VEEDERSBURG, Ind. — It’s auction time to benefit the Fountain County 4-H program

The Fountain County 4-H Council will have its second annual consignment auction at 10 a.m. EST Saturday at the Fountain County Fairgrounds west of Veedersburg.

“It was somewhat successful last year, said Amanda Smith, Fountain County extension director. “It was good PR for 4-H.”

The auction features a variety of farm implements small and large, lawn and garden equipment, livestock equipment, tools and much more.

“We take just about anything except cars, tires without rims, and fuel tanks, unless it has a working pump,” Smith said.

Consignments will be accepted from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and from 7-9 a.m. Saturday, Smith said. She said some farm implements and furniture from the old Fountain County Health Department have already been consigned and she expects to receive more items in the days leading up to the auction.

“Unfortunately we’re battling a late harvest, just like we did last year, but we’re hoping people will be able to get out of the fields to consign their items,” Smith said. “If anybody is interested in consigning items and can’t make that Friday to Saturday window they can call our office to make arrangements for drop-off.”

The auction will mark the launch of a new winter farmers market, which will run inside the 4-H Building from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. The winter market is building on the success of last summer’s market on the courthouse square in Covington and will feature produce, baked goods, homemade crafts, and Christmas flowers and wreaths.

“We had such positive response from the summer market that we wanted to make some of these wonderful local foods and crafts available to people in the winter months as well,” said Deb Duncan, a member of Green Minds Fountain County and one of the market organizers.

“When we had a debriefing on the (summer) farmers markets, one of the vendors, Glen Hoover, suggested we try it,” she said. She said kicking it off Saturday at the auction was a good idea since there would be a captive audience.

“There may be some Christmas gift ideas too,” she said.

Following the launch on Dec. 5, the winter market will be on the first Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to noon in the 4-H Building at the fairgrounds. Vendors who are interested in participating in the market should contact Duncan at (765) 793-2322 or Linda McGurk at (765) 299-2747.

For more information about the auction or to consign items, call the Purdue University Cooperative Extension office in Foun-tain County at (765) 793-2297.

“The money goes to the 4-H general operating budget and the renovation of the fairgrounds,” Smith said.

COMING UP

The second annual Fountain County 4-H Council consignment will be at 10 a.m. EST Saturday at the Fountain County Fairgrounds west of Veedersburg.

Green Minds Fountain County will have a winter farmers market from 9 a.m. to noon in the 4-H building.