts of kindness or an act of kindness you’ve witnessed this week— which we hope will inspire others to do the same, both this week and in all the days to come.  The following true story illustrates the power of random acts of kindness and how one small gesture can make an enormous difference.

Last fall, my sister and I bravely embarked on a long road trip to take our three kids to the Omaha zoo. If you’ve ever traveled with a 5-year-old, 4-year-old and 9-month-old packed like sardines in the backseat for a four-hour drive, you’ll understand what I mean when I say, “bravely embarked.”

At exactly 6:45 that night, as we exited the highway to grab dinner in a small town along the way, we had a major tire blow-out right there on the exit ramp. Suddenly we were transformed into two stressed-out women stranded halfway between home and our Omaha hotel, with three hungry children, a shredded tire and only a pitiful, half-flat donut spare at our disposal. Before my sister even had time to finish her frantic phone call to her husband, a nice couple had already stopped to offer assistance. Upon peeking into our car full of crying kids, the gentleman promptly rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt to investigate the dilemma while his wife called the owner of the only service shop in town to see if he could reopen the store to sell us a tire. While we sat there, three more strangers stopped to offer help. I’m not sure that those generous people truly understood what a blessing they were to us that night.

One random act of kindness can have a monumental impact.

Moments like that remind me of the rural community I grew up in. Small towns just seem to have a way of breeding hospitality and character. I can’t think of a time when I’ve driven down the main street of any small town without receiving a wave or nod from a stranger passing by, and it’s that distinct hospitality and kindness that draws so many people to small town life. But, I also know firsthand that kindness and generosity can be found in small towns and big cities alike.

Not long ago, as I was standing in line to buy a much needed cup of coffee at a store here in Kansas City, the man in front of me turned and said, “That coffee is on me young lady, have a wonderful day.” Then, he smiled and walked out the door, leaving me and the cashier speechless. That kind of thing just doesn’t happen in the city every day, but when it does, it can more than change someone’s day—it can change someone’s perspective, creating a desire to pass on that kindness to others.

Whether we live in rural or urban America, through a kind word or a helping hand, we can all emulate the characteristics of small town warmth and generosity and spread it to wherever we call home.

National Random Acts of Kindness week is the perfect time to take the kindness challenge. What will you do to make a difference? First on my list…I’ll be buying a cup of coffee for a stranger.

Make sure to tell us about your acts of kindness on our Facebook page and ask your friends to do the same. Need some random acts of kindness ideas? Visit www.randomactsofkindness.org.

While children have spent the past few weeks scouring the pages of toy catalogs and websites to prepare their Christmas wish lists, grownups have had their eyes on dream properties in United Country’s catalogs and at UnitedCountry.com. United Country features more than 35,000 incredible properties from across the nation at UnitedCountry.com, including vacation homes, mountain escapes, beach homes, lake homes, waterfront properties, log homes, country homes, small and mid-size city homes, recreational land, ranches, farms and commercial properties of every type imaginable. Here’s a sampling of some of the most viewed United Country listings of the last month.

Historic Turner House – Greer, S.C.

Listing Number:  39032-05720
Price:  $1,395,000.00

The R. Perry Turner house was constructed in 1937 in Greer, S.C., by  renowned architect William R. (Willie) Ward. This magnificently restored home is constructed of handmade brick, topped by a slate roof and finished off with copper gutters. The front entry, with a two-story covered front porch and a hanging second floor balcony, leads to a grand foyer punctuated by a sweeping semi-circular grand stairway. The balance of the first floor is comprised of a large music room/parlor, formal living room, formal dining room with built-in corner cabinets, butler’s pantry/breakfast room, wood paneled library, kitchen, utility room and the first floor bedroom suite discreetly tucked away to the rear of the house. At the top of the grand staircase, the focal second floor grand hall mirrors the foyer and provides access to four bedroom suites plus the back hallway that leads, in turn, to a sewing room/nursery, sleeping porch (or sixth bedroom), and the back staircase that reaches the attic, from the basement, in three flights. The tree-canopied grounds are completed by a lighted formal English garden, fishpond, slate roofed two-car garage and interconnected front and rear driveways accessing both bordering streets.

Ages Past Country Inn Bed & Breakfast – Cashton, Wis.

Listing Number:  48102-06650
Price:  $430,000.00

Imagine owning this unique, beautiful and established turn-key business that has a high occupancy rate, many returning customers, verbal agreements with at least three area businesses to host clients and business associates, a history that includes providing lodging and fine dining to movie stars and professional musicians, and comes with an offer from the current owners to provide 30 to 60 days of free consultation to a new owner? Ages Past Country Inn has been an established Bed and Breakfast since May of 1997. Built in 1898 by John Cremer for his lovely bride, this 111-year-old Victorian home was purchased by the Sacred Heart of Jesus parish in 1918 to be used as a rectory for its resident priests. In 1996 the current owners purchased and restored this 7,500 square foot home. Guests can choose from seven different rooms (including three suites), each with a private bathroom. Throughout the property you will find king-size mahogany beds from Indonesia, oak furniture from Europe, a turn-of-the-century armoire and side table from Belgium, fireplaces, beautiful stain glass windows, authentic signed carpets from the Middle East (one of which is 120 years old), a Chinese sculpted carpet, and chandeliers from Belgium dating back the 1800s. The majority of the personal property and furnishings will be sold with this Bed & Breakfast business. Other features of this home include lounges, foyers, a kitchen, a reception room, and two laundry areas. There is also a full apartment in the basement level. This turn-key business comes with a computer system including a full-access website and online reservation program.

