Farm auctions are as much a part of spring coming as anything.

After several months of harvest season, hunting season, holidays and winter weather, many producers are ready to go to a farm or consignment auction.

For some, they are legitimately interested in purchasing a piece of machinery or livestock; however, most probably go in hopes of finding a real bargain and for the social aspect of auctions.

Auctions present an opportunity for producers to visit with others they have not seen for a while. I would guess not too many problems are solved but plenty of discussion would occur. Politics, planting, production and, of course, prices will be central to many conversations.

One comment that can be heard is that “it’s too wet to do anything at home, so I came here.” This is how many will justify attending an auction.

Al-though there are probably jobs that could be done at home, everyone needs to visit and see old friends now and again which is why to some it is as much a social event as anything.

Auctions have a long and storied tradition.

Soon after the colonization of America, the auction process became the accepted manner of selling furs, clapboard, tobacco, corn and other necessities. As the country developed, settlers on the western frontier bought and sold their land, crops and other items of necessity, to include animals, lumber, horses, debt and credit at auction.

Today, auctions are an accepted media where bidders can compete equally and act in their own interest.

When you see a car on the highway and it wasn’t purchased new from a dealer, the chances are that it has been through an auction, maybe several times. Most pieces of used farm machinery go through an auction several times in their useful life. Most farm animals go through an auction sometime in their life.

In addition to farm machinery and livestock, other items that are auctioned consistently that we pay little attention to as average Americans are timber, mineral rights, Mexican railroads, electricity, radio frequency’s, PCS, wireless communications, MMDS, telecommunications and microwave point-to-point installations, just to name a few. The market trend for nearly all collectibles, from antiques to racehorses, is established through the auction method. Appraisals are based on the value received for a like item at the most recent auction.

Today, auctions are a part of the American way of life. They fill the buying and selling needs of thousands of people, products and properties.

Since many products have their origin on the auction block, no one, regardless of financial status, can escape the effects of auction buying and selling in America. Auctions are recognized as an excellent method of establishing “true market value” and distributing goods, property and real estate to those who value it most highly.

Ag-HumorA cowboy rode into town and stopped at the saloon for a drink. Unfortunately, the locals always had the habit of picking on strangers, which he was.When he finished his drink, he found his horse had been stolen. He went back into the bar, handily flipped his gun into the air, caught it above his head without even looking and fired a shot into the ceiling.“Which one of you sidewinders stole my horse?!?!?!” he yelled with surprising forcefulness.No one answered.“All right, I’m gonna’ have another beer, and if my horse ain’t back outside by the time I finish, I’m gonna’ do what I done in Texas! And I don’t like to have to do what I done in Texas!”Some of the locals shifted uneasily. The man, true to his word, had another beer, walked outside, and his horse had been returned to the post.He mounted up and started to ride out of town, but the bartender stepped out of the bar and asked, “Say pardner, before you go ... what happened in Texas?”The cowboy turned back and said, “I had to walk home.”

Luke Fritz is executive director of the Butler County Farm Service Agency.