There was not a dry eye in the barn Friday evening when the annual Maries County Fair 4-H and FFA Livestock Auction was held. During the event, a heifer donated by the Jeff and Jessica Stricklan family brought in over $40,000 in honor of Coad “Cody” Stricklan. 

Vienna FFA Advisor, Sara Schwartze, on Tuesday said the new total collected for the phase 2 barn improvement project is $42,175. Individuals and businesses either donated to the barn project in the form of a premium, or purchased items at the auction such as bacon, sheep or heifer and donated it back. Jason Kampeter, owner of Vienna Quik Spot, was the initial buyer of the heifer donated by the Stricklan family. Kampeter donated it back and Lloyd Murphy purchased the heifer as he wanted Josie Stricklan to take it back home. 

The money donated in honor of Cody Stricklan, who died suddenly in March at age 45, will be used toward the addition the livestock committee and volunteers want to put on the hog barn. It is estimated $70,000 to $80,000 is needed to pay for the project. Improvements will include an addition for bathrooms, changing area, lockable storage area, and more animal pens. 

Those who made donations include Vienna Vet Clinic, Vienna Quik Spot, Harker Real Estate, Rep. Bruce Sassmann, Wagner Log Homes, Lloyd Murphy, Veasman Veterinary, Neier Farms, Groene Construction, Snodgrass Lawncare, Gerhard and Virginia Bax, Fred Green, Route 63 Fick Distributing, Shelter Insurance, Otto Underground LLC, Maries County Farm Bureau, Travis’ Gutters, Howard Snodgrass, Brenda Johnson, Sandbothe Bobcat & Fencing, Raithel Brothers, Rowden Excavating, Cody Stricklan Memorial Fund, Maries County Bank, Legends Bank, The Flower Basket, Stuecken Flooring, S & S Fencing, The Market, Sinks Pharmacy, Chuck Wieberg, Double H Designs, Eagle Fitness, Campbell Floor Covering, Tom Veasman and Veasman Family Trust Bernice Veasman.