Submitted Photo The FFA alumni annual auction is open to anyone who wants to buy goods and services being offered. Funds raised go to help Minot FFA members with travel expenses to competitions.

The Minot FFA alumni return for another year of fundraising with their annual local FFA chapter fundraiser. The 23rd Annual Minot FFA Alumni Auction will be held Saturday starting at 10 a.m. at the North Dakota State Fair Center with a variety of goods and services to be auctioned off to the highest bidder.

“This is the alumni’s only fundraiser for the year and it always proves to be a big sale,” said Kathy Jensen, vice president of Minot FFA Alumni.

The auction helps to raise money for the local FFA chapter in Minot to help cover the various expenses that they have throughout the year, especially with travel. FFA travels to statewide competitions, state and national conventions and other activities. These expenses can add up and the FFA alumni work to try and help through their auction fundraiser.

“We also award $1,000 scholarships to qualifying seniors for their secondary education,” said Jensen.

The Minot FFA Alumni was started many years ago under the original name of FFA Booster Club. The goal since their creation has always been to help with expenses. Each year they work to give thousands of dollars for kids in FFA to help cover a portion of their travel expenses.

Many members have been a part of the Minot FFA Alumni since its creation. Others include parents of students in FFA, agriculture teachers, FFA students who are now adults and people who simply want to be a part of it even if they never did FFA themselves.

“We always say you didn’t have to wear the blue jacket to join,” Jensen said.

The auction is open to anyone interested in attending.