Auctioneer Bruce Brock calls for a bid on the large eagle walnut carving during the Plymouth County Fair's annual auction Sunday afternoon in Pioneer Village. Standing by the carving are (from left) -- princess Rachel Black, queen Jesa Wolthuizen and king David Becker. [Click to enlarge]

Sunday afternoon's hot, muggy weather made for some quick bidding at the 2008 Fair Auction in Pioneer Village on the Plymouth County Fairgrounds.

Auctioneer Bruce Brock kept the pace brisk as fair royalty displayed the items for sale.

When it was finished, $23,335 was added to the fair's treasury, the highest auction total ever. The previous high total was $21,395 in 2000.

Auction goers marveled at the intricate work done by Geri Dreckman on the Plymouth County Fair Round Barn quilt. A bid of $2,000 by Greg and Pam Wells and Bruce and Teri Brock brought the announcement that the couples were donating the quilt to the Plymouth County Fair Board and that it be displayed at the fair. The news was met with a thunder of applause.

Chainsaw artist A.J. Lutter provided the auction with 15 pieces of chainsaw art. The Plymouth County Fair is only one of three fairs in Iowa that Lutter continues to work. He maintains a shop, "Come See What I Saw" in Brainerd, Minn.

A large eagle carved from walnut brought the highest bid of $3,600, and was purchased by Greg and Pam Wells of Le Mars. The couple also purchased a walnut rooster for $2,400.

Other carvings, their price and purchaser were:

Turtle, walnut, $900, Doug and Peg Becker.

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Waving bear in trunk, walnut, $1,700, Dave Becker.

Indian Head, cedar, $600, Mark Ellis.

Small eagle, walnut, $1,100, Ted Hoffman and Marjorie Anderson.

Welcome tree plaque, walnut, $450, Brett McNaughton.

Eagle head plaque, walnut, $400, Rich Magnuson, American Bank.

Tall standing pine tree, cedar, $500, DK Tree Service.

Grinning Bulldog, walnut, $1,100, Neal Anthony.

Old Man & His Bird, walnut, $1,000, Dan Carpenter.

Pig, walnut, $700, Monte Konopasek.

A.J. Lutter's Choice - Horse Head Plaque, walnut, $600, John and Barbara Conley

Owl, walnut, $800, Mark Ellis

Bear Bench, walnut, $1,150, Ted Hoffman and Marjorie Anderson.

Jerome and Eileen Dreckman took home the 2008 Fair Belt Buckles. The No. 1 and No. 2 pewter buckles brought $250 each, with the No. 1 and No. 2 colored belt buckles going for $500 each. The buckles are donated by the Town & Country Toy Club.

A 1982 pewter Round Barn belt buckle, donated by Joanne Klohs, was purchased for $100 by Rich Magnuson, American Bank.

Le Mars Toy Store donated two 2008 Fair Trucks to the auction. The No. 1 truck was purchased by Paul Gengler for $300, with the No. 2 truck going to Rich Magnuson of American Bank for $200.

The Fair Board donated five toy collectibles.

They included:

2005 Iowa FFA Special Edition Farmall 560 Toy Tractor, $175, purchased by Wanzek Construction.

2005 Iowa FFA Special Edition John Deere Model 3020 Toy Tractor, $175, purchased by Duane Majeres.

2003 Iowa FFA Special Edition Allis Chalmers 185 Toy Tractor, $125, purchased by Neal Anthony.

1998 Iowa FFA Special Edition John Deere Model '70' Toy Tractor, $200, purchased by Duane Majeres.

1905 Delivery Car - 4-H Bank, 1988 edition, $150, purchased by Dave and Pat Lehner.

2007 Iowa FFA Toy Semi Tractor-Trailer, $200, purchased by Dennis Baldwin.

The final Wells' Blue Bunny glass milk bottles were sold at the 2008 auction. Two pint square bottom bottles were donated by the fair board and two by Greg Wells. Bob Plendl swept the bottle auction with top bids of $100, $175, $175, and $225.

Wells' Blue Bunny glass milk bottles were used for many years in the fair's flower show.

Three 10 gallon milk cans with lids (no markings), were donated by Wells' Dairy.

Rich Magnuson, American Bank, purchased one for $180, while Kevin Pratt purchased the other two for $90 each.

A John Deere latch hook rug/wall hanging donated by Sharon Collier was purchased by Bob Plendl for $175.