Supporting faith

RITZVILLE — A partnership of several Mennonite churches from across Washington put on the annual Mennonite Auction at Menno Mennonite Church about 20 miles west of Ritzville on Saturday morning and afternoon.

“All the funds go directly to the Mennonite Central Committee and they do world relief here and around the world, in different forms,” Sail Chair Michael Claassen said.

The church’s co-pastor Bryce Miller said MCC is a 103-year-old global relief and peace-building organization. Auctioneers sold quilts, food and other unique items to raise funds during the event for the organization.

“So typically we'll start with a loaf of bread at the auction, and the loaf of bread can go for as much as $1000. Hopefully, that sets the tone that we're here to raise funds. You're not here to get a bargain,” Menno Mennonite Church Advertising and PR Coordinator Dennis Swinger Jr. said.

Miller said the first loaf sold at the auction is used for communion on Sunday.

Even though the auction is not for getting bargains, Swinger said you can still find some unique items there.

“You won't ever probably find a poppy seed roll (elsewhere), and you probably won't find the quality of quilts and the number of quilts,” Swinger said. “There are 48 other sales like this in the US and Canada, and you get to know those people and send things back and forth.”

Swinger spoke about the unique attractions of the event.

“You come out here and spend a day out here. I mean, how much more family-friendly can it get, and there’s no rides,” Swinger said. “It's just come out and enjoy a gorgeous day in the country … How often have you ever seen apple butter made in a copper kettle? How many times have you seen apple cider being made on-site from apples?”

The auction also featured used items for sale, vendors, food for sale, and dessert as well. Miller said several of the food vendors have been selling at the auction for years.

Miller said the auction takes a lot of preparation.

“We start preparing easily end of July, and PR’s, a year-round operation. Labor Day is really when we start doing things,” Miller said. “A lot of the key folks have been here every day this week. and this sale is a cooperative effort of the Mennonite churches in Washington. There’s a small church in Spokane here, and a couple in Seattle. We get to be hosts, but it is bigger than us.”

Claassen said the turnout was about average for recent years. He said that the event has grown significantly since it began in 1978.

“It started right there with a bunch of bales of straw and a piece of plywood for a stage and they sold stuff there for seven thousand bucks or something the first year,” he said. “Now it's big time.”

Swinger said the auction was the only Mennonite Auction in Washington state.

“We are one of the smaller sales out of the 48, but we are typically the highest earner per capita,” Swinger said.

Nicole Garner said she and her daughter, Adelyn Garner, come from Bonney Lake every year to visit the auction and Nicole’s mother Colleen Kagel, who is a member of Menno Mennonite Church.

Adelyn said her favorite part of the event was getting toys from the sale.

“And making Mom spend all her money on me,” she said. “I also come here to help make apple cider and after this, I am going to ask for some homemade ice cream.”

Darlene Horst and Pat Reents said they came to the event for the merchandise and to support the church.

“We are both quilters so we enjoy looking at the quilts,” Horst said. “Some of them from Canada, some from Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Montana.”

While Reentz said it was her first year at the auction, Horst said she had been attending the event for years.

“I've been coming a long time, I don’t know how long…I’m basically from this area,” Horst said. “I think it's nice. I enjoy it because I've seen people from other towns too, besides Moses Lake.”

Swinger said the Menno Mennonite Church does not keep any of the funds raised.

“There's nothing that we get out of this financially. It's a chance to share the mission. We are raising funds to go off-site,” he said. “We're not doing this for us. This is for other folks.”

Gabriel Davis may be reached at gdavis@columbiabasinherald.com. Download the Columbia Basin Herald app on iOS and Android.