Father Joel Martin, president of St. Bernard Prep School, left, congratulates Don Bockhold and grandson, Grayson Olszowka along with Father Marcus Voss, director of Development.

Don Bockhold of Cullman spent eight hours volunteering at the 2nd Annual Bernard Blues and BBQ Festival in Cullman and had returned home for some much needed rest before his grandson, Grayson Olszowka, a middle school student at the school, encouraged him to make the short drive back to school for the drawing of the cash giveaway.

At exactly 4:58 p.m. Bockhold made another $25 donation to the school. Little did he know that spur of the moment act would result in $10,000.

“I couldn’t believe it, Father Marcus mispronounced my name because of my hurriedly written handwriting, but when I had to state my phone number, I was the winner. I couldn’t wait to call my wife to tell her we had won,” Bockhold said.

Festival Director Joyce Nix said in the 34-year history of all festivals at St. Bernard only one other time the winner has been present. “It was an awesome experience to witness the presence of the winner, but to see how proud his grandson was of his grandfather melted our hearts,” Nix said. 

The Bockhold’s have been supporters of the school for several years having sent one of their daughters to St. Bernard and now they have two grandsons enrolled.

The festival weekend opened with sultry hot and humid weather, but that didn’t deter the die- hard art lovers from coming to shop from sixty-five artisan booths on display. From pottery to pumpkins, flowers and clothing, to brooms, woodturning and paintings, visitors were doing some early Christmas shopping as well as some fine eating on campus.

Sunday the weather presented a problem as it rained much of the afternoon. While several of the artisans packed up to save their merchandise, several braved the elements and enjoyed the entertainment of Sweet Licks Dixieland Jazz, De’Ja Blues and Bama Blu-Grace.

Other winners of the sweepstakes included: 2nd place – $1,000; Doug Elder of Birmingham; 3rd Place $500 – Scott Browning of Cullman; 4th Place $250 – Tim Donahue of Vestavia; and 5th Place $100 went to Anita Lammers of Sautee, Georgia.

All proceeds from the 2nd Annual Bernard Blues and BBQ benefit St. Bernard Prep School.