Benefit auction scheduled for Friday at fair
The fifth annual Fayette County Benefit Auction is slated for 6 p.m. Friday at the Youth Building during the Fayette County Fair. Buyers can come early to view more than 200 brand-new items, including crafts and collectibles, home, garden and livestock supplies, restaurant and business gift certificates, hotel and resort stay packages and tickets to amusement parks, sporting events and other local attractions. In addition, the auction includes themed gift baskets created by each Fayette County 4-H club and hand-crafted items made by 4-H members, such as solar lights and woven rugs.
Auctioneers from Rittenhouse Auction Co. in Vanderbilt are donating their time for the event. Sandy Brittingham has attended many of the planning meetings.
The auction, which raised more than $12,000 in 2009, benefits all 4-H members.
Victoria Ansell Baker, 4-H leader and auction chairwoman, wrote in a letter to auction contributors that last year’s auction enabled Fayette County 4-H “to offer 11 scholarships to Fayette County 4-H youths. In addition, the proceeds from this event benefit the Fayette County 4-H/Youth Development program, including more than 2,000 members from traditional, school enrichment and after-school programs, and over 80 volunteers in Fayette County.”
Cathy Brady, extension educator for Penn State Fayette County Cooperative Extension, explained that 11 youths each received a $500 scholarship in 2009.
Current or past 4-H members who are attending college or a trade school are eligible to apply. The scholarship is available to members from any of the county’s 4-H clubs.
In addition, the benefit auction helps Fayette County 4-H pay 75 percent of the costs for youths to attend regional, state and national events.
Brady said, “We had a lot of kids who went to Southwest Regional Teen Retreat. We have eight members going to the state teen retreat. Our shooting sports teams go to 4-H state Achievement Days. A dog team will also go. This is held during our fair.”
Members of 4-H sewing clubs also participate in a regional fashion revue.
The auction has grown significantly in the past five years, having raised $5,000 in its first year.
Donations and volunteers are welcome. For more information on the auction, visit online at http://fayette.extension.psu.edu/ or call Brady or Val Sesler, co-chair of the auction, at the extension office at 724-438-0111 or Baker at 724-331-4841. Monetary donations can be sent to Fayette County 4-H Development Fund, c/o Fayette County Cooperative Extension, 34 W. Peter St., Uniontown, Pa. 15401.