By Phillip Lee
LIBERAL, Kan. — The 30th Annual Seward County Community College Foundation party auction is right around the corner, this coming Saturday, September 21.
The annual event, which starts at 6 p.m. in the Seward County Activity Center, costs $30 and includes a catered meal provided by Lanning Brothers BBQ and Great Western Dining, a silent auction filled with must-have, one-of-a-kind items, and a live auction.
Every year there are amazing items to bid on and this year is no exception with grills, trips, and an arcade game on the block.
The big-ticket item is an all-inclusive, four-night stay at the IX Ranch in Montana. A sprawling ranch that stretches for 30 miles across the southern flank of the Bears Paw Mountains. Midway it runs up into the mountains, where one finds scattered timber and aspen groves. Along the way, it sprawls across grasslands, prairie, mountains, hills, valleys, and ravines flowing with 53 miles of live streams.
Activities include fly fishing, hiking, guided UTV tour, prairie dog shooting, view cattle branding and only a few hours from Glacier National Park.
The package for up to six people includes round-trip tickets from Liberal to Great Falls, a four-night stay at the ranch with all meals provided. A rental car is not included in the package. The trip is valued at $25,000 with bidding to begin at $10,000.
The 2023 fundraiser was a record-breaker, netting $115,000. Sarah Thompson, SCCC Associate Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Engagement, believes in the generosity and support of the community and that it will be another successful auction.
“Our community sponsors are outstanding and have been so generous,” Thompson said. “They are committed to the college and understand it’s value to the community.”
Thompson emphasized the primary focus is Saints students.
“We raise these funds to support student scholarships and programs, and that is the underlying reason for why we push hard to increase every year,” she said. “Those are dollars that directly benefit our students who in turn go out to the world and make a difference.”
Wristband “tickets” must be purchased in advance and cost $30 per person. To buy yours, call the Foundation office at SCCC at 620-417-1135, or log in to sccc.edu/foundation. to purchase online and reserve your wristband for pickup at the door. Please note: no wristbands can be sold the night of the auction.
