Two-day auction sale draws huge crowd to Imlay City
IMLAY CITY — The annual fall, two-day sale by Rowley Auction service took place this past weekend and was another huge success.
Consignment auction sales are held by the company every Spring and Fall and draw thousands of potential buyers and curious onlookers to the Eastern Michigan State Fairgrounds in Imlay City.
Consignment items start arriving at the grounds several days prior to the auction. Rowley’s staff works hard for days to catalog and identify each item brought in for the sale.
Then, there is the layout of the thousands of sale items, which covers much of the fairgrounds, between camping trailers, boats, motorcycles, cars, enclosed utility trailers and trucks of all kinds, all lined up for sale.
There was another area of equipment including tractors of all makes and models, farming equipment, heavy industrial equipment and more, all lined up along the fence adjacent to M-53 to peak the curiosity of those passing by.
On the ground from the fenced area along M-53 all the way west to the main entrance inside the gates, there were a slew of “smalls” spread over the ground; everything from vintage signs, lawn mowers, garden tractors, old milk cans, turf tires and anything else you can imagine.
There were also two large barns with items for sale, one had hand tools, power tools, lawn equipment, lawn furniture, grills, used engines and anything else you can imagine, all lined up as far as you could see. The other barn was used for the sale of motorized vehicles of all sorts, trucks, ambulances, tractors and trailers.
An army of auction helpers drove vehicles and tractors through the barn as auctioneers Brian Rowley and Greg Rowden kept buyers’ hands moving, calling out bidders on each item. Meanwhile, two other auctioneers were spotted working outside and in another barn, selling the smaller items to help keep the sale moving along.
While the sale started at 11 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday, guests came early and looked over the items while renewing friendships over a cup of coffee and meeting new people. The two days of sales was just as much a social time as it was a time for buying an item you just had to have. A beautiful blue sky, sunshine and mild temperatures kept everyone in a good mood and in the spirit of wanting to support the sale.
Seasoned veterans of auction sales could be seen leaning against a piece of equipment discussing days gone by or how auction prices were going. Children at the sale spotted their favorite bicycles, quads or side by sides they were sure their parents would buy for them with just a little more time for pleading their case.
According to the company’s website, Rowley Auctions is a family owned and operated auction company that has been conducting auctions in the state of Michigan and beyond for over 36 years. They also conduct auctions in parts of Ohio and Indiana. The company says they have an extensive network of buyers and sellers all over the United States, as well as Canada and Mexico.
Additionally, they utilize an online software system and results driven marketing tactics.
As a company, Rowley’s say they take pride in supporting the local community through the following organizations: Seven Ponds Nature Center, LACADA, Lapeer County 4-H and Habitat for Humanity of Lapeer.
