| Charity Fundraiser
Each autumn, Wade Bartley coordinates the Help-a-Child Benefit, put on by Masons across the county and region, to help children of the area by donatingto Scottish Rite Children's Hospital, Northeast Texas Child Advocacy Center, local foster families and through Masonic scholarships for area seniors. The 2023 fundraiser is the 16th year that Bartley has pulled together the agriculture community of Hopkins and surrounding counties to join in the effort.
The Help-a-Child Benefit, held Oct. 21, 2023, sprawled across the grounds of the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center and into the adjoining livestock pavilion. The first of the competitive events took place the morning before, on Friday, Oct. 20, with the Ag Team Competition Build-off, consisting of 36 four-member teams from nearly three dozen high school FFA chapters. A common project was assigned, a chiminea of pre-cut steel, to be assembled and completed in the timed event. The next day, top projects and a donated chiminea from the Greenville FFA chapter were auctioned to raise additional funds for charities which Help-A-Child supports.
On Saturday, cooking teams prepared chili, beans and brisket for the contest, and fed the crowds that arrivd for the all-you-can-eat lunch. While waiting for the serving to begin, many climbed aboard a 10-passenger wagon for free rides around the grounds by a team of Clydesdale horses. Others visited the Livestock Show in the pavilion east of the grounds.
Fourteen chili cooking teams prepared their own original recipe in a large iron pot over a heat source, and presented their entry samples to the judges by mid-morning. Dutch Oven peach cobbler served as dessert for everyone, prepared by Rick Wilson and his team from Heritage Park. Serving as judges for the chili contest were Greg Cravens, Brad Billingsley, Ashley Givens and Mike Stimpson.
Bobby Neal took third place in the chili contest, Sulphur Springs Professional Firefighters Association came in second place, and the Froneberger family earned first place with their chili. In the beans contest, Team Neal was the winner. Top brisket winners were: third place Texas Heritage National Bank, second place Jay Hodge Chevrolet, and first place Yantis Masonic Lodge #382.
At noon, announce- ments and recognitions began onstage, with Bartley as emcee and auctioneer. Claiming the traveling trophy and recognition for Best Project in the Ira Black Ag Mechanics Project Show was the Saltillo FFA team for the Double D Burger Grill they constructed.
Two local families were recognized and presented with a monetary award to assist their families. Caleb and Madelyn Phillips, and Chris and Stephanie Cannon each have four foster children in their care. Carmen Crouse of the Bright Star Baseball League came forward to accept a donation from Help-AChild to further their plans for building an all-weather ball field for year-round use by the Bright Star teams.
Bartley started off the auction with the five chiminea Build-off projects going to the highest bidders, yielding over $2,600 total. The shop-made Double D Burger Grill was purchased by Mitchell Welding for $500, and a metal and a wood bench donated by the Miller Grove FFA was purchased by Justin Bartley for $325. For the next hour, more than 50 auction items were sold, including a mobility scooter purchased by R2D, which brought $900, and a metal truck with disc replica made by Dan Froneberger purchased by Farm Country for $,1000.
Following the auction, the final event was the raffle drawing. Mike Stewart won the raffle for the Kubota X900 Side-by-Side and custom trailer built by the Como-Pickton FFA. Assisting at the auction were spotters Clay Bartley, Greg Cravens and Jim Wright.
Another feature of the fundraiser was a day-long cattle show. More than 90 4-H and FFA students from Northeast Texas clubs and chapters brought their steer and heifer projects to enter in weight and breed divisions. Grand and reserve exhibitors received award buckles. The 2023 livestock show is in its third year. This year’s donation to the Help-A-Child cause exceeded $3,500. Show coordinator was Dr. Kevin Gray, veