North Central Morgan Breeders Raise More Than $17,000 in Stallion Auction
Monday, February 11, 2008
By Jim Kvanbeck
Brooklyn Center, Minn. - Sub-zero temperatures could not discourage an enthusiastic crowd of banquet goers on the occasion of the second annual North Central Morgan Breeders’ (NCMB) Stallion Service Auction, January 19 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Brooklyn Center, Minn.
The afternoon business meetings of North Central Morgan Association (NCMA) and NCMB adjourned to a gala evening of festivities with Morgan friends and the annual high-point competition awards. First on the agenda was the NCMB Stallion Service Auction. After several weeks of on-line bidding on twenty-five donated stallion services, the top five Morgan stallions were auctioned at the gala for live and telephone bids.
Topping the sale was multiple WC CCR’s Outrajus Corajus, purchased for $4,000 by Tammy Devier of North Star Stables in Georgetown, Minn. The service was donated by Dick and Nan Cecchettini of Raptor Ridge Morgans in Prior Lake, Minn. They also donated the service of the number three selling horse, The Real Deal, purchased by William Dodds of Aerie Meadow Farm in Zimmerman, Minn.
CCR’s Outrajus Corajus topped the
North Central Morgan Breeders’ (NCMB)
Stalllion Service Auction with a bid of $4,000.
Second high seller was Battle Cry, another of Bill Dodds’s acquisitions, which was graciously donated by Bill and Helen Crawford of Boston Morgan Farm in Murrieta, Ca. Rounding out the top five were Century Nightmusic, Linda Hagan Kvanbeck and Jim Kvanbeck of Troika Farm in Hampton, Minn. as both donor and buyer, and EF Hot Wheels, Colleen McNicoll of Four Seasons Farm, donor and buyer. The “name your mare” spot went to Tammy Devier as the final item up for live bidding.
Foals resulting from breeding services sold through the auction are eligible to compete in the NCMB Limited Breeders Sweepstakes in 2009. As some other futurity opportunities across the country experience decline, or cease to exist, the NCMB Sweepstakes is in a growth pattern, which bodes well for the future, exceeding the first stallion auction by nearly $1,500.
Many willing and able persons contribute time and energy to make this program a success. All of these folks volunteer their talents in activities such as the creation of a top notch web site, promotional materials, advertising, and the organization and administration of this group effort. Last, but certainly not least, NCMB thanks the donors and buyers, without whom this event would not be possible. A full listing of stallions, with photos and descriptions, is available at www.northcentralmorganbreeders.com. Some stallions are still available for bids on the web site.
The 2008 NCMB Limited Weanling Sweepstakes will be held during the Minnesota All Morgan Show, Aug. 1–3 at Simon’s Arena in Cannon Falls, Minn. For further information, contact Nan Wille Cecchettini at nmwch@concast.net or (651) 222-3297 or visit the Web site.
Seen at the NCMB Stallion Service Auction:
Roger White, Mirabella Farm in Montrose, Minn.,
points out stallion information to trainer and
sometimes auctioneer Jay Wood, whose colorful
commentary made for an exciting sale.
Saturday night buyers (L to R) Bill Dodds, Tammy
Devier and Jim Kvanbeck. Bill and Tammy each
purchased two of the top six lots, and Jim purchased
one. Colleen McNicoll was a telephone bidder
rounding out the top five selling services.
NCMB Chair Nan Wille Cecchettini described the
thrill of trail riding CCR’s Outrajus Corajus as
bidders remembered his ‘07 standing-ovation
performance winning Pleasure Driving World
Championship in Oklahoma City.
Sarah Moses, left, and Robin Becklin donated
full brothers Born To Be Wild and Promise Me More.
Sarah is the North Star Show Chair, and
Robin is the incoming NCMA president.
NCMB web site creator Mark Witzany, with son Brian
and friend Carol Prindle, managed the online pages
for bidding in the weeks before the gala.
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