Owatonna Young Life Cake Auction Sets Record [Photos]

The Young Life Cake Auction took a step toward normalcy on Saturday. And set a fundraising record. Most of the items came with a cake after a virtual year in 2020. The event also featured an in-person walk thru at Trinity Lutheran Church in Owatonna. In recent years the auction had been held at Owatonna High School. Last year the event was headquartered in the Young Life office with director Lindsay Thompson and her family the only people present due to the start of the pandemic.

This year, however, students assisted in displaying cakes and sharing their stories about Young Life. The online auction featured 147 items, most of which came with a cake. Many of those cakes showed the creativity of donors, as the cake auction has become known for. The main goal, as always, has been to raise money to support Owatonna students in Young Life.

Thompson reports the auction set a record this year by raising $89,417. In a related note, on Owatonna's 'Big Day of Giving,' preliminary numbers on the St. Mary's Night of Knights Auction indicate it brought in about $120,000 plus another $57,000 in the 'Spirit of the Knight.' Donations for the 'Spirit' continue through Tuesday night (April 20).

High school Young Life student Jenna is an office holder in Young Life this year and leader for a ninth grade group. She spoke of her trip to Wilderness Camp in Colorado and ropes course gave her a chance to do something she didn't think she could. Macy spoke of her time meeting as a group with other sophomores.

Jack said he is looking forward to camp this summer. Grace said she appreciates her time with her mentor. She also spoke of going outside her comfort zone with the "Leap of Faith" at camp and line-dancing at the banquet.

As you look through the pictures below, the camera cake created by Tim Van Gelder won the "People's Choice" award. The BBQ cake was the runner-up.