"Old West" Fundraiser Not the Same Old Thing
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Sisters, OR—Narcissa Whitman was one of the first two women to cross the Oregon Trail, with the aim of creating a base in the Northwest for converting the local Indians. Instead, the Whitman outpost near Walla Walla became a major stop on the Oregon Trail, attracting white pioneers who trespassed on native lands—and stirred a boiling resentment among the Cayuse tribe. The Whitmans died at the hands of a group of renegade Cayuse in an 1847 massacre. But Narcissa’s example showed that women could indeed cross the continent on the Trail. And the Whitmans’ deaths spurred the federal government to make Oregon a formal Territory of the U.S.
Such stories are integral to Buckboard Provisioning Co.’s new brand of fundraiser. Each of the company’s products features a real person, place or incident from Old West history. For example, Buckboard’s sweet potato biscuit mix is named after pioneering missionary Narcissa Whitman. The company’s coffee--Stagecoach Mary’s Strong Black Coffee--is named for a freed slave who was among the first women to drive a U.S. mail wagon.
“We loved the way the fundraiser was an educational opportunity,” notes Jan Silberman, principal at Sisters Elementary, which just concluded a fund drive with the company. “The product labels, the old-time newspaper Buckboard provided to each child and the website offered stories and puzzles the kids could relate to. Our teachers can use the resources on the web page to extend learning on their Lewis & Clark and Oregon Trail units if they wish. The fourth grade teaching team has even served the buffalo jerky and smoked salmon at our annual pow-wow.”
Extending the western theme, one hard-working Sisters Elementary student is being rewarded this Thursday, November 29 with a ride in a vintage carriage pulled by two stunning Belgian draft horses. Third-grader Andrew Stevens was the top seller, raising nearly $200 for new playground equipment. He will climb aboard at Buckboard Provisioning Co.’s office on Hood Ave., and help deliver Buckboard products to the school—in front of the entire student body.
“Our school was tired of cookie dough and tired of rewarding the kids with cheap plastic toys that break after one use,” explains Sisters Parent Teacher Community (SPTC) fundraiser chair Winter Lewis. “We all know students love to be recognized in front of their peers. It’s more valuable and memorable to them than candy or a yo-yo.”
Other incentives encouraged by Buckboard include:
* Friendly competition between students and classrooms. Buckboard sets up a web page for each client which can show the top three sellers, the top selling classroom and daily progress towards the dollar goal—all in real time. At Sisters Elementary, this year’s top class—Mrs. Hughes’ second graders--earned a pizza party.
* Peer recognition. In addition to the wagon ride, Andrew Stevens’ prize as the top seller is “Principal-for-a-Day.”
* School-wide recognition. Sisters Elementary parents are hosting a magic show to reward all students for their efforts.
Buckboard Provisioning Co. serves schools, non-profits and youth groups in the West. To learn more about the company visit www.buckboard-provisioning.com or phone 541.549.7600.
The carriage ride is being generously donated by Thunder Mountain Ranch, a Sisters non-profit that provides equestrian and ranch experiences for the cognitively-impaired. Find out more at 541.549.9876 or www.thunder-mountain-ranch.org .
The horse-drawn delivery will take place Thursday, November 29, beginning at 11:00 a.m. The team will surprise top fundraising student Andrew Stewart at 11:10 a.m. at Buckboard’s office, 413 W. Hood Avenue. Then the horse team will travel down Hood Avenue, through the City Hall parking lot and on to Sisters Elementary, located at 611 East Cascade at Locust, across from City Hall for an 11:40 a.m. arrival—right at recess!
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Website Link: http://www.buckboard-provisioning.com | 
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