Elk toss will benefit local organizations this Saturday
by Karen Blackledge
MOORESBURG — An event to promote and celebrate
Pennsylvania German culture — the Elk Toss, Charity Auction and Winter
Festival—will be held Saturday.
Activities will start at about 11:30 a.m. on the Van Wagner farm, in the Mooresburg area.
“The
Elk Toss has grown into such a positive event for an important cause.
The main local beneficiary is the Gate House shelter in Danville. The
Gate House serves a very real need for housing for families in
transition in our area. The people who attend the elk toss are so
generous and supportive of the cause. I consider myself very lucky to be
a part of such a great team of loving and caring people,” Wagner said.
According
to Karl Shellenberger, Danville German Society president, the toss is
in its 75th year. He and Wagner usually refer to the toss as being in
its 75th year.
Wagner is also considered to be the society’s president.
He
and Shellenberger, of State College, have been involved with the
organization since 1999 and they participated in their first elk toss in
2001.
“The most money raised in a single year was last
year when we raised $3,000. Our goal this year is to increase our total
from last year,” Shellenberger said.
In addition to
the Gate House, other recipients of money raised from a charity auction
will be the Mount Nittany Conservancy in Centre County, Hazleton
Integration Project and Power Packs Project in Lancaster County.
Events
Saturday will include opening ceremonies followed by presenting of the
elk to be tossed and maybe a few surprises, Shellenberger said. The elk
is usually made of wood and some type of stuffing.
According to the society, early German settlers in Pennsylvania were intrigued by elks.
“Tossing
an elk can be thought of as a cross between the caber toss from
Scotland and the 35-pound weight throw (the indoor track and field
equivalent of the hammer throw),” according to danvillegerman.com.
Events and the auction will start at about noon with an
elk bugling competition, a scrap iron toss, a beard competition, a
puppet show, a block shoot, a skateboard and scooter competition and
more.
Several rounds of the charity auction will be held followed by tossing of the elk at about 4 p.m.
That
evening, there will be musical entertainment by Wales and the Brothers
McMonagle along with magician Fred Iobst at Old Forge Brewing Co. in
Danville.
Shellenberger
said the 2001 event was the first attempt at making the festival a
fundraiser. “Since that time, we have donated a total of just under
$28,000 and that only includes financial donations,” he said.
Since
2004, those attending the festival have contributed nonperishable foods
for the Danvile-Riverside Food Bank and typically two full shopping
carts each year.
Those attending are asked to bring nonperishable foods this year.
They are also asked to bring laundry detergent to donate to the Good Samaritan Mission in Danville.
Items
are sought for the charity auction. Attendees are asked to bring money
to buy stuff and bring auction items that somebody would want to buy and
not use the auction as a way of taking out their trash.
They can also feel free to dress in their best German or Pennsylvania Dutch outfit.
The
society asks that this year be partially BYOB as they were not able to
obtain as many donations from local breweries as they have in previous
years. People should also bring pot-luck food to share.
3 comments:
75 years! I am dizzy! Who's hand is that? Those aren't pillows!
"According to Karl Shellenberger, Danville German Society president, the toss is in its 75th year. He and Wagner usually refer to the toss as being in its 75th year.
Wagner is also considered to be the society’s president."
This is really as good as journalism can get for this. I applaud it.
that's just your opinion man! I've read your comment 3 times Mick and I still can't tell if your on my side or not!
Post a Comment