| Note: this is an archive of the old 2007 Sale pages. Click Here for the newest pages. |
Several auctions take place during the Mennonite Relief Sale and are a major source of revenue for the sale.
The
Children's Auction
is brand new this year! Check it out starting at 10am Saturday in the newly-reopened
Pride of Kansas Building.
The
Silent Auction
(Sunflower Building South) is back! Place bids between 8am and Noon
on Saturday.
The General Auction (Sunflower Building North) will feature a wide variety of merchandise, starting at 6pm on Friday, and resuming at 8:45am on Saturday.
The Quilt Auction (Meadowlark Building) will also start at 8:45am on Saturday and run concurrently with the General Auction. Both auctions will run throughout the morning and early afternoon on Saturday.
The Surplus Auction (Meadowlark Building) starts around 2:30pm on Saturday, immediately following the Quilt Auction, to sell any food items that did not sell out during the sale.
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General Auction |
If a person seeks it, it just might be found at the KMRS General Auction.
Each year hundreds of items are donated by Mennonite churches, area businesses and individuals. These donations are essential to making the General Auction possible.
Most items are auctioned starting at 6pm on Friday, and resuming at 8:45am Saturday morning until everything is gone (mid-afternoon). Items to be auctioned at special times will be posted Friday, April 13 between 1:30-2:30 p.m.
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A Model Railroad Layout on 7 x 21 ft. table with multiple attachments. Plus 12 locomotive and numerous rail cars, all O27 or O gauge (see story). Item scheduled for auctioned at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 14. |
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A new Mini FasTrak Mower donated by Excel Industries, Hesston (see story) |
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A Children's Playhouse complete with loft, partial sheetrocked, & electrical ready. Constructed by the Hesston College Disaster Management program (see story). |
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1950 Chevrolet pickup, in good running condition, not fully restored |
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1952 Allis Chalmer CA: runs good; new paint, belts, tires and gaskets; converted to 12V. |
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A replica child's antique oak wagon. |
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Hand-crafted walnut wagon from Manhattan, Kansas, on a high quality running gear with 10" pneumatic tires. The walnut is from the Herbert Funk farm on the South Cottonwood River in Marion County, Kansas. |
A Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale sale bill is available in Mid-March at area business and at the MCC Central States office in North Newton. Sale bill items and additional pictures will also be posted here as they become available.
The General Auction is now accepting Visa and Discover cards.
When senior citizen Richard Schmidt, Newton, was a youngster in Meno, Okla., he longed for an electric train. But he never got his wish--until ten years ago, when "mini-railroading" became a hobby.
He regards a 5,000 mile round trip by Amtrak in 1996 as the inspiration that eventually started him on the hobby. Now filling his garage in his Bethel-Kidron cottage is a huge rail lay-out, complete with 12 0-27 gauge locomotives and numerous rail cars.
"I've enjoyed it," says Schmidt, "particularly when I've had an open house and could demonstrate it for people bringing their children and grandchildren."
But now he thinks its time to part with his beloved hobby. So he is donating it for auction at the Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale.
The layout track and dual transformer is designed to accommodate two separate trains, and operate a number of accessories as well. Among accessories are an ESSO service station, a lighted railway station, a log mill that raises logs and dumps them into a train car, and a signal shack from which a little man emerges to wave his lighted lantern.
Schmidt was elated with the response of one child to that little signal man. "He was only a year and a half, and he crowed with laughter when the little man came out," Schmidt said.
Schmidt's vocational career spanned 28 years of teaching (mainly junior high level), including 21 years at Lincoln , Kans. Ten years before he ended his teaching career Schmidt was declared legally blind because of a genetically transferred disease known as retinitis pigmentosa. He however continued teaching, using recorded textbooks and other devices, then continued living independently in Lincoln for a number of years after retirement.
His first home at Kidron Retirement Center in Newton was a third story apartment. With limited space available there, the railroading hobby began with a rather small layout that could be folded up into a wall. Schmidt eagerly took the opportunity to move into a cottage when that option became available.
Accepting the reality of his limited eyesight, he knew he couldn't create the expansive layout he envisioned without help. "My Uncle Roland Schmidt helped me--especially with the wiring and measuring," he said.
And together they made it happen. "We cut and glued and rasped and planed," he said. Land areas and mountain peaks were formed of Dow foam, an especially durable type of foam; bridges were set; many tracks were laid; and accessories were placed--all on a sturdy wood table with foot tall sides.
Schmidt personalized the hobby by naming various locations honoring family members: Nickelton (for a brother-in-law), Forest of Friesen (for a grandmother), Schroeder Tunnel (also for a grandmother), Schmidt Log and Timber, Enns River (for a sister-in-law). Also honored are historical religious leaders: Wesley Tunnel and Mt. John and Mt. Charles (for the Methodists) and St. Simon's Pass (for Menno Simons of the Mennonites). Although Schmidt is a Mennonite, he said he also wanted to recognize the Methodists.
"During the years at Lincoln I attended a Methodist Church because there was no Mennonite Church there," he said.
In addition to eyesight that is very nearly gone, he is also handicapped by uncontrollable tremors. "It makes it hard to keep the system maintained properly," he said.
So he feels its time to let the trains roll in someone else's space. "I'm donating them to the relief sale so they (Mennonite Central Committee) can continue their programs of serving the needy," Schmidt said.
Nine or ten of the locomotives will be offered as well as the numerous train cars and the layout. All original boxes and packing go with the locomotives.
With much investment in time, finances and emotional attachment he's hoping for generous bids and a good home for his trains. And blessings can also flow to those who have great need.
