Ring in the New Year Supporting Otero Agricultural Scholarships!

The 2022-2023 New Year’s Eve Ag Gala is right around the corner! Come join us for a night of good food, good people, and good times. The 10th annual Ag Gala will be held on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, in the Rizzuto Banquet Room on the campus of Otero College. Doors open at 7 p.m. and will conclude at 1 a.m. after ringing in the New Year. The night’s events include beef brisket dinner, dancing to live country music by Kyle Alan and the Bootleggers, cash bar, door prizes, as well as live and silent auctions.

The Otero Ag 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. This year’s recipients are: Cord Proctor, Swink; Jacob Groves, Cheraw; Eyrn Hoeffliger, Escondido, Calif.; Cheyenne Lange, Fowler; Talara Nittler, Kim; Jolie Bond, Rocky Ford; Olivia Woytiuk, Shell Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada; Nathan Bregar, Pueblo; and Rayanne Hawks, Ordway.

Jolie Bond, stated, “I am very grateful for the support of the Ag Premier Scholarship as it has helped ease some of the financial stress that comes with getting a college education and allowed me to focus on my studies in agriculture business and communications. The support from the community and individuals for this event is appreciated by all students in the agricultural science department.”

The 2022 Ag Gala offers 5 different levels of sponsorship. The Platinum sponsorship, which is $1000 and up, this includes: a table for 8, a bottle of champagne, a bottle of red wine, 24 door prize tickets, 8 beer boots, and a plaque to display. The Gold sponsorship, which is $500-$999, includes: a table for 8, one bottle of champagne, 16 door prize tickets, and a certified sponsorship. The Silver sponsorship, which is a donation of $350, includes a table for 8 and one bottle of champagne. The Turquoise sponsorship is a donation of $150, which includes tickets for 4 guests. The last type of sponsorship is a donation for any specific amount. This is an ideal way to support Otero’s agriculture department if you are unable to attend the Ag Gala. All donations will receive recognition at that evening’s event. Individual tickets are $35 and couple’s tickets are $60.

Otero College and the Ag program would like to thank all the amazing sponsors that made the 2021-2022 scholarships possible. Platinum sponsors include: Colorado Vet Clinic, First National Bank, LPL Financial, Pipeyard, Southeast Health Group, The State Bank, Wallace Oil Company, and Welch Cattle Company. Next, Gold sponsors include: La Junta Livestock, Matthew Farms, Colorado Bank & Trust, Ag Risk Advisor/Silveus, Ordway Cattle Feeders, 4 Rivers Equipment, Winter Livestock, 007 & MJ Cattle, and the Goff Family. The Silver sponsors include: JLH Electrical, Dr. Tim Alvarez & Family, Crowder Ranch, Jake & Kristi Mayo, Jim & Nancy Rizzuto, and SODEXO. The Turquoise sponsors include: Broce’s Well Service, VJP Farms, Arkvalley Seed, SECO Ranch Planning, Shawn Japhet Family, Darrel & Angie Hoss, and Bruce & Kandi Nittler. Finally other sponsors including: Heimerick Farms, Rob & Colleen Oquist, Dave & Almabeth Kaess, Best Bet Beeflot, and Ricken Land & Cattle.

The Otero Ag program thanks you for the trust and support in the program. Hope to see you New Year’s Eve! For more information, to get tickets or sponsor the event, please contact Brooke Matthew, Agricultural Science Faculty at Otero College, (719) 384-6964 or Brooke.Matthew@otero.edu or Dillon Martin, Otero Foundation Director, (719) 384-6890 or Dillon.Martin@otero.edu.