Harmony Hills Ranch – Arlington, S.D.

Listing Number:  40019-00018
Price:  $1,652,000.00

Escape to Harmony Hills Ranch, the Midwestern getaway of your dreams. Characterized by gently rolling green landscapes in the famous prairie pothole region of the central flyway zone, this ideal recreational ranch is an eastern South Dakota treasure. Over the past 70 years, this contiguous 560-acre ranch has won many conservation awards including: Top Ten in the Nation of Farming in the Flyways by Ducks Unlimited Inc. (long-time United Country strategic parter), Outstanding American Conservationist Award by Pheasants Forever, Conservation Tree Care Award, Wildlife Habitat Conservation Award, and Land & Wildlife Stewardship Award. Harmony Hills Ranch harbors a variety of wildlife habitat, including 12 abundant wetlands, thousands of trees ranging from nine to 90 years old, including Ash, Oak, Cedar, Pine, Spruce, Russian Olive, Box Elder, Apple and Lilac trees. Hunting and recreational opportunities include a wealth of waterfowl, trophy white tail deer, wild turkey, pheasants and other upland game birds, and an abundance of fishing. An established bison herd of 130 bison currently roam the 400-acre grasslands surrounding the ranch. The wetlands, trees and four home sites make up the remaining 160 acres. Located only two miles south of the 2,000 acre Lake Sinai, which is one of the deepest and best walleye lakes in South Dakota, this area naturally attracts thousands of ducks and geese flocking in season.

Auction Fever was alive and well during the 2010 National FFA Alumni Benefit Auction held October 22nd during the 83rd National FFA Convention at the Indianapolis Convention Center. This year’s convention set an all-time event attendance record with a total crowd of 54,942 members, advisors, sponsors and guests.

The annual live auction was conducted by veteran auctioneers Mike Jones, president of United Country Auction Services and Shawn Terrel, vice president of United Country Auction Services. Jones and Terrel have conducted the auction the past four years on behalf of the National FFA. In addition to United Country’s Kansas City, Mo., home office team, owners and staff members of United Country – Bonham Auction and Realty of Indianapolis, Ind., and United Country – Coffey Realty & Auction of Bloomington, Ind., assisted in conducting the auction.

Every table at the live auction event was filled to capacity with 736 people registering for the live and silent auctions. Online simulcast bidding was made available by United Country for those who could not attend in person.

One of the major highlights of this year’s auction was a 2011 Ford F-150 Supercrew XLT donated by Ford Motor Company, which produced a final bid of $29,500. Other highlights included a six month New Holland tractor/baler lease for $7,250, a New Holland Rustler utility vehicle for $7,100, a 2010 Yamaha Grizzly ATV for $4,650 and a trip to Germany donated by CLAAS for $3,750. Proceeds for the live and silent auction were approximately $120,000.

“Future Farmers of America” was founded by a group of young farmers back in 1928. Their mission was to prepare future generations for the challenges of feeding a growing population. They taught us that agriculture is more than planting and harvesting– it’s a science, it’s a business and it’s an art. FFA continues to help the next generation rise up to meet those challenges by helping its members to develop their own unique talents and explore their interests in a broad range of career pathways.

Today, the Future Farmers of America members are our nation’s future biologists, chemists, veterinarians, engineers and entrepreneurs of America. United Country representatives hope that some of the 523,309 FFA members will consider a professional career in real estate or auctioneering. There are 7,487 chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

For the majority of buyers today, the search for real estate begins online, and with the growing number of highly mobile consumers, the ability to find the perfect property on the go, with both ease and speed is essential. With that in mind, United Country Real Estate has launched a free iPhone application, which allows users to instantly browse United Country’s MLS of more than 30,000 property listings throughout all 50 states and Costa Rica through its user-friendly search functionality.

The United Country iPhone app allows on-the-go customers to find their ideal property using advanced search capabilities similar to those of the award-winning UnitedCountry.com website. This powerful new lifestyle and rural real estate tool provides buyers the ability to view detailed property information, photo slideshows and agent contacts, and to save searches using the My Favorites tab.

Buyers can instantly browse United Country’s nationwide property listings as well as search our large portfolio of nationwide auction listings using a variety of search options including location, price range and property details. Additionally, we have merged the functionality of our specialty property searches from United Country.com to the new iPhone application. Through this technology, users can conduct niche property searches for categories including golf properties, farms and ranches, bed and breakfast properties, equine, recreational land, lakefront and many other lifestyle properties.

