(from The Dalton Gazette & The Kidron News, Vol. 132, No. 51; reprinted with permission)
Bidders from as far away as Florida, Iowa and Georgia attended the 60th annual machinery sale, held Aug. 25 in Kidron at the grounds of the Kidron Auction. By the start of the sale on Saturday morning, more than 2,500 bidders had registered, hoping to snap up a bargain by day’s end.
Kidron Auction owner John Sprunger noted that items put up for the sale came from surrounding states such as Iowa, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, New York, Michigan, North Carolina, Indiana, Illinois and of course, Ohio.
The annual machinery sale, which is sponsored by the Kidron Community Council, had the air of a carnival during the day. Several food vendors were on hand, the Kidron Volunteer Firemen sold ice-cold pop and the flea market vendors were set up everywhere there was a spare spot.
The weather was picture-perfect as bidders crowded the auction grounds behind the large auction barn (directly across the street from Lehman’s). Saturday’s auction was the third and final sale of the year. The sale kicked off at 9 a.m., with 14 auctioneer crews working.
Sprunger said the lot was full of a lot of different things. Items included lumber, farm machinery, lawn tractors, Amish buggies, automobiles, engines, everything and the kitchen sink – literally!
“You never know what’s going to show up,” Sprunger said.
Proceeds from annual machinery sales (held three times per year, in March, April and August) are divided among the Kidron Fire Department, village parks and the Community Council functions.
I must say that the Machinery Sale in Kidron is one of the only days that you can’t find a parking place. We here don’t mind, though, as this brings in a lot of people to the local Kidron businesses. However, if you are coming to enjoy the slow pace of Amish Country, I would recommend coming on a quieter weekend.