Wampum raises $13,000

According to the Wheat Land Communities’ Fair (WLCF) treasurer, Aaron Esser, the annual Wampum event raised around $13,000 to benefit the local fair, the largest amount recorded in recent history. An estimated 140 community members packed into the Knuth Building last Saturday to raise the impressive amount and show support for WLCF.

After a welcome by WLCF president Fritz Coon, those in attendance enjoyed a barbecue meal provided by the Lind-Ritzville FFA Alumni Association.

Immediately following the meal, WLCF vice president and royalty coordinator Janet Manke introduced the outgoing royalty members, Queen Jordan Schultz and Princess Chrissy Field. The duo thanked those in attendance for their support of the fair before welcoming the 2013-14 WLCF queen, Brittany Gordon.

Gordon read an essay about the importance of the fair to the local communities before being crowned queen by Schultz. Gordon is a freshman at Washtucna High School this year.

Auctioneer for the evening, Jerry Snyder, took center stage to start the bidding. The live auction had immediate success, and the highest selling item of the evening was two tons of horse hay, sold to Erika Hennings and donated by Bar U Ranch.

The live auction alone raised just over $8,000 for the fair. Community members and businesses also had the opportunity to donate $250 or $100 during an intermission of the live auction, and the donations poured in, raising $2,300.