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A charming garden gazebo built by Howard Fix, now on display at 517 N. Third Street, will be among the items up for bid at the Sterling Community Fund Gala Auction on Sept. 10. (Callie Jones/Sterling Journal-Advocate)

An original iris painting by local artist Karen Foote and an antique travel trunk beautifully restored by John Jerman will go to the highest bidders at Sterling Community Fund's Gala Auction on Sept. 10. (Callie Jones/Sterling Journal-Advocate)

A Broncos tailgating package, inflatable paddle board, angler fishing kayak and custom-made corn-hole game with a hand-painted image of the Triune sculpture by Cindy Hoal will be among the items up for bid at the Sterling Community Fund Gala Auction on Sept. 10. (Callie Jones/Sterling Journal-Advocate)

"LeRoy" the folk art buck deer and name tag, hand-crafted by Mark Anderson and Sterling Trophy Shop, will go to the highest bidder at Sterling Community Fund's Gala Auction on Sept. 10. (Callie Jones/Sterling Journal-Advocate)

Five "Angel Wing" pendants made by famous San Francisco jewelry designer Ashley Morgan, originally from Sterling, will be among the items up for bid at the Sterling Community Fund Auction on Sept. 10. (Callie Jones/Sterling Journal-Advocate)

The Sterling Community Fund Gala Auction on Sept. 10 will include a custome made wrought iron garden bridge; lunch for two at the Old Library Mercantile every month for one year; a Colorado Rockies weekend package; an executive high-back office chair and more. (Callie Jones/Sterling Journal-Advocate)

From arts to practical items, there will be something for everyone at this year’s Sterling Community Fund Gala Auction and organizers are hoping guests will bid generously.

Helping guests open their wallets for the third year will be auctioneer John Korrey.

“We are extremely grateful for all those who have contributed to the Sterling Community Fund Gala Auction. Our donors have been especially generous this year creating, what we believe, to be our best auction lineup ever. There is something for everyone – items for those who enjoy sports, the arts, garden décor, or lunch with friends at the charming Old Library Mercantile – as well as highly practical options,” said the auction committee, Tina McEndaffer, Linda Meisner, Cindy Pilkington and Cindy Horner.

You can see most of the items on display now at the Bank of Colorado. The committee pointed out that it is noteworthy that many of the auction donations are original creations, items personally crafted by their donors that are truly one-of-a-kind.

The highlight of the auction will be a signed Triune bronze maquette made by Bradford Rhea. This is a small version of the large bronze sculpture to be placed in Heritage Park in early 2023. It is the one-and-only signed casting.

Unsigned renditions of the Triune will be available for order/purchase for $6,000 each, at the gala or by contacting Bradford Rhea at 970-520-1199 (please leave a message). Bradford and Julie Rhea have generously agreed to donate half of the proceeds from the sale of these maquettes to the Sterling Community Fund.

Another featured item is a beautiful 10-by-14-foot garden gazebo built and donated by Howard and Julie Fix of Howard Fix Jr. Construction. Now on display at 517 N. Third Street, it has lighted interior, cedar construction and Trex decking.

If you prefer jewelry, five “Angel Wing” pendants have been donated by Ashley Morgan, the famous San Francisco jewelry designer, who is originally from Sterling. Her parents are Pat and Tom Pilkington.

Additionally, in an effort to match this year’s gala theme, “Upon the River Platte,” several water-themed items have been donated including an angler fishing kayak donated by Pilkington Financial and an inflatable paddle board donated by Horizon Motor Sports.

Other items up for bid during the live auction are:

• Custom-made 9.5’x32”x48” (at center) wrought iron garden bridge;

• Antique travel trunk beautifully restored by John Jerman, donated by John and Wendy Jerman;

• Extraordinary custom-made corn-hole game with a hand-painted image of the Triune sculpture by Cindy Hoal, donated by Alan and Cindy Hoal;

• Original mixed-water media iris painting by Karen Foote;

• “Leroy” the folk art buck deer and name tag hand-crafted by Mark Anderson and Sterling Trophy Shop, donated by Mark and Donna Anderson and Sterling Trophy Shop;

• Executive high-back office chair donated by Journal Office Supply;

• Lunch for two at the Old Library Mercantile every month for one year (does not include drink), donated by Old Library Mercantile and Avery and Lori Schott;

• New diesel loader tractor (one-year lease or $2,500 discount on a new tractor/baler/combine/JD header, donated by 21st Century Equipment;

• Colorado Rockies weekend package including four Club-level Rockies tickets, lunch for four at Tom’s Watch Bar, dinner for four at Denver Chop House, 2 MVP premium rooms at The Rally Hotel, breakfast for four at The Original Café (in the hotel), two overnight valet passes at The Rally Hotel and a cash card, donated by Bret and Tina McEndaffer; and

• Broncos tailgating package featuring two Broncos tickets for the Broncos versus Kansas City Chiefs game on Dec. 11 at 6:20 p.m., one executive lounge chair; two luxury director’s chairs; a Coldsnap cooler and three Yeti ramblers, donated by the Gene Meisner family.

Efforts to build the Sterling Community Fund began in 2018 and at the end of 2021, the $2 million market was reached. The fund is an endowment created by local residents that will provide a sustainable source of funding to support a variety of projects that make Logan County a more attractive place to live, raise a family, establish a business, and retire.

The fourth and final gala will be held from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, at the Logan County Fairgrounds Event Center, in the indoor arena. Tickets are $125 per person and are available for purchase at the Bank of Colorado and CSU Engagement Center.

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