New Year's Day Auction returns

After an eight-year hiatus, the popular Fadness New Year's Day Auction is returning. The auction, which focuses mainly on firearms, accessories, and sporting equipment, will begin at 10 a.m. at the Minneota Legion Hall. Doors will open at 9 a.m.

The auction will continue until all items are put up for auction. "We encourage people to bring items in to be auctioned off," said Auctioneer Dave Fadness.

"Although the bulk of what we auction are guns, ammo, sporting equipment, coins and antiques, if someone wants to bring another item in, we will try to sell it for them on a consignment basis."

The Minneota Baseball Boosters will be serving roast beef sandwiches, chips, pop and coffee at the auction. The Baseball Boosters are looking for volunteers to assist during the event.

Needed are work volunteers for two-hour shifts, 9 a.m.-11 a.m., 11 a.m.-1 p.m., and 1 p.m.-3 p.m.

Also needed are donations or $10 or more to help defer the cost of food. Those donations can be brought to the event or dropped off with coaches Keven Larson and J.D. Pesch.

And anyone wishing to donate bars and/or cookies can bring them uncut to the Legion by 9 a.m. on the day of the event.

The New Year's Day auction was held for 10 years in a row (from 2002 to 2011), but has not been held since then. Fadness, who owns a trucking business, said the delay was caused by his busy schedule, but he is able to hold the auction this year.

"I'm looking forward to having it again," he said.

"We always held it at the Legion Hall every year and we usually would get upwards of 200 bidders attend." Among the items up for auction will be handguns, rifles, muzzle loaders, shotguns, ammunition, accessories, sporting equipment, and more.