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The grand prize: a 2022 Spartan Zero-Turn mower, weed eater, and trailer valued at $11,000.Photos provided by Sterling Volunteer Fire Department
STERLING – During its 3rd annual barbeque this Sunday, Sterling Volunteer Fire Department will announce the winners from this year’s raffle.
The grand prize: a 2022 Spartan Zero-Turn mower, weed eater, and trailer. Second place receives $1,000 cash. Third place winner will take home an Oklahoma Joe’s pellet grill.
“The mower and weed eater came from SW Power Equipment in Elgin; the trailer we got from a dealer in Oklahoma City,” Fire Chief Bruns said. With all the upgrades, he estimates the first place prize package to cost approximately $11,000. The $700 Oklahoma Joe’s grill, Bruns picked up from Atwoods Ranch and Home store, he said.
At 11 a.m., the dinner will be held at the Sterling Volunteer Fire Department, 222 James Street.
In exchange for donations, those who attend can enjoy “pulled pork, beef brisket and ribs with all the trimmings: potato salad, baked beans and all that good stuff,” the chief said. “And the ladies of Ladies Town and Country are donating a lot of good desserts.”
In addition to responding to 67 calls this year, Sterling’s 19-member volunteer firefighters have raised funds through ticket sales. Proceeds from the barbeque and the $20 per-ticket raffle help purchase equipment and gear.
“We recently bought a used truck from a volunteer fire department in Callisburg, Texas,” the chief said. “It’s up and running; we just got some minor things to do to it. We’d like to repaint the doors and get it lettered for our town. And it's got some electrical issues we have to take care of, but that’s nothing major.”
Bruns, who has been with Sterling VFD since 2010, said, like himself, many volunteer firefighters have full-time jobs. The chief is also a fleet tech for Public Service Co. of Oklahoma, and said members of the community support the firefighters’ volunteerism.
“Our community’s behind us,” said the chief. “Right after the big fire southwest of Sterling (Dec. 28, 2021), and the one in Elgin, (Jan. 14, 2022) they raised about $5,000 for us. And that helped us purchase that engine, a cascade system to fill our air packs, help with our training and replenish our supplies.”
This year tickets were limited to 1,600. As of Wednesday afternoon, “a little over 1,000 tickets had been sold,” the chief reported. Tickets can be purchased right up to the event, he added. Tickets can be purchased at Sterling Town Hall or from any Sterling volunteer firefighter.