(Seguin) — Allan Dreibrodt’s legacy for agriculture and youth-related programs continues to grow each year that he is missed, and that’s all thanks to his family’s commitment to continue the passion he left behind.
Son Brannon Dreibrodt says tickets are still available for this Saturday’s 7th Annual Allan Dreibrodt Memorial Fundraiser to be held at the Columbus Club of Seguin (formerly the KC) Hall.
For the last several years, Brannon says the event, which bears the name of his late father, has been a major player when it comes to raising money for local kids involved in agriculture-related programs, like 4-H and FFA.
Brannon says his dad, despite his battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), always put others first. Whether he was fulfilling the role of an ag teacher or local banker, he says his dad always managed to give back to his community.
“My dad did a lot in this community. He was big on agriculture. He was big in youth in agriculture. He was an FFA advisor. He was an Ag teacher. Back in ‘89, he was diagnosed with ALS and was given four years to live. He told me he was going to prove them wrong. Sure enough he did. He lived for 30 years with it and when he passed away in 2017 — we say 30 years because he really started showing symptoms of it years but he started writing his memoirs back in the mid 90s but he said that if he ever got those published, he didn’t want any money from it. He wanted all the funds to go to youth and agriculture. So whenever we sold books, we put them in a bank account and we just let that build up and then when he passed away in 2017, 2018 came around and with Wells Fargo, he would always go and do the projects for them so he’d go to the auction and he’d buy for Wells Fargo and we decided in 2018 after he passed away, you know he wanted to give this money to youth and agriculture so why don’t we do that. So I put together that money and, then I sold about $1,800 worth of sports memorabilia that I had and we took that and I think mom took some money out of her pocket and we gave away our first three scholarships and we went from that,” said Dreibrodt.
Brannon says witnessing his dad’s life led to the start of this very successful scholarship fundraiser.
“We decided to do an event in 2018. We did really well with that event and every year from then, it got even better and better including 2020 when everything was shut down and it’s been just better and better every year and it’s all for kids in agriculture. It’s for FFA. It’s for 4H. It’s for these kids that are showing these projects that are trying to put together money for college and help themselves and help out the future. It was a big part of my dad’s life so it’s a big part of our lives now. We just want to pass on his legacy and keep helping out this community,” said Dreibrodt.
This weekend’s fundraiser includes dinner by Next Door Catering, live and silent auctions, a liquor raffle, gun raffle and a dance featuring music by Gary Glenn & The 20X Band.
Brannon says folks also have time to become a sponsor for the event. He says three sponsorship levels are available.
“So the Lonestar Sponsorship ($1,000) gets an appreciation gift, 10 event tickets, four gun raffle entries, 20 drink tickets, social media advertisement, logo on the banner. Chapter Sponsorship ($500) gets four event tickets, two gun raffle entries, eight drink tickets, social media advertisement and logo on event banner and Greenhand (Sponsorship, $250) gets two event tickets, one gun raffle entry, four drink tickets, social media advertisement and logo on the event banner. So, everybody gets something special no matter what level they are and we have a lot of businesses that are not even going to make it but they are still doing a sponsor because they want to help the community,” said Dreibrodt.
Individual tickets are $50 for adults and $25 for kids ages 7 to 12. Pre-sale tickets can be picked up at Gift & Gourmet. They may also be purchased by calling Brannon at 830-305-6037.
Doors open at 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3. The Columbus Club of Seguin Hall is located at 1015 S. Austin St.