SILVANA — The Silvana Fair Board Auction for this year drew more than 300 attendees and raised an above-average total of earnings, according to Silvana Fair Secretary Mary Manning, but it also took time to honor the man whose passing represented a particularly painful loss to the Silvana Fair.

“It was a great success, and the turnout and participation was exceptional,” said Manning of the Board Auction on Saturday, March 10, as she extended thanks on behalf of the Fair Board to all of the auction’s donors and bidders for their generosity. “We are grateful for this community support. It will go a long way toward helping us overcome the loss of state funding.”

Manning congratulated Marysville’s Karen North for being selected as the $250 door prize winner, and explained that the funds raised during the auction will be used to support the 65th annual Silvana Community Fair currently set for Saturday, July 28.

“The funds raised will help defray the cost of ribbons, trophies and premiums, and help with infrastructure costs such as insurance and tents,” Manning said. “Money raised at the auction helps prevent the need for entrance fees and parking fees, making the fair free to attend for all.”

Manning characterized the bidding as lively, and noted that not only did the auction sell out of its snack bar food, which she believes might be a first for the event, but the raffle items likewise raised nearly twice the usual amount of money.

“It was a really fun evening,” Manning said. “We are looking forward to seeing everyone at the Fair.”

Manning emphasized that the volunteer-organized Fair is always looking for more folks to join the Fair Board or to help out during the week of the Fair, and referred them to the www.silvanafair.com website.

One organizer who won’t be returning for this year’s Fair is former Silvana Fair President Roy Strotz, who passed away on Feb. 3 shortly after his 73rd birthday. During the Board Auction’s tribute to Strotz, he was memorialized as a lifetime supporter of the Fair, who was 8 years old when it began in 1947.

Strotz was president of the Fair Board for many years, and Kyle Glover will take Strotz’s place as a spotter this year. Attendees recalled Strotz’s love for his family and the community, and all yelled out a loud “Yip” together to honor his legacy and the work he enjoyed doing for the Fair.

“Roy was a huge influence on me and my friend Tina when we were in 4-H,” said longtime 4-H member Mary Fuentes, who credited Strotz with getting her actively involved in the Fair. “I remember coming in from washing our cows at the Puyallup fair. Roy would check them, and if they weren’t clean enough to pass his inspection, he would say, ‘Back to the wash rack for you.'”

Fuentes credited Strotz with keeping her on task to sweep the barn aisle “until it was spotless,” and to be always ready to answer questions from the public with a smile on her face.

“When Roy asked you to do something, it was hard to say no,” Fuentes said. “I hope that I can be as positive an influence on youth as Roy was on me and my friends.”