EXOTIC ANIMAL AUCTION BIG DRAW; HIGHEST-PRICED WILL BE SOLD TODAY

FRUITLAND -- Toby Hutcheson picked up his buyer's number Friday afternoon for the Mid-America Animal Auction.

"We're looking for a few oddities and good buys," said Hutcheson, of Sprucefire, Ala.

Hutcheson, his wife, Sharon, and three children, including 8-month-old Alyss, were all at the auction.

Also attending are Toby Hutecheson's father, Troy Hutcheson, and his sister and her husband, Sharrell and Jamie Lonters, all from Alabama.

"I've attended the exotic animal auction in this area 15 years," said Toby Hutcheson. "We raise a number of exotic animals -- miniature donkeys, pygmy goats and others."

More than 350 buyers were on hand Friday for the first day of the auction, which also runs today at the Fruitland Livestock Sales Inc. auction barn.

Trucks and trailers from several states -- Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois -- were observed around the auction barn. People from many other states also were present.

More people are expected for today's sale, said Nancy Caldwell, who is helping in the auction, issuing buyer numbers and tickets.

"I"ve worked the auction more than 20 years," said Caldwell, who started with the annual 5-H Animal Ranch Exotic Animal Auction until it was discontinued. "I've seen buyers here from almost every state and many foreign countries," said Caldwell.

Crowd estimates for today range between 400 and 600 buyers and sellers. The animals on today' bill usually attract more buyers; llamas, zebras and camels are among animals on today's list.

This is the fifth year of the Mid-America Animal Sales, conducted by Neal Franke and his wife, Michelle. The Frankes conduct two auctions a year: in April and October. They raise a number of exotic animals on their farm.

A lot of animals went through the auction barn Friday, from emus selling for $15 to buffalo for $1,000 or more. Also going across the block Friday were watusi, addax, yaks, red deer, ostriches, goats and elk.

Some people attending were surprised at emu and ostrich prices. Ostriches sold for $40 and $50 ostriches.

"Five years ago emus and, or ostriches would bring several hundred dollars," said one attendee, who raises both. "The eggs would have brought more than the actual birds do now."

Another animal that has dropped drastically in price is the pot-bellied pig. "The bottom just dropped out of the pot-bellied pig market," said Caldwell.

Prices for some animals today could reach $5,000. Llamas, zebras and camels are usually among the highest-priced animals. Some were listed in the latest issue of "Animal Finders Guide" for prices ranging from $2,000 to more than $5,000 each.