PARKE COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — A fundraising event held in memory of Colten Howard, who died in a tragic grain bin accident in 2019, raised more than $35,000 to help continue to spread grain bin safety awareness and to purchase equipment for fire departments across the state.

Colten’s Convoy is an event held annually for the past four years, it’s organized by family and friends of the late Colten Howard.

“We did this at first, just as a fun way to remember Colten, we never imagined it would grow this big,” Event Organizer Julie Crull said.

This year’s convoy consisted of more than 180 vehicles, side by side, and rangers, and raised a total of $35,807. Crull said all the money goes toward the Colten Howard Remembrance Fund.

Money from the fund is then used to purchase grain bin rescue equipment for fire departments across the state, as well as funding some scholarships, youth hunting and fishing licenses, and even some donations made to local residents who found themselves in need. Since the organization began, it has donated more than $20,000 in grain bin rescue equipment.

This year the organization made an additional $1,000 donation to the Parke County Sheriff’s Office. Crull explained that the funds could be used by the sheriff as needed. Sheriff Frazier said the money would likely go toward the office’s annual National Night Out program.

For more information about Colten’s Convoy and to see how the money raised will be spent in the coming months visit the organization’s Facebook page here.