Benefit concert and auction a success

Despite the chilly temperatures Saturday evening, a large crowd gathered to enjoy the Benefit Concert and Auction sponsored by 21st Century Equipment. This benefit concert dubbed “Farmer Strong” featured Chancey Williams and the Younger Brothers Band and Ned LeDoux at the Gering Five Rocks Amphitheater.
21st Century Equipment, along with KNEB, KGOS, Torrington Livestock and Kelley Bean sponsored the event with, 100% of the ticket proceeds to the Fort Laramie Canal Breach Disaster Relief Fund to support area producers affected by the canal breach and tunnel collapse.
“The weather cooperated, we had two great country music acts, and a great lineup of items donated for the benefit auction. I can’t say enough good things about the generosity of our Goshen and Scotts Bluff County communities,” said Terry Gass, VP of Marketing. “We were extremely proud to put on such an event, and to see the out-pouring of support Saturday night was an incredible feeling.”
“The participation of the crowd during this event was extremely gratifying,” said Owen Palm, CEO of 21st Century Equipment.
“Both of the bands were extremely impressed with the venue at Five Rocks since this was the first time either had played there,” he added. “And finally, I want to recognize Terry Gass, from 21st Century Equipment, and Bill Boyer, from KNEB Radio, for spearheading the entire event.”
In addition to the concert ticket proceeds, area businesses and individuals generously donated four totes of seed corn, tuition to four different colleges, football tickets for UNL, UW and CSU, Rockies Tickets, two halves of beef, lick tubs, roof repair gift certificates and a new Honda walk behind mower. These items were auctioned off by Lex Madden of Torrington Livestock and Mike Nuss for Helberg and Nuss during the intermission between acts. 100% of the proceeds from this auction will also go into the Disaster Relief Fund.
In all, about $195,000 was raised Saturday night, but that number will come much closer to $200,000 once all the Sponsor’s share of the food and drink concessions, and merchandise sales proceeds are tallied into the total.
This money will be donated to the Oregon Trail Foundation sponsored Relief Fund and eventually be distributed proportionally to the farmers and ranchers who depend on the irrigation canal that was cut off when the tunnel collapsed in July.
This large contribution to the Oregon Trail Foundation, by 21st Century Equipment, now brings the total funds collected for the Fort Laramie Canal Disaster Relief Fund to over $300,000.
21st Century Equipment would like to thank their partners at KNEB, KGOS, Kelley Bean Company, and Torrington Livestock/Madden Brothers. They’d also like to thank all of the volunteers from EWC, Scottsbluff FFA, KNEB, and 21st Century Equipment; who made this event go off without a hitch. 21st Century would like to thank the Weborg 21 crew, Ball Park BBQ, the City of Gering, Get Roasted, Cornhusker Roast, and Blehm Concessions.
Last, but certainly not least, 21st Century Equipment would like to thank the community members who bid on items during the auction, and the calls, texts and emails of support in this effort.