New Lothrop FFA Labor Auction
The New Lothrop FFA Labor Auction in action.
Northeastern Michigan is home to the New Lothrop FFA Chapter with 124 members. For this chapter, an event that started in 1978 soon became a yearly tradition. The labor auction is a fundraiser where members of the chapter get auctioned off and the money goes toward the chapter, while the members go and do the work.
This past year, the New Lothrop FFA Chapter raised over $37,350 in one night. These funds are going directly into the program. A few years ago, the chapter used funds raised to build a new barn. This year, the goal is to add final touches to the barn, including gutters and concrete. The funds are not only going toward the chapter, but also member experiences. Some are used to lower the cost for senior members to attend national convention, including food and hotel expenses.
Barn built from funds from the labor auction.
Every year, the chapter sees more and more community members attend the event and help raise funds required to provide opportunities for members. Advisor John Wyrick described the labor auction “as one of the most energetic in years.”
This fundraiser helps to bridge the gap between generations, including community members and current and future FFA members. Events like these have also given countless jobs to members, and younger members gain a lot of confidence to go out and speak to people they may have never met before. Overall, it is truly amazing to see the growth and opportunities that arise.
Chapter President Sean Dammann is very appreciative of the support of the community. “I personally experienced so much growth from these funds because of their impact on my chapter’s co-op program, which allows members without the ability to raise animals to do so and show them at the fair,” says Dammann.
The future of New Lothrop FFA is very bright. Community support is truly vital for a chapter to run smoothly. The labor auction doesn’t just help with upkeep — it helps members experience showing animals and improve their time in FFA.
