The 31st annual heifer sale sponsored by Ontario Mennonite Relief Sale Inc. will be taking place on Feb. 17 in Listowel to raise funds for the relief and development work of the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). All the money raised on auction day goes directly to relief, development and peace work locally and in some 60 countries around the world.
MCC’s mission is to addresses the basic human need for water, food and shelter while working alongside churches and communities in a variety of efforts to build peace. Working within a community the MCC tries to build bridges to connect people and ideas across cultural, political and economic divides.
Plans are well underway for this year’s auction and the organizing committee is currently seeking donations from local farmers and agribusinesses who donate heifers, sale facilities, trucks, staff, feed, straw, veterinary and auction services.
“After 30 years of raising funds for the MCC, volunteers for the heifer sale are still going strong,” said Clarence Diefenbacher, sale chairperson.
The sale relies heavily on volunteers to make it a success year after year.
“People tend to gravitate to our cause because they know that our organization does some very good work at home and abroad,” said Diefenbacher. “This is an excellent opportunity for farmers and agribusinesses to support MCC programs.”
Last year the auction sold 117 heifers, several lots of semen, bales of straw, and other miscellaneous items. The heifers sold for $150,250 averaging $1,284 a head. The total proceeds including additional cash donations brought the sale total to over $166,000. Since its inception in 1982 the heifer sale has raised well over $4 million through the auctioning of 3,500 heifers.
More than 400 farmers, buyers and businesses attended last years auction in support of the relief work.
Topping the sale last year at $5,000 were two heifers: Quality Minister and Hanalee Shottle Dawn donated by Irvin and Ellen Jantzi, and the Mennonite Savings and Credit Union.
“We have farmers that donate year after year, without question. It’s a good feeling when you ask for one heifer, and someone offers two instead. Stuff like that motivates you to keep doing it,” said John Brenneman, secretary of the heifer sale committee.
This year’s sale will take place at Carson Auction facilities, 5531 Perth Line 86, Listowel on Feb. 27, starting at 11 a.m.
For more information about the sale, to donate a heifer, or to make cash donations visit www.heifersale.org.
