Save the Date for Next Year: Saturday, August 28, 2027
5:30 - 9:30pm | Great Bend Events Center
The Big Benefit Auction is the most successful and longest-running fundraiser for the Barton Foundation. The money raised supports academic scholarships and enhancements to the programs and facilities to directly impact the learning experience of Barton students. The auction is made a success each year by the hard work of volunteers and generous donors and sponsors. Volunteers from the community, in partnership with Foundation board of directors, call on area businesses, organizations, and individuals to secure items for the live and silent auction.
Each year the auction averages 150 silent items and 40 live auction items – the items range from merchandise to gift certificates, services, hand-made items and special events such as dinners, trips, ballgames etc. All attendees enjoy dinner and social hour before the live auction.
2026 Big Benefit Auction
2026 Big Benefit Auction
2026 Big Benefit Auction - August 22, 2026
The Big Benefit Auction was once again one of our favorite nights of the year, bringing together a community that believes in Barton, believes in our students, and continues to show up year after year to make a difference. The evening was about so much more than the items up for bid. Every bid, purchase, and gift added up to something bigger, creating opportunities for students and helping Barton continue to change lives.
An evening like this takes a tremendous group of people working together behind the scenes, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make it possible.
To our underwriters and sponsors: Your generosity helped make this event possible and allowed the dollars raised to go even further for Barton and our students. Thank you for investing in this event and in our mission.
To our volunteers: You spent your summer visiting businesses, gathering donations, picking up auction items, and helping us prepare for the event. We couldn’t do this without you. Thank you for giving your time and energy so generously.
To our auction committee: Nancy Sundahl, Sonya Rein, Cari Ringwald, Krista Smith, and Kenny Vink: Thank you for the ideas, enthusiasm, hard work, and countless details you took care of along the way. Your dedication is a huge part of what makes this event so special.
To our Old Bill Honorees and donors: Jim and Kathy Vopat, thank you for allowing us to celebrate you! You are deserving of so much love and respect, and we are grateful we had the chance to recognize all you do for our communities! To the donors to the Old Bill Honorarium Scholarship in honor of Jim and Kathy - thank you! Your gifts go directly to students in scholarships.
And to our Foundation team: Amy Wheeler and Jonell Niles: Thank you for all the planning, organizing, problem-solving, and behind-the-scenes work it took to turn months of preparation into one incredible night.
Most importantly, thank you to everyone who joined us for the Big Benefit Auction. Whether you’ve been attending for years or this was your first, you are part of a community that believes in opening doors and creating opportunities for Barton students.
Thank you to our Sponsors:
UNDERWRITERS
Nex-Tech
UMB Private Wealth Management
University of Kansas Health System
CHAMPIONS
Edward Jones Financial Advisors: Jim Armatys, Todd Armatys, Cameron Smith, Kris Sundahl, Jim Vopat
LEADERS
Anderson Schwarz Financial Service
John and Rita Andress
Jim and Kathi Armatys
Bank of the Plains
Carr Auction & Real Estate, Inc.
Farmers Bank & Trust
Freedom Claims Management, Inc.
Marcus and Kacie Garstecki
Mike and Linda Johnson
Peoples Bank and Trust
PARTNERS
10th Street Eyecare
AlternaCare
Craig and Jolene Biggs
Central Kansas Crop Solutions
Comfort Pro, Inc.
Ell-Bar Holstein Farm - Marian DeWerff
Earl and Judy Fox
Keller Real Estate and Insurance
Medical Park Pharmacy
MPIRE Reality Group
Panzer Insurance
SUPPORTERS
Central National Bank
First National Travel Agency
Stone Sand Co., Inc.
Stone Waste Management, LLC