RITZVILLE – The annual Mennonite Country Auction has gone online this year, due to the coronavirus epidemic. It will close on Saturday.

“The auction is normally held on the first Saturday of October,” said Michael Claassen, chairman of the event. “This would be our 43rd year.”

Normally, the auction is accompanied by a breakfast that kicks off the day and non-auction items for sale, such as meats, cheeses, flour, produce and baked goods. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, only the auction is being held and it has gone online. Because everything has to be mailed, the number of items up for auction has been limited to 50.

Included in the online auction are approximately 20 quilts, a getaway for two at Stehekin, an electric lawnmower, clams and two cars.

Because of the nature of this year’s auction, the bidding started on Sept. 15. It closes this Saturday, the day the in-person auction normally would have been held.

“I’m pretty excited about where we’re at,” Claassen said. “We’re growing, as far as the number of bids.”

This auction is one of several such auctions held around the country. Each year, the money raised from the auction goes toward world relief projects, such as clean water, performed by the Mennonite Central Committee.

The local auction was started on a stage held up by straw bales to raise money to send Mennonite Central Committee volunteers to work trips. Over time, the auction has become a destination for people from as far away as Seattle, Portland and Missoula.

“It’s a country atmosphere,” Claassen said. “Everyone is volunteering their time.”

To learn more about the Mennonite Country Auction and to make a bid, visit 2020.mennonitecountryauction.org or visit their Facebook page.

Rachal Pinkerton may be reached via email at [email protected].