Guy Russell was calling auctions at 17 years old. Today, 60 years later, he owns and operates the Hillsdale County Auction.

“People from every walk of life come to this auction,” Russell said. “This auction has been going on for over 100 years. Most generally, you can buy things way cheaper than what you pay for them in a store.”

Hundreds of auction-goers gathered at the Hillsdale County fairgrounds on a recent Saturday morning amid dense fog.

A gravel parking lot was covered with row upon row of various items, including tricycles, used tires, baby cradles, and five-liter cans of Coors Light commemorating Super Bowl 40. An auctioneer began taking offers for items at 9 a.m.

“If you want something, you have to be the highest bidder when the auctioneer is selling it,” Russell said. “If you win the bid, then it’s just like McDonald’s. You go in and pay for it and you get your item.”

Josh Ikessler was among the bidders on these items. He said he has been attending the Hillsdale County Auction for the past 10 years.

“You can get some stuff cheap you might or might not need,” Ikessler said. “Usually random stuff. Stuff for the farm that I can buy at a cheaper price.”

Ikessler purchased a small horse cart that morning. He said he plans to use it when he gets a mini-horse for his daughter.

“If not, eventually I can fix the seat and sell it for 200 bucks,” Ikessler said.

The horse cart was not the best thing Ikessler said he has bought at the auction. He said his best purchase was back in June.

“A mini cow,” Ikessler said, “Like the ones you see on Facebook. I got it for a cheap price – around $1,100 when they’re going for like $3,000 on Facebook.”

Chris McCullough sold an assortment of plants, trees, and other shrubberies at the auction. He said he had been attending the event since 1991, at first with his father. Now it’s a weekly tradition.

“We have a big evergreen farm,” McCullough said. “We really enjoy selling the plants that we grow to people who can plant them in their yards and help the environment. Obviously, it’s income for us, but it’s also fun. We enjoy coming up here.”

Russell said the auction is especially useful to people due to the state of the economy.

“It’s still an essential item in the community,” Russell said. “It’s used by a lot of people. Now that the economy is getting tough – nearing a recession – people are starting to sell some things they don’t need just to get a little extra cash to turn things over.”

Russell said he plans to hand the business over to his son and daughter-in-law, but that handoff remains years ahead.

“I’m 72 years old,” Russell said. “It’s been a lifetime of doing this. I can still see myself doing this in five years.”