Latecomers to Saturday night’s annual Winn 4-H Outdoor Skills Banquet had to look around to find a place at a table. Yes, there were empty chairs here and there at tables that filled the Winnfield Civic Center but no empty tables.
“I was moved to see the crowd that turned out at the banquet Saturday night, considering the way our economy is,” said county agent Donny Moon on Monday morning after the dust had settled. “The support for our local 4-H program is outstanding. Now these are Donny Moon’s words I’m saying when is tell you I thank God that I’m in a parish so supportive of this program of our youth and adults involved. Give the good Lord His due.”
This event is the one major fundraiser that helps keep Winn’s 4-H program at the top level in the state of student participation. The money is used for transportation, meals, in-state and out-of-state travel for student activities. “If a child needs help, the money is there,” says Moon. “If a kid in Winn Parish wants to go to an event but doesn’t have the means, we’ll make it happen thanks to the support this community shows.”
Moon launched the evening by thanking the 4-H staff, the students and their parents, the businesses and community for making the 4-H program here what it is. Then special presentations were made when two “Friends of 4-H” were awarded to families in honor of two individuals who made a positive impact on the program. Those individuals were Herman Castete and Chad Taylor.
In the fundraising effort, a row of tables running down one wall of the Civic Center was lined with beautifully decorated homemade cake, each with a bid sheet drawing names and increasing prices. Along the opposite wall another table was stacked with silent auction items that were also attracting a lot of interest.
At the end of the room nearest the kitchen, one last row of tables was loaded with the evening’s barbecue dinner: generous amounts of chicken, pork, sausage, baked beans, potato salad and dessert. As they say, “Anyone who left hungry had only themselves to blame.”
Winn’s 4-H members and leaders strive To Make the Best Better.
