Swap meet and auction draws huge crowd

Dave Roth of Christmas Valley secures a reaper to his flatbed pickup truck. photo by Lynn Woodward

The carriage and plow were loaded up on Sunday evening, ready to depart from the annual Small Farmer's Journal Auction Sale and Swap meet.

Anyone roaming around the Sisters Rodeo grounds as darkness fell would never know that over the weekend the grounds were so teeming with people that some had to be turned away.

The parking lot was filled to capacity on Saturday afternoon.

Bidding on farm implements and equipment carried on into the night on Friday and Saturday.

Some bidders may have wished for head lamps on Friday, as the bidding outside continued after dark.

Saturday morning found those buyers in the sale office, completing their purchase arrangements and sometimes looking bemused at what they had actually bought.

The Saturday afternoon carriage auction generated the biggest buzz of the event weekend.

A huge assortment of horse-drawn vehicles passed through the tent, with spirited bidding and happy customers keeping the action going well into the late afternoon.

Albert Seeno of Clayton, California, headed home with assorted carriages that set him back by six figures.

He got what he came for, however, with the biggest prize being an authentic stagecoach.

An auctioneer works the crowd at Sisters Rodeo Grounds. photo by Lynn Woodward

The carriages and wagons are destined for his museum, currently under construction.

When it is completed at the end of the year, Seeno intends to share his bounty with school groups, to share with children in the San Francisco Bay Area a glimpse of the life their forefathers led in the trek west.

Seeno said, "I'm glad we came. We've met a lot of wonderful people from throughout the West. There is a lot of warmth and hospitality here. We'll be back next year."

Seeno found the auction and swap meet a great place to further his own learning about the carriages and their history.

The warmth of the people is the hallmark of this event.

When pressed to define what it is that draws them back year after year, vendors and buyers alike state emphatically that it is the atmosphere -- the feeling of family reunion -- that is the draw.

There is also a palpable sense of anticipation wherever the auctioneers are.

Auction sales can be one of life's great unpredictable events, with the defining moment coming down to two people wanting the same item.

Bidding fever can hit without any warning and suddenly everyone is rooting for whichever bidder holds out to the end.

Successful bidders often confess to classic adrenaline rush symptoms of shaking hands, wobbly knees and elevated heart rates.

While the buyers were having a good time selecting their treasures, a host of paid and volunteer staff were keeping things running smoothly. Maintaining a cheerful demeanor in the midst of rain, wind, early morning chill and occasional bursts of sunshine, these folks checked in items to be consigned, carted them into the auction ring, stood guard over sold items and processed payments.

They helped with loading, gave directions, shared local knowledge with out-of-towners, and cleaned up the rodeo grounds after everyone had left.

In recent years, event organizer Lynn Miller has wondered if the event is approaching its capacity.

The auction and swap meet seems to keep growing and after only three years at the rodeo grounds has maxed out the facility in its present form, he said.

Miller said, "We are going to be making a decision in the next three to four weeks about the future of the event.

"My preference is to stay in Sisters. We need to find creative ways to keep it here."