From the cornfields of Nebraska and Iowa to the lush fairways and San Tan vistas of SunBird came auctioneer Joel Sybesma and his wife, Jane. How high did the corn grow in the Midwest this summer? Well, it took a helicopter to reach the top cobs. Joel, auctioneer extraordinaire, comes by his skill through many years of buying and selling cattle. His feed lot, capable of holding 10,000 cattle, kept him busy buying herds across the U.S.
At SunBird, he has graciously volunteered to organize and run SunBird’s very successful auction for several years. No, not cows, but goods and services donated by residents and local businesses. Enthusiastic bidders took a chance on a cookie jar filled with a mysterious number of coins and a profit margin to be determined after counting. A golf lesson, a gourmet dinner, a fishing trip or a ticket to a local attraction; there was something for everyone. Pies and cakes regularly sell for over $70 as Joel skillfully raises the bids of the participants.
Ably assisted by Larry Schuster, Jerry Chamberlin and the generosity of our donors, Joel was able to raise over $9,000 at this year’s event. The auction benefits the Capital Improvement Fund of the golf course, an amenity enjoyed by our entire community. A monstrous thank you to Joel, our donors, the volunteers, the HOA for the venue, and all the bidders and buyers. Looking forward to November 17, 2017.