For a complete listing of items offered see below, or contact Howard Lohrentz at hlohrentz@cox.net or phone 620-327-4280; or Becky Blough at crblough@netks.net or phone 620-345-3088.
The Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale takes place at the State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson on April 13 and 14, with the model railroad selling on Saturday, the 14th.
Complete list of items:MODEL RAILROAD ENGINES AND CARS - all are 027 or 0 guage, all locomotives & cars come with original boxes & inserts:
Diecast: Several (new in the box) Farmall/International Cub Toy Tractors, 1/16 scale, dates 1956 to 1979
Excel Industries, Inc., Hesston, is donating a new Mini FasTrak lawnmower to the Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale General Auction. This zero-radius-turning lawnmower features a 17hp Kohler engine with a 42" deck.
In addition to there generous donation, Excel is sponsoring a test track at the sale. Individuals are invited to come drive a Mini FasTrak. Each driver is asked to donate $1 per ride with Excel matching each rider's donation.
The track staff are members of Excel's sales staff. The staff welcomes all questions in relation to the mower being auctioned. Due to safety concerns, riders are asked to present a valid drivers license.
What is a Mini FasTrak: The following information comes from www.hustlerturfequipment.com
Features and Benefits
Warranty
Students enrolled in Hesston College's Disaster Management Program, in preparation for service with Mennonite Disaster Service this summer, are building their second playhouse which will benefit MCC via the General Auction at the Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale.
The students started construction of the 9'x8' playhouse in mid-February as part of the MDS Culture class and will work on it until the sale.
"We are constructing this playhouse to gain some experience in house construction," said Russ Gaeddert, Director of Disaster Management at Hesston College. "We believe that by selling the playhouse at the sale, the students will gain experience in construction while helping those less fortunate people through MCC.
We want to build stairs in the house and a loft. We'd also like to do more work on the inside of the playhouse-put sheetrock on at least part of it and make it electrical ready."
The students in the program are scheduled to spend ten weeks during the summer months on an MDS site. Part of what they will be doing is repairing and rebuilding homes of disaster survivors, said Gaeddert.
Ivan White, Hesston, is assisting the students with the project. According to Gaeddert, White has 30 years of construction experience and has taught industrial arts at Berean Academy for 15 years. He is a member of Whitestone Mennonite Church, and has lived in the Hesston for eight years with his wife Twyla. They have two grown children.
Materials for the project were donated by Kropf Lumber, Hesston, including lumber, siding, and shingles; John Schrock, Hesston, and Harry Neufeld, Inman, are also donating money towards materials.
The Disaster Management Program began at Hesston College in the fall of 2005 as a cooperative venture between Hesston College and Mennonite Disaster Services (MDS). With the increase in disasters and the resulting victimization and economic losses, MDS and other faith-based agencies are recognizing the need for more leadership in managing disaster response.
Students involved in the project include: «» Caleb Gugel - Wauseon, Ohio «» Marsha Kanagy - Timberville, Virginia «» Amanda Koch - Colorado Springs, Colorado «» Ben Kropf - Oregon City, Oregon «» Oliver Kropf - Oregon City, Oregon «» Jackie Shaw - Croghan, New York «»
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Do you enjoy a good auction, but struggle to wait patiently for your item to come up for bid? Check out the second annual KMRS Silent Aucton.
Auction items are available for viewing Friday at 5 p.m. in the Sunflower South Building. Bidding on all items is open from 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday, April 14. Individuals can bid on any item as many times as they wish during the allotted time. There is a minimum bid plus bidding increments on each item.
Auction coordinator Matt Schmidt is planning to have 20 items up for auction. Items on the block thus far include:
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Hand-crafted maple Spinning Wheel. It was made in the 1960's of maple wood with a matte finish. Each piece: leg, spindle, ect. was carefully shaped and finished. It's complete and workable. The dimensions are 38" high x 30" long with an 18" wheel diameter. |
Items not picked up by 2 p.m. are taken to the General Auction.
For more information contact Matt and Amy Schmidt at 316-283-2791 or mattamy2249@sbcglobal.net.
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The Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale is sponsoring it's first Children's Auction.
Children, accompanied by an adult, are invited to bid on items such as games, dolls and more. The auction's purpose is to teach children that no matter their size all can play a roll in helping the needy of our world.
The auction is scheduled at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 14, in the Pride of Kansas Building.
A child and their accompanying adult are asked to sign up for a biding number at the sight of the auction starting at 9 a.m.
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Quilt Auction |
The Quilts Page has full details about the Quilt Auction, including the Quilt Gallery -- a list with photos of this year's quilts!
The quilt display opens on Friday and the auction begins Saturday at 8:45am, continuing to mid-afternoon. It all takes place in the Meadowlark Building at the South-West corner of the fairgrounds.
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Surplus Auction |
Marking the end of the sale on Saturday, the Surplus Auction starts around 2:30pm to sell items not sold during the sale; especially perishable items like food. As the final auction of the sale, expect some fun and good bargains here!
The Surplus Auction is held in the Meadowlark Building immediately following the close of the Quilt Auctions.
For more information on the time and location of each auction,
visit the Schedule and Directory page.
Donors should report donated auction items for pre-sale publicity to Becky Blough, N. Willow Lake Road, Moundridge, KS 67107, phone 620-345-3088, newyearscookies@hotmail.com
For more information about the General Auction, contact Rod Chrystie, chair, at 620-665-7406, or Herman Diener, vice-chair, at 620-662-1850.
Send financial contributions to Tim Miller, treasurer, Kansas MCC Relief Sale, 4805 Broadacres Rd., Hutchinson, KS 67501.