By Fischer Genau DIGITAL MEDIA LEAD
This year’s Big Sky Oktoberfest raised $17,225 for the Big Sky Futbol Club to support local youth sports. Larry and Dana Wikan, the co-founders of the festival, handed the big check to Doug Hare and Lindsie Feldner from the Futbol Club on Monday at their annual general meeting to commemorate the success of the event’s second year.
“Our goal for the event was to be able to support youth activities in Big Sky, bringing funds to community members who really need it, and also support areas of organizations where they may be underfunded,” Dana told EBS. “The fact that we could raise more money this year and contribute to that even further, it feels great.”
Last year, the inaugural Big Sky Oktoberfest raised $10,000 for the Big Sky Futbol Club. This year, the event added a third day and extended its hours, and despite the increase in expenses, it managed to raise almost twice as much money.
“I think people who came last year were very excited to come again, which was great,” Dana said.
Dana thinks that word of mouth helped Oktoberfest grow in its second year, and she also thanked the volunteers and sponsors who made it possible.
“I think that the volunteers in the community were amazing. Without the sponsors and volunteers, it would have been very, very difficult to pull it off,” Dana said. “Larry and I and Shana are all very happy with the result.”
The Wikans and Shana Seelye, who helps them organize Oktoberfest, are looking forward to hosting the event again next year. It will take place in September, although exact dates have not yet been determined, and the funds raised will be donated to youth organizations in Big Sky.
