Take Stock in Kids this weekend

LAWTON ­– A “Take Stock in Kids” fundraiser designed to help young people involved with agriculture and livestock will be held 6 p.m. Saturday, July 16 at the Apache Casino Hotel Events Center in Lawton.

The evening will feature dinner, live and silent auctions, a live band and dancing. Money raised from the event will benefit the Comanche County Saddle & Sirloin Club, which then distributes proceeds to every student who showed animals at the Comanche County Spring Livestock Show and Premium Sale.

“Every kid who showed animals in the spring show got $1,250 and that came from last year’s auction and dinner,” said Dustin Glover, vice president of the Saddle & Sirloin Club. “Even kids who didn’t make the sale got $250.”

People must be 21 to attend the fundraiser. Tickets are $25 each and can be purchased online or from any Saddle & Sirloin board member. Auction items can be donated by notifying the local ag teacher or emailing [email protected].

Glover said the Grand and Reserve Grand trophies from the spring premium sale will be part of the live auction. In addition, several other large items including vacation trips will be auctioned.

An estimated 430 people are expected at Saturday’s event. Last year, the event raised a record $68,671.

The Saddle & Sirloin Club is a nonprofit organization that supports southwest Oklahoma students involved in agriculture. The club organizes and operates the Comanche County Spring Livestock Show and Premium Sale where more than 200 youth exhibit livestock each year. In addition, the organization provides opportunities for livestock judging, team fitting and scholarships for students as they prepare for college.