By BARB VAN LOO
Auction Exchange Correspondent

HUDSONVILLE, Mich. — Chilly light rain did not deter the 400 to 500 people who attended a farm auction conducted by Bill and Chad TerAvest. Fortunately, the tools, smalls and furniture were sold from barns and outbuildings.

One of the stars of the auction was a John Deere 350C dozer, which sold for $8,300. A 1988 John Deere 950 with 2,116 hours and Kelley lift crossed the block for $7,900. Hailing from 1975 a John Deere 1530 found a new owner for $7,000; and a John Deere 3020 tractor with 427 hours with a new battery and ready to go to work crossed the block for $5,100.

There was an International Harvester 3444 loader with a backhoe that was demonstrated to be in working condition and this piece of equipment earned $4,400. A New Idea spreader with a PTO earned a final bid of $600.

A buggy with a beautiful green upholstered seat and an old sleigh, upholstered in red, drew bids of $675 and $1,750 respectively. Sulkies sold for $50 to $125.

A dump trailer sold for $190; a box with its running gear earned $175; a three-point drag earned $80; and a second drag sold for $110. Cultivators earned $170 and $190 and a hay feeder sold for $200.

A side mower found a new owner for $550; a grain elevator sold for $130, followed by a loader for the elevator that earned $190.
There was a pair of plows from which to choose with the first choice selling for $290 and the second for $190.

The piece of equipment that seemed to be popular with several of the bidders was the Woods 121 mower with extra knives. After intense bidding, this piece of equipment was declared sold at $3,500.

A John Deere disc sold for $600; a sprayer earned $450; and a back blade crossed the block for $275. Even a pile of scrap metal had interested bidders and sold for $300.

While these items were being sold out in the field behind the barn there was an ample supply of hammers, saws, sledgehammers, and many other tools being sold in one of the barns."

A set of spice containers from the Perrigo Company was of local interest. The firm was established in 1887 and is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of over-the-counter drugs, generic prescription drugs, nutritional products, and health and beauty aids. This company’s home base is in nearby Allegan, Mich. Early in the firm’s life it sold spices. This set crossed the block for $210.

Another item that found some local interest was a dairy box from Sherman’s Dairy, located in South Haven, Mich., which sold for $30.
A Yamaha gold golf cart found a new owner when the gavel fell at $1,050.

An oak highboy with a mirror sold for $140; a newer full-size bed with a bookcase headboard earned $80; an oak commode crossed the block for $140; and a waterfall vanity and chest of drawers saw $100.