FFA members and other invited guests raised money for their senior member’s scholarships on March 5.

The labor auction had a dinner provided by Energy Quest Houston Texas, Neil and Carolyn Younger, Pioneer Seeds, and the Helping Hands of God Organization.

FFA, or Future Farmers of America, is a youth group dedicated to educating students who are interested in careers in agriculture. It offers students interested in agriculture chances to learn and experience hands-on projects to prepare them for future careers.

“The labor auction is where grandparents, parents, and other invited members bid to have an FFA member work for them eight hours doing cleaning, mowing and other stuff,” instructor Curt Vajnar said. “Child labor laws still apply to the auction, which is why kids only worked eight hours.”

Auctions like this one serve to raise money for seniors for their scholarships. Auctions can raise $15,000 to $20,000

The amount of money raised is divided among the seniors who’ve been in FFA for four years, depending on the amount of money raised according to their involvement points, which are the amount of activities they took part in.

The seniors in FFA this year are Blake Leiker, Amanda Miller, Rachel Pendergast, Jarett Pfannenstiel, Michaela VonLintel and Wade Woydziak.

One of the seniors who participated in the labor auction was Jarett Pfannenstiel, who participated in the labor auction to earn money for his scholarship to Fort Hays.

“I plan on attending Fort Hays State University with a major in Wildlife Biology,” Pfannenstiel said.

FFA offers more than just scholarship money.

“It offers leadership skills, work skills, and hands on experiences,” Vajnar said. “We have kids going to Oklahoma for the National Land Judging to get a feel for what it’s like.”

FFA is a great group to join if interested in agriculture. It gives kids a chance to earn learn more about their career options and earn scholarship money from the work they do.

“Kids in here after four years will have scholarships over $15,000, and they earn it themselves,” Vajnar said.

18mschmidt1@usd489.com