|
 This
was the largest crowd to date for the auction, and also the largest
number of auction items to date. With more than 60 items in the live
auction and 150 in the silent auction, the potential to raise money
for the American Cancer Society was great.
In 2023, the fundraiser brought in $38,000 in one night, and that
record high will stand for another year, with 2024 coming in a very
close second at just over $36,000.
Since the inception of the fundraiser in 2018, the auction has
brought in a grand total of $125,000 for ACS.
The night began with guests encouraged to fill their
plates with food provided by Nuthatch Hill BBQ and Cindy Guyett and
friends. There were free beverages at the food table, and a separate
wine table provided by Joe and Michelle Ryan.
In the main shop area, tables were set up at the far end of the room
for the silent auction items, with the live auction items forming an
arcing sweep across the front of the room. On the far side of the
room Bill Post and Tonita Reifsteck were selling luminaria while
Janice Funk was selling mystery bags filled with items donated by
area businesses.
During the silent auction, there were times when
guests were shoulder to shoulder in that area, examining what was
being offered and placing bids on items they most desired to take
home with them at the end of the night.
At the same time, there was a large group of folks who were busy
browsing the long, long line of live auction items.
At 6 p.m. the silent auction was closed for the night and the live
auction was just minutes away.
The Pink Pumpkin Auction Committee came to the front of the room and
were introduced. There was a word of gratitude expressed to those in
attendance as well as those who had donated items for the live and
or silent auctions.
There was a brief run down of the American Cancer
Society, who they are, what they do, and what they do with the money
that is raised, including patient support programs, motel stays,
transportation for warriors to treatments, and grants paid out to
research and university hospitals including several in Illinois.
There was a call to the audience for those who are cancer survivors
to please stand and be acknowledged. More than a dozen people stood.
There was then a call for all those who have lost loved ones to
cancer to please stand and be acknowledged and there were a great
many who answered that call.
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Following the acknowledgement of those who had lost
loved ones, there was a moment of silence for those who have passed
which was part of the luminaria observance for the evening.
Turning away from the solemn moment and getting ready to amp up the
fun, the Logan County Fair royalty was introduced. On hand for the
evening was Little Miss Logan County Olivia Harmsen and Junior Miss
Logan County Sophia Goodman.
Ty and Cody Tucker were then introduced as the auctioneers for the
evening, with Cindy Guyett being the “reader” who would assist with
describing the items being offered on the auction block.
The next nearly two hours brought in lots of fun, laughter, teasing
from the auctioneers, and big bucks for ACS.
Some of the highlights of the evening included the re-sale of the
Susan G. Komen bike that had sold last year, was donated back and
sold again this year not once but twice. Seth Goodman and his mom
Gaynor seemed to get a big kick out of bidding against one another
for the bike, though it could have been a bit of a set up for Seth
as at the end of the night, Gaynor walked away having won nothing
and Seth was left to pay for all the items she bid him up on,
including the bike. Thanks to the mother son team the bike brought
just over $4,000 the first time around. Collision Concepts also
offered a $1,500 match on the bike so that first time it brought in
more than $5,500.
Later on in the evening, out of the blue the bike was
wheeled front and center and it was announced that it was going to
sell again. This time the winning bidder was Greg Patel.
Another fun auction was that of the pink tractor donated by Central
Illinois Ag with a custom pink paint job done by Darrin Schempp of
Atlanta. The tractor came with a pre-determined matching bid of up
to $1,000 by Lincoln Daily News. In the end Don Peasley purchased
the tractor for slightly over $1,000. With the match the tractor
brought in $2,000.
Another fun item
that went at a good price was a gift basket made by former Little
Miss Logan County Kodi Eigenbrod, who served as Little Miss in 2023.
Kodi had helped with the 2023 auction and had enjoyed
it greatly. This year she wanted to contribute again, so she made
jewelry, a ring, necklace and bracelet and put it is a gift basket
with a gift card. The item brought in a large amount for the
American Cancer Society.
There was another basket that contained a lot of candy and it was
purchased and given to the 2024 Junior Miss and Little Miss as a
thank you from the buyer.
Eleven year-old Bryson Alley, the son of Dwayne Alley
of D-Fades in Lincoln, was another youth who wanted to help. He and
his dad designed a red, white and blue pumpkin for the auction which
was snatched up quickly during the live auction.
Both of the young donors were praised for their compassion and
desire to do something good in their community.
At the end of the night, there was a large sigh of relief from the
committee. As everyone knows there is always that brief moment of
doubt when planning a party. Will anyone come, will everything go
right, will it all be worth it?
Then when the
night is over, and all three questions have been answered with a
resounding YES, everyone sighs, goes home to get some sleep, and
the next day they start many of their sentences with “Next year….”
So in the spirit of Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus….yes Logan
County there will be a Pink Pumpkin Auction next year, and we can’t
wait to see you all there to do it all over again.
[Nila Smith] |
