buyers at the Huntley Barkemeyer Park Auction are reviewing items to be bought before the auction started.
by Judy Killen- original published in the Yellowstone County News weekly newspaper
HUNTLEY — The annual auction in Barkemeyer Park on Saturday raised about $9,000 to fund ongoing projects at the Huntley park.
One item that generated a lot of interest was Rojo the Rooster, which sold several times for a total of $750.
Organizer Steve Erb said another item, a “mystery cooler,” sold for $180.
“The mystery inside the cooler wound up being a gift box full of goodies from Martinson’s Ranch Chocolates,” Erb said.
He said 75 peopple registered for buyer numbers.
Over 100 new items were donated from businesses or individuals. These items were in the form of actual merchandise, or gift certificates for goods or services. Many of the items donated by individuals were hand crafted.
Roxanne Hendricks won the “Most Excited” award when she prevailed as the winner of the bidding war that occurred over the wheel barrow painted with the American Flag, that was donated by Blue Body and Paint.
Much of the used merchandise was “leftovers” from area garage sales.
Unfortunately, not everything sells during the auction sale. The leftovers are gathered in a central area and left to be picked over by the public. As of Monday evening, all that was left was a computer desk, some packing newspaper, and a few cardboard boxes.
The auctioneering was done by Gus Sinclair and Reno Babcock. Stacy Erb, Jamie Kiser and Sharon Erb handled buyer number distribution, compiled the purchases of each buyer, and collected the money. Ashley Erb was the clerk. Shantel Oblander, Tracy Lorash, Cindy Wagner manned the concessions. The Ketterling family — Brad, Kathy, Aaron and Holly — put beer in coolers and filled them with ice. Rodney Erb and Josh Ketterling worked the “ring.” Erb sent a big thank you to Bailee Stenger, president of the Huntley Project FFA Chapter, who was a huge help in setting up, and unloading the merchandise as it arrived at the park.
“The success of the Barkemeyer Park Benefit Auction is true testament to the generosity of the surrounding communities and the people who live in them,” Erb said. “Without the commitment of the donors, buyers, and all of the volunteers, this success would not be possible. Thank you all very much.”
