Bluejays blast off!!

The eleventh annual Bluejay Blast, held Saturday, November 19, was a resounding success. The morning’s silent auction included 115 donated items; 78 were offered during the evening’s live auction. Items available included sports memorabilia and tickets, both for professional and school district events; bath and body luxuries; toys and games, and plenty of foods. As of Monday afternoon, $55,000 had already been raised for Waseca Public School teachers and students, with some final donations and totals still to be counted.

At the morning’s pancake breakfast and silent auction, 306 plates were served and 117 bidding numbers assigned. The Cash for Cupcakes game sold out more than half an hour before closing, and the bingo tables were packed. The auction tables, cotton candy sales, and face painting were equally busy. According to Michelle Priebe, who has been a Bluejay Blast committee member since the event’s founding, the turnout was the best she’d ever seen. “It’s great to see so many people bring their families. It’s a great community event,” she said. “All these people coming out to support our kids is just amazing, and we do look at it as a community event. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles – there’s just so many.”

During the live auction social hour at Starfire Event Center, entertainment was provided by a jazz band comprised of Waseca Public School students and staff. Karen Pfarr-Anderson and Dr. Jason Miller served as co-emcees of the auction, with Dan Harguth as auctioneer. The event room was filled wall to wall as attendees enjoyed the various games and bid generously on auction items.

The Bluejay Blast committee members want to express their thanks to the community for the outstanding support, and hope everyone is looking forward to the twelfth annual fundraiser in 2023.