ABOUT US
John M. Kessler, Principal Broker & Auctioneer
John has been in the full time real estate & auction business since 1980, and around the business all his life. John has handled the sale of property, by both private sale & at public auction from a few hundred dollars to in excess of a million dollars. John's auctioneering skills won him the title 1987 World's Champion Auctioneer, 2012 Champion of Champions Auctioneer, 2001 Kentucky State Champion Auctioneer and 1983, 1987 & 1995 KAA Champion Auctioneer. John was named to the Kentucky Auctioneers Hall of Fame in 1999. John has conducted auctions at The Old Timers Baseball Game, St. Petersburg, Florida, and at Frontier Days Rodeo, Cheyenne, Wyoming. He is a past President of the Kentucky Auctioneers Association, past President of the Taylor Co. Cattleman's Assoc., past President of the Taylor County Extension District Board and the Taylor County Ag Development Council, Past President of the Brookside Cemetery Association and a Deacon at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. In addition to his real estate and auction business, John was the lead auctioneer for the Taylor Co. Stockyards from 1980 to 1998, and sold tobacco on tobacco markets in Lebanon, Springfield and Shelbyville, Ky from 1980 to 2002, and in Mullins, Conway, Darlington and Timmonsville SC and in Vidilia GA from 1984 to 2000. In his free time John enjoys spending time with his family and working on his farm where he raises Angus beef cattle.
John Wayne Kessler, CES Real Estate Broker & Auctioneer
John Wayne was born and raised in Campbellsville, KY in the auction business where he grew up hanging on to his Father’s coattail, following him around. John Wayne was named after his Father, John, and Grandfather, Wayne. John Wayne started working auctions at a young age, carrying sheets then holding up items being sold. John Wayne became a licensed Auctioneer and Real Estate Broker in 2007, becoming the fourth generation of the Kessler Family to become an auctioneer; and joining the company his Grandfather started in 1938!
John Wayne graduated from Taylor County High School and A-Pass Weikel Real Estate School in 2007. John Wayne graduated from Elizabethtown Community College in 2009 with an Associate Degree in Business with an emphasis in Real Estate. In 2022 John Wayne earned the Certified Estate Specialist designation from the National Auction Association, that only a few auctioneers in the country hold.
John Wayne is very active in the profession and community. He was 2009 Junior KAA Bid Calling Champion, 2011 Kentucky Champion Auctioneer, Finalist in the 2022 Champion of Champions KAA contest and Battle of the Bluegrass! John Wayne is a member of the National Auction Association and member, Past President, and Director of the Kentucky Auctioneers Association. John Wayne also sells livestock at the Washington County Livestock Center. John Wayne is the Chairman of the Taylor County Extension District, Vice President of the Taylor County Cattleman’s Association, Past President of Taylor County Farm Bureau Federation, Past President of Taylor County Extension Council, Past President of Taylor County Ag Council, Past President of Taylor County Agriculture Development Council, Director of Brookside Cemetery Association, and Member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church.
John Wayne is married to Holly, and in December 2021 they welcomed twin sons, Peyton Morgan and Parker Wayne! Maybe one day they will be the fifth generation!
Marsha Anne Atwood Real Estate Sales Associate & Apprentice Auctioneer
Marsha is no stranger around real estate sales and auction sales, as she is also a 4th generation to be involved in the family business. Marsha passed her real estate exam in August 2011 and is currently working part time in real estate sales. In February of 2016 Marsha received her Apprentice Auctioneers License. Marsha is also a Certified Real Estate Appraiser and owns Atwood Appraisal Service. Marsha is a 2013 graduate of Campbellsville University with a Bachelor Degree in Business and she is married to Rhyan Atwood, and they have a daughter, Anna Kate and a son Maddox. Marsha continues to work all of the Kessler Auctions as a cashier or grounds person. Marsha's auctioneering talent earned her the title 2008 Ky FFA Auctioneering Champion, becoming the first female to ever win the contest and runner-up in the 2017 Ky Auctioneers Association Apprentice Division Auctioneering Contest. Marsha was also the KAA Champion Bid Spotter in 2018, winning the 1st ever contest. Marsha and her husband Rhyan, along with their 2 children live in the Saloma community of Taylor Co. She is a 2011 graduate of Taylor Co. High School, a 2013 graduate of Campbellsville University, and a graduate of A - PASS WEIKEL Real Estate school in Lexington.
Julie Kessler, Broker Associate & Auction Cashier
Julie was born in Casey County, KY and graduated from Taylor County High School in 1982, and University of Kentucky in 1986. Julie began working as an Auction Cashier in 1987. Julie earned her Real Estate Sales Associate license in 1991 and her Brokers license in 2000.
Julie is married to John, and they have two children: John Wayne and Marsha. Julie is known as Mimi to Anna Kate, Maddox, Peyton, and Parker.
Mike Price, Auctioneer & Real Estate Sales Associate
Mike joined the Kessler Auction & Realty Co. team in 2012 as a Real Estate Sales Associate and Auctioneer! Mike has been licensed as a sales associate since 2008 and as an auctioneer since 2001. Prior to joining the Kessler Auction & Realty Co., Mike worked as a contract auctioneer and helped Kessler's on several auctions between 2003 and 2011.
Mike graduated from Western Kentucky University in 1993 with a Bachelors Degree in Agriculture, A-Pass Weikel Auction School in 1998, and Elizabethtown Community College Real Estate classes in 2008.
Mike and his wife Angie make their home in Green County and live on their family farm.
Other Agents and Staff
Bobby Kessler, Auction Groundsman
Lisa Janes, Sales Associate
Judy Wright, Auction Clerk
Holly Kessler, Auction Clerk & Cashier
Rhyan Atwood, Auction Groundsman
Alex Price, Auction Groundsman
Hannah Despain, Auction Cashier
Katelyn Price, Auction Cashier
Rachel Ford, Auction Cashier
Rex Perkins, Auction Groundsman
Josh Gabbert, Auction Groundsman
In Memory Of
COL. WAYNE KESSLER, 1919-2003 65 YEARS AS AN AUCTIONEER
Col. Wayne Kessler, Broker - Auctioneer
Col. Wayne Kessler founded what is now Kessler Auction & Realty Company in 1938. From that time, until his death in 2003, he conducted 1000's of successful auctions. In addition to his real estate and auction business, Wayne was the auctioneer for the Taylor Co. Stockyards for 50 years and was the auctioneer for the New Farmers Tobacco Warehouses #1, #2 & #3 in Springfield Ky for 38 years. Wayne conducted several auctions in the 1930's and 1940's with his father S.V. Kessler. Wayne was inducted into the National Auctioneers Hall of Fame in 1975 & was one of the 1st people inducted into the Kentucky Auctioneers Hall of Fame.