“Our new mobile strategy is an extension of the advanced marketing services and tools offered to our customers through the family of United Country websites, which receive more than 3 million unique visitors each month. We are excited to provide buyers the opportunity to find their ideal property with even more convenience using the United Country iPhone app,” said David Dickey, chief technology officer with United Country Real Estate.

The United Country iPhone app is available as a free download from Apple’s App Store. Search for “United Country Real Estate” in the App Store search field. The application is also compatible with iPod Touch and iPad.

by Kyla Barcus, public relations manager, UCRE

“No one ever attains very eminent success by simply doing what is required of him; it is the amount and excellence of what is over and above the required that determines the greatness of ultimate distinction.”
Charles Kendall Adams

What’s the formula for business success? What are the key ingredients? These questions usually result in answers such as; hard work, outstanding customer service, superior product/service offering and positive thinking. Without a doubt, these factors are essential, but one of the most highly overlooked contributors to the overall success of a business is the community. In a sense, each of us borrows from the community we live in or do business in.

Why not take a moment to repay the favor?

Many years ago, I read the book Pay It Forward by Catherine Ryan Hyde. This book, which was later adapted into a movie by the same name, illustrates how much impact a simple, good deed can have on the world. The story focuses on a young man who devises a system that can change the world for the better: “If someone did you a favor, something big, something you couldn’t do on your own; and instead of paying it back, you paid it forward to three people… and the next day, they paid it forward to three more, and the day after that those 27 people each paid it forward to another three, and each day after that everyone in turn paid it forward to three more people… in two weeks, that comes to 4,782,969.”

Although the system might seem far beyond the realm of possibility, each of us can learn something from the basic philosophy. Most people who are involved in community services will tell you that the rewards are immeasurable. Not only will you feel good about what you are doing, the community will feel even better about you as an individual and as a professional. Pay it forward for what the community or a community member has done for you, and soon enough you will find yourself on the receiving end of the process. The community will pay it forward to you with kind words, referrals and an overall positive image of you and your business.

Focus on the ‘public’ in public relations by paying it forward.

These days, the variety of community service opportunities is enormous and can be matched to your interests, talents and time limitations. We are now entering one of the best seasons for paying it forward. With the holidays just around the corner, even the smallest act of kindness can make a difference in the lives of others. Listed below are ‘pay it forward’ ideas for individuals or groups.

• Organize a food drive at your office to be donated for holiday meals
• Gather your office staff together to make a holiday meal for a family in need or elderly citizens
• Surprise local families with Christmas trees
• Adopt a family for Christmas in your office, by playing Santa and gathering items from their Christmas lists
• Bake cookies and deliver them to other businesses and past clients/customers with a message from your office
• Organize a charity auction to benefit a local organization

Each year the National Auctioneers Association partners with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to conduct the annual toy auction. Mike Jones, president of United Country Auction Services, and other NAA members nationwide also conduct charity auctions across the U.S. to provide financial support and increase public awareness in support of St. Jude’s mission. The video below illustrates how these auctioneers are changing the lives of children across the world.

“Whatever you do to help someone else or when you demonstrate your caring side, it can have a profound effect on others. Simply doing one single act to benefit someone else can start a chain reaction of philanthropic deeds that cannot be measured,” said Mike Jones. “If I had one piece of advice to give others, it would be, do not equate money with success, but rather demonstrate your success with acts of kindness, you will have no regrets.”

What are some ways that you pay it forward? We’d love to hear how you’re giving back to your community and what impact these activities have on you in your personal and professional life.

As a landowner interested in conservation, you want to get the full potential from your land. But how?

Ducks Unlimited just might have the answer.

DU’s Conservation Easements Program ─ one of the most effective methods we use to protect North America’s valuable natural resources ─ is a partnership between DU and landowners that benefits conservation while giving you the chance to leave a legacy with your property.

So how exactly do easements work? Easements are voluntary legal agreements made between DU and property owners restricting, but not eliminating, the type and amount of development that may take place on the property. Since close to 75 percent of America’s wetlands are on private lands, this partnership plays a critical role in DU’s conservation mission.

The benefits of easements for conservation might seem clear, but those benefits extend significantly to you as well. As part of the partnership established with the Ducks Unlimited Wetlands America Trust through easements, landowners receive:

• Guidance from DU in land management practices to ensure the continued use of the property is consistent with and protects its conservation values
• Potential tax benefits, including the possibility of a federal income tax deduction for the value of the easement up to 30 percent of adjusted gross income
• Assurance that DU will assume a perpetual obligation to monitor the property and enforce the terms of the easement

Perhaps most importantly, easements provide you with a unique opportunity to leave a legacy. With the land protection that DU provides through easements, you can be sure that large acreages of wetlands, riparian habitats and important uplands will be preserved for the benefits of waterfowl and other wildlife and the enjoyment of future generations.

DU has earned the reputation as the world’s leader in wetlands and waterfowl conservation, and its conservation easements program, a valuable partnership between DU and landowners, helps ensure its ability to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever.

United Country is a proud sponsor of Ducks Unlimited and is committed to land stewardship while helping landowners find their freedom.