After a two-year absence, the Stampede Auction of Champion Pumpkins returned to the Black Hawk College East Campus and set a new fundraising record.
The Oct. 12 event raised money for Kewanee Area United Way, where 100% of donated money stays in the community to assist as many as 16 area agencies in providing services to residents in need.
Auctioneer and East Campus alumnus Bill LeSage persuaded the audience of BHC students, employees, retirees and alumni to spend a new record grand total of $8,325. The last auction – held in 2019 – raised $6,525.
Sophomore Livestock Judging Team members evaluated the pumpkins, giving all of the reasons why audience members would want to be the high bidder on each lot. Other judging team members were bid spotters.
This year’s sale included 10 lots of pumpkins and/or pumpkin-themed items, ranging from single to multiple fresh pumpkins, pumpkins made from steel and sheet metal, fall florals with pumpkins, pumpkin art, and a self-care basket of pumpkin items.
Auction items were donated by:
- SGS North America, Wyoming
- Nature’s Creations Greenhouse and Farm, Kewanee
- Frank Pumpkin Farm, Atkinson
- Stark County Design, Wyoming
- BHC Soil Judging Team
- BHC Equestrian Science Program – featuring artwork by McKenna Konvicka and Quincy Hochstatter
- Life Skills Re-Entry Center, Kewanee
- Jen and Larry Holldorf
- Kelly Craig, Janet Johnson & Amy Snyder – BHC East Campus employees
The highest bid lot was $1,500 from the OG Shack Residents. They purchased a giant pumpkin from Frank Pumpkin Farm paired with an original canvas painting by an artist at the Life Skills Re-Entry Center in Kewanee.
The other winning bidders were:
- David Harris
- Ray Jacobs
- BHC Freshman Livestock Judges
- Snyder Family Farms, LLC
- BHC Soil Judging Team
- Dr. Blake and Wravenna Bloomberg
- 2021-22 BHC Livestock Judging Team of the Year
- Hoge Livestock of Good Hope, IL, and Walnut, IL, in memory of Jim Bloomberg
- Joe Porter Cattle