Amish Auction Draws Crowds In Central Michigan (12 Photos)
On May 24th, many members of the Amish community gathered at a local farm in Gladwin County, Michigan for an auction. As you can see here, dozens of buggies waited as their owners handled their business at the community sale.
Auctions are regular affairs in Amish settlements, and may take the form of estate auctions, farm sales, school funding events, or other benefits.
Whatever the occasion, one thing is for certain: the Amish do love an auction (most of them, anyways). Jim Halverson shares a look at the happenings that day (all photos here by Jim).
This particular community, one of two in Gladwin County, is a conservative Swartzentruber Amish group. But as is often the case, the auction drew people from other areas.
You can tell that in this photo below – by the different styles of hats. The Swartzentruber hats are plainer and wider-brimmed, while hats from a more progressive group tend to have narrower brims and a bit more “style” to them.
There were a lot of home items up for bidding at the event; you can see one example here in this collection of traditional kerosene lamps.
It’s typical to see wringer washers for sale at Amish auctions. The classic technology remains a staple for getting clothes clean in many communities. In this photo you can also see the auctioneer’s booth at right.
Here we see rows of traditional Singer sewing machines, another standby of Amish housewives. Some quite old models there.
Over here we see the baked goods table. If you’ve got a sweet tooth or just looking for a snack, this is where you need to be.
Someone is taking a break from the action. What catches the eye here is the seating…it looks a lot like a church pew.
On another part of the property, boys and girls hang out in their corresponding groups. Amish auctions are not just for doing business – they’re also social events, both for adults, and younger folks.
This fellow was catching up with some friends in the “goat” section of the barn.
Finally, out in the “parking lot”, we can see someone has plans on the water for later. I spy fishing rods and a cooler. Coupled with some pleasant weather, that should make for a nice post-auction Saturday activity.
For more, see:
- The Amish in Michigan Guide
- At A Swartzentruber Amish Auction (10 Photos)
- Amishman Explains: Amish Auctions
- The Different Types of Amish Auctions
