“They're tiny dinosaurs and come in so many shapes, colors, and sizes,” he continues. “I like the utility of them, as they provide eggs and entertainment, but don't need attention like a cat or a dog. They’re self-sufficient, and basically I feel inclined to reward them for rewarding me. I actually most enjoy sitting with them on a bucket quietly and just watching them. It's peaceful, and I feel like it's my way of showing my appreciation.”

So when you see him holding a chicken on the cover of this magazine, don’t worry. Chickens are near and dear to his heart (or maybe I should say wrist). He and his wife even have the tattoos to prove it.

“My wife has a hen on her wrist and I have a rooster,” he smiles.

In addition to his affection for chickens, Buzz is a man of non-stop action. Hence, his nickname. 

“All of my siblings have A names: Adam, Amy, Alex, April, Abby, Anthony,” he says. “I've been Buzz since before I can remember, and it's mainly because of the confusion of which Niederklein boy I was and my high energy as a little kid. I was always buzzin around.”

He runs half marathons for fun. He played college football. It’s no wonder that somewhere along the way, Anthony Niederklein became “Buzz,” a nickname so fitting that decades later, it still works.

His siblings even had a way of turning up the voltage.

“My siblings used to gather in a circle around me and chant ‘Buzzy’s the King,’ and I would dance around doing high knees,” he recalls. “Don’t chant it around me...I may do it again.” He laughs.

Fast forward and Buzz is still buzzing around at age 31, but this time it’s at Woods Bros Realty. Seven years into a career he never expected to have, Buzz has found himself working alongside some of the agents he considers “legends,” helping clients through major life transitions and building a business that has grown far beyond his original expectations.

“I am along for the ride and I’m enjoying it,” he says.

What a ride it has been.

After majoring in environmental science, Buzz had plans to go into crop science.

“I did that for a summer while in college,” he says. “I ruled that out before I pursued it further.” Walking through 12- to 14-foot-high cornfields in extremely hot conditions with minimal interaction with people didn’t suit his extroverted personality.

“I love the birds, bees, and nature,” he says. “But your hobbies and interests aren’t as fun if you are doing them for work.” He went ahead and started mowing with his brother before entering real estate in September 2019.

Prior to that, he worked as a wildlife biologist for Pheasants Forever and landscaped for Campbell’s Nursery. Although Buzz loves nature, he loves people more. “I wanted to work with more people and not be so isolated,” he comments.

Real estate also gave him the freedom to soar with more control of his time, income and success. What about the fear of failure? Buzz used that as fuel to succeed. “Plus, if it didn't work, there will always be lawns to mow,” he laughs. Now he can enjoy the outdoors for fun, without it being work-related.

Buzz has also found a fun way to put his own stamp on his real estate business with his LLC, Find Your Hive, a play on his name and what he does every day.

“‘Find Your Hive’ is my play on words with my name,” he explains. “I’m basically always trying to help buyers find their new home (or hive).”

The idea started a few years ago when Buzz created the LLC and sketched out what he calls a “chicken-scratch” version of a logo. He sent it to the marketing team at Woods Bros Realty to see if they could clean up his vision. They did, creating a logo that felt distinctly Buzz.

Since then, he has put it on everything from his email signature to T-shirts, hats and keychains. 

“I think it’s my fun way of having something that is uniquely my own,” he says.

“I have been focused on my sphere from the get-go,” says Buzz. “I am confident that I can do a good job. I don’t have to compete with other agents.”

That outlook fits naturally with the principles of Ninja Selling, which focuses on relationships, providing value and building a business from a place of abundance rather than competition. For Buzz, there is plenty of business to go around. His focus isn’t on being the biggest name in town. It’s on taking care of the people already in his sphere and doing a good job for them.

“I didn’t have expectations to be wealthy or the number one agent in Lincoln,” he says. “I just wanted to make enough money and do something I enjoy.”

Real estate ended up giving him exactly that (and more).

“I thought I was going to find a career that I would tolerate, and it turned out to be a career that I really enjoyed,” he says.

Seven years later, Buzz is still enjoying it, grateful that the career he once hoped he could simply make a living at has become one he genuinely loves.

When not working, Buzz likes to be on the go, especially through running. Recently, he ran a half marathon.

“Old Buzz could eat current Buzz,” he jokes. “I was stronger and bigger in college. I weigh 25 pounds less than I did in college because I run all the time and play basketball weekly. I always get a raised eyebrow when I tell people I played football in college.” But Buzz did.

“Sports played a big role for my whole family.” Every sibling competed in something while in college. Adam played baseball at Nebraska Wesleyan, Amy played volleyball at Chadron State, Alex played football at Concordia, April participated in track and dance at Concordia, and Abby ran track at Hastings College.

Buzz played football at Doane, where he experienced both sides of the game. “I’ve been both a starter and a bench warmer,” he says. He even did the team laundry as a side job. He learned to make the most of whatever role he was given.

“When life gives me lemons, I’ll make lemonade,” he says.

His connection to the team has continued well beyond his playing days. “I consider myself the football team’s REALTOR® from my time at Doane,” he says. “I’ve helped dozens of players, past and present.”

Other pastimes? Raising chickens, of course.

“A year ago, we moved to an acreage. When we lived in town, we had city chickens. We brought them with us, but we also ordered more chickens,” he says. Ordering day-old baby chicks and receiving them in the mail? “It’s a crazy phenomenon. You choose the breeds you want out of a magazine, and they ship them to you.” Currently, Buzz is up to 25 chickens, and they lay all sorts of eggs, even green ones.

His wife, Maddy, a nurse, trades 12 eggs for sourdough, which works out perfectly for Buzz. “Eggs are a very common part of our diet, for sure,” he says.

Buzz and Maddy are blessed with a 2-year-old son named Noah. “Noah is the man. We often talk about how we miss him even when we're with him,” says Buzz. Their hearts are full with Noah but they are excited to welcome a new baby into their arms this December.

Happily married, Buzz raves about his wife.

“She’s an amazing de facto assistant for me, and I bounce ideas and situations off her constantly. She really helps me with my blind spots, and I value her opinions and point of view.”

They also like to hang out together.

Buzz comments, “Her love for being outdoors nearly matches mine and makes for some cool vacations when time allows. We enjoy gardening, hiking, seeing pretty views, earning our craft beers, and eating delicious food.”

Buzz is enjoying his life, his family, his thriving career, and his backyard chickens. He’s grateful for how things have unfolded and is taking time to appreciate just how far he has come.

“It has happened so fast for me,” he says. “I’ve had no expectations of this job. I am along for the ride and I’m enjoying it.”