Evening for Ag EducationGala Fun Raise helped plant the seeds of farm and food literacy
Cook County Farm Bureau Foundation® set to put funds to use in scholarships and programming
The “Evening for Ag Education” Gala Fun’Raiser was a fun-filled night to remember, which raised more than $24,000 for agricultural literacy in Cook County. The Fun’Raiser was held Friday, July 22, at Crystal Grand Banquets in Lemont.
Attendees enjoyed dinner, entertainment by the band Libido Funk Circus, both a live auction and a silent auction, a Truth or Hogwash trivia game, as well as other fundraising activities for the Farm Bureau’s Ag Literacy Program and Foundation.
Money raised during the gala will be used to support the Cook County Farm Bureau Agriculture Literacy Program and Foundation. The program helps urban children, their parents, and teachers know about where their food, clothing, fuel, and nutrition comes from. The program also offers scholarships to help area young adults attend college to pursue farm and food-related career paths, as well as provide farm experiences, hands-on lessons about farming, and food-based education to the community.
The new Stuenkel Family Scholarship was also announced by Janet McCabe, President of the CCFB Foundation.
Goals/ Objectives Achieved:
- 175 people attended
- We substantially surpassed our fundraising goal of $16,000
- We expanded our message of the importance of knowledge about food and farming in our urban area
- We showcased the programming efforts of the Cook County Farm Bureau Agriculture Literacy Program and the Foundation
- We expanded our broad-based support of our efforts with increased involvement from members, farm and food entities, influential people in the community, and affiliated leaders
We would like to share our sincere thanks and gratitude to the Fun’Raiser Committee, the Board of Directors for the Farm Bureau and the Foundation, the Cook County Farm Bureau staff, donors and buyers for the silent and live auction, and our sponsors, with whom the event would not have been possible. Gala sponsors include presenting sponsor COUNTRY Financial as well as CONSERV FS, Tee Jet Technologies, Chopp Commercial Properties, Excel Printing and Mailing, Parkway Elevators, IAA Credit Union, The Feed Store, and the Todd and Laura Price family.
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Auctioneer, Ken Freeman
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Gerry Kopping, Vice-President of the Cook County Farm Bureau® Foundation and Master of Ceremonies welcomes the crowd at the start of this year’s Gala. |
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Jessi McCabe (pictured left) and father Joe McCabe enjoy their success at the live auction after capturing one of the Zeldenrust Farm Market Sunflower Walk and Picnic Lunch donated by Ruth Zeldenrust. A tremendous thank you to our donors and bidders who enable us to support the mission of the Foundation.
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Dan and Karen Biernacki, pictured on the lower step take a moment for a quick picture before enjoying the Gala. |
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Attendees enjoy the music and entertainment by Libido Funk Circus.
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Libido Funk Circus provided guests high-energy entertainment during the Cook County Farm Bureau® Foundation Gala. |
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Generations of the Yunker family take a moment to “bee happy” during this year’s Gala.
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Sisters, Allison and Angelica, pose for a BEEutiful photo at the Gala's fun photo booth. |
For more details about the event and photos, visit the Foundation section of our website, www.cookcfb.org.