Wampum draws large crowd to support WLCF

 

Last updated 5/3/2018 at Noon

FAIR ROYALTY. Wheat Land Communities’ Fair hosted their annual Wampum fundraiser event at the Knuth Building on April 28. Friends, family and community members showed their support for the 2018 Fair Royalty Court of (from left) Queen Jersey Hamilton and Princesses Ericka Koenig and Alycia Phelps. -Journal photo by Al Stover

The Knuth Building played host to a large turnout of supporters for the Wheat Land Communities’ Fair annual Wampum dinner and auction event.

The building was packed to the brim with local attendees on Saturday evening, who joined together to support a cause that is important to the youth in the communities of Lind, Ritzville and Washtucna.

The April 28 event helped to raise more than $7,000 for the local fair from the live and silent auction bids. Tickets for the event were nearly sold out, with just fewer than 150 people in attendance.

An entertaining addition to this year’s event included a comical and enthusiastic speech from 15-year-old Benjamin Clinesmith.

Entitled “Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road”, Clinesmith discussed the history behind the phrase and the ideology behind which came first, the chicken or the egg, and how arguments play an important role in daily life.

Clinesmith did impersonations of famous actors, musicians and politicians, implicating their views on the issue. His performance left those in attendance laughing in their seats as every age group appreciated the spirited performance.

He will continue to perform the speech at the National Christian Forensics and Communications Association Tournament in St. Paul, Minnesota, this summer.

Before the start of the auction, attendees enjoyed a meal and also heard from WLCF President Fritz Coon. He explained the Fair Board is currently looking to hire a groundskeeper, and also needs a volunteer entertainment coordinator for the upcoming Labor Day event.

Coon stated the Fair Board recently applied for a grant to continue work within the Knuth Building. If the grant funding is received, Coon said it will go towards completing the kitchen, and hopefully the installation of an air conditioning and heating unit.

Among the highlights of the evening included the coronation of the 2018 WLCF royalty, with all three candidates being from the Washtucna community. Jersey Hamiliton was crowned queen, while Ericka Koenig and Alycia Phelps will serve as princesses.

The live auction was coordinated by Auctioneer Jerry Snyder, who amused the attendees with stories and jokes throughout the evening.

The highest selling auction items of the evening were two tons of alfalfa hay, and a Lake Coeur d’Alene trip and home improvement services provided by KWH Home Solutions.

Both auction items sold for $375 each, with Rudy Plager purchasing the hay, and Kris Harder buying the trip and home improvement package.

Another high-selling item was a septic tank pump, which was purchased for $340 from Darcia Dugger. Jake Klein purchased two tons of orchard grass for $330.

The final live auction item of the evening was a painting by Carol Schwisow. Greg Galbreath was the proud buyer of the cherished painting, which he purchased for $300.

While unable to attend the Wampum event, Curtis and Erika Hennings paid for the meal provided for those in attendance, catered by Classy Country Catering.

 

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