11th Annual Corn Harvest Benefit
Written by James Dillon, Photos by Larry Hall
The kegs won't be tapped until 3 p.m. but the party kicks off as soon as the lifts start turning at the 11th Annual Corn Harvest Benefit. It's corn season at Loveland Ski Area and on April 28, Colorado skiers will swarm from all parts to take advantage of spring conditions and a huge gear raffle. And all the partying is in support the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC). Last year the Corn Harvest Benefit raised more than $10,000 for the CAIC, raffling off gear from sponsors like Ortovox, BCA, Flylow, Black Diamond and Bentgate Mountaineering.
"It was just a gathering of friends," explained event organizer Scott Powers of the original Benefit. "It was just an idea, and the whole thing grew over the years and now it's a pretty significant event," added Powers. The Corn Harvest began as a spring celebration of another winter come and gone, but the event gained recognition through word of mouth and is now a noteworthy fundraiser for the CAIC. "The CAIC is an incredible organization," Powers said, "It's all non-profit so it goes for a great cause."
This year's event will unfold on the last Saturday in April with a live band, another gear- packed raffle and a prospective 250 plus participants. "It feels different this year because of the bad snow year," said Larry Hall, another organizer, "but hopefully we'll be within the same range [of people] despite that."
To further enhance the party atmosphere, New Belgium Brewery will provide beer and raffle prizes, Front Range Bison will donate bison burgers for the lunch-time cookout and skiers unfamiliar with Loveland will convene and tour the mountain with locals who know the mountain best.
The 11th Annual Corn Harvest costs $60 and includes a lift ticket, lunch, beer and entry in the raffle. For more information, check out cornharvest.org.
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