By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
More than a hundred hungry persons were fed during the annual Ellendale Fire Department Supper and Auction Friday, August 11 at the Ellendale Community Center. The evening began at 5 p.m. with a meal catered by the fire department. After being welcomed by Rick Johnson, David Modder, Moses McMann, and Hunter McMann, attendees were served pulled pork sandwiches, cowboy beans, coleslaw and lemon water (lemonade).
Serving the delicious meal were fire department members Josh Otto, Travis Ladwig, and Josh Burgess. Helping hand out napkins, forks and smiles was 9-year old Abby Burgess.
Otto has served with the department for nine years, Ladwig three years, and Burgess about a year.
Manning the lemonade station were sixth year firefighter Frank Altrichter, and Charlie Spinler (three years on the department).
In total, more than 130 meal tickets/raffles were taken alongside the freewill donation with all proceeds going to the Ellendale Fire Department.
At 6:30 p.m. the auction began. Tracy Holland served as the night’s auctioneer, a role he says he’s worked for more than a decade.
Last year’s auction raised nearly $6,000 and so did this year's.
The best items folks took home included a $350 lawn mower donated by Farmland in Owatonna; a metal flag donated by Ellendale Area residents Corey Johnson and Tony Foster took in $300; a blueberry pie baked by the department’s own Rick Johnson sold for $65.
“Everything went really well,” Rick Johnson said. “Thank you to everyone for their help and support.”