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Mt.Pleasant,Iowa

Well no sleep last night wife is getting close to baby time and after 5 hrs of contractions they stopped and we went to sleep at 3 am or so.Any way for the last 3 years I have done a local weigh-off here for the Mt. Pleasant IA group here with the help of the Agri-Center. I am a Master Gardener here in Henry County and it helps get me my community hrs I need and is fun.The thing is I get or purchase these seeds from promos,Auctions,club distributions and some very good growers.
For the last 2 years we have raise a little over $600 each year. The thing is we have many seeds that would bring in 3 times that amount at an auction and would spend much less time putting this together.I like the raffle idea that everyone gets something. I throw in other stuff that I have from my years of growing and ask them if there is something other giant they want to grow onions watermelon stuff like that. And for $10-$20 they can get a chance at a great seed as we have many as 901 Hunt,1288 Wallace, all of 09 Don Youngs seeds many other Wallace seeds,Jutras,Revier.C+P to name a few. I know of several of these I would love to plant like the 901 Hunt but now I will need to buy it to get it because I wanted it in the raffle to get interest.It seems that I get the same people every year to enter and that is great! but not many new ones. I am not sure what to do for next year. Maybe I could auction a few off in the Auction and raffle board to help offset the difference some.Maybe this is just a vent for lack of sleep or looking for answers for next year. The raffle is good and helps others that do not have extra cash. But if we keep growing as a weigh-off we need bigger returns for prizes because everyone that enters the weigh-off gets cash back for showing up and a ribbon.Thanks for reading.

2/14/2010 10:13:44 AM

South East

kinda forgot about your raffle Marty,,our check wil go in the mail this week.

Frank and Tina

2/14/2010 10:26:51 AM

Alex, IN

Same here, completely overlooked it. I will get some money out to you on Tuesday.

Mikkal

2/14/2010 10:51:58 AM

Annapolis Valley Nova Scotia

Hi Marty, this is a personal view point and not intended as a dig at anyone. Personaly I shy away from Raffles, the only one I support is the GVGO one because I am a member. The reason I shy from raffles and prefer Sales or Auctions is simple. I only bid on seeds I want to get, raffles are great but when I put my Dollars down I want to know what I am getting.

2/14/2010 12:59:44 PM

Des Moines, Iowa

Marty, One reason I like the raffles is they are kind of fun. It’s like buying a lottery ticket. The other reason I like it is because you may get a unproven seed that turns into a star in a year or two like the 991. I think that is going to happen with the 1376 Bobier in 2010. Good luck

2/14/2010 1:43:21 PM

Denver, CO

Marty,

I think the raffle is great! I have participated in it for several years now. I have always been very happy to get the seeds I recieve.

I would support many, many more clubs if all I had to do was plop down $5, or $10 or $20. (In fact this is what I do via club memberships as much as I can.) This is what makes the raffels so nice. For people like myself who need to watch the pennies they spend, auctions are a terrific way to have a chance at seeds we would not otherwise get AND support other clubs in some manner.

Its not just about always getting what you want, but instead also about helping others. I think this gets lost.

Auctions are fine if you can afford to do it. There is nothing wrong with people who have the ability to pay for a particular seed doing so. But as prices keep getting more and more exspensive every year, I hope more clubs will at least offer raffles for the "other half" who just cant afford to pay the high prices.

So, thanks for the raffel and I hope you never stop doing it!

2/14/2010 1:57:39 PM

Mt.Pleasant,Iowa

Thanks Guys, I hope to keep it going and still get great seeds to add just so many groups that want apiece of the pie but it seems to be going OK.I have seen only a couple clubs down some on auctions.As long as our memberships increase so will the club dollars.My TAX REFUND is coming so look out in future auctions.lol

2/14/2010 3:38:19 PM

Griffith, In

I like raffles too, last year I got something from every raffle I entered and I hit the motherlode on Barnesville raffle with 2 sets of Werner seeds!!!

2/14/2010 7:04:40 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Marty, keep up the good work!!! I think yer raffle is awesome!!! Hopefully this post, will encourage more to enter the raffles!!! I would not think less of you in any way if you went to the auction forum, as it seems to generate more $'s!! Just my wishy/washy 2cents worth!!! LOL Peace, Wayne

2/16/2010 12:17:16 AM