Rockne News: Residents raise $31,000 to help send young parishioners to World Youth Day
The community of Rockne is known for its generosity and coming together to support a good cause while having a good time. This spirit of fun and giving brought a crowd together at Holtman Hall on Aug. 7 to raise money to help a group of young parishioners from Sacred Heart Catholic Church attend World Youth Day 2023 next summer in Portugal.
World Youth Day is a worldwide encounter with the Pope celebrated about every three years in a different country. It offers young people an opportunity to deepen their faith and meet others who share common beliefs and ambitions.
The fundraiser on Aug. 7 included raffle tickets, a silent auction and a pork loin cutlet meal made by Alan Grohman and Circle G Catering. Auctioneer Melissa Voigt did a fantastic job keeping the crowd excited about bidding on the many items. Each of the young people who will be going on the trip made and donated an auction item. The Rockne-themed cornhole boards made by Colton Junek brought the highest bid of the day at $1,500, purchased by the Ovon Goertz Family.
The event raised $30,921 to help these young people. They have been working hard throughout the year with bake sales and have a few more events planned, such as a garage sale at Holtman Hall on Oct. 8, a Rockne Ramble 5K run on Nov. 5, and a raffle drawing and meal coming up on March 4, 2023.
Herman Fest ‘22
The scorching hot July temperatures did not prevent music lovers from coming out to Leon’s Country Store for Herman Fest on July 9. Traditional country was the main flavor of the day, with the lineup kicking off in the afternoon featuring Tim Sparkman and Craig Cantwell of the Trophy Husbands, along with Travis Frank, John Michael Groot and Mark Lee of Spare Parts.
Next, Brandi Behlen brought her original tunes and soulful vocals to the stage, followed by twangy, local favorite The Wyatt Ellis Band. Later that evening, fans moved outside to hear headliner Logan Tucker, hometown singer-songwriter, direct from Nashville to Rockne.
Herman Fest is also known for its delicious fried chicken made by Mark and Teri Meuth of Meuth’s Place in Rockne with sides made by Melissa Voigt who, along with her daughter Ashlyn Tutor, also served as the auctioneer for Herman Fest’s live auction.
Herman Fest raises funds each year to help local residents in need, and this year all proceeds from the day went to Buster Huckaby and Tabitha Osborn Gilcrease. Huckaby is a longtime friend of the Herman Goertz family who was severely injured in a motorcycle accident in 2020 and needs help with ongoing medical expenses. Gilcrease is a cousin of Herman who recently suffered the tragic loss of her husband, Alvin Gilcrease, who had just started a new job and did not have insurance benefits yet, so the funds will help with medical expenses and final expenses.
The auction featured several unique handmade items, such as a vintage window decorated with a Leon’s Country Store design made by Megan Tucker and purchased by Davy Tucker and Matt Tucker for $1,000. Mark and Donna Bartsch are always big donors for community events and this year Mark made and donated a bench from an old Ford tailgate he got from Herman’s brother, Jimmy Goertz, which brought $1,250 when the Bartsches decided to purchase it and donate it to Leon’s for customers to enjoy.
The highest bid of the night was $3,500 for the customized Herman Fest guitar, designed by Wayne Capehart and donated by Capehart and Mark Randall Goertz. The buyers’ group, who donated the guitar to Leon’s for display, included Steve Meuth, Scott Faust, Keaton Bartsch, Jason Klaus, Stephen Tucker, Davy Tucker, Matt Tucker and Justin Meuth.
Herman Fest is foremost a day to celebrate the spirit and memory of the late Herman Goertz, Leon’s proprietor, musician and generous friend to all who knew him. The day was both fun and fruitful, raising just over $23,000.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: World Youth Day: Rockne, TX residents raise $31K to send kids to event
