Auction to benefit Holmes Rails-to-Trails

Harvest Ridge is the place to be June 8 for anyone interested in helping with the maintenance and continued development of the Holmes County Trail.

That’s where the 19th annual Holmes County Rails-to-Trails Benefit Auction will take place, with every dollar raised during the event going to the Holmes County Rails-to-Trails Coalition, a local nonprofit.

“All of the money raised goes right back into the trail,” said Jen Halverson, coalition director. “We’re talking about maintenance. We’re talking about snow removal, mowing, cleaning up down trees, like when we had that derecho storm, any water issues (and) different things like that. It also helps support our ongoing development.

“This year is even more exciting than usual as within the next couple of weeks we will be breaking ground on our next major trail construction project with almost 4 miles from Glenmont to where the trail intersects state Route 520. By this time next year, (a) new stretch will be open to bring our trail mileage up 26 miles for the Holmes County Trail.”

The day will begin with breakfast at 7 a.m.

The auction will start at 9:30 a.m. inside the main building. Some items being auctioned include locally made furniture, quilts, plants, lawnmowers, grills, tools, a swing set and buggies.

At 10:30 a.m. a second ring will start outside with the outdoor items including power equipment being auctioned off while the indoor auction continues.

At noon everyone will go inside to the main stage to bid on the specialty items. A white oak timber frame pavilion, a greenhouse and a grain bin gazebo are included in those items.

A bake sale and a silent auction also will take place during the day, and barbecue chicken and ice cream will be served.

“It is just a really fun day,” Halverson said. “It’s a lot of good people there for a really good reason, and it’s just a great opportunity. We see some of the same people (each year). We only see them maybe once a year at this event, and it’s a great opportunity to catch up with people. It’s a great opportunity to support the local trail and what we’re doing here with the whole county trail.

“It’s just a lot of good people supporting a really good cause.”

Without the Holmes County Rails-to-Trails Auction Committee, the auction would never come to fruition each year.

“It takes a small army, so to speak, to plan this event,” Halverson said. “We’re usually planning about 10 months out. They are very important to us in being able to put this event on the day of but (also) to make sure that we’ve got everything we need that day. They help us secure the great items from the community and go out and get that community support for us. They help us make sure that we’re marketing and advertising and getting a lot of those people there that day to bid on those items. That committee is very important to what we’re doing here.”

Those attending the auction will have a few ways to arrive. Anyone wanting to go to Harvest Ridge via bike or buggy can use the bridge across Killbuck Creek to the old fairgrounds. A path will be designated with signs through the old fairgrounds to County Road 349, leading to state Route 39. Harvest Ridge is 0.6 of a mile up the road on state Route 39.

Hitching rails and buggy, bike and vehicle parking will be available.

A shuttle service will be available at the Millersburg Depot for anyone wanting to park their bikes or buggies at the depot. The service, provided by Pomerene Hospital, will begin at 7:30 a.m. and take auction attendees to Harvest Ridge and back throughout the day.

For more information about the auction, call or email the Holmes County Trail at 330-674-0475 or holmestrail@embarqmail.com.