Wallowa County Stockgrowers raise nearly $13,000 for scholarships
Published 5:00 pm Monday, January 27, 2025
- About 120 dinners were served Jan. 23, 2025, when the Wallowa County Stockgrowers held their annual fundraising dinner and auction at Cloverleaf Hall in Enterprise to raise money for scholarships for local students. The Wallowa County Board of Commissioners is holding a town hall meeting Feb. 19, 2025 at 6 p.m. at Cloverleaf Hall to discuss pending legislation.
ENTERPRISE — Some 120 dinners were served and $12,875 was raised Thursday, Jan. 23, when the Wallowa County Stockgrowers held their annual fundraiser for scholarships for local students.
John Williams, treasurer of the Wallowa County Ag Resource Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the stockgrowers, said Monday, Jan. 27, that money was still coming in but the largest portion of Thursday’s take was the $8,000 raised through the auction of about 25 pies. He said the most expensive pie sold for $650.
Also up for auction was a U.S. flag that will be flown over the U.S. Capitol in honor of an as-yet undesignated person. The flag was donated by U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Ore.
In addition to the adult diners, there also were about 15 youths who ate the prime rib meals provided by Apple Flat Catering, Williams said.
But the nearly $13,000 won’t be all the group will spend on scholarships.
“We will spend more than that because we have other income,” he said. “People can still donate.”
The scholarships will be awarded later this year, he said.
Last year, the stockgrowers gave some $20,000 to eight students from Wallowa County. Over the past three years, the group has awarded $54,000 to 18 students.
Williams said that since most college-bound students receive their scholarships during their senior year of high school, the stockgrowers like to help students who are further along in college, such as in the sophomore year or later.
“They’ll still need the money then,” he said.
The scholarships usually range between $1,000 and $5,000. Who will receive the awards is up to the foundation’s scholarship committee. Applications for the scholarships are taken beginning in May, he said.
The scholarships go to students studying anything agriculture-related, whether it’s in a four-year college, a community college or a vocational program.
“It takes a lot of different kinds of people to run agriculture,” he said.
Williams said anyone interested in making a donation can send a check to the Wallowa County Ag Resource Foundation at 668 NW First St., Enterprise, OR 97828. Donors also can call Williams at 541-263-0485 or call scholarship chairman Pete Schreder at 541-219-0549.
