Suzan Erem and pie maker Virginia Pace at the Midland FFA Dinner in March.

SILT President Suzan Erem didn’t know what was coming to her when the auctioneer for the Midland FFA pie auction called her to the front of the room. Pies and pans of cupcakes had been going for upwards of $150 and as high as $250 each. But the pie up for grabs at the moment was the largest, most beautiful cherry pie of the night.

By the time the auctioneer talked Suzan into pitching, people were shouting out “$500!” and “$1,000!” and it became clear she’d been set up. She had been the guest speaker at the March 28 annual dinner. Every year at the Midland (Wyoming) FFA dinner, the guest speaker gets to auction off one pie, and that’s the one that receives the collected donations from local businesses and community groups.

That cherry pie went for $4,000! And bidding on other goodies continued for another half hour. Best yet, Suzan got to meet the pie maker, Virginia Pace, and take the pie home.

Not surprisingly, Suzan said she’d be glad to speak at any FFA dinner in Iowa if it means explaining SILT to farm families, supporting young farmers and well, maybe even going home with dessert!