Rain ending early. Remaining cloudy. Low 47F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%..
Rain ending early. Remaining cloudy. Low 47F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Updated: December 27, 2024 @ 6:15 pm
Photos contributed
Decker’s Livestock Inc. has been located at 105 S. Hamilton St. in Milford for the bulk of its 80 years.
Bill Decker, operator of Decker’s Livestock in Milford, has been in the auction business more than 50 years. Here, he shows how it’s done.
Photos contributed
Decker’s Livestock Inc. has been located at 105 S. Hamilton St. in Milford for the bulk of its 80 years.
Bill Decker, operator of Decker’s Livestock in Milford, has been in the auction business more than 50 years. Here, he shows how it’s done.
MILFORD — Two seconds into a conversation with Bill Decker, his profession becomes obvious.
His booming yet comfortable voice is a dead giveaway, shouting “auctioneer.”
The 76-year-old is the third-generation operator of the longest-tenured family auction house in the state. In 1945, his grandfather Glenn and his father, Don, opened Decker’s Livestock in Milford, a community of now 1,114. In 2025, the company will celebrate 80 years in business, and Bill plans to keep going.
“If I have my health, I’m going to stay busy,” Decker said. “It’s our 80th year, and we hope to be here for longer that’s for sure.”
It has become a way of life, with benefits both because of the work and friends he makes.
“You’ve got to enjoy what you’re doing,” Decker said. “In my business, 99.9 percent of the people are good people to do business with.”
Decker joined the family business in 1971, with his run spanning parts of six decades … so far.
Glenn Decker wanted to be an auctioneer and went to train for the job in Iowa. He had been a farmer.
When Don Decker graduated from high school in 1945, the company opened for business.
Until about 25 years ago, the business sold up to a 1,000-1,500 feeder pigs every week. But the hog market became less profitable, and many of the pig farmers left the business.
Decker’s Livestock sells cattle at a steady pace, with customers coming from as far as 100 miles away.
During Bill Decker’s days, 10 other nearby livestock auctions have been closed.
“We have a lot of loyal customers is one reason we’ve been in business so long,” Decker said. “I think a lot of people depend on our reliability.”
They know him and trust him.
“Some families I have done business with for four generations,” Decker said.
He has been feted for his work, becoming state auctioneer champion and a finalist for the international auctioneer championships.
“Auctioneering kind of got in our blood,” Decker said.
Hopping place
The Decker’s Livestock building is in its third iteration. The first was replaced in 1950. That facility burned down on Dec. 31, 1954, and the current structure went up at 105 S. Hamilton St.
“We rebuilt in short order,” Decker said.
You can’t miss it thanks to a steer on the company sign.
The building includes offices and a livestock arena.
Decker said about 100 to 500 head come through in a typical week.
Background check
Decker helps out in the community serving as the “Voice of the Bearcats” public-address announcer for Milford High School football games for 20 years.
Over the years, his company has donated its auctioneering services for different local events, including helping the FFA. Also, a local church has held fundraisers for worldwide disasters, with Decker lending his talents there for more than three decades.
Decker and wife, Linda, have been married 42 years. While he grew up in Milford, she is from Watseka. Linda worked at Milford schools for 35 years. She is a Eastern Illinois University graduate in education who earned her master’s degree from the University of Illinois.
The Deckers have three grown daughters — Kristin, Marcy and Laura — and three grandkids.
You can check out one of the grandkids getting an auctioneering lesson from grandpa on Facebook.
Priceless.
The Times-Republic mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the Times-Republic on your mobile device just as it appears in print.
Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.
We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:
