Annual Signed Guitar Auction Raises $2,000 for Veterans Charities at NWKS Radio Concert

One guitar. Two country artists. A lasting tribute to those who served.

During NWKS Radio's Collin Raye concert on Saturday, June 27, at the Colby Event Center, another annual tradition helped make a difference well beyond the music.

A signed acoustic guitar, autographed by both Collin Raye and special guest Walker Montgomery, was auctioned off during the concert. Between the two performances, NWKS Radio General Manager Chad Jones announced the auction and invited concertgoers to submit bids by text message. Throughout the evening, bidders received updates as the price continued to climb, creating plenty of excitement before the final bid was placed.

When the auction ended, the winning bid reached $2,000.

As has become tradition with the annual concert, every dollar raised from the guitar auction was donated to charities chosen by the winning bidder.

This year's winner, a resident of WaKeeney, Kansas, chose to divide the proceeds among Wounded Warriors, Honor Flight, and American Legion Post 173 in Hays. The donations were made in memory of the winner's father and uncle, both veterans whose service and sacrifice continue to inspire their family.

The winner shared that their father served in the U.S. Army and had the opportunity to participate in an Honor Flight before his passing. The experience, they said, was the greatest honor of his life, making Honor Flight a meaningful choice for one of the donations.

Their uncle served in the U.S. Navy and is currently battling brain cancer. He remains actively involved with American Legion Post 173 in Hays, where the donation will help fund a new parking lot at the organization's new building, benefiting local veterans and the community for years to come.

Another portion of the proceeds will support Wounded Warriors and its mission of serving injured veterans and their families.

The signed guitar itself was purchased as a special gift for the winner's granddaughter, who is a guitar player. Although she was not at the concert, she will receive a one of a kind keepsake that honors both the artists who signed it and the family members whose memories inspired the charitable donations.

The guitar auction has become one of NWKS Radio's favorite concert traditions, giving fans the opportunity to own a unique piece of country music history while supporting causes that matter.

Another concert tradition continues back at the KXXX studios, where a second guitar signed by the night's performers is displayed alongside guitars from previous NWKS Radio concerts. The growing collection serves as a reminder of the artists who have performed in Northwest Kansas and the memories made at each annual event.

While music has a way of creating unforgettable memories, this year's signed guitar will represent something even greater. It will forever symbolize a family's love for those who served, the generosity of a Northwest Kansas community, and the lasting impact that can happen when people come together for a meaningful cause. It's a reminder that sometimes the greatest encore isn't played on stage, but in the lives that are touched long after the final song has ended.