Chamber celebrates community at annual Christmas Tree Auction
By Camille DeVaul · Thu Dec 11 2025
Event honored Jermin family, recognized ABI Engineering and Waste Connections
TEMPLETON — The Paso Robles and Templeton Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Christmas Tree Auction on Thursday, Dec. 4. Returning for its second year after a small break, the event brought together residents, businesses, and nonprofit partners for an evening that celebrated resilience and generosity across North County.
Interim CEO of the Chamber Robert Covarrubias addressed welcomed guests, recapping the grand opening of the new Chamber offices that opened on Main Street in Templeton earlier this year. He also encouraged local businesses to join and become active in the Chamber in Templeton.
"It's a beautiful facility. Folks in Templeton said, 'Look, if you give us something, we could be rid of we'll join.' We built it. We're waiting for people to join," Covarrubias said. "You can only carry things in the red so long. This is the only spiel you're going to hear tonight, business related. Guys, if we can't grow membership in Templeton, we won't be able to exist in Templeton. And that is not what we want. Events like this are so important. They matter, they make a difference."
This year’s auction honored the Jermin family as Citizen of the Year, recognizing their deep roots in Templeton and their commitment to the community following the devastating July 4 fire that destroyed the historic Templeton Feed and Grain. During the ceremony, the San Luis Obispo County Garbagemen’s Association presented the family with a $5,000 check to support efforts to rebuild the local business.
Last year's Citizen of the Year, Teresa Dellaganna, hosted the event as the emcee for the night, introducing the night's award winners.
"[The Chamber is] honoring, not just one person, they are honoring a family, a business, somebody that is very near and dear to our hearts here in Templeton," said Dellaganna, whose great-grandfather was one of the first five customers to have an account at the Templeton Feed and Grain.
She continued, "[During the] aftermath of the fire, I saw the community rally around the Jermin family, my heart was broke, but full of pride. The Templeton Feed and Grain was more than a feed mill, it is the cornerstone of our town. The soul of Templeton. The backdrop of our memories, the parades, senior photos, engagement photos, our lives ... but the resilience of the Jermin family remains and a steadfast approach to business and their lives. Just a couple miles down the road, they're still in business, and one day they'll be back on Main Street."
The auction featured a collection of Christmas trees, each sponsored and decorated by local businesses. A portion of the proceeds from each tree benefited a nonprofit chosen by the sponsoring organization. From festive décor to bundled gifts, each tree offered bidders a unique holiday prize while supporting local causes.
California Coast Beer Co. and Weyrick Lumber sponsored a tree benefiting the Martha Olson Fernandez Foundation, while J.B. Dewar Inc. supported its Tractor Restoration Program. Gannage Design & Construction donated on behalf of Tree of Life, and Digs Vacation Rentals partnered with Sunshine Olive Oil to benefit the Paso Robles and Templeton Chamber of Commerce.
Radiology Associates and Fox Chiropractic both supported the Cancer Support Community, and All Dry Services with Rogall + Co. sponsored Jack’s Helping Hand. Additional sponsors included the Templeton Women’s Charitable Club, Culligan SLO supporting ALF Food Pantry, Central Coast Moving & Storage benefiting Loaves & Fishes, and Waste Connections: Chicago Grade Landfill supporting the Templeton High School Athletic Boosters.
In addition to recognizing the Jermin family, the Chamber named ABI Engineering and Waste Connections’ Chicago Grade Landfill as Businesses of the Year. Both companies played crucial roles in the aftermath of the Templeton Feed and Grain fire.
ABI Engineering was acknowledged for its work in safely bringing down the unstable silos left standing after the fire. Owner Andy Brown, a North County native, coordinated with local officials to engineer a controlled cable system for demolition. Founded with a single backhoe in 2002, ABI Engineering has grown into a full-service company known for its community-minded approach.
Waste Connections, operator of the Chicago Grade Landfill, was recognized for its efforts in managing and recycling the debris from the fire. Site manager Dannette Fieguth led teams in sorting, repurposing, and disposing of materials, with much of the salvaged wood and grain used for erosion control. The company’s collaboration with local volunteers and contractors was praised as a key part of the recovery.
The Chamber will return with its annual gala, Luminaries: Lighting the Path Ahead, on Feb. 28, 2026, at Rava Wines. The elegant evening will welcome the incoming 2026 Board of Directors, honor outgoing board members, and celebrate the Chamber’s accomplishments over the past year. The event will also include the announcement of the Roblan of the Year and Beautification of the Year award recipients.
Guests will enjoy a multi-course dinner, handcrafted cocktails, live entertainment, a silent auction, and an exciting live auction featuring exclusive experiences. Early Bird pricing is available through Dec. 30, with savings on individual tickets and tables.
For more information, visit pasorobleschamber.com
Feature Image: The Jermin family — (clockwise from top left) Dylan, Rick, Stacey, Bobbie, and Tom Jr. — are shown at the Christmas Tree Auction, where they were recognized collectively as Citizen of the Year. Photo by Derek Luff/PRP