$28,000 Raised by Central Mo Ag Club Pie Auction

The Central Missouri Ag Club's Pie auction was held Saturday evening at the Pork Place on the Missouri State Fairgrounds.

The pie auction took place after a brisket and pork dinner, and after a presentation by Dr. Doug Kiburz, who delivered an original poem.

Danny Young emceed the event, which also featured five awards presented to area farm families:

The Reed Family was named the 2019 Farm Family by the Ag Club.

Four Pettis County farms were recognized as Century Farms as well, including the Richey Farm in La Monte, established in 1881 (Dorothy Kaltoff, Nancy Rickey and Kay Smith)l the Schenk (pronounced Shank) Family Farm in Dredsen, established in 1893 (Mark Curtis and Doris brim Family); the Springfork Valley Farm in Sedalia, established in 1908 (David Dick); and the Kearney Family Farm in Houstonia, established in 1866 (Warren and Sharon Kearney).

Glen LaRue of Sweet Springs served as auctioneer Saturday night. Money raised at the event will go towards Youth in Agriculture scholarships.

In addition to the homemade pies, an autographed Terry Bradshaw jersey was auctioned off as well. Bradshaw, 71,  is a former professional football player who played quarterback in the National Football League. Since 1994, he has been a TV sports analyst and co-host of Fox NFL Sunday.

Also for auction was a metal tree sculpture created by Dr. Kiburz.

"The money (generated) from this all goes to scholarships for high school seniors going to college studying agriculture. It also goes to 4-H to pay to rent the fairgrounds, we pay for their insurance and we pay for their judges for 4-H Achievements Days in the summertime here at the Fairgrounds," said Janice Klenke.  "And in the fall, we take 3rd and 4th grade kids to attend Old Settlers Day in Cole Camp. We pay for their lunch."

Klenke, who was in charge of the pie auction and the banquet, noted that if $35,000 to $40,000 is raised between the pie auction and the Ag Expo (held next weekend), then $30,000 is directed towards scholarships, while $8,000 goes to 4-H.

The pie contest drew 31 entries, which translates to 62 pies. Entries were judged earlier in the afternoon. A total of $28,255 was raised at the event, Klenke said on Monday night.