Buffalo Island Central FFA auction draws large crowd

The 2015 Buffalo Island Central Future Farmers of America (FFA) auction/dinner was not about finding bargains, it was about supporting the students.

For the second year, the event was held at the Sanders building in Leachville on Monday, March 16. Due to inclement weather the original March 7 date had to be postponed.

The barbecue dinner was catered by Bigg Butts of Leachville. In addition to dinner, there were drawings for door prizes, a silent auction, and a live auction with over 100 items auctioned with Rodney McClellan with A1 Auction Co. of Paragould and his son, Nathan, again volunteering to work the auction.

Several assistants helped keep the bidding lively and fun.

The evening was kicked off with a 50/50 drawing won by Kevin Varner.

FFA advisers from different schools were on hand to help BIC adviser Bruce Fires. Trumann FFA made a Mustang sign and donated it to the auction. The blue sign sold for $230.

One of the main attractions for bidding were 10 duck calls giving the high bidders a chance to win a shotgun. The drawing for the shotgun was held at the end of the evening with the 10 high bidders eliminated one at a time.

The winner was Blaine Wildy who purchased the 10th duck call.

Earlier in the auction Rhonda Lunsford won the 10/22 Ruger.

The proceeds from the gun auction will go for scholarships.

Auctioneer McClelland passed a hat which was filled with cash and then auctioned off the hat.

Chocolate covered strawberries, fried pies, cakes, along with bicycles, collectible tractors, seed, items made by the BIC FFA members, freezer ready hog, Yeti coolers, prints, tools, Red Bird tickets, recliner, Cardinal tickets, John Deere quilt, tools, duck calls, Mustang season passes, picnic tables made by the BIC FFA, deer stand, and much more went to the highest bidders.

The generous nature of the bidders came out when fried pies sold for over $300 and then were shared with the crowd. A child's bicycle was purchased for $100 and then given to the little boy who was riding it.

"I want to thank everyone who attended, for all of the donations, and everyone who helped make the auction successful," Fires said.

The event raised a little less than $25,000.