November 16, 2025
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Rotary Club’s annual CrabFest a huge success

SOU Rotaract students served as “crab wranglers.” Adrienne Simmons photo
March 3, 2024

Fundraiser brings in about $70K to support vocational scholarships

By Julia Sommer

Stevenson Union’s Rogue River Room was jam-packed with happy crab aficionados Saturday, Feb. 24, as the Rotary Club of Ashland Lithia Springs presented its 25th annual, all-you-can-eat Kids First! CrabFest. The community-based event raised about $70,000.

Proceeds will support local kids, especially scholarships for Ashland High School students wishing to train for careers not requiring a bachelor’s degree. Southern Oregon University Rotaract students helped with serving the massive amounts of fresh crab. Rotaract is Rotary’s club for college students.

Email freelance writer Julia Sommer of Ashland at [email protected].

Ashland High School volunteers Liv Kim and Mia Miranda. Adrienne Simmons photo
Rotary members Russ Schweikert, left, and Dave Dotterer measure 50-50 raffle tickets; a wing span cost $50, half of which went to the winner, the other half to Rotary. Julia Sommer photo
Crab wrangler supervisor and Rotary member Adrienne Simmons. Julia Sommer photo

Chief crab wrangler, Rotary Lithia Springs president-elect, and Ashland’s Presbyterian minister Dan Fowler gets ready for action. Julia Sommer photo
Susan Aaronson, left (development director at Community Works) and Rotary Ashland president and recent recipient of a City of Ashland volunteer award Janet Troy enjoy the event. Adrienne Simmons photo
Picture of Bert Etling

Bert Etling

Bert Etling is the executive editor of Ashland.news. Email him at [email protected].
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