By Kerry Rahm
krahm@wbcowqel.com
The rain held off just enough Saturday evening for the Bratwurst Festival’s stein auction to take place, with onlookers nestled under awnings as auctioneer Mike Zahn called out the bids.
The new Bratwurst Festival Queen, Cayte Pojman, and attendants Desiree Sharp and Kayleigh Seiber were also on hand to show off the items up for bid.
Five steins were auctioned off, and mustaches were featured prominently as part of this year’s design to go along with the festival’s 2016 theme, “If You Mustache – Brattie is 49!”
The auction started off with a mini-stein, which was once again purchased by Dave Brewer, who bought last year’s miniature version as well. This year’s stein went for $175.
Buying the mini-stein is sort of a tradition in Brewer’s family.
“This is something we’ve always done,” said Brewer. “Dad had bought the mini-stein for a long time… he’s not here, so I buy it now.”
Stein #1 went to Todd and Steve Kennedy for $550, the highest price of the night.
Todd Kennedy had a special reason to buy a piece of Brattie history by saying, “I’m giving it to my great niece, the second runner up for this year, Kayleigh Seiber.”
Stein #2 went for $470 to Katie Kocher, who also purchased a Brattie magnet earlier in the event for $125. This stein is not her first purchase, as Kocher has a special display for every stein and magnet she has bought throughout the years.
Lyle Dewiel bought stein #3 for $525, and Stein #4 was purchased by Katie Kruse, the owner of Salon Ooh La La, for $525.
“Honestly, I bought it because my beauty shop, Salon Ooh La La, is full of mustaches. When the theme came out this year, I’m like, ‘I have to buy this stein,’” she said. “And then when I saw it, I thought, ‘I totally have to buy it now, because it’s covered in mustaches.’ So, it will look good in the beauty shop.”
Kruse is on the Bratwurst Festival board this year, and took a moment to reflect on why festival support is still so important.
“Our festival is growing, we ask for a lot, we get great sponsorships from businesses around the area to help keep our festival going. It’s not just the festival itself, but everybody else in the county that keeps it going.”
Joe Kennedy bought the number one Bratwurst Festival button for $160, as he has bought “every button from the beginning,” according to Zahn.
The festival’s medallion was purchased for $105 for Norman Weinandy, and stein #5 was purchased for $325.
Zahn said this was his third year back as the stein auctioneer, as he called the auction off and on for many years prior.
He explained that this was his way of doing his part for the festival.
“I grew up with it… I started on the committees and then I was vice president and became president off and on for years. I’ve always felt it’s good for the town.
“It’s too bad they don’t have somebody here in town who makes them,” he said, regarding the manufacture of the steins.
Before the auction, the Bratwurst Festival Parade Awards were given. The categories and winners are as follows:
Float Division
1st Place Civic Award: Bucyrus Rotary
Mayor’s Award: Bucyrus Railcar Repair
Chamber of Commerce Award: Arctic Cat
Best of Parade: Sk8
Saturday Parade Awards
1st Place Color Guard: American Legion Scarbrough Post 243
2nd Place Color Guard: American Legion Post 181
1st Place Majorette Team: Darcy’s Marchers
2nd Place Majorette Team: Americettes
1st Place High School Band: Buckeye Central
2nd Place High School Band: Wynford