The Antique Tractor Club hosted its inaugural supper fundraiser along with Stettler Town and Country Museum on Wednesday, Jan. 13 at the Stettler Town and Country Museum, raising over $6,000 in raffle tickets.
Although it was the first supper, the raffle was being held for the second time for the two organizations.
Walter Haustein, president of the Antique Tractor Club said he was quite pleased with the turnout and wished to make this an annual event.
"This was hugely successful, I think, given the number of raffle tickets we sold," said Haustein. "It was not only a fundraiser but a social evening for the members and friends of the tractor club."
With the tractor club always working in tandem with the museum, the total amount of $6,230 raised from the 623 $10-raffle tickets would be used towards agriculture exhibits and education at the museum, assisted by the club.
"Although this is the second raffle draw in conjunction with the tractor club, we learnt from the past year to sell the tickets a little longer, so we started out in June 2015, unlike in 2014 when we sold the tickets for a shorter period, which wasn't as successful," said Karen Wahlund, manager, Stettler Town and Country Museum.
The funds will also be used to maintain and improve tractors and agricultural equipment already cared for by the museum.
With 46 people in attendance enjoying a delicious supper made by some of the members, the visitors also had a chance to be entertained by Kevin Falkenberg's introduction to 'Hornet Aerial Imaging Corp', a presentation about drones/imaging.
There was an in-house raffle draw where three tractor books were donated by Alfred Erichsen, winners of which were Don Barnes, Ken Jones and Dan Wasyleshko, besides a stool donated by Wells Furniture, which was won by Kara Wahlund.
According to Haustein, the tractor club came into being in 2013 when some of the members decided to form a social organization, where they could help one another to maintain their old antique tractors sharing knowledge and camaraderie.
"That was the beginning of the club and how it was born," added Haustein. "Now we try and spread the awareness in the community through various events like the tractor pull in July and the threshing demo in October, besides taking part in all the parades around the county."
Haustein said the club is a way to maintain the region's culture and preserve old antique agricultural and farm equipment and tractors.
"It was a great evening with great fellowship," said Wahlund. "We'd like to thank all local and area businesses for helping us sell the raffle tickets and a special thanks to all those who displayed the tractor for the raffle."