‘A joyful work’

RITZVILLE — The Menno Mennonite Country Auction is one of the smallest auctions the Mennonite churches hold, but it’s also among the mightiest.

“There’s 48 of these around the U.S. and Canada, and ours is about the smallest,” said Menno Mennonite Church Advertising and PR Coordinator Dennis Swinger Jr. “I mean, there are some big ones in California and in Canada, but we raise the most funds per capita of church members.” 

The auction, which is happening Saturday, is an all-out effort. Between 2,000 and 3,000 people generally come out to the auction, which has been held on the church grounds since 1978. There are food booths selling sausage on a stick and Amish cheese and various meats. There’s homemade pie, ice cream, apple butter and fresh-pressed apple cider. People start lining up for breakfast about 8 a.m., Swinger said, and the booths start selling by 10. Within an hour, he said, they’re mostly sold out. Admission to the auction is free.

Swinger said it’s the only Mennonite auction in the state, so congregations from all over Washington join to get things ready. 

“There are people I’ve seen there for years and years, (and) I’m not really sure who they are,” Swinger said. “I’m not really sure where they’re from, but they show up and they’re working harder than most of us. There are people who just love to come and help because they like what’s going on.” 

“It’s not just us, but also the broader church as a community from across Washington,” said Pastor Bryce Miller. 

Swinger said the auction items weren’t the usual fare.  

“There’s not a whole lot of plastic junk,” he said. “The main seller in our live auction is quilts and Afghans and comforters. Some are donated from all across the U.S. and Canada, so you’ve got some Amish quilts, and you’ve got some that the ladies here have done.” 

The quilts that were listed in the auction’s online auction book last week were an impressive variety of coverings, in patterns that bore names like “Pie R Round,” “Broken Star” and “Lasagna Leftovers.” Besides the quilts, items included a handmade coffee table and end table set, a carved chess set with a wood-inlay board and a hand-crafted wooden rolling pin.  

Traditionally, the live auction starts with a loaf of bread, Swinger said. 

“That will sometimes go for upwards of $1,000, this loaf of bread,” he said. “The bread is used for communion at the next service. And what that hopefully does is set the tone that we’re here to help everyone. We’re here to raise money.” 

According to a study by the Chronicle of Philanthropy published in 2017, Adams County ranks first in Washington state and Grant County third in the percentage of residents’ income that goes to charitable contributions.  

“In Grant and Adams counties, if you run a charitable event, you have a really good chance of getting some success,” Swinger said. “ 

All the money raised at the Menno Mennonite Auction goes to the church’s headquarters in Pennsylvania to fund the Mennonite Central Committee, which is made up of two parts, Swinger said. One branch is the Mennonite Disaster Service, which responds to natural disasters like floods and earthquakes. The rest of the MCC’s work is in long-term development, bringing food and water, better health, education and economic opportunity to areas in need, according to the MCC’s website. 

“We do this once a year and it's on our church grounds,” Swinger said. “That's very purposeful, so people understand we're not just another event.” 

“It’s where we come together and enjoy the goodness of working together,” said Miller. “It is a lot of work, but it’s also a joyful work for the congregation as we do what we are best called to do, which is to serve in the name of Christ.” 

Mennonite Country Auction 

Oct. 5
Menno Mennonite Church
1378 N. Damon Road
Ritzville, Wash.
(South of Wheeler/Rosenoff Road
between Ritzville and Moses Lake) 

7-9 a.m. Breakfast 

10 a.m. Sale booths open 

Noon, Auction begins 

www.mennonitecountryauction.org

    Attendees from the local region and beyond enjoy food and sales booths outside of Menno Mennonite Church Saturday at last year’s Mennonite Country Auction. This year’s auction is Saturday.
  

    Handmade quilts, both local and from around the country, are the centerpiece of the Mennonite Country Auction.