The owner of A-17 and the winner of $1,000 was Anne Steele of Pinehurst. Steele was shocked when her name was called as the winner of this unique event held on Saturday, April 26 at Springfest.
“Thanks to Steele and hundreds of other people who purchased deeds, the Arts Council made over $2,000 for the arts in Moore County,” said Chris Dunn, executive director.
If you did not attend “Cow Chip Bingo,” here’s how it worked. The vacant lot beside the Sunrise Theater was lined to resemble a giant checkerboard with numbered squares, called “deeds”. Each deed was sold for $5 and randomly assigned. At 3 p.m., two cows were released onto the checkerboard and a crowd of over 200 watched and waited for the first cow to make a deposit (a.k.a. cow chip) on the winning deed.
Linda McNeill of Pinehurst said, “I thought it was great! I never heard of “Cow Chip Bingo” and thought it was a clever idea and a good way to get people to support the arts.”
“This event exceeded all our expectations,” said Dunn. “Everyone seemed take this event in the spirit it was intended…as a ‘fun’ fundraiser. We definitely had a lot of fun and raised a lot of money for the Arts Council. We also received some great ideas for next year.”
The Arts Council annually reaches over 40,000 Moore County citizens through programs such as its youth productions at the Sunrise Theater, the Performing Arts in Moore Schools (PAMS) Program, the Grassroots Grants to local arts organizations, exhibits at Campbell House Galleries, ARTours, and much more.
“Special thanks goes to the “Cow Chip Bingo” sponsors: Jeff Banfield and Tee Jay Farms of Aberdeen, Brad Mallow and Carthage Farm Supply/Southern States, Harry Huberth and Huberth Farm Services, Southern Pines Recreation & Parks Dept., The Pilot and WIOZ 102.5 FM.,” said Dunn.
For more information on the Arts Council of Moore County and “Cow Chip Bingo”, please visit our Web site at www.artscouncil-moore.org.
