Mud Sales – See Why We Love Them
by Larry Lefever, Quarryville, PA
Written for ‘WE’ magazine

If you love a mystery, why not take an enchanting walk through the ever-hidden treasures of a mystical auction?

If you are one who loves excitement and meeting people from all walks to life, you must plan to attend one of the great events that happens every year.

Every spring here in Lancaster County, we hold infamous ‘mud auctions.’

I was bitten by the bug of the auction excitement when I was just 12 years old. I attended my first mud auction and watched the crowd respond to the sounds of the rhythmic auctioneer as he worked the crowd to sell the wares that came before him that day.

I knew then my calling was to become an auctioneer.

After graduating from high school in May 1969, I attended auctioneer school in July and was off and running in a career that has been very rewarding and has spanned over 35 years. I have had the opportunity to sell antiques, automobiles, collectibles, and treasures of all types; but my greatest joy has been meeting wonderful people.

Some of the most memorable experiences were the fire company auctions (mud sales) that have been major fundraisers for the strictly volunteer fire companies. This has united communities in ways that as a visitor you must see to appreciate.

Why has the name ‘mud sale’ become synonymous to these annual events?

When they first begun, the auctions were held in farmers’ wet fields, as they still are today. We all know the Pennsylvania weather in March brings cycles of freezing, thawing, rain, and snow. Add to this equation crowds of several hundred people (today we’re talking 5-10 thousand at a large sale on a Saturday), and you can easily see what happens to all that ground below … MUD.

Those who visit for the first time will be truly amazed at all the action going on and the wonderment of the auction world. It can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you will talk about for years to come.

As the auction experience unfolds before them, the vast array of items being sold can be unprecedented – from handmade Lancaster County quilts, farm machinery, horses, and mules, to new and used furniture, building supplies, glassware, and antiques. They will begin to see why these events are so heralded throughout the county.

Being an auctioneer, I have come to know thousands of people from all over the United States and Canada on a first-name basis. I now have people at auctions on a weekly basis say, “Larry, are you going to work at the mud sales?” My response to them is this: “If I didn’t attend them, how would I be able to see you and all the other people I look forward to seeing each year?”

Once you have attended your first mud sale, you will be hooked and look forward to the event each year. Please plan to attend sometime and become another one of my friends that I so dearly treasure.

Remember, one of my favorite sayings to a first-time attendee is: “You will meet the most diverse and incredible people at an auction!”