There are about 250 children involved in more than 30 4-H clubs throughout Butler County.

The amount of fees paid for different activities, competitions and ceremonies adds up.

Butler County 4-H, however, helps children pay necessary fees throughout the year, and one of its biggest fundraisers, the annual benefit auction, is coming up in mid-October.

Amy Metrick, Butler County 4-H educator, said children in different clubs have been gathering items to auction for months, and the prizes will begin to be advertised once they are finalized Saturday.

“Kids go out and get these donations,” Metrick said. “They will visit local businesses and ask them to donate back to 4-H. Then we auction it off and it benefits county 4-H.”

The auction was canceled last year because of COVID-19, but Anita Morrison, a 4-H club leader on the auction committee, said there were about 200 lots auctioned off in 2019.

The auction this year opens at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 16 at the East Butler Volunteer Fire Department fire hall, and Morrison said auction items so far include games, gardening, camping, movie nights, ice cream sundaes and dinner baskets.

“There's something for everybody,” she said. “You never know what there will be, but it's always interesting.”

Metrick said the auction will be similar to the 4-H livestock auction that takes place annually at the Butler Farm Show.

There will be auctioneers who will describe the baskets and recognize the highest bidders. People will have to pay with cash or check, with no credit cards accepted, however.

Metrick said the fundraising goal this year is $10,000. Morrison said she thinks the county will reach that goal.

“Generally, people are pretty generous,” Morrison said. “I remember one year we had a charity tree that had a bunch of lottery tickets that started a bidding war.”

Money raised through the auction is then distributed to the county 4-H clubs, Metrick said.

While not every member of 4-H in Butler County collects donations for the auction, she said participating to help others is one of the values taught by 4-H.

“The money goes right to kids,” Metrick said. “It's all part of being a member.”