Country music legend and Missouri-native Leroy Van Dyke auctioned an autographed guitar Wednesday evening at the Missouri State Fair Country Gold Tour concert at the Pepsi Grandstand with proceeds benefitting Missouri 4-H and FFA organizations.
The winning bid of $5,000 went to Ron Ditzfeld of Ditzfeld Transfer, Inc. of Sedalia. The guitar was signed by Van Dyke and the other eight country music performers in the tour.
“All of the funds from the auction of the guitar will be evenly distributed between 4-H and FFA,” said Missouri State Fair Director Mark Wolfe. “The groups determine how to use the money for their organizations.”
Over 3,000 FFA and 4-H youth are involved at the Fair each year through showing animals, projects and assisting the Fair with special activities.
The 4-H organization offers “learn by doing” to encourage personal development. 4-H has three primary program areas designed to teach leadership and citizenship skills: science, engineering and technology.
FFA is an agricultural science education program that aims to foster personal growth and development through classroom instruction, agricultural experience programs and other activities. The FFA organization represents over 300 careers in the food, fiber and natural resources industries.
“The career skills and other benefits gained from agricultural programs such as 4-H and FFA make them very worthy of this donation,” Wolfe said.
More than 3,500 people attended the concert on August 18. The Country Gold Tour has spent the summer touring the nation.
Other artists featured in this tour include Helen Cornelius, Moe Bandy, The Gatlin Brothers—Steve and Rudy, David Frizzell, Gene Watson, Jimmy Fortune and Narvel Felts.
The Missouri State Fair ran through Aug. 22 in Sedalia.
