I just returned from the Futurity. My main reason for attending was the auction, which receives full attention on Saturday before the show can kick off on Sunday. As faithful blog readers will know, I – as an auction addict – very much love going to this particular one regardless of intent to buy or not.
But oddly enough, as I was waiting resentfully for my connecting flight to return home (Frontier discontinued their direct flight from Denver to Louisville!), I realized that the auction will not be the highlight of my memories for this year’s event. It will be the traditional Quechua Benefit dinner that was held the Friday before. This year it was held in the host hotel, the Crowne Plaza, right across from the venue. Also different this year was that each attendee had to pay to attend , no complimentary tickets. But as in previous events, auction lots were donated and bidding would commence right after dinner. Dinner was preceded by cocktail hour so everyone could view the donations and start clicking away mentally what they would bid on. Also madly circulating was the buzz that pledges would be requested during dinner. If the pledges totaled $10,000, Mike Safley would get his head shorn at the end of the evening.
Combined with an open bar, dinner began with a nice mesclun salad and soft sweet rolls that reminded us that we were, indeed, in the South. The entree was a very nicely cooked tenderloin, battered fried bonelss chicken breast (we were in Colonel Sanders’ state after all), mashed potatoes, greens, and the usual overcooked green beans. Not bad overall. Dessert was, of course, derby pie. They call it pie but it’s really a cross between a pecan pie filling and walnut and chocolate chip cookie dough baked in a crust. Sugar overdose, but a very welcome one, as I never met a baked good I didn’t like.
This year there was also a write up on each attendee’s seat spotlighting the latest Quechua Benefit project, Casi Chapa, an orphanage being build to provide education and enable opportunities for self sustenance. A presentation was given on exactly what it would cost to complete this ambitious project and its benefits, along with money raised so far, not just for this project, but for the Benefit. The orphanage will stand as a very impressive testament to what a few caring people can effect through the power of their beliefs and drive to contribute. I have to salute the Pedrosas and Safleys for what they have wrought.
But on to the good part. The auction was lively and had an air of geniality and goodwill that permeated the crowd. I was aware of a sense of community that has often been lost in the competitive side of these events. This was heightened as Jude Anderson and Alan Cousill donated additional breedings to their herdsire in order to increase the till for the benefit. Four in all, which speaks to their generosity. In the end, the total amount raised came to over $70,000 by the mental tally at our table. Equal or better to last year.
Speaking of the end, it came with the appropriate celebratory climax. It was announced that $9000 in pledges had been received. They were just $1000 short of meeting the target for Mike Safley’s shearing. Two generous bidders quickly threw in $500 each and the fun began. The top contributors each took their turn taking a swipe at Mike’s head as he good naturedly sacrificed his handsome head of hair for the cause. There was laughing, joking, and after it was all done – many hand shakes with Mike in appreciation of his bravery.
The Pacablogger 