Amish auctions

Jamesport, MO School Auction

Next week the annual Jamesport, Missouri Spring Hill School Consignment Auction will be held. This is a large two-day auction drawing a lot of interest. As a preview we have some photos from last year’s event, courtesy of Don Burke. All photos and commentary on this page are provided by Don. You can see more of Don’s Jamesport auction photos and others in full size on his…

2013 Haiti Benefit Auctions

Two weeks ago, the Haiti Benefit Auction was held in Sarasota, Florida. These happen every year in a number of Amish/Mennonite areas to benefit the people of Haiti. Here’s a mission statement from the PA Haiti auction website: This is a cooperative effort of many churches and individuals to bring relief to the hungry, sick, naked, and homeless of Haiti. Our ultimate goal is to…

Illinois Amish quilt benefit auction

Illinois Amish quilt benefit auction

At any given moment there is an auction going on or about to happen somewhere in Amish America.  Amish auctions are social events, fundraisers, and a chance to buy goods at a decent price–and often all three rolled into one. Amish auctions are plugged in various ways–in local publications, Amish newspapers, flyers, word-of-mouth.  If you’ve ever been to an Amish auction, you know the festive…

Bowling Green, Missouri Amish Auction

Bowling Green, Missouri Amish Auction

As promised, more photos today from an auction in the Bowling Green, Missouri Amish settlement. These were taken in May of last year, by Beth Russo. Bowling Green is the oldest Amish enclave in Missouri, dating to 1947. Quilts of course are a staple of Amish auctions.  I quite like this design. Lining up for grub. And something for the sweet tooth. Beth says it…

Quilts and more at a Mennonite Haiti Auction

Amish and Mennonites are known for putting on a series of Haiti benefit auctions throughout the year in various locations.  These auctions are meant to support mission work in the impoverished country. Today Tom serves up photos from a Mennonite-run Haiti auction held this past Friday-Saturday in Penn Yann, NY.  This is in Yates County in the “Finger Lakes” region of west-central New York. The…

Amish Auctioneers: The Performers of Plain Society

What a neat video today.  Auctioneers have always fascinated me–their cadence of speech, command of a crowd, how they inject otherwise mundane transactions with excitement and immediacy. And Amish auctioneers doubly so.  You’ll find no professional actors, musicians, or entertainers among Amish.  But I’ve often thought that auctioneers are the closest to “show business” the Amish get. Getting up on stage, mic-ed up, all eyes…

5 signs of spring in Amish America

Today is the first day of spring (also known as the furthest day possible from next winter). Depending on your latitude, you may need the calendar to tell you that.  But even if your weather this morning doesn’t seem so springy, it will be here soon enough. With spring, plants know the wait is over.  They may now officially begin to sprout and grow. Of…

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How do the Amish help Haiti?

Amish and Mennonites have been putting on annual auctions for the benefit of Haiti for many years now.  They take place in various locations across the nation, including communities in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Florida, and Illinois. Furniture, quilts and other items are auctioned off at these large events.  The Florida auction, held in Sarasota, is in fact taking place this weekend.  The photos you see…

Mount Pleasant, Michigan Amish auction

Rustic Russ reports on the Yoder Horse and Carriage Auction in Mount Pleasant, MI.  Russ has a nice site with a number of Michigan Amish posts and photos. Furniture is among the many items sold at Amish auctions; woodworking has become a chief industry among Amish, many of whom have opened small businesses in recent years. Read more on Amish woodcraft in the state: Amish…

New Wilmington Amish auction

Photo man and in-the-field auction expert Rick Harrison shares his latest batch of pictures from the New Wilmington Amish auction, which took place June 6th.  This was the 20th annual benefit auction and turnout was sizable.  Rick estimated over 125 buggies on the lot. Auctions are popular among Amish.  Lancaster County holds a medical benefit auction each year to support the work of Holmes Morton…