CHARLESTOWN, Ind. — In the days after deadly tornadoes touched down in Henryville, Marysville and Chelsey, Ind., area residents with the help of sympathetic Americans from across the nation were at work rebuilding the homes and lives of storm victims. On March 10, those efforts continued during the annual Clark County 4-H Consignment Auction at the fairgrounds to sell equipment.

Buyers came early before the bidding started to peruse the assorted farm and construction machinery and related items that had been consigned. This sale is a fundraiser to benefit the county’s 4-H program.

The categories of sale items included construction and industrial equipment, farm tractors and equipment, cars, trucks, trailers and assorted lawn equipment.

There were also oddities such as the taxidermy of two mallard ducks mounted to a log, some Coca-Cola ephemera and a collection of Barbie dolls.

In this auction, a percentage of the proceeds from each item was donated to the Clark County 4-H. Paul Graf is chairman of the 4-H corporation board, and has been since the event began 10 years ago. Graf said the auction is among the biggest fundraisers for the fairgrounds.

“We need the money for upkeep and for improvements,” said Graf citing a new horse barn, a special events track and a concession stand.

One of the auction’s sellers was Chad Monk, a fireman from Henryville.

Monk took just enough time off from storm recovery efforts to deliver the last item of equipment to arrive before the sale. He said he had been working without time off since the storm hit.

Monk brought a Hesston 5600 round hay baler in good condition to the sale. It was hooked to the back of his pickup truck. “It’s a working piece of equipment from the family farm,” Monk said. “My grandfather bought it new, and we’ve been working it ever since without a problem.”

He quickly unhooked the baler and drove back to Henryville to continue working.

Some of the large-scale items were a CAT crawler loader and two Case 1150 crawler loaders.

There were several older tractors, too. Massey Fergusons were in the majority with four or five on hand. Other brands included a Kubota, a couple of Fords, an International and a colorful green, red and rust Duetz model 4006 with a yellow loader.

Less-than-new farming equipment was consigned this year, as well.

Hay balers, a manure spreader, a hay tedder, plow bottoms and wheel disks were available for bidders. There were rotary hoes and 3-point tillers, cattle chutes and grain and water wagons.

Lawn items were a major part of the sale with zero-turn mowers, a bush hog, a wood chipper, brush clearers, spreaders and hoppers. There was a John Deere Gator, a Yamaha golf cart and plastic fertilizer tanks.

Business and industrial equipment sold into the afternoon.

Graf said attendance was down this year due to the tornados.

He noted, however, that the weather was perfect for an auction – not too nice to so that farmers had to get some work done. He figured 300 to 350 buyers were present.