CASS COUNTY — Pulled pork sandwiches, high-quality items and the lively atmosphere of an auction await those who attend the Cass County 4-H Leaders’ Association auction at 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 16 at the Dowagiac Conservation Club.

The annual dinner and auction is a fundraiser for all Cass County 4-H members. The funds go to membership fees, as well as trips to various 4-H events throughout the state.

Cost for the dinner is $5 if tickets are pre-ordered. The price increases by $2 if purchased at the door. Auctioneer Shane Harris will make the evening feel like a real auction as he calls out bids for different items like a Kobalt chainsaw, a toolbox filled with ratchet straps and gloves, a truckload of firewood, animals and packaged meats, varieties of donated baskets and more. Volunteer 4-H members will set up for the auction and dinner, display items during the auction and help tear down and clean up after the event.

According to Cass County 4-H Leaders’ Association organizer DeDee Luke, the impact of the auction is far-reaching. While the auction is directed specifically at helping Cass County 4-H clubs, there are members of the clubs from communities outside of Cass County, like Paw Paw and Three Rivers.

“You actually don’t have to be in Cass County to be in our 4-H clubs,” Luke said.

The Cass County 4-H Leaders’ Association is a group of adult and teen leaders who represent each of the local 4-H clubs. The primary purpose of the group is fundraising, and as of 2018, it became increasingly important for communities to raise money for local 4-H clubs and members. In 2018 the membership fee for 4-H clubs increased from $10 to $20 due to federal funding cuts.

Aside from the doubled membership fee, trips such as the Exploration Days at Michigan State University and the Citizenship Washington Focus are costly activities for 4-H members, but immeasurably valuable opportunities. Exploration Days gives members the opportunity to visit MSU to sit in classes, participate in agriculture-related programs and activities and provide them with a sense of what higher education in the ag field could be like. Citizenship Washington Focus allows members to visit Washington DC to see the inner workings of the federal government, and to tour DC.

For Luke, getting funding to keep local teens involved in 4-H clubs and extra programming is essential for keeping the club alive and raising productive members of society.

“4-H teaches community service, clear thinking, how to solve problems – it helps the community raise better people,” Luke said.

Tickets for the Cass County 4-H Leaders’ Auction can be purchased through local 4-H clubs and members. More information can be found at casscounty4hleaders.org. The auction and dinner are open to the public.