Celebrate with Otero College at the Annual New Year’s Eve Ag Gala

Don’t miss out on the fast-approaching 2023 New Year’s Eve Ag Gala! Join us for a memorable evening filled with delicious food, great company, and fun times. The 11th annual Ag Gala will take place on Sunday, December 31, 2023, at the Rizzuto Banquet Room located on the Otero College campus. The doors will swing open at 7 p.m. and the festivities will continue until 12:15 a.m., marking the start of the New Year. Your night will be packed with exciting activities including a mouthwatering beef brisket dinner, music for dancing, a cash bar, exciting door prizes, and both live and silent auctions full of unique items.

The Otero Agriculture program looks forward to seeing everyone at the Ag Gala each year. 100% of the proceeds support Otero students majoring in an agricultural field of study. Last year’s event is helping support five students in the 2023-2024 school year. Each student received $2,000 to help pay for tuition, fees, and books. Scholarship recipients are Jace Trujillo of Pueblo, Colo., Hailey Smith of Manzanola, Colo., Quincy Basler of Akron, Colo, Cassidi Alverson of Loveland, Colo., and Nathan Bregar of Pueblo, Colo.

Jace Trujillo shared, “My experience has given me confidence and understanding of the requirements and professionalism needed to succeed. I may not be certain of what I want to do in life, but I know who I want to be and how I am going to get there.”

The 2023 Ag Gala offers five different levels of sponsorship.

• Platinum: For a donation of $1,000 the donor will receive tickets for a table of eight guests, 24 door prize tickets, eight free beer boots for guests, one bottle of red wine, one bottle of champagne, and a plaque to display.
• Gold: For a donation of $500 the donor will receive tickets for a table of eight guests, 16 door prize tickets, one bottle of champagne, and a certificate of sponsorship.
• Silver: For a donation of $350, the donor will receive tickets for a table of eight guests and one bottle of champagne.
• Turquoise: For a donation of $150, the donor will receive tickets for four guests.
• Specialty Sponsorships: For a donation in the specific amount, you will receive recognition of that evening’s event (Example: Matthew Farm’s New Year’s Eve Toast). This is ideal if you want to donate but cannot attend. Gourmet Chocolates $500, Band $800, or Champagne Toast $300.

Tickets can also be purchased individually for $35 each, or $60 per couple.

Otero College and the Ag program would like to thank all the amazing sponsors that made the 2022-2023 scholarships possible. Platinum sponsors include: First National Bank, SE CO Power/SECOM, Leininger Ranch, Coffee Break Project, LPL Financial, The State Bank, Pipeyard, and Welch Cattle Company. Next, Gold sponsors include: 007 Livestock, Matthew Farms, 4 River Equipment, Ordway Cattle Feeders, ABC Title, Wallace Oil Company, Antelope Mesa, and Winter Livestock. The Silver sponsors include: Arkansas Valley Coop, the Hall/Hinkle Family, Broce’s Well Service, Mayo Family, Crowder Ranch, La Junta Livestock, Darrell & Angie Hoss, Ark Valley Animal Hospital, Farm Credit Southern Colorado, SODEXO. The Turquoise sponsors include: Anchor Feeds, Rusler Implement, the Nittler Family, Ricken Land & Cattle, Bear Springs Ranch, SECO Ranch Planning, the Sumpter Family and Dr. Timothy Alvarez. Additionally, Kaess Cattle was a specialty sponsor.

We invite you to join us for this fun evening and appreciate your support of the scholarship program. For more information, or to sponsor the Gala, please contact Otero College Ag instructor Lindsey Dearborn at (719) 384-6964 or lindsey.dearborn@otero.edu. or Dillon Martin, Otero Foundation Director, (719) 384-6890 or dillon.martin@otero.edu.