The group collected donations that included special chef-prepared
tasting menus at restaurants, on-farm dinners, overnight escapes and
outdoor adventures. In all, there were 336 items in the auction that
attracted over 500 bidders from 20 states, Washington, D.C., and
Ontario, Canada.
News of the auction spread quickly thanks to the Localvore's effective
use of social media including Facebook and Twitter. Nancy Baron, who
coordinated communications for the event, said that without effective
social electronic networking, the audience for the auction would have
been smaller, it would have taken longer to organize and much less money
would have been raised.
The Mad River Valley was well represented both in terms of donations and
bidders. Over 25 individuals in the Mad River Valley had winning bids
in the auction. Three Valley businesses, Sugarbush, David M. Dion, and
Harvest Ltd. were sponsors of the auction. Donated items for the auction
came from 41 local businesses.
In a statement in a newsletter to his CSA shareholders, Pete's Greens'
owner Pete Johnson indicated that he was humbled by the outpouring of
support he has received since the fire on January 12. Johnson says that
the money that has been donated through the auction and other
fund-raising efforts will be circulated through the Vermont farm
community many more times because of his plans to "pay it forward."
"We are accepting this money as we were underinsured and we need it to
rebuild. But we have committed to pay it forward. In two to three years'
time, when we are back on stable financial ground, we'll pay forward
the money that has been donated into a special fund to support Vermont
agriculture."
Ironically, the auction ended on the day that the Mad River Valley
Localvores have traditionally held their Souper Bowl, which they
announced in early January that they would not be holding this year.
To learn more about the Bid for the Barn Auction and other fundraisers
for Pete's Greens that are in the works, go to www.BidfortheBarn.org.
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