20 Photos That Capture The Charm Of An Amish Pumpkin (& Mum) Auction
This is a look back at a neat photo set, and timely given the season.
Here we have a pumpkins, gourds, and mums sale held at the North Missouri Produce Auction (Jamesport, MO community).
This particular set of photos, by Don Burke, dates to 2018 (*update: in fact, Don has brought to my attention that these date to prior to 2018, possibly a few years before that), but the auction is held each September, most recently just a few weeks ago.
I previously posted some (mostly) different photos from this auction back then, and in much smaller sizes. I realized I’ve been sitting on another great set by Don so why not share them with you all 🙂
Here’s more on the auction and its purpose and goals:
The North Missouri Produce Auction is a partnership owned by a number of local shareholders who constructed a facility near Jamesport for the purpose of selling produce, providing a market for interested growers along with a source of fresh produce. Perishable crops will be picked just hours before the sale.
The auction methodd is the fairest way to sell, as it creates a true supply and demand environment.
The auction is directed to wholesale buyers, such as stores, roadside stands, farm markets, etc. But anyone that can use produce in boxes or flat lots for canning, freezing, etc. is welcome to buy. There are always some small lots.
The idea of selling produce at auction was formed by several local growers who realized a need for a central point for growers and buyers to gather. Also, they had observed the huge success of similar auctions in other communities.
Looks like it is a wonderful community event with some really beautiful autumn visual treats.
The Amish don’t celebrate Halloween themselves (for the most part anyway), but they certainly supply pumpkins for those that do.
These auctions provide a great venue for buyers and sellers to come together. And thanks to auctions like these, Amish families can find a market for their produce and other farm products, providing an alternative – or addition to – traditional dairy farming for some.
I’ll let the rest of the photos speak for themselves. Enjoy, and a thank you to Don for sharing.
You might also enjoy these other photo sets:
- Amish Autumn Scenes (29 Photos)
- Amish Country Through The Seasons (12 Photos)
- Scenes From A Big Amish Auction (15 Photos)
- Behind The Scenes At An Amish Horse Festival (32 Photos)
Women’s dresses
Great photos! One photo shows three women wearing a purple, gray and blue dress. The material and pattern is different from what I see in Northern Indiana and Michigan. Is that typical of Missouri or are these gals Mennonite?
I agree, that I think these women in the purple, gray and blue dresses are Old Order Mennonite. According to the book Amish & Mennonite Settlements of America, there are Old Order Mennonite Settlements at Breckinridge, Mo., and Chula-Linneus, Mo., not too far from Jamesport. Also, the woman in the light brown dress and cape in the second to last picture may be some type of German Baptist Brethren.
Al, I believe you are right about the young woman in the light brown dress/cape. I can’t be 100% sure since I can’t see her face, but I believe she is one of three German Baptist sisters who were selling a large number (trailer-loads) of mums in the auction.
About the other women ya’ll were discussing, you could well be right there as well. I’m afraid I can’t identify all the sects by the details of their clothing, but I do know that there are various groups in the area — OOA (including Swartzentruber), at times some New-Order Amish, horse-and-buggy Mennonites, more contemporary Mennonites, and at some points Hutterites — and possibly more. You don’t see most them so much on a typical day, but the auction does bring more of them out — and esp. the mum & pumpkin auction (one of the biggest of the year).
I would agree think so too – Don’s previous photos of auctions from this settlement definitely show some non-Amish Plain attendees. The patterned bonnet and dress on the girl for example. I guess it is well-situated to draw from different communities.
Amish Produce Auctions
We have an Amish owned co-op produce auction near me in Airville PA. They sell anything from a small basket full of fruit or vegetables to pallet loads. Anything from fruits, vegetables, seeds, flowers, veggie starter flats for your garden, eggs, and some homemade Amish crafts as well for seasonal holidays. It takes place Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and they also sell truck or trailer loads of hay and straw on one of the days. If you don’t have time to garden, but love to can and freeze your own food, it’s a great place to buy by the bushel when you can plan to do the work. Buyers come from all over the place, to buy for farm markets in Philly, Baltimore, Harrisburg and other big cities. Us locals also always enjoy attending and getting such fresh food.
Inviting
These are beautiful photos – that little girl in front of the pumpkins is darling!!! Amish country in autumn time feels warm and comforting. There is no place like it on earth!