Amishman Explains: Amish Auctions

I had a blast doing this Q & A with my friend Ben Riehl while in Lancaster County last month. We recorded this while driving to a local horse auction.

Ben explains the appeal of Amish auctions and answers some of my questions. He also shares a funny anecdote and we have some laughs. I hope you enjoy this video as much as I did recording it. Or – read on for the full transcript.

Ben Explains Amish Auctions

Ben Riehl is a good friend of mine, who I’ve known for about 14 years now, he and his family. Ben is also a member of an Old Order Amish church in Lancaster County.

Erik: What is this place that we’re going to? Who’s gonna be here, and what can you say?

Ben: Well, what we’re heading for is Mel’s Stables. It’s behind New Holland, and what it is is a driving horse auction.

It’s held one day every month, the first Saturday of the month. I would say 90% of the audience is the local Plain community, and it’s a place to buy and sell driving horses primarily. Although there’s times when they sell draft horses and mules and ponies as well.

Erik: So, like, buggy horses?

Ben: Buggy horses is what we’re doing today.

Erik: Or just the ones for farm work, basically.

Ben: That’s the definition of draft horse. My son works there as a bid spotter. He takes the bids from the audience and conveys them to the auctioneer.

Erik: So he’d be the one kind of pointing out the the bids on his section of the audience. To get the auctioneer’s attention that we got someone.

Ben: Right. The audience is bigger than one auctioneer can efficiently see.

Erik: And we’re talking, like, dozens – more than dozens. Hundreds of people.

Ben: About a hundred. Between 100 and 200 people is the typical attendance.

So in Lancaster County, and with a lot of the other Amish populations in the nation as well, auctions are the time-honored way of doing doing business in a lot of instances. So the answer to the question “how often there are auctions?” The answer is every day.

Erik: In Lancaster County, for example. And this is the biggest Amish community, of course, 40,000 Amish people living here.

But these are not just attended only by the Amish, of course. This one is it’s actually a Mennonite…

Ben: They are open to the public.

Erik: This is a once a month event, right, that we’re going to do?

Ben: At Mel’s. Yeah.

Erik: But just in general, if you think about all the school auctions, mud sales, benefit auctions – how many auctions are happening, per week, let’s say, in the community?

Ben: The other main livestock auctions is at New Holland Sales Stable. There, it happens every day. And there’s a weekly horse auction, and there’s special horse auctions, once a month on Friday evenings, I am thinking.

But there’s cattle auctions, sheep auctions, pork auctions. There’s something every day At New Holland. And then as far as, like, real estate – auction is the preferred method of conveying real estate. Auctions seem to be the preferred method of dispersing an estate, for example, or downsizing.

Like, if you wanna retire from farming, for example, An auction seems to be the way to disperse your, herd dispersal, your equipment dispersal, et cetera.

Erik: It’s a business event. It’s a place to buy and sell, but it’s not only about business, is it?

Ben: No. There’s, of course, a social aspect to it. And you meet people that you haven’t seen in a long time. In fact, the last time we were there at Mel’s Stables…one of Mary’s old boyfriends was there. And he did not recognize her.

Erik: Mary your wife?

Ben: Yep. My wife’s old boyfriend was there, and he did not recognize her. I had to introduce him to her. [laughter] And, Mary comes home, and she says, “Ben, I’m so glad I married you, and not him”.

Erik: [laughter] You felt good.

Ben: Yep.

Erik: So you can have interesting social encounters at auctions?

Ben: Very much. And some people go only for that. To me, it’s a business event.

Erik: So, do all Amish people love auctions?

Ben: No. It really depends on personality. I don’t like auctions. I’m not exactly sure what it is, but it’s hot, crowded, and noisy.

And, as as I said before, I need more time to make buying decisions. You know, I have to think them through before buying them in the heat of the moment. And, for that reason, I don’t care for them.

Erik: Gotcha. So what you’re saying is you’re coming along as a favor to me today?

Ben: Well, yeah! [laughter]

Erik: And because I’m driving.

Ben: Yeah. That’s right. I have to go with you!

Erik: You’re a hostage.

Ben: Yes. [laughter]

Ben: But, no, the real reason is my son works there as a bid spotter, as I’ve said before. And it’s like attending his school program – or in the outside world, a sporting event that your children participate in.

It’s a way of connecting with them and honoring them with your presence, and taking part in their life – even if only as a spectator.

Erik: Sounds pretty good. I guess we’ll also have some good food there too, huh?

Ben: Yeah. Well, if you like hot dogs and Shoofly pie and whoopie pies and pork sandwiches and all that other healthy stuff, you know…they stay away from the rabbit food, like salads and yeah – good tasting food. Put it that way.

Erik: So we should be in food heaven then.

Ben: Yep.

Erik: Alright. Sounds good.