BENEFIT AUCTION

Brian and Christy Smith

Administrator:

Heidi Ritter

This auction is for Brian and Christy Smith who are fellow Goat Breeders in Hermiston, OR.  The past couple of years has been full of hardships, but is finally getting to the point where they desperately need some assistance.  Christy has had two surgeries.  One procedure in August of 2000, and another in July of 2001.  The medical bills continue to mount.  Since November of 2000 Brian and Christy have been involved in a long and messy court battle over custody of Brian’s two oldest children, Kassondra and Matthew Smith who were proved to be abused and severely neglected in their previous home.  Having won physical and Temporary Custody in December of last year, they have fought appeal after appeal.  It is now going to the State Court level.  They are out of money and have no idea where to get the finances to proceed.  They have listed about half of their herd, Dreamhigh Farms, for sale to help them get by.  On the same day they found out they were going to have to fight this further, they were informed that the County that they live in had gone on to their property on November 20^th, did an inspection, and determined that they were going to enforce the rules of an “RR4” zone, and that the limit of animals is “Two horses, cows, sheep, goats, pigs, or similar-sized livestock per acre.”  They have applied for a Variance Permit and have been denied. To further their troubles, their daughter Kassondra while having her mouth prepared for Orthodontic treatment was diagnosed with a Tumor of her Maxilla.  Further surgery, a biopsy, and medical treatment are needed.  In addition to the mounting court costs, medical costs for both Christy and Kassondra, they must now somewhere find the money to move and to pay the costs of moving into a new home, which will obviously not be able to be in the same area that they are living now.  They are not able to purchase a place as their Stock, Savings, and all Retirement Accounts have long since been dispersed to help cover the costs of Attorneys.  Brian and Christy have donated to many of these benefit auctions to help others, and it is our hope that you can find it in yourself to help them in this great time of financial and emotional need.  Please help by donating an item for auction or bidding on an available item.  Please help in any way you can.  Anything you can do is greatly appreciated.