Rusty DeWees donated his considerable talents in the role of auctioneer.

By M.D. Drysdale

About 75 bidders bought $20,000 worth of landscape protection Saturday at Vermont Technical College what was billed as the first-ever landscape auction in the United States.

“We’re really pleased,” said Mary Russ, executive director of the White River Partnership, which organized the auction. The board of directors met the next day and decided to do it again, she said.

Auctioneer Rusty DeWees, who volunteered his time, had the unusual task of explaining the concept behind each of the donated “landscape elements.” He was energetic in doing this, while also trying to put together coalitions of several buyers on some bids—again, a role outside the purview of most auctioneers.

“He really made the event—he made it fun,” said Russ this week. “He was terrific.”

At one point, DeWees was having no luck raising about $300 so that a Braintree alpaca farm could host school trips to learn about the animals.

Spotting elementary student Kira Delhagen, 11, in the crowd, he marched her up front as an example of the children who would benefit from the donation.

A bidder coughed up the money immediately.

Most bidders appeared to be from the Central Vermont area, though others came from New Hampshire, New York, and Massachusetts, according to Ron Rhodes, board vice president for the Partnership.

Early Organization

A considerable percentage of the bidding money was pledged prior to the auction by members of the Partnership and a group associated with the Vermont Law School. Some $4200 was raised in this way, Russ said.

Those dollars contributed to the largest bid that was made during the afternoon—$7200 to enable a popular swimming and fishing site along the White River to be donated to the town of Royalton.

The land (.3 acres), just downstream from Welch’s Hardware, is being donated by its owner, Peg Elmer, but upwards of $10,000 will eventually be needed for transaction costs, ncluding surveys and easement documents and an “endowment” that will provide maintenance for the property in perpetuity.

Another river-related item—building a trail to another spot on the White—wasn’t purchased with dollars, but four organizations pledged to supply the manpower to do the work, Russ noted.

Rhodes said that some 31 items were sold at auction, and that each of the local landowners represented was able to sell one of the elements. (This did not include the town of Tunbridge, which had no luck raising money for maintenance on the Howe covered bridge.)

The proceeds of the auctions are distributed to the specific landowners, who promise to maintain or improve the “landscape element” so that all can enjoy it. The White River Partnership coordinates the program and insures that the promised maintenance or improvement is carried out.

Most items sold at the minimum starting bid level, which ranged from $385 to several thousand dollars. A few items, however, did get “bid up” by more than one buyer.

All items that didn’t receive the minimum bid may still be purchased via the website: www.whiteriverpartner.org.

Both Russ and Rhodes counted the participation of VTC as a highlight of the afternoon. Students gave hay rides, provided bales for seating, and brought out a few animals for show.

Many auction-goers also greatly enjoyed talking with landowners in their booths before the auction, Russ said.

And in a way, she said, that was the bigger point.

“Raising money was really secondary to raising awareness,” she explained.

She said her board has agreed to work again next year with TripleE, the Dutch firm that organized the event. They’ll be looking for new partners, as well, and more corporate assistance.

“We learned a lot and look forward to next year!” Rhodes said.