The ghost town of Menno in Adams County, near Lind, just sort of faded away, save the Mennonite church, which remains a center of community 100 years later. And since 1978 the Mennonite Country Auction revives the town for one day on the church grounds into a bustling, family-friendly, old-fashioned, good-time-for-everyone spectacle for one special day. “It all goes up and comes down within a couple days, like a circus,” said JR Swinger, a church member in charge of publicity for the event.
Held on the first Saturday of October – that’s October 5 this year – it’s the perfect day, usually with gorgeous Basin weather, to journey into the countryside.
The small, local Mennonite community of about 120 includes families from Lind, Ritzville, Moses Lake and the surrounding area. Each year they gather dozens of auction items – from tractors to quilts to high end wood working pieces, and even Apple Cup tickets – to sell to the highest bidder after the hallmark loaf of bread, which can go for upwards of $1,000. Besides the auction, attendees will be delighted with apple butter made in a copper cauldron, fresh pressed apple cider, stone ground flour, and ice cream all made on site! Other items, like Amish cheese from Ohio and maple syrup from Canada are sent in to sell from neighboring, friendly groups. “The people who come for cheese and bacon and sausage and ham – they come early and it’s often sold out within an hour of opening!” Swinger said – so plan accordingly!
All funds raised go to support Mennonite Disaster Services, which supports work at natural disaster sites worldwide. “The Voluntary Service does work in the field, they’re involved with projects, they’re not door knockers,” Singer explained.
The Voluntary Service trips hold very special memories for Swinger, who was one of the first church members to go on a service mission after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. ““My grandmother went with us,” he said, “She had made a lifelong goal of going on a mission trip but was busy with kids and her farm. She said, ‘If you go, I will go,’ so I said, ‘I guess I’m going.’”
Service goes even further back for his community – as Swinger tells of a man who approached his Great Aunt in the Denver airport who was carrying a bag with a Lind, WA Mennonite flour logo on it, which had been shipped to France during WWII. He pointed to the bag’s logo and said, “That is the reason I am alive – we ate that during the war.”
How to join the fun? Follow Swinger’s directions: If you’re coming from Moses Lake, get on Wheeler Road and it’s about 27 miles east. In Adams County, Wheeler becomes Rosenoff Road. Or, it’s a straight shot west from Ritzville on Rosenoff Road.” Easy! See you there!
