says that Junior’s response was, “I have
the space; you help me organize it.”
The following year Topeka Livestock
Auction held its first draft horse sale.
Today Ezra Yoder’s son, LaVern, continues to work for the auction and is a
member of the Draft Horse Committee
along with Devon Bontrager.
The Topeka Livestock Auction has
been a fixture in the community since
1933, celebrating their 75th anniversary in 2008. Every Tuesday is sale
day. For years Topeka was known as
the best weekly dairy sale in the state.
Current owners Bob and Shirley Bale
purchased the auction on October 1st
of 1994 from Junior Martin and Les
Moser. Martin and Moser had purchased the business a few years earlier
from Al Thomas. Junior Martin’s son,
Dallas, is still one of the auctioneers.
In addition to the weekly
livestock auction and semi-annual
draft horse sales, the Topeka Livestock
Auction has numerous special sales
throughout the year. In April and October they hold a Driving Horse Sale.
In March, June, and November there is
a Carriage & Antique Auction that coincides with the March and November
Draft Horse Sale. And in early October
Bob Bale
they hold a two day Exotic Animals
Auction. A complete listing of the 2012
sale dates is available online at www.
auctions-usa.com. Also, see sidebar
with this story.
Bob Bale says that, “Every sale is
memorable”. Last year 1,416 horses
went through the auction ring. Both
Bale and LaVern Yoder were quick to
bring up the sale of a non-registered
Belgian gelding out of Cincinnati,
Ohio, that was purchased by a man
from Alberta, Canada for $20,000.
Geldings are non-breeding stock incapable of producing offspring. There
was also a pair of pulling geldings that
sold for $50,000. In 2011, the top selling registered Belgian mare brought
$25,000. Recalling the price of the top
selling mare over the years brought a
smile to both Bale’s and Yoder’s faces.
That sale price topped out at $34,000.
Perhaps one of the most memorable sales related to a registered Belgian
stud out of New York by the name of
Convincer. The story has it that the
owner had violated breeder association
rules and was being forced out. If he
sold the horses they could retain their
registered status, but if he didn’t they
would be reduced to simply standard
grade. Needless to say,
the financial
impact would
be significant.
According to
the rumor,
a New York
neighbor
tried to buy
Convincer
before the
Topeka sale,
but the owner
wouldn’t sell.
So the horse
was brought
to Topeka.
This is where
the details of
the story beCurrent owner of the
come clouded.
Topeka Live Stock Auction
It is said that
since 1994.
the New York
cont. on next page
Horse
uctions
A
2012 Topeka
Livestock Auction
February 26 Driving Horse
March 13-16 Spring Draft Horse
& Carriage Auction
April 28 Driving Horse
June 15 Summer Carriage
& Antique Auction
June 23 Driving Horse
August 25 Driving Horse
October 27 Driving Horse
Oct 30 - Nov 2 Fall Draft Horse &
Carriage Auction
Shipshewana
Auction 2012
Weekly Horse Sale,
every Friday all year
January 28 Winter
Standardbred Auction
March 23 Hoosier Horse
& Carriage Auction
March 23 Draft Horse Auction In
conjunction with regular Friday auction.
March 24 Standardbred
Horse Sale
April 6 Good Friday
Horse Auction Tack Sale all day
April 21 Chupp Family
Standardbred Auction
April 27 Chupp Family
Pony Auction
September 22
Standardbred Horse Sale
The Hometown Treasure · Mar. ‘12 · pg 15
The Hometown Treasure · Mar. ‘12 · pg 15