FREDERICKTOWN — Fredericktown spirit showed up in a big way at Saturday night’s Tomato Show plate auction.
First, after a spirited bidding war, Kyle and Sarah Randall and Todd and Kristine Lindemann paid $15,000 for Plate 1.
Second, community members supported the event to the tune of $38,000 for plates 2 through 10, more than double the $23,200 that the entire auction garnered in 2025.
Next, add-on buyers chipped in another $4,050 for Plate 1, for a grand auction total of $57,050.
“We have a great community,” Tomato Show Board Member Cale Grubb said.
That only scratches the surface.
The response to Plate 1 was so high because the Tomato Show board dedicated the proceeds to the Chris Fearn Well scholarship.
Well served on the board for 46 years and chaired it for 11. A reading teacher for 32 years in Fredericktown Elementary School, she was active in numerous community projects.
The Randalls and Lindemanns gave the plate to Richard Well, Chris’ husband.
Marsha Rinehart bought Plates 5 and 7, and gave them to Mayor Jerry Day for display in the village and Kyle Lepley.
Anthony Keen bought Plate 6 and gave it to Ashley and Jake Overholt. Ashley is Well’s daughter.
TK’s Ice Cream & Sweets bought Plate 8 and promptly gave it to Louise Dudgeon of the Porkettes. Dudgeon is the sole remaining founding member of the group.
The Porkettes barn is the featured design on the 2026 plate. Pork producers’ wives (the Porkettes) started the group in the 1970s as a way to help farmers during the hard times.
Community spirit flows at plate auction
Below is the complete listing of the 2026 auction results.
Plate 1: Kyle and Sarah Randall and Todd and Kristine Lindemann, $15,000 ($19,050 with the add-on buyers), given to Richard Well.
Plate 2: Anthony Keen, $6,400.
Plate 3: Heather Nd Jordan Miller, $3,00.
Plate 4: The Shoppe on Main, $4,000.
Plate 5: Marsha Rinehart, $5,000, given to the Village of Fredericktown.
Plate 6: Anthony Keen, $4,800, given to Ashley and Jake Overholt.
Plate 7: Marsha Rinehart, $4,200, given to Kyle Lepley.
Plate 8: TK’s Ice Cream & Sweet Shop, $3,700, given to Louise Dudgeon.
Plate 9: Mark and Sonya Overholt, $3,600.
Plate 10: Knox County Porkettes, $3,300.
The Tomato Show board will recognize the add-on buyers on its website next week when auction results are official.
(Below are Cheryl Splain’s photos of the auction.)
