The Greene County Fair Association netted more than $200,000 for the Fair Foundation at its dinner and auction Tuesday evening at Clover Hall. The total got a huge boost from the Cecil Rueter family with a matching donation that was announced prior to the auction.
Before auctioneer Jon Schaben got to work selling more than 90 lots donated by area agriculture-related businesses, Fair Association member Rod Wolf announced that the Rueter family “in appreciation for 65 years of support” would match proceeds from the live auction.
The auction netted $104,149, more than twice the amount from the previous two auctions. The Rueter family matched the first $100,000, bringing the total to $204,149. Not included in that sum are proceeds from the silent auction, dinner, and other donations.
According to Fair Association secretary Doug Hawn, the Rueter family’s donation is the largest single donation ever to the Greene County Fair Foundation, the Fair Association’s nonprofit entity.
About 85 persons attended the dinner and 61 registered as bidders. Bidders came not only from Greene County, but from Carroll, Guthrie and Boone counties as well.
Proceeds are earmarked for a new cattle barn, with construction completed in time for the 2018 fair. In designing the new barn, consideration will be given to its “curb appeal,” as it is visible from Clover Hall and other high traffic areas of the fairgrounds. Other potential uses during the 51 weeks of the year the fair isn’t in progress will also be considered, Hawn said.
“The Fair Foundation and the Fair Association is very appreciative of the support of so many individuals and businesses, and we’ve very grateful for the boost from the Rueter family,” Hawn said. “We’re looking forward to planning for the cattle barn and future improvements to our fairgrounds.”
Auctions in 2014 and 2015 raised funds to replace the aging swine and sheep barns.
