4-H benefit auction scheduled Oct. 13
The Home & Heart 4-H Club is just one of the many Butler County 4-H clubs and members of those clubs reap the rewards of the 4-H Benefit Auction, scheduled Oct. 13 at the East Butler Fire Hall. Doors open at 4:30 p.m., and the bidding starts at 6 p.m.
As the largest fundraiser for the county 4-H program, all auction proceeds help cover a percentage of members' registration costs to participate in county, regional, state and national 4-H events.
This year the auction will feature more than 200 items, and everything is donated by local businesses and Butler County 4-H families.
Some of this year's offerings include handmade crafts, landscaping and recreational items, gift cards and tickets to local places and events. A variety of themed gift baskets will also be up for sale.
A food stand will offer dinner options, and the 4-H families and the Home & Heart 4-H club are coordinating a bake sale with homemade treats.
Home and Heart 4-H has been a club in Butler County 4-H since 2008 and is one of 25 4-H clubs in the county. Members of this club focus on cooking and sewing projects. The club takes part in many community service activities.
In past years, it has gone caroling at a local nursing home, created Valentine's Day cards for nursing home residents and helped with the petting zoo at the Big Butler Fair. This year Home and Heart, consisting of 15 members, will once again be baking at least 12 pies to be sold at the auction through the bake sale as well as volunteering their time and talents to run the sale.
In addition to their pies, the club will be donating a fall themed basket to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. All proceeds from the bake sale and auction will be used to help offset the registration cost of local, state and national events that Butler County 4-H members participate in as well as scholarships for those youths attending secondary education.
Jenny Morrison, a six-year veteran of the 4-H program, started 4-H when she was a 6-year-old as part of the Cloverbud program and joined Home and Heart when she turned 8. Her projects include sewing, cooking, gardening and cake decorating with plans to participate in the photography project in 2019.
The daughter of John and Anita Morrison of Valencia, Jenny states that her favorite part of 4-H is “learning new skills while having a great time with other kids.” When asked why she helps with the benefit auction Jenny said, “I help every year because it's lots of fun to help with and I know the money lets 4-H'ers have great experiences throughout the year.”
Fellow Home and Heart member Sophia Zang is excited to help at the auction this year. She is the 10-year-old daughter of Jason and Michelle Zang of Butler and has been in 4-H for three years. Her projects include showing dairy cattle though the Butler County 4-H Dairy Club and baking.
“I love showing my cows and baking,” says Sophia, and adds “4-H has allowed me to make new friends.” This year Home and Heart will be gathering together the night before the auction to make pies to sell though the bake sale.
“Peach pie is my favorite to make and to eat!” says Sophia.
Both girls have entered their projects into the Butler Farm Show and received many ribbons with them. They also attended InBetweeners Retreat held for 4-H'ers who are ages 9-11 and looking to increase their skills in leadership, communication and responsibility.
“My favorite part of the InBetweeners Retreat was playing all the games with other 4-H'ers” says Jenny. The girls are able to attend events like these because of the support of those who buy at the benefit auction.
In addition to the duties of running the bake sale, the club, along with its fellow Butler County 4-H'ers, will help carry items up on stage to be sold. Once an item is sold, the 4-H member will take the purchase to the buyer's seat for them to then take home and enjoy.
“Helping at the auction is a lot of fun” said Sophia. The girls agree that 4-H has played an important part in their lives. Although they are just at the beginning of their 4-H careers, Jenny and Sophia are leading by example for our up and coming Butler County 4-H'ers.
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 25 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 Butler County 4-H Educator Amy Metrick at the Extension Office at 724-287-4761.
