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Dixie Faces

Published December 1, 2019

I, Bernie Harberts, did not use generative AI to write or illustrate this article. Spell check and grammar check, yes. AI, no.

Friday, my wife Julia and I attended the Dixie Draft Sale. The Dixie Draft Sale is the biggest horse, mule, tack and horse drawn equipment sale in the south-east. Their catalogue is the only place I’ve ever seen the word “chattlel” used outside of a hand written Civil War last will and testament.

Bearded man at the Dixie Draft Sale in Troutman, North Carolina — From the age of chattel: he stopped and looked at me while I was looking at the black wagon and said, “I could have bought a hearse like this 45 years ago for $70.”

Merriam-Webster describes chattel as, “an item of tangible movable or immovable property except real estate and things (such as buildings) connected with real property.”

Many of the faces we encountered – including some of our friends’ – hark back to that by-gone era when a man might use a word like chattel.

There was plenty of that on sale this weekend.

The Dixie Draft Sale

Before we get to the faces, I wanted to show you some photos from the sale.

Rows of covered wagons and field wagons for sale at the Dixie Draft Sale — Red wagons, blue sky: there were well over 100 field wagons, covered wagons, horse drawn hearses, forecarts and even a Cinderella surrey for sale.

Bernie Harberts' favorite wagon at the Dixie Draft Sale, sold for $1,200 — My favorite wagon at the sale: it sold for $1,200.

Horse trailers being auctioned at the Dixie Draft Sale — Selling horse trailers.

Horse bits for sale at the Dixie Draft Sale — Bits.

Bidders raising hands for come-alongs at the Dixie Draft Sale — Come on! Bid on a come-along!

Pegasus statue for sale at the Dixie Draft Sale — You know Pegasus would look good in your front yard.

Bull statue for sale near the Pegasus at the Dixie Draft Sale — While you’re raising your hand….

Improvised trailer hitch at the Dixie Draft Sale — Just remember you have to haul home what you buy. Here, a sorta shonky way to keep your trailer attached to your tow rig.

Dixie Faces

Boy wearing a straw hat at the Dixie Draft Sale — Boy in a straw hat.

Kenny and Myla Tyndall at the Dixie Draft Sale — Here, long time friends Myla and Kenny Tyndal. The first thing Kenny asked when he saw me was, “hey, you want a collard sandwich?” He pulled one out of his pocket and added, “it’s made with hoe cake.” Kenny and I have had wagon load of adventures, from driving wagons to the beach to wrecking wagons to repairing wrecked wagons to shaking down the Newfie wagon I drove across Newfoundland.

A man testing a wagon at the Dixie Draft Sale — The wagon tester.

Two people visiting face to face at the Dixie Draft Sale — Did they see eye to eye?

A collar for sale at the Dixie Draft Sale — A new old collar.

A mini mule up for auction at the Dixie Draft Sale, lot 23 — Lot 23.

Driving a team at the Dixie Draft Sale, lot 042 and 043 — Lot 042 and 043.

A white-faced mule with its owner at the Dixie Draft Sale — White face: the man on the mule said, “you know he’s a good mule once he gets to know you. But he’ll try you at first. Nothing serious. You know, just pick up his heels a little bit.”

Auctioneer calling bids at the Dixie Draft Sale — Sell, sell, sell!

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One Response to Dixie Faces

Julia on December 1, 2019 at 8:57 pm

You give this day so much of its real feel with your words and photos. You are a true artist with a good eye and a great command of your pen. You are the man to set forth to travel and document for others what you behold. You are a man doing the job you should be doing. Thank you.

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Dixie Faces

The Dixie Draft Sale

Dixie Faces

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