MANCHESTER, Iowa – When buyers heard that the moneyfrom anIowa steer auction would go toward a scholarship fund named for a young car accident victim, they repeatedly donated the steer back to be resold.
The Telegraph Herald (http://bit.ly/2adKWdZ ) reports that 19-year-old Jamie Nefzger took his Black Angus to the auction ring at the Delaware County Fairgrounds in Manchester, Iowa, on Saturday. A letter was read aloud about the June 24 death of his 13-year-old cousin, Anna Nefzger, and stated that the proceeds would go toward the scholarship.
“I wanted to do something for her,” Jamie Nefzger said. “I thought we could make a couple thousand dollars to go towards her scholarship.”
Transport company owner Greg Preussner bought the 1,710-pound Black Angus at $4 per pound. Other animals auctioned off earlier in the day had gone for an average of about $1.50 per pound.
“He had come down, and we thought that was the end of it,” said Randy Nefzger, Jamie’s father. “Then, all of a sudden, Greg turned to me and said, ‘Randy, you sell that steer again.'”
The scene repeated itself several times, until the auction raised more than $40,000.
“There wasn’t a dry eye in the show ring,” Jamie Nefzger said. “It was something to see how a tragedy like this can bring people together.”
Afterwards, people were invited to make individual donations to the scholarship. Maquoketa Valley Dollars for Scholars, which set up the scholarship, says more than $41,000 has been raised so far.
Pleussner said he didn’t expect so many others to follow his lead, but he was glad to see the generosity.
“I think we all wanted to show our support in some way,” Pleussner said. “All that money isn’t going to bring that family’s girl back, but at least it will allow something good to come from it.”
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Information from: Telegraph Herald, http://www.thonline.com
