More than 300 local and regional officials, as well as noted dignitaries, were on hand Monday morning at Lake Barkley State Resort Park’s Edward Breathitt Convention Center — kicking off the 56th Annual Cadiz Rotary Club Radio Auction with the W.J. Hopson Breakfast.
A trio of honors — the 2022-23 “Rotarian of the Year,” “President’s Award” and a Paul Harris Fellow — proved to be a surprise for some deserving individuals.
Current Rotary President Alana Baker-Dunn, once again serving as a chair for the auction, cried as fellow Rotarian and News Edge Owner & General Manager Beth Mann announced her as the club’s best over the past 12 months.
In 2012, Baker-Dunn came back to Trigg County after graduating from the University of Louisville and working closely within the American Cancer Society — all to be a sixth-generation family farmer. Also a magistrate for Trigg County, Mann called her return “a blessing” for this community.
Baker-Dunn, meanwhile, turned the “President’s” nod to Trigg County Chamber of Commerce’s Beth Sumner — who over the last two years has taken on a prominent role within the organization.
She said it was clear who should receive the award, because Sumner was someone who has been there with “kind words, a supportive smile, and a helpful hand.”
FNB Bank’s Kyle Hensley, past Rotary president, passed along the Paul Harris Fellow to long-time auction supporter Harold Knight.
Hensley noted this honor, delivered as an in-kind and in-name contribution of $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation, typically goes to someone either within or close to the club that exemplifies the mission of helping youth and senior programs — much like Harris did when he created Rotary.
Nine foundation partners have already given $5,000 as a pledge to this auction, starting things off at a $45,000 commitment. They are: Ben & Julie Cundiff, Cundiff Farms, FNB Bank, The Harper Family, Ann E. Williamson, Terry and Carolyn Hamby, Spencer & Angelia Garnder, Mann and WKDZ/WHVO/WPKY.
Four live auctions, courtesy of Auctioneer and Farm Bureau’s J.B. Moore, and five online auctions brought in at least $5,800 as well — involving a Cundiff Country Ham, a laser-etching of Trigg County and its lakes area from Mize Machine Shop, a prized hand-carved wooden loon from Arnold Chlupsa and a bucket of money, which was donated back to the Cadiz Rotary.
The auction this year is hybrid, and has online and in-person options from 6-9 PM Monday-Friday.
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