Farm Auctions

salmonslayer · #1 10/15/11, 06:22 PM

We went to our first farm auction today and ended up with a beautiful primitive sweater chest for $32 and a 1993 Wards 18hp lawn tractor for $175 that looks and runs like new...mowed the lawn with it today (thats number 4..I think I am addicted). There was a lot of household stuff going for $1 and I mean tables and boxes full of stuff. We would have gotten a few other things but we only had $210 to spend and our purchases came to $207.

It was a nice day, we ran into lots of folks we knew, and it was more of a social gathering than anything. This must be a midwest or southern thing as I never remember any farm auctions or the like on the west coast. We will be going to more in the future thats for sure.

mountainlaurel · #2 10/15/11, 06:31 PM

My dh and I grew up doing this. In fact, my dad owned an auction house when I was 12-14 yo. I helped in there.
Now, my son is a livestock auctioneer. I never thought about it being a regional thing until a lady came to our church who had never attended an auction before. She had been raised in Ohio and New Jersey. Our church had provided the food for a neigbor's household goods and property auction. Auctions are a very big thing around here.
Lots of people like to get rid of their household property by having an action. It's a boon for young couples just starting out. I outfitted my kitchen that way.

goodhors · #3 10/15/11, 10:31 PM

Might be the circles people move in. I have to believe there are plenty of farm auctions in Ohio, I see advertisements! However if you don't read the local news or ad paper, you may miss them.

I have attended auctions at homes and farms since I was a small child. My mother went and took us along. We DID get a lot of stuff at those sales! Was a big improvement over what we had been using, and sale prices were all she could afford then. I still attend auctions if I have the time, come home with a bargin or two.

Maybe a more "country" kind of thing, here in the Midwest. Not much in city auctions advertised unless they have the EXPENSIVE things to sell in antiques. More often the city folks do Estate Sales, where things are pre-priced. Locally, there is usually at least two auction sales within 20 miles, often more auctions than that to choose among.

willow_girl · #4 10/15/11, 11:44 PM

Most fun you can have with clothes on!

DamnearaFarm · #5 10/16/11, 06:18 AM

LOVE farm auctions!

Here's a good resource-http://www.auctionzip.com/

barnyardgal · #6 10/16/11, 06:32 AM

Farm auctions are the BEST !!!! one never knows what ya might find......and usually can find something ya cannot live without....lol....

FarmboyBill · #7 10/16/11, 07:46 AM

Now ya see why im always hawking the farm amish sale I go to the first Sat of every month. Im hooked

RuffusWI · #8 10/16/11, 09:03 AM

Heading to one today hope the weathers cold,and the antique sellers stay away!

jwal10 · #9 10/16/11, 09:35 AM

I worked at McMinnville Auction Yard in the 70's and 80's. We had a livestock auction every wednesday and a lot of farm and household sales on the weekends. I really liked the farm sales at old homesteads. Not many livestock sales around here (not a lot of livestock) any more. Seems the good estates are done as yard type sales by Estate sales companies now and everything is E X P E N S I V E. I still go to a few farm auctions each year, mostly to gawk and B.S. with the locals, not as many small farms anymore....James

nobrabbit · #10 10/16/11, 09:58 AM

I cook on a $5 double oven 1960 something GE stove that I picked up at a farm auction years ago. Lots of auctions here in KY.

homebody · #11 10/16/11, 11:12 AM

Esp. the ones held at homes. Great entertainment, depending on who the auctioneer is and I read all the notices in our paper. Try to go to several a year, always go early and check stuff out, never know what you'll find.

rambler · #12 10/16/11, 11:32 AM

I'd call it my hobby, going to farm auctions, but nearly everything I use on this grain & cattle farm I got at an auction! Dad liked them too, I attend dozens every year. the plast 3 years haven't had many, finally seeing some again this summer/ fall.

--->Paul

Heritagefarm · #13 10/16/11, 01:31 PM

Was that in Norwood by an chance?
Also, how does it differ from on the West Coast?

salmonslayer · #14 10/16/11, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heritagefarm

Was that in Norwood by an chance?
Also, how does it differ from on the West Coast?

Nope, it was just down the street from our farm. When I lived in Washington, Oregon, California and Alaska I dont ever remember there being farm auctions though I am sure they exist; they would just have estate sales that I remember when someone died and the heirs didnt want to mess with things.

Some of it may just be that I am more attuned to it now.

jd4020 · #15 10/17/11, 12:01 AM

Went to one today. We were glad to see it was well attended. Got some bargains on some tools and misc. we needed for our farm. Good coffee and good visiting. I hope the sale did well for our widowed friend today. She lost her husband about a year ago and finally decided to have the sale.
I love being the dollar girl at the end of the day. Usually, no one wants the things I'm interested in and the crowd has thinned out by then. But today I couldn't stay as long due to a meeting in the afternoon.
jd

chewie · #16 10/17/11, 12:24 AM

we've done real well at auctions and I too love going jsut for fun. hubs and I will spend the day at one, having pie and visiting with ppl we only see occasionally. grand fun and have come home with amazing deals too. ususally tho., we go for a certain thing and it goes waaay too high, but wind up with something totally unexpected and pay very little to boot!

flowergurl · #17 10/17/11, 12:00 PM

I am an auction addict and I love it!
I work 3 rd shift so to attend on a Saturday auction I get off work at 5:30 am Sat moring, grab a couple hour nap. Then I go to the auction ( with a driver of course) and stay until noon or 1 ish. Then I come home grab a bite to eat and sleep until time to get up for work again.
Yesterday was a rare Sunday auction. It was a beautiful day and very pleasant way to spend the day.

Curtis B · #18 10/17/11, 12:24 PM

I also have become a big fan of auctions this past year, I have gotten some great deals. I went to one yesterday though where i bought nothing I went after, there were so many people, and most things went for waaaay over what they should have. It was pretty close to the city though, so there were alot of collectors.

stickinthemud · #19 10/17/11, 12:40 PM

Went to many sales in SW Pa & northern WVa as a kid. Mom's sister's church often did food & we'd go to those. I still have a set of books "Best Short Stories" I paid 35 cents for. Still regret not bidding on the buggy whips that sold for 10 cents at the same auction.

MOgal · #20 10/17/11, 10:53 PM

DH has wanted to get into blacksmithing for years and Saturday at an estate auction got the last important but most difficult to acquire piece of equipment--an ANVIL. Tomorrow is his birthday and it was the easiest present shopping I've ever done for him. Actually, I didn't go so I could stay home and pick tomatoes before frost gets them.

We have so many things we've bought at auction and really put to good use. He took our truck to a lumber yard liquidation and I had our minivan in the same town for other errands. I stopped off to touch base with him but ended up staying until the last items were sold. By the time we were left, both vehicles were packed full leaving only enough space for us in the drivers' seats. Such fun!