When our auction committee began meeting last February, it came up with a great idea: offer experiences to people that would bring them closer to our mission. Experiences that highlight how special Leelanau County is—excursions or dinners that money CAN’T buy, except through our auction! Well, it worked. The August event, held at Woolsey Airport, drew some 700 supporters and raised over $100,000 to help us with our land protection efforts in Leelanau County.

But the picnic and auction raised more than funds. In addition to showcasing local foods (see pg 10), people have since toured apple orchards, lunched at a winery, gathered for lattes in one of our villages, and celebrated the local harvest with uber chef Mario Batali. In the process, the passion for protecting Leelanau County has been heightened.

The group of 12 who purchased a cooking lesson and dinner with Mario Batali spent six hours with the famous chef preparing food, learning his techniques and culinary history, sipping Mawby champagne and ultimately, dining on a multi-course meal. Mario has donated his time three years in a row now, and in the process has raised $134,000 for the Conservancy! Perhaps even more important, his personal passion for Leelanau and his desire to see it protected has garnered fantastic press far and wide for our cause—from Traverse Magazine to the Detroit Free Press to the New York Times!

The lucky diners (who were outbid the prior two years) say they had a fabulous time. “Mario is just an incredibly nice, down-to-earth guy,” said one of the participants. “He made it clear that the reason he does this is because he loves Leelanau County and the Conservancy and everything we do and everything we stand for.” “He used all local ingredients and made it a point to let us know that, pointing it out on every occasion.”

A month later on a beautiful September afternoon, 18 people gathered at Don and Ann Gregory’s orchard near Suttons Bay. They picked apples, toured miles of apple trees in a tractor-pulled wagon and stopped for wine and hors d’oeuvres at “the top of the world,” said Andrea Muladore. “We stood there and overlooked the rolling hills and both bodies of water at this gorgeous spot. You could just feel it in your soul. To hear Don Gregory talk about what he does and hear about his own love of farming and of the land, well, it was really unforgettable.”

That same week another group of 10 met at Bel Lago for a private tour, tasting and lunch with winemaker Charlie Edson. Jane Maximovich emailed us to say, “We had a wonderful afternoon with someone who truly has great knowledge and a great passion for making wine. Charlie also has a passion for Leelanau County, which all of us share in as home owners in ‘God’s Country.’ Making a difference for future generations is what it is all about and the wine industry is a big part of that in our county.”

There are many more events yet to take place, from morel hunting to dinner on the Crystal River. For everyone who donated an item or bid on one this year, thank you! If you have a unique idea that celebrates the best of Leelanau for next year’s auction, please email cfaught@theconservancy.com.