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Hitting the annual Hillbilly Sale

By Staff | Jun 10, 2011

Tom Brown, of Fort Dodge, is reflected in a horse collar mirror he had for sale Saturday at the first summer Hillbilly Sale of the season on the Webster County Fairgrounds. Morning rain delayed him and some other vendors in setting up.

FORT?DODGE – Tom Brown has been setting up his tables full of antiques, curios and other assorted items at the summer Hillbilly Sale at the Webster County Fairgrounds for 11 years in exactly the same spot near the entrance.

In all that time, he said that during the 2011 sale in late-May was only the third time he got rained out.

He has a easy solution to protect his merchandise,

“Cover it up,” he said.

After that ?

Tessa Parcher, of Osage, spends a little time with Tom, a turkey she was selling at the Summer Hillbilly Sale on the Webster County Fairgrounds. Tom could be had for $40 which included his cage.

“Wait, then set back up,” he said.

Like many sellers at the outdoor market, Brown does not expect to get rich. He attends mostly to socialize, meet with longtime friends and have fun.

Steve and Donna Grubb, of Burt, were working their way past a row of table loaded with antiques. Both had on waterproof footwear to deal with the puddles that still lingered from the morning rain.

They don’t miss any shows.

“We come to every one of these,” Donna Grubb said.

One of the many birds for sale at the Hillbilly Sale almost makes good on its escape plan. It was caught and put back behind bars after a few seconds of freedom.

The couple said they like to socialize and look at all the different items for sale. Of course, Grubb admitted she has one weakness that might make her decide on a purchase.

“I come for the puppies,” she said.

While the merchandise at the sale can include just about anything from alphabet blocks to zebra statues, many come to sell or purchase various animals.

On Saturday, ducks, turkeys, chickens, rabbits, puppies, kittens and even a corn snake could be purchased.

While she didn’t have any critters for sale, Joyce O’Connell, of Fort Dodge, did have cages for them. Made by her late husband Orville, there were dozens of the mesh cages from which to choose.

A cage full of just purchased ducklings head for the gate with their new owners Saturday morning at the Summer Hillbilly Sale on the Webster County Fairgrounds.

The rain did nothing to dampen her spirit, or sales.

“I sold three already,” she said. “That was when it was raining.”

Aubreah McLeland, 15, of Bode, was holding a German wirehaired pointer puppy that was for sale. The rest of her litter had already gone to homes.

McLeland said she enjoys the sale and has acquired some of the animals for her 4-H projects from sellers at the show.

Tessa Parcher, of Osage, was being serenaded at the show by Tom, a large turkey she was selling for $40, which included his cage.

“He gets to be obnoxious,” she said.

The bird is actually quite tame. Parcher was able to give her feathered friend a hug.

“He follows us everywhere at home,” she said.

That included trying to get into the car with family members to go for a ride one day.

“That didn’t work out,” she said.

She said that several generations of her family has been attending the sales. She said enjoys seeing different merchandise and seeing the customers.

As for the rain?

“We sat in the trailer and watched,” she said.

Contact Hans Madsen at (515) 573-2141 or hmadsen@messengernews.net