A large crowd gathered Friday evening at the Quitman ag pavilion for the annual Quitman FFA Project Auction, hosted in partnership with local Young Farmers. Community members filled the pavilion to enjoy a meal of catfish, fries and hushpuppies while supporting local students and agricultural education programs.
The evening began with a community dinner before the auction got underway under the direction of auctioneer Kelly Conley. Organizers described the event as a great success, with strong partic-ipation from both bidders and donors throughout the night.
The auction showcased the hard work and craftsmanship of Quitman FFA students, featuring a variety of student-built projects created through hands-on agricultural education and technical training. Items included woodworking pieces, metal projects, deer feeders, fire pits and other handcrafted items that reflected the students’ skills and dedication.
One of the highlights of the evening was a black Lab puppy donated by Chris Von Reyn, which drew delighted giggles from kids and adults alike as FFA President Kori Hammond took the puppy around to bidders during the auction. Student projects also generated enthusiastic bidding from community supporters eager to encourage local youth.
Additional auction items included a 14-foot bumper pull trailer, a metal shop table and numerous donated items from local businesses and supporters.
Funds raised during the event will benefit the Quitman FFA chapter by helping support leader-ship conferences, competitions, travel opportunities, classroom resources and future student pro-jects.
Organizers expressed appreciation to everyone who attended, donated items and supported the students, helping make the annual auction another successful community event. Organizers stated that approximately $36,000 was raised at the event.