Laborintensive
FFA readies for annual fund-raiser

Above, Ag teacher and FFA leader Stu Dildine shows one of the pigs housed in the newly constructed ag building. While work is still being done -- mainly in house -- pens are already in place. Below, Dildine shows the building off to, from left, Lee Sleeper, district technology director; Lynette Hughes, curriculum director;

If you're tired of cleaning the house after the holidays or don't have time for yardwork or the myriad other tasks cluttering your life, Bullard FFA has the perfect solution - hire a club student to do it for you.

The Bullard FFA will hold its student labor and merchandise auction beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday.

The annual event will be held in the Bullard Middle School cafeteria.

This is the 12th year for this successful fund-raiser - one Ag teacher and FFA sponsor Stu Dildine said is absolutely necessary.

"We've raised anywhere from $10-16,000 in years past," Dildine said.

Money raised is used for student lodging, the annual FFA banquet stock shows, etc.

Dildine is optimistic this year's auction will be bigger and better than previous years.

"I'd like to do better," he said. "And I anticipate we will.

"The community has always been amazingly supportive of the program, and I attribute that support to our continued success."

On the heels of a successful year, the community certainly has lent its support.

The school's ag department is still moving into its brandnew facility and the current room is lined with pig pens.

Of the almost $400,000 the building should cost by completion, $150,000 was donated by Greg Kelly and Jimmy Bain at Glo-Flame.

And Dildine said it's already filled to capacity.

Superintendent Jim Wright said the building - in his opinion - isn't a luxury, it's a necessity.

"There aren't that many farm kids in Bullard anymore," Wright said. "So in order to complete animal projects, this is a perfect solution."

Before the building was in the works, Dildine allowed students to keep the animals on his farm.

He is a true believer in the teachings of FFA.

"It's an important program," he said. "It's not all about raising rabbits or pigs.

"It teaches children dependability, responsibility and record keeping - not just raising an animal."

Dildine had about 90 students in high school and almost 70 in the third through eighth grade FFA group.

The auction is two-fold. The first is a silent merchandise auction, but it's the second that draws more attention.

The students offer themselves to the highest bidder to do chores for the day.

The event begins with a barbeque dinner at 6 p.m., complete with entertainment from Bullard favorites "Nearly There."

The auction follows at 7 p.m.

Door prizes will also be awarded.

Dildine said some of the winners do such things as babysitting, house cleaning, fence mending, yard work and car washing.

For more information on the event, call Lori Fountain at 903-570-8996.