For nearly 40 years, Helen Witte’s pies have brought Wells County together
By SYDNEY KENT
Almost 40 years ago, some animals were late to a livestock auction.
This may not seem like a moment worth mentioning, however, it was a pivotal point for Helen Witte and the Wells County Community. She offered up a pie to sell instead.
Ray Shaw, the auctioneer at the 4-H fair in 1985, auctioned Witte’s cherry pie for $27.50. Witte has auctioned her pie’s and donated the proceeds ever since. The next annual Helen Witte Pie Auction will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, the opening night of Ossian Days, in the event tent.
While nearly $30 for one pie is nothing to balk at, it pales in comparison to the prices paid as years passed. Witte recalled the first time she broke her personal record when one of her pies sold for $800.
“I thought, ‘$800? There isn’t even 800 cherries in it!’” Witte exclaimed. “It was so humbling. I couldn’t help it — I cried.”
Witte beat her personal record again last year when two French apple cream pies sold for a combined $8,400.
Witte said she has put some miles behind her pies for this years auction in attempt to find a specific brand of apples. Multiple stores were out of the brand she needed.
“I’m using four different types this year,” Witte grinned. “You can’t use just one, it will all fall apart.”
Larry Heckber, the President of the Ossian Revitalization Committee, said Witte has raised $49,825 for the town since her auction at the 2009 Ossian Days Festival. Heckber also said her pies have raised around $50,000 for the Wells County 4-H organization.
Witte explained that some of the funds have been used to provide scholarships to students in 4-H, and that as a 10-year member herself, the cause is close to her heart. Heckber added that a portion of the funds for revitalization were used to develop the Archbold-Wilson Park in Ossian.
The two laughed as Witte recalled a recent surprise birthday celebration held in her honor. Her daughter planned the event. She detailed the beautiful decorations, her favorite foods from a myriad of restaurants, and the large number of friends and family that showered her with love.
“You’ve made a lot of friends and touched a lot of people,” Heckber said.
“That’s what this life is all about,” Witte replied with a smile.
Witte said that when she can no longer make the pies, she will pass the torch to her daughter.
“My daughter told me, ‘Mom, when it gets to the point that you can no longer do this, I want to step up’,” Witte said proudly. “This is a family tradition now.”
sydney@news-banner.com
