Looking at this picture, you may be thinking flooding. Natural disaster. Neighbours banding together to help each other.
You’d be wrong.
The event that draws such a crowd on a stormy Saturday morning is a classic country auction.
The community became very close knit during the event as everyone crowded into the barn to take shelter from the rain. I climbed up on the hay bales trying to get a picture of the crowd, and then the auctioneer (far left) sold the pile–300 bales for $1 each.
This was a true farm auction. Light on collectibles. Heavy on the equipment.
Even the livestock was auction block. The poor brown gal wasn’t enthused to hear she was for sale.
It’s been too long since I’ve been to an auction, so I wasn’t as quick as I should have been. I’m still thinking about that wagon wheel hub and the small metal cabinets that ended up being thrown into lots when they didn’t sell the first time. I could have had them both for less than $5.
However, my Dad had no hesitation about bidding and was able to come away with a decent haul of a cart, a pair of small mechanic’s ramps, a drill and a handheld grinder. The soggy umbrellas were ours.
I love a country auction, even when I end up slogging through mud and who knows what else up close and personal with 200 of my closest neighbours. I’ll definitely be back in two weeks when the whole property–the stone farmhouse, the big barn and all 17 acres–go on the block.
Anyone want to buy a farm?
Who else loves auctions, rain or shine? Does anyone else suffer from non-bidders’ remorse? Any tips for successful bidding? I usually like to wait to jump in until bidding has slowed down a bit, rather than driving up the price by bidding too early. Would you buy something as big as a house at an auction?
Home on 129 Acres 
Auctions are great. The only downside is the time. If you have your eye on something it might take hours to get to it. The biggest thing I have bought at auction is the decorative steel off an old historical building.
Will you be using the decorative steel in your house?
Hi Julia –
Nope I have been buying old historical building cast iron to add to my gallery building. Evansville (where I live) was home to the George Mesker Steel company. They made those fancy cast iron store fronts. I have bought Mesker iron from an Opera House in Kensington KS, one turn of the century bank in a rural Indiana town and a Garage in Illinois – hopefully I’ll get to use them one day.
What’s the address? I may be interested in bidding.
You wanna be our neighbour? I sent you over the address and the details by email.
We have an auction business just down our road and they run an auction every two weeks. Its always a rush to get there at the dinner hour on Friday night. Viewing starts at 5:30 and the auction at 6 pm. Luckily they also offered snacks e.g. hot dogs, coffee, chips and butter tarts. I love it.
We have an auction place near us too.. with the exact same timing and menu too, I think!
would love to buy a farm!
I’m really curious to see how the auction goes when they sell off the whole property.
Hey there,
I am also curious to know where the property is! Thanks!
Hi Melissa,
I sent you the information directly over email. (I’m sure people can figure out where I live, but I’m just paranoid about sharing too much publicly).
That stone farmhouse looks gorgeous! (Probably a renovator’s dream inside, too, lol.) The auction sounds like a lot of fun. I can’t believe you almost got a wagon wheel for $5! I’m sure you’ll get quicker at it if you keep on going.
Yeah. I just need to get back into the auction groove.