Second week of Geneva Cancer Auction results

The 2026 Geneva Cancer Auction resumed at 7 p.m. Friday night on January 16 at the Geneva Bar & Grill. But before I begin to share information about this weekend, I want to share one more story from the first weekend of the Geneva Cancer Auction.

 

Eight-year-old Harper Chesney of Owatonna attended the first weekend of the Cancer Auction along with her parents, Amber and Nate Chesney, and two brothers. Harpers’ mother, Amber, is currently battling a rare blood cancer, so Amber’s mother, Kim Wright, wanted to do what she could to help raise money for cancer research. Amber donated four tubs of crafts that she had made to the Geneva Cancer Auction. Included in one of the tubs was a picture “This Is the Life” and the auctioneer at that time asked Harper if she would walk the picture around the bar, so that those in attendance could get a closer look, and Harper said, “Yes.” Harper did a great job and helped raise $225.

 

The Chesney family were thankful to share how cancer has been affecting their family, as well as very thankful to see so many people who care and are willing to help make a difference in the lives of others during the cancer auction in Geneva.

 

Speaking of others helping to raise money for Cancer, I would also like to remind our readers that the Geneva Cancer Auction first began back in 1985, and over the past 42 years a total of $2,653,000 dollars has been raised from the many different fundraising events held in the Geneva area.

 

Over the course of the January Cancer auction weekends, the Geneva Cancer Group displays the amount of money that has been raised from the many different fundraising activities held in the Geneva area over the course of the year, which are then included in the grand total. This includes: the Mini Auction in April, which raised $2,599; the Wild Game Feed, which raised $29,000; the Purse Bingo event, $7,638; the Pancake Breakfast, which raised $2,139; the Geneva Cancer Golf event is $2,400; the Yaunt II Ranch Rodeo event, plus two additional donations raised over $10,000; the “Pallet of Beer” raised $9,500; the Habana Hair Cutting Event raised $3,480; the Geneva Cancer Auction Raffle raised $8,000.

 

It was interesting to note that a total of 2,000 tickets were ordered for the 2026 Geneva Cancer raffle this year, and before the winners’ names were announced at 8 p.m. on Saturday, all of the tickets had been sold. As well as from the two weekends of Cancer Auctions in January.

 

A separate figure for the amount of money raised from the auction is not available.

 

The Geneva Cancer Committee did present a total of $155,000 to the 2026 Eagles Cancer Telethon in January this year.

 

Also on display was money donated to the memory of: Mary Ebnet - $1,250 from the LaVoy Ebnet Family; Warren Torgerson - $100, from his wife Mary; Steve Alllerich - $100 from Linda Nelson; Larry Haugen - $30 from Neal & Sandy Anderson.

 

Donations also came from local businesses and groups, including: Maple Island Park Association - $5,000 from the sale of “Pull Tabs” in Geneva over the past year; the Senior Court Social, which is where Whitey & La June Hagen now live, raised $500; NRHEG Student Council - $185; Misgen Auto Parts, $200; Glenville American Legion Post 254, $1,500; Bleachers Sport Bar & Grill, $1,000; Albert Lea Moose Club, $1,000.

 

Along those lines, I would like to remind our readers that all of these events take a great number of people who work before, during, and after the events to be able to donate that amount of money for Cancer Research. Included in that list of people is the Geneva Cancer Auction Committee who help make the Cancer Auction so successful, and helps a great number of other people who have had to fight cancer in their lives.

 

The Geneva Cancer Auction Committee includes: Whitey and Lajune Hagen, Greg Hagen, Keith & Ruth Hagen, Jamie and Tina Hagen, Brittni Hagen Lewer, Brenna Hagen Toquam, Barb Kuckenbecker, Judy Christensen, Vicki Manges, Chelsea Hanson, Brandon & Tessa Enzenauer. Diane Willert, Kathy Wobschall, Karen Quam, Jesse Quam, Kate Quam. They are thankful for all the support that is given to the many different events held over the course of the year to raise money.

 

There are also people who are not on the committee that help make the auction the success that it is. Those are the people who pick up donations before the auction is held, the auctioneers that volunteer their time, all the people, businesses and organizations that bring in donations for the auction, as well as the many great people who attend the auction and purchase the many great items up for bid. I guess that old adage “It Takes a Village” is most certainly true of our town of Geneva, and the surrounding areas.

 

The 2026 Geneva Cancer Auction sold a total of 766 items, or groups of items in January, but they did not get to every item that had been put up for bid, so once again a Mini Cancer Auction will be held. The 2026 Mini Cancer Auction will be on March 28, starting at noon, which is a week before Easter this year, instead of the first Saturday in April, as it has been in years past.

 

The annual pancake breakfast will be held at the Geneva Bar & Grill on Sunday, March 29 from 8-noon and it is hoped that the great people of our area will put these events on their calendars and will turn out to support these upcoming fundraisers.