'Friends of Agriculture' round up scholarship funds

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North Central Texas College agriculture students show off some of the items that will be auctioned at the annual NCTC Friends of Agriculture Roundup on Nov. 10 at the Gainesville Civic Center. Pictured are (left to right) Thomas Glascock, Garrett Spigner, Kelsey Cooley, Ag Department chairman Steve Keith, Melisa Williams and Trent Harris. Courtesy photo

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October 31, 2012

'Friends of Agriculture' round up scholarship funds

Special to the Register Gainesville Daily Register The Daily Register Wed Oct 31, 2012, 09:46 AM CDT

Gainesville — This year’s annual “Friends of Agriculture Round-Up” at North Central Texas College is set for Saturday, Nov. 10, and the goal remains the same—to round up funds for scholarships.

This First State Bank-sponsored event will get underway at the Gainesville Civic Center with the traditional silent auction beginning at 6 p.m. The silent auction gives buyers the opportunity to bid on a variety of merchandise, services and even baked goods donated by area businesses and individuals.

A barbecue meal will be served from 6:15 to 7 p.m., and then it will be time for the event’s popular live auction under the gavel of auctioneer Herkie Biffle.

All proceeds from the auction will help build endowed scholarships for NCTC students studying agriculture, horticulture or equine science at NCTC.

“The NCTC Friends of Agriculture scholarship was an enormous help to me and my family,” said previous scholarship recipient Crystal Bayer. “The scholarship allowed me to acquire my associate’s degree at NCTC and also enabled me to continue my education at Tarleton State University where I earned my bachelor’s degree in animal production. Without the Friends of Agriculture scholarship, I am sure this would not have been possible.”

Steve Keith, chair of the NCTC Agriculture Department, said there are many stories like Bayer’s — stories of students whose lives have been positively impacted by this scholarship assistance.

“The scholarship I received allowed me to better prepare for the university experience,” Brian Noles said.

Among the items to be offered for bid in this year’s live Scholarship Roundup Auction include dinner for eight at Ancient Ovens, a shotgun, shop projects from several FFA chapters, quilts, tires, concrete, cattle feed, crushed rock, mineral feeders, tools, chain saw, bird house, prime rib dinner for 12 and a managed deer hunt.

The auction catalog, containing a complete list of all live and silent auction items, will be available the week of the auction, according to Keith. It can be seen online at www.nctc.edu/agriculture. A link will also be available on the Agriculture Department’s Facebook page.

“Each year our auction provides community members an opportunity to purchase luxury items as well as everyday items that they would be buying anyway,” Keith said, “but here the money goes to build perpetual scholarship funds for students.”

Since the first Ag auction was held in 2001, more than $200,000 has been raised for scholarships for students majoring in agriculture, equine and horticulture.

Admission to the event is $10 per person, which includes the meal, and tickets can be purchased at the door.

Each admission ticket will also be a raffle ticket for a “mystery treasure chest.” The raffle is sponsored by Martindale Feed Mill and Sweetlix.

A new addition to the auction last year that will return this year is the availability of a cash bar and a limited availability of VIP Sponsor Tables.

For more information about the auction or to inquire about purchasing tickets or a VIP table, contact the NCTC Agriculture Department at 940-668-4217.