After six months of planning, the school of forestry and wildlife sciences will host their first "Spring Fling and Outdoor Expo" Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6 at the Crooked Oaks Hunting Preserve and Quail Hollow Gardens.
The two-day event, will begin with a night of food and entertainment starting at 4 p.m. and will be held at former Auburn head football coach Pat Dye's property in Notasulga, will cost attendants $100 dollars per ticket.
"One of the things that Coach Dye has been a leader at since he retired in coaching is giving back to Auburn," said Heather Crozier, director of development for the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences.
Crozier said that all of the proceeds from the event will be put toward scholarships and student support such as funding conference trips and school clubs.
"I feel the same way about forestry as I do football, we need to be number one," Dye said. "We need to be able to hire the best professors and attract the best students. A scholarship might be the difference in us getting a super star student and not getting one. There are certainly a lot of smart kids that don't have the financial means."
Crozier said they hope to raise a minimum of $50,000 at the event and plan to make it an annual fundraiser for the school.
The night will include a silent and live auction where people can bid on a large variety of donated items such as a Paula Dean signed cookbook, club-level seats to the 2013 Auburn/Alabama football game, a guitar signed by Vince Gill and Amy Grant, a seven-day stay in Alys Beach and a football signed by St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher to different Auburn and Alabama sports memorabilia, jewelry and rounds at local golf courses.
Jamie Ogle, store manager of Sun South in Auburn, donated an air compressor and John Deere paintings to be auctioned off at the event.
"Coach Dye and Auburn University are very good customers for us and we like to help out whenever possible," Ogle said.
While the auctions take place, appetizers made by Conecuh Sausage and a buffet provided by the Organized Seafood Association of Alabama will be served to the guests.
Students in the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences will be volunteering their time by serving food and helping with various aspects of the weekend.
While eating dinner, attendants can also listen to live music by Kidd Blue, a local band covering jazz, 80s and rock 'n' roll songs, watch demonstrations by the EcoDogs, detection dogs used in the study and research of natural resources or take a tour of the Japanese maple trees at Quail Hollow Gardens along with many other activities.
Lynn Huggins, director of sales and marketing at Quail Hollow Gardens, said the guest will also be able to visit with surprise special guest appearances on Friday night.
"The Spring Fling and Outdoor Expo is important for generating funding for educational purposes in the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, and also for demonstrating some of the important research, educational and outreach activities that we do in the school," said Todd Steury, assistant professor of wildlife ecology involved with the EcoDogs.
Purchasing a Friday night ticket also includes admission to the "Outdoor Expo" occurring the following day and gives them a first look at all of the venue.
Attendance to the expo portion of the event from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. the following day will cost each adult $10 and can be purchased the event, while children 12 and under can attend for free.
Huggins said the expo will feature a mix of outdoor-related venues including Beck's Turf Farm, Yellawood, Alabama Power and The Wildlife Group, where people can receive information about all things outdoors and make purchases while listening to music, watching demonstrations and viewing Pat Dye's farm, which are just a few of the things that will be offered that day.
"By partnering with Coach Dye we hope to give the school more exposure as well as offsetting some of the budget cuts the school is experiencing," Crozier said.
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