By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
The stein auction for the Bratwurst Festival had a new, but familiar voice calling for bids as Mike Zahn returned to the Saturday evening microphone.
Zahn, who is a past Bratwurst Festival president, last participated as stein auctioneer in the 1990s.
“The last year I did it was in 1994 or 1995. About that time my daughter was going off to college, and my son was a sophomore. So I stopped to concentrate on my kids’ college,” Zahn said.
With all proceeds going towards the Bratwurst Festival Queens Scholarship Fund, the 2014 Stein Auction raised over $2,000.
Just as he has done in previous years, John Jinright, of JCJ Amusements, donated back items purchased in the auction, which were to be resold at the end of the auction.
Continuing a tradition started by his father, Dave Brewer purchased the 2014 Bratwurst Festival Toothpick Holder for $50 during the resale for a combined total of $205.
“My mom still has all of them in a display case at the house, and that is where this one is going.” Brewer said.
Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival electrical crewman Jim Rinker purchased the #1 Stein with display case on the re-sale for $360 for Rinker Ranch in memory of his wife Bonnie Rinker.
“I have held a lot of hats in the festival. I am a past president, when Mike Zahn was president I was his vice president,” Rinker said. “I have been on the festival for a long time, and my wife Bonnie got me involved with it.”
After sale and resale the 2014 Bratwurst Festival #1 Stein raised $660 for the scholarship fund.
Joe Kennedy continued his tradition of purchasing the #1 Pin of the Bratwurst Festival Auction. Kennedy also purchased a collection of historic fire department medallions from the 1968 through 1983 festivals.