Lots of pumpkin items were auctioned last week at BHC East Campus to benefit the Kewanee Area United Way. [Submitted photo]

The 2023 Stampede Auction of Champion Pumpkins set a new fundraising record at the Black Hawk College East Campus. The pumpkin-themed event took in almost $8,400 for the Kewanee Area United Way.

All of the money donated 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 open their wallets and hearts, raising a record amount for the Kewanee agency.

Auctioneer Bill LeSage was persusaive and the auction brought in a record-breaking amount for the KAUW. [Submitted photo]

Sophomore Livestock Judging Team members evaluated the pumpkins and provided the bidders all of the reasons why they would want to be the high bidder on each lot. Other judging team members were bid spotters.

This year’s sale included 13 lots of pumpkins and/or pumpkin-themed items, ranging from single to multiple fresh pumpkins; homemade pumpkin pie, pumpkin roll, pumpkin whoopie pies and apple pies; baskets with pumpkin décor and pumpkin spice goodies; and a real pumpkin with a horse, spider webs and a spider painted on it.

Auction items were donated by:

Amy Snyder
BHC Community Education Center
BHC Equestrian Program
BHC Livestock Judging Program
BHC Marketing & Public Relations
Farmgate Market, Galva
Haley Howerton
Jen Holldorf

The highest bid was $1,200 from the Freshman Livestock Judging Team. The team purchased a lot of one large and five small real pumpkins. Coming in with the second highest bid was the Sophomore Livestock Judging Team. Team members spent $1,050 for two plates full of edible pumpkin goodies and two pumpkin-shaped mugs.

The other winning bidders were:

2019 United Way Committee
2021-22 BHC Livestock Judging Team of the Year
BHC Freshman Livestock Judging Team
BHC Sophomore Livestock Judging Team
Bloomberg Family
Dan & Deanna Hoge
David Harris
Doug Parrott, Ray Jacobs, Dalton Kiselewski, Chris Adell, Kathy Malcolm and Danielle Williams
Hoge Livestock
Larson Farms
Porter Cattle
Transfer faculty & friends
WIU Livestock Judging Team members who are BHC East Campus graduates

The KAUW serves 10 local towns and villages including Kewanee, Annawan, Galva, Cambridge and Bishop Hill, and supports agencies that serve those populations including Abilities Plus, Freedom House, The Salvation Army, the Girl Scouts, and the Kewanee Food Pantry.