Festival of Tables/Installation Banquet

Festival of Tables/Installation Banquet Main Photo

17 Mar 2021


Nearly 160 people attended the Upton Chamber of Commerce Installation Banquet and Festival of Tables this past Saturday night. The new board installed included (l-r) Brittany Trandahl, past-president, Scott Evans, board member, Kendra Butler, treasurer, Gloria Knapp, board member, Genell Hodges, secretary, Karla Ludemann, board member, Kelly Wozney, board member, Clark Coberly vice-president and Buffy Helwig, president. The record breaking crowd, may have been a celebration of coming through the past year and indicating the people of Upton are ready to get back to their normal activities. Regardless of the reason, the event was an overwhelming success. The funds raised are designated to the Upton Youth Sports programs. Those include the Upton Soccer League, the Upton baseball program and the Upton Mat Cats. A live auction was held for two basketballs signed by the 1A Wyoming State Basketball Champions, Upton Bobcats, and the runner-up Lady Cats, a semi-automatic .22, donated by Scott Evans of Pathfinder Firearms and a David Paulley print donated by Lisa LeVasseur at the Weston County Gazette. The live auction and the silent auction garnered $5,600. With the table sponsorship showing $3,675. And the voting for the best table came to $610. The total for the evening was $9,885. After expenses, the youth in this community will still see a substantial boost to their bank accounts.This was the first year the installation banquet and festival of tables were combined, but with the fantastic turnout, we may see this become one event henceforth! Congratulations to the Upton Chamber for their hard work in celebrating "The Best Town on Earth", the overall theme of the night, as we move past the COVID-19 pandemic and hopefully get back to our normal lives.

A.D.I. Insurance and Arrow Service have joined together to share a table for many years. This year they placed first in the best table contest. Their theme was Best in Show.

Little Safari Daycare won second place with their safari theme. 

 

The Weston County Gazette once again placed in the top three for best table at the event, placing third this year. Their theme, "Scottie Dog" came with a live Scottish Terrier, Dougal. He enjoyed greeting everyone and the large bone he was given by Joe's butcher, T.J. Trandahl. Pictures from the evening are available on the Weston County Gazette's Facebook page. The number of tables this year exceeds space to print them all. The remaining tables were sponsored by S&S Performance and Parts, Upton Economic Development Board (2), FirsTier Bank, WYO Services, Weston County School District #7, Yellow Daisy Salon (Hello Beautiful, Wyoming Silvers), Goose Landing, Town of Upton (2), Unker's Therapeutic Products, Weston County Health Services (unable to do table), Weston County Travel Commission, Upton Soccer League, Upton Baseball, Upton Mat Cats, Joe's Food Center, and Sharon's Home Health.

The record-breaking crowd filled the Upton Community Center. The photo above doesn't show all the tables. Irontown Tavern had a bar set up this year, which is a new addition. Guest speakers included, coaches, Alyssa Ludemann, Chris Schneider and Neil Schiller. Also speaking were Justin Mills (auctioneer), Clark Coberly, President Buffy Helwig, Past president Brittany Trandahl and Upton Economic Development Board President John Marshall.

Servers for the banquet were the Upton FCCLA, FBLA and FFA members. They included, back (l-r) Brodie Pierce, Nathan Sanderson, Aidan Coberly, Ethan Mills, Casper Kuhbacher, Chase Mills, Riley Davies, Brooklyn Materi, Kelly Cork, FCCLA advisor Jenna Frederick and FBLA advisor Karla Ludemann. Front (l-r) Emma Gustaf, Xyla Rehling, Erin Bears, Reece Riehemann, Holly Trandahl, Hannah Stirmel, Hayden Vrana and Cayden Vrana.