4-H'er assists with annual county auction
Butler County 4-H’er Camden Bash is just one of the many members who will reap the rewards of the 4-H Benefit Auction, slated for Saturday at the Vagabonds Hall in Lyndora. Doors open at 4:30 p.m., and the bidding starts at 6 p.m.
It is the largest fundraiser for the county 4-H program, and all auction proceeds help cover 75 percent of members’ registration costs to participate in county, regional, state and national 4-H events.
The auction will feature more than 200 items, all donated by local businesses and 4-H families. Some of this year’s offerings include a leaf blower, Pittsburgh sports memorabilia, handmade jewelry and several alpaca fiber products. A variety of themed gift baskets include car-detailing kits, movie fun nights and holiday items.
A food stand will offer dinner options, and the 4-H families are coordinating a bake sale with homemade treats.
Cam, the 16-year-old son of Steve and Beth Bash of Butler, assists with the county auction every year. “It gives us support to go more places and attend more events,” he said. “And it helps us hold a lot of our county activities.”
Cam has attended most available 4-H events throughout his six years of membership in the program. He started out as a camper at the Northwest Pennsylvania 4-H Camp, sparking his interest in becoming a teen counselor, which he did for the first time this summer.
“It was really fun to understand what the campers were experiencing and to be able to help them have a great time,” he said. He’s also attended the regional Teen Leader Retreat three times.
Cam has twice attended the 4-H State Leadership Conference and the Livestock Science Camp on campus at Penn State.
This spring, he went to 4-H State Capital Days in Harrisburg where participants learn about state government, tour the Capitol building and interact with their local legislators.
One of the things Cam likes the best about attending regional and state 4-H events is “meeting so many people — 4-H’ers and leaders — from all across Pennsylvania.”
Cam belongs to the Caprine Connection, the Butler County 4-H club that focuses on raising goats. He owns 11 breeding goats and uses their kids for his 4-H market goat projects. Cam is also the club’s representative to the Youth Council, the teen leadership team comprised of members nominated by their individual clubs.
Cam is also a member of the 4-H Travel Club. Since he’s been a member, the group has taken educational trips to central Pennsylvania, Lancaster County and West Virginia.
He is a junior at Butler High School and is a member of the rifle team.
Butler County 4-H is part of the nation’s largest non-formal youth development organization that provides its members, ages 8-19, the opportunity to “learn by doing,” through a variety of hands-on projects. Our county has nearly 30 different 4-H clubs with more than 330 members taking small and large animal projects, as well as sewing and baking, shooting sports and robotics, among others.
For more information about Butler County 4-H, contact Jean Kummer at the Extension Office at 724-287-4761.
