Iron 4-H program raises $7,125 with pie auction

By RICHARD JENKINS

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SAXON, Wis. - It was another successful year for the Iron County 4-H's annual pie auction Sunday at the Iron County Fair.

While the final numbers are still being tallied, the 46 pies auctioned off raised around $7,125 for the county's 4-H program. That figure includes Jason Rowe's $1,000 winning bid for a cinnamon-roll-crust apple pie.

"The crust was made out of cinnamon rolls ... and it was filled with apple and crumble. The judges loved it," Iron County Youth Development Educator Neil Klemme said.

The pie - one of two Rowe bought - was baked by Ava Innes, of Gurney, and her friend, Bella Pekel, from Texas, and was named the youth grand champion before being sold.

State Sen. Janet Bewley, county clerk Michael Saari and Chequamegon Dairy Association President Peter Thewis judged the pie contest prior to the auction.

The bid almost broke the auction's record of $1,050, according to Klemme.

Thirty-four adults and 12 kids entered pies into the auction and contest, with Klemme noticing an uptick in the numbers of adults entering pies.

"They're not all 4-H leaders; most of them aren't even connected to the 4-H program, they're just out there to try and help us out," Klemme said. "What I've heard is, (it's because) they see 4-H out there in the community, doing community service and they see the things the kids are working on and people want to come out and support that."

In the past, Klemme said 4-H has used the money to hold a ceramics class, painting workshops and other classes.

The efforts have paid dividends, Klemme said, as this year's fair saw an increase in ceramic and painting projects submitted by the kids.

"I think there were maybe three ceramics projects - four maybe - last year," Klemme said. "This year, we had 18 kids come to the ceramics workshop and each of them did two projects. So kids got to learn quite a bit about the project."

A large number of the county's current group of 4-Hers are also now in middle and high school and are becoming eligible for some trips through 4-H, including to space camp and the 4-H state and national conferences.

"We have kids getting to the age where they want to go on these state and international trips, so we use the money to help offset the costs for them," Klemme said.

The money raised by the auction, along with the dairy booth and silent auction, means the fair is the only fundraiser 4-H needs during the year.

"The fair - it's been awesome for us, because we don't have to ask kids to go out and fundraise and clubs don't have to go out and do brat fries every year," Klemme said. "We're able to do all our fundraising in that three-day stretch ... both the leaders association is able to make money to support the projects and the dairy booth profits are then divided amongst the clubs. Each club gets roughly $450 from the dairy booth every year.

"We have so many fundraisers with the school and with such a small community, it's kind of hard to keep hitting the same people up for fundraising things every year," Klemme added, saying the fair prevents the program from needing to seek support through the rest of the year.