By Mike Renzella
The Haldimand Press
JARVIS—The eighth annual Farmer’s Consignment Auction, which benefits the Walpole Antique Farm Machinery Association (WAFMA), is quickly approaching. Bidding for the auction will open on Saturday, March 26 and will close on Thursday, March 31, 2022.
Local auctioneer Freeman Johnson is one of the people behind the auction and a longstanding member of WAFMA. He spoke about his history with the group and how the yearly auction benefits them.
This John Deere tractor is also up for grabs.
“The group wanted to protect and educate and keep the idea of farming and how it’s done in Haldimand and preserve the past for the future. We had land that we were renting. We purchased the land through fundraisers, then we had a couple of buildings donated and we had other buildings that we built. It’s sitting on 26 acres,” said Johnson of WAFMA’s growth. “We have different events throughout the year, including a steak barbecue, barn dances, an oyster supper, and our Heritage Days Weekend hosted on the civic long weekend.”
Participants can bid on this Konskilde plow, in addition to numerous other items.
At WAFMA visitors can view a large collection of antique farm equipment and interesting local historic relics. They receive donations throughout the year, and then members of WAFMA spend the winter months working on restoring that equipment to its former glory before putting it out on display during the summer months.
Johnson first joined the group when he moved to Jarvis in 2001 and has remained with them ever since. He became their secretary after his long-time friend and former secretary Jim Duxbury passed away: “They needed a secretary for the club. I said I can do that because I wanted to help for Jim.”
In addition to his work with WAFMA, Johnson is an accomplished auctioneer: “It’s something I always wanted to do. Growing up, a local auctioneer by the name of Sandy Shantz was a good friend of my dad’s. I always liked it.”
Johnson said the thing he likes best about the job is how it connects him to his community: “You go up to the people when asking them to bid and you get to know a lot of people. I enjoy that a lot.”
He touched on the history of the consignment auction, now in its eighth year, saying, “I was approached by farmers to do an auction sale. Tom Hamulecki from Sunrise Equipment Auctions Inc. is a good friend of mine. I asked him if he’d be interested and he said sure, if you set up the auction and get everything ready, we’d be happy to. That’s how we got started.”
He continued, “It was small when we got started; each year it gets bigger and the quality gets better. Though we started in Haldimand, we’re getting consignments from other communities. It’s really growing.”
This year’s auction is being managed by Gerald Bowman Auctions and Appraisals. Johnson said he’s been friends with Bowman for years.
Some highlights this year include a 2012 John Deere 5083-E Tractor with a cab and loader, 4-wheel drive, and only 89 hours of use. Additionally, a John Deere 5460 self-propelled harvester and a Kubota 25D tractor-loader backhoe are up for grabs, as well as all manner of farm equipment.
“Usually at an auction, the prices can be higher than retail, but generally there’s always a bargain at an auction sale. People come out because they like to support the Walpole Antique Farm Machinery Association when they purchase or sell,” said Johnson on the ongoing popularity of the auction.
He added, “Jarvis is a farming community. We want to keep that going. We get overwhelming support from the area because we’re keeping history alive.”
The items for this auction can be viewed at bowmanauctions.hibid.com, where patrons can view and bid on the items they wish to purchase, or they can visit 3070 Highway 6 in Jarvis to see the items in person.
Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Walpole Antique Farm Machinery Association.
