Holmes County Home Benefit Auction returns Sept. 19–20 with food, quilts and community fun

The Holmes County Home Benefit Auction will take place atop the hill behind the home Sept. 19-20, with this special event continuing to serve as one of the most important fundraisers the home presents throughout the year.

For Holmes County Home Executive Director Deb Miller, the weekend brings with it plenty of emotions in addition to the necessary funding.

“As I always say, we feel grateful, thankful and blessed by this community and by the auction committee that makes this event happen,” Miller said. “Year after year we experience such incredible support from so many. Their effort and willingness to support us truly helps us improve the quality of life for all of our residents.”

Roman Miller, auction chairman, agreed. “We wouldn’t have what we have without our faithful donors who continue to support us. Our community understands what the County Home provides and the important role it plays in our community.”

While this year’s event will feature the time-honored traditions of the past, it also will have some new ventures.

The first new addition is the horseback trail ride that will take place the week prior to the auction. The ride will start at the Orchard at Honey Run and include a dinner.

Another new addition is the cornhole tournament, where teams can pit their skills against the area’s best or just join to have fun. Anyone wishing to participate can call David Raber at 330-231-7566. The deadline is Sept. 16.

Returning again this year is the flag croquet game, where patrons purchase a croquet ball at the auction and then get to be one of eight participants who will play in the croquet game approximately three weeks later, where they also will receive dinner and a chance to win the $500 croquet set.

“We will sell a croquet ball every half-hour,” Roman Miller said. “Then after that, everyone who purchased a croquet ball gets to play the game. It’s a fun way to celebrate the auction.”

On Friday, Sept. 19, the fun will kick off with the volleyball tournament at 6 p.m., and anyone wishing to enter a team may call Steven Hershberger at 330-473-2973.

Dinner will start at 5 p.m. with a tasty lineup that includes fish, fries, kettle stew burgers, homemade ice cream, kettle corn, soft pretzels and beverages, and the bake sale will add plenty of sweet treats to the evening’s menu.

There’s another reason to come Friday evening.

“Everyone can stop by and see the great items that will be auctioned off,” Deb Miller said.

That list includes all the quilts, furniture and more.

A full-course breakfast will be on tap Saturday, Sept. 20 from 7-10 a.m., and it is one that rivals any of the big restaurant breakfasts.

The bake sale will start again at 8 a.m. and go until everything is gone, and the silent auction also will operate from 8-11 a.m., with plenty of great items available.

At 8:30 a.m. the furniture auction and miscellaneous auction will start, with a second miscellaneous auction at 9:30 a.m., followed promptly by the lawn furniture, barns, buggies and bikes portion of the auction.

Items include a Yeti cooler filled with meat, a rig halter, a Bluetooth biking helmet, a cornhole set, tools, plenty of yard equipment and more. One new item will be a 10-by-12-foot greenhouse, along with a doghouse, chicken coop and plenty of firewood.

“You never know what kinds of gems and bargains you’ll find in that miscellaneous auction,” Roman Miller said. “You never know what items will show up, and people can find some great deals.”

The buggy portion of the auction will include a pair of deluxe top buggies, an open two-seater and a pony cart.

Of course, everyone needs to maintain their strength for the auction, which is why the annual chicken barbecue dinner will be at 10 a.m. All by donation, the dinner includes baked beans, noodles, hot dogs, fruit pies, homemade ice cream, kettle corn and more.

The specialty items auction will start at 12:30 p.m., and the quilt auction will follow at 1 p.m., featuring dozens of locally handcrafted quilts.

The quilt patterns are as varied and beautiful as always and include designs like Colorado log cabin, wedding ring, trip around the world and attic treasure, to name a few.

“The majority of our 30 quilts are made right here at the home by Amish ladies, and others are donated from area churches,” Deb Miller said.

The specialty items include a 40-by-60-foot garage/shop building with an overhead door, three entry doors and 11 windows. There will be a pavilion with an 18-by-24-foot concrete slab, e-bikes, a Honda generator and more.

One special note to the auction is a local person has offered delivery to local residents (and possibly farther) who purchase larger items. That service is by donation.

“That’s someone from the county stepping up to help,” Roman Miller said.

Deb Miller said this year’s funds will continue to create opportunities to improve the quality of life for the residents at the Holmes County Home. From a transit bus that allows the home to transport residents to special events to purchasing televisions for every room, she said it is about making life at the home feel like a real home where everyone is family and relationships are a critical part of everyday life.

The Holmes County Home is located at 7260 state Route 83, south of Holmesville.