“I have a whole yard full of the damn things,” Rotarian Eb Tate noted, but since his crop does not mean scholarships to deserving students he would buy – reluctantly - a Rotary pumpkin.Top price paid for a single pumpkin – and not the biggest one at that - was the $104 given by Rotarian Rob Sawyer.An added bonus on each table was the exotic recipe for cooked pumpkin by amateur chef and Rotarian John Nichols. The recipe calls for a variety of ingredients including habanero chili, some fresh squeezed orange juice and corn, not to mention the glass of wine during cooking for the cook.The total amount of money raised by the 2004 Pumpkin Auction has yet to be tallied – most of the Rotarians opted for the $25 pumpkins - but the club, as well as future outstanding SPUHS scholarship recipients, have nothing to worry about. There is close to $150,000 in the Santa Paula Rotary Club Scholarship Fund, which is added to regularly throughout the year by Rotarians through club fines.
Rotary Pumpkin Auction still provides seeds for SPUHS Scholarship Fund
November 03, 2004
Santa Paula News
Just in time for Halloween the Rotary Club of Santa Paula had what must be one of the world’s most expensive pumpkin auctions to continue their strong support of Santa Paula Union High School graduating scholars.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesJust in time for Halloween the Rotary Club of Santa Paula had what must be one of the world’s most expensive pumpkin auctions to continue their strong support of Santa Paula Union High School graduating scholars.The Rotary Club Scholarship Fund awarded over $9,000 this year to Santa Paula High School graduating seniors, but such generous investment in the future of youth has to have seed money, hence the Pumpkin Auction.Agricultural Commissioner Earl McPhail annually oversees the auction and noted that this year’s crop – again donated by Rotarian Henry Vega – was “dirty, and the dirty ones are more expensive!”“That makes them valuable real estate,” joked Rotarian Scott Rushing, a Realtor.
