Moose on Parade auction big success

This weekend’s Moose on Parade auction brought in more money than the previous year.  A total of 19 plywood decorated moose went to auction with a total of $4,855 raised.

Last year, a secret bidder purchased the lion’s share of the moose.  The same bidder, Tom Kohler, formerly of Nome, came back for a second round.  He snatched up 4 plywood moose and gave 3 back to go up for auction again next year. Another large bidder was local Talkeetnan  Marlene Blethem.

Suzy Kellard, one of the main auction organizers, said the event was a great success and reported a total of 34 bidders, also close to a record amount. The top moose went for $425.   Auctioneer this year was volunteer John Connelly.

This was the 6^th Moose on Parade event.  The event was originally started as a Moose Dropping Festival activity.  Last year when the festival was cancelled, the entities involved decided to have the event anyway and piggyback on to 4^th of July activities.  The decorated moose have found their way into the annual 4^th of July Parade.

The auction raises money for three non-profits in Talkeetna – the Chamber of Commerce, Talkeetna Historical Society and Denali Arts Council’s Artist Guild.

There is no Moose Dropping Festival this year. The Talkeetna Historical Society Board of Directors continues to work at getting the organization back on its feet after the death of curator Michael Kelly and the dissolving of the past board of directors.