Live Auction Brings More Than $13,000 for Dairy Youth Programs

Proceeds from Auction benefit Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation of PA

A live auction benefiting the Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation of Pennsylvania was held as a part of the 2015 Pennsylvania Dairy Summit and achieved a record totaling more than $13,000. The funds will directly support youth education, such as the Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow and Discover Dairy programs, as well as other initiatives funded by the center foundation.

"This auction has become a tremendous fundraising opportunity for our foundation, and we are grateful for those who supported it by donating and bidding on the exciting items that we were fortunate to have donated this year," said Emily Yeiser, dairy initiatives manager at the Center for Dairy Excellence.

There were eight highly sought after items that were part of the auction held during the Wednesday evening program at the Dairy Summit in front of more than 300 people. Pennsylvania State Representative Mark Keller from Perry County served as the auctioneer for the event. The two highest selling items of the evening included 100 hours of use with a Case IH Magnum Tractor, donated by Hoober, Inc. and Case IH, and a four-course meal for ten people provided and prepared by former White House Chef, John Moeller. Steve Reinford of Mifflintown, Pa., purchased the usage of the tractor, while James VanBlarcom from Columbia Crossroads, Pa., purchased the four-course White House dinner.

There were six other items included in the live auction. Below is a list of all the winning bidders, individuals and organizations that donated items.

• Giant Foods donated a $500 Giant Gift Card and outing with Robert Schupper, dairy category manager for Ahold USA; winner was James VanBlarcom.
  
• Omni Bedford Springs donated a one-night stay with breakfast included; winner was Walt Moore from West Grove, Pa.
  
• Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association donated a Pittsburgh Steeler's Football signed by Antonio Brown; winner was Logan Bower of Blain, Pa.
  
• Evergreen Farm donated four tickets to a Penn State Ice Hockey Game with a dinner at Kelly's Steakhouse; winner was Larry Kulp of Martinsburg, Pa.
  
• Erick Coolidge donated a one night at Penn Well Lodge with a dinner at the Steakhouse; winners were Randy and Paula Meabon of Wattsburg, Pa.
  
• Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association donated a Philadelphia Eagles Football signed by Connor Barwin; winners were Doug and Veronica Smith, Martinsburg, Pa.

The Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation of Pennsylvania was established in 2010 as a charitable 501(c)(3) organization to support educational initiatives that grow and sustain the Pennsylvania dairy industry. The center foundation provides the opportunity for individuals and organizations to make tax-deductible contributions to support educational initiatives within Pennsylvania's dairy industry.

The center foundation was created to allow individuals and corporations to make a lasting impact on the future of Pennsylvania's dairy industry and its individual dairy farm families. Priorities for the center foundation include youth development, continuing education, consumer outreach and market development.Return to Industry Buzz.

2.17.2015