WSU’s Autumn Festival takes over Greenbank Farm

Published 5:00 pm Saturday, October 15, 2005

When Coupeville farmer and auctioneer Dale Sherman takes the microphone, laughs are on the way. Sherman grows hubbard squash for a living but his best crop may be wry humor. Asked once where he made his best money, he shot back, “My wife’s job.”

Don Meehan, director of WSU Extension for Island County, said the smooth-talking Sherman brings out the best in people.

Sherman will unleash all his wily charm Saturday, Oct. 22, at Greenbank Farm to help Washington State University (WSU) Extension raise money to continue a wide range of community volunteer programs and services in Island County. The event runs from 6 to 9 p.m. and the public is invited. The live auction of creative and unusual prizes is the highlight of an evening that will also include a silent auction, hors d’ouvres, wine, dessert, live music, incredible scarecrows, jack-o-lanterns and a barnful of good feelings.

This is the second WSU Autumn Festival. Last year’s festival raised about $8,000.

“This year proceeds from the Autumn Festival will be cheerfully matched by a community patron,” Meehan said. Funding for WSU Extension programs has been tight for some years. “Our patron stepped forward after seeing newspaper articles a year ago that we might have to cut our community programs. The patron did not like the word ‘cut,’ saying these programs were too important to lose.”

The small staff of WSU’s office in Coupeville leads hundreds of community volunteers who contribute their time and talent through Island County 4-H, Master Gardeners, Beach Watchers, Waste Wise Volunteers, Lighthouse Environmental Programs, Livestock Advisers, Shore Stewards, Keepers of Admiralty Head Lighthouse, and the WSU Weather Network. The office also supports the Island County Marine Resources Committee, on which Meehan serves as county lead.

Festival organizers have used their special connections to line up some unusual items for the auction.

Any who wish to help by making a donation in support of the WSU community programs may send their gifts to the WSU Extension office, specifying which program(s) they wish to support. Checks should be made payable to WSU Extension and mailed to P.O. Box 5000, Coupeville, WA 98239.