The 2024 Stampede Auction of Champion Pumpkins at Black Hawk College raised $6,075 for the Kewanee Area United Way.
The Oct. 23 event at the East Campus brought generous BHC students, employees, retirees and alumni together to open up their wallets for a good cause.
East Campus alumnus Bill LeSage once again lent his auctioneering skills for the fundraiser.
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 11 lots of pumpkins and/or pumpkin-themed items.
Auction items were donated by:
- BHC East Campus United Way team
- BHC Equestrian Program
- Blair Snyder, on behalf of East Campus student clubs and organizations
- Entwined Boutique, Bishop Hill
- Farmgate Market, Galva
- Nature’s Creations, Kewanee
Auction attendees form syndicates to pool their funds to purchase a pumpkin lot.
The highest bid was $875 from the Black Hawk East Retirees. The team purchased one of the lots donated by Nature’s Creations. Coming in with the second highest bid was the Community Education Center. Team members spent $680 for one of the lots donated by Farmgate Market.
The other winning bidders were:
- BHE Ag Business Students
- BHE Alumni/WIU
- Black Hawk College Judging Freshman
- American Royal Champs
- Jacobs Family
- Blake & Wrevenna Bloomberg Family
- Hoge Livestock
- Dan and Deanna Hoge
Attendees enjoyed lunch provided by Dr. Blake Bloomberg and the BHC Livestock Judging Team and cupcakes provided by BHC retiree Ray Jacobs in honor of retiree Dan Hoge’s birthday.
The Kewanee Area United Way supports agencies that provide services to Henry County and Stark County residents, and 100% of donated money stays in the community to assist as many as 16 agencies.
View more photos from the auction on Facebook.
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