One of the advantages to being a school district superintendent’s wife is that I get to attend all kinds of school and community events. Of course, sometimes that could be seen as a disadvantage, but overall I’ve enjoyed the choral and music concerts, plays, dances, bingo nights, carnivals, athletic events and fundraisers I’ve gone to over the years. Last night we attended our first Rogue River FFA Beef Feed and Auction, and I could see why this is one of the most-anticipated events in the school year here. For fourteen years the local high school’s chapter of the Future Farmers of America has hosted this fundraiser to support scholarships and travel to various competitions around the state. Having been raised in the suburbs, I was only vaguely aware of what members of the FFA do. I’ve learned recently that they do a lot more than raise animals for showing at the annual county fair, although that is certainly one of the culminating events in each year’s program. And even though we now live in a fairly rural community, most if not all of Rogue River’s 20 to 25 active members do not live on a farm or ranch which is the main source of their families’ incomes. Students learn innovative agricultural and animal husbandry practices as well as debate and leadership skills. They compete in regional, state and national contests in meat judging, soils and parliamentary procedure, to name just a few. They gain an enormous amount of experience in public speaking, organization and research skills while preparing for future careers that could range from veterinarians, biologists and nutritionists to turf managers, horticulturalists and international commodities brokers. Our evening began with a dinner of moist, delectable slices of tri-tip beef roast, garlic baby red potatoes, green beans, salad and dessert. The crowd of around 200 were served quickly and efficiently buffet-style and invited back for seconds — and many responded. We learned that several advisors from FFA chapters in nearby districts had come to help out with the cooking and preparation, and that such neighborliness is standard around here. Plenty of parents and students who are not active members but are enrolled in the ag or hort classes at the school also pitched in, providing lots of support for first-year Rogue River advisor Traci Dulany. The best part of the evening was the live auction, ably handled by auctioneer and retired Marine Harry “Gunny” Davis, who with his delightful drawl and wit — and seeming acquaintance with everyone in the room — coaxed the bidding higher. My husband and I are newcomers here, but we were generously drawn in to the teasing and comradery and soon felt like old-timers. The 56 lots offered everything from gym memberships and overnights at a casino to a lawn swing constructed by the wood shop class and 15 150-pound bales of alfalfa hay. It may not surprise you to learn that the hay received the highest bid of the night, although one of the gym memberships was valued higher! In all, the auction alone brought in over $6,500 dollars, their second-highest total ever. Not bad, and way more than most were expecting, considering the modest means of most of us there and the state of the economy in these parts today.  I think it can be truthfully said that a great time was had by all, and we helped support the future of a bunch of great young people in the bargain. Patty Vanikiotis, proofreader