Auction patrons smile through the cold

The wind howled, snowflakes flew intermittently, but the hardy folks who attended the Small Farmers Journal Horsedrawn Auction & Swap Meet last weekend walked around the Sisters Rodeo grounds with smiling faces.

Many of these folks face the weather daily as they work their farms and ranches and welcomed a chance to make some pleasant conversation in the midst of their discomfort.

This year marked the 30th anniversary of the event, and SFJ publisher Lynn Miller was cautiously optimistic that it would be a good sale. Prior to the event Miller said that pleasant weather for check-in would signal a vibrant sale. Wednesday and Thursday, the check-in days, were indeed mild, though locals braced for the coming storm.

Friday afternoon's implement auction, held outside, drew a large crowd who seemed impervious to the wind. The auctioneers moved down row after row of horse-drawn implements, some new and some vintage. In the following days these treasures were loaded onto trailers or into the back of pickup trucks to begin preparing soil for spring plantings.

Inside the tent on Friday, household goods, antiques and collectibles and blacksmithing tools were sold. The bleachers were filled, and a couple of young women did a brisk business walking around with trays of coffee and muffins for sale.

Saturday's sale included hundreds of sets of harness and around 300 carriages and wagons of all descriptions. The standing-room-only crowd, tucked up inside the tent, clapped appreciatively when the bidding got spirited and sent the prices up.

A highlight of the day was the sale of a brand-new hearse for $14,000. The vehicle was built by Oxbow Trade Company of Canyon City. The new owner is Don Edwards of Enumclaw, Washington, a long-time attendee of the auction. He horse-farms near the Tahoma National Cemetery and plans to offer his services with a team and the hearse for funeral processions of veterans.

Another high seller, a bright red reproduction stagecoach bearing the logo of the Western Overland Stage Co., sold for $32,000 and will travel to South Dakota.

Sunday's horse sale brought out the serious bidders. It's hard to justify an impulse purchase of a living, breathing, hay consuming animal, though SFJ staff say it has been done. The bidders knew what they were after, and the auctioneers worked hard to pull the bids out.

Molly Robert, 11, from Midville, Idaho, came with her family to sell her team of snow-white miniature geldings. Molly began her animal business a few years ago with a litter of puppies that she raised and sold. Those proceeds funded the purchase of her minis, Gunner and Smokey. "When I sell these, I want to buy a team of larger horses," she said. She had her eye on a team coming through the auction ring after her.

There were a variety of swap meet vendors and booth holders, displaying an array of collectibles, tack and clothing. Most of them succumbed to the wind and snow, packing up early Sunday afternoon. Not all had items for sale; the Humane Society of the Ochocos, based in Prineville, brought a selection of dogs from their shelter and made the weekend an adoption event.

Lori Durant, shelter manager, said: "This is a fabulous venue and a successful adoption event." As of Saturday afternoon two dogs had found new homes.

A new farmer's advocate group, Friends of Family Farmers, also had a booth. The aim of this group is to educate, organize and advocate for socially responsible agriculture and healthy rural communities in Oregon. The SFJ Auction was their first Central Oregon activity, and, according to co-president Kendra Kimbirauskas, the response was very positive. The group plans to visit again in the near future to make contact with local farmers and ranchers who are seeking ways to keep their products local and profitable.

Lynn Miller seemed to be everywhere at the auction, cajoling buyers, welcoming old friends and bearing the standard for the upbeat atmosphere at the event. He is quick to give credit to the large contingent of volunteers who make the auction possible. They spend hours checking in consignments, helping catalog items, carting those items in and out of the ring, hauling carriages around, spotting bids and helping with loading at the end of the day.

Miller made a statement during the carriage auction that within 30 days the SFJ will have made a decision on the future of the event. He would love to continue in the Sisters area, no matter what the weather does.