Spring really begins the last Saturday in March for Jackson County. That's the date for the annual Ravenswood FFA Farm Equipment Auction at the Jackson County Fairgrounds in Cottageville, WV. While it's called an "equipment auction" the word "equipment" is defined in the broadest sense for this event.

You will find everything at this sale -- from gas tractors to antique gas ranges, wooden pitchforks to wooden yard ornaments, buckets to balers, chain link fence to tractor chains. It is an auction-goer’s dream. Fields of equipment, supplies, antiques, tools and some good honest junk line the fairgrounds, and usually two or three auctions are being called simultaneously. Deciding how to bid in two places at once can be a challenge, and the best bet is to arrive the evening before, look over the lots, make a list of those you're interested in, and bring a buddy to bid with you if you find you need a clone.

The auction is for a good cause. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Ravenswood Chapter of the Future Farmers of America, an organization that supports young people with an interest in agriculture. My sons were FFA members and I saw first-hand the dedication of the teachers and the many opportunities for students to participate in contests, travel, and develop new skills.

I cannot resist an auction. I like antiques because of the stories they carry-a pitchfork with a wood handle smoothed from years of work speaks to me like a story on a page. I like watching people too, and there is no better place to observe humans being human than an auction. I am fascinated by buckets of bolts, boxes of nails, and those glorious "mixed lot" boxes filled with the oddments of barns, tool sheds, garages and kitchens.

Last year we returned from the sale with a draft horse collar, a wood grain cradle, a log chain, galvanized chicken nests, waterers and feeders, a lime spreader, old dishes, a shoe last, metal gas cans, backpack garden sprayer, garden rakes, masonry ruler, antique sled, 2 trash cans in new condition, and tractor chains. The back of the truck was full of stuff, and I was full of ideas for stories and poems.

If you're free the last Saturday of March, consider a drive to Jackson County and enjoy one of the most interesting events of the year.

Just be sure to bring your truck. You'll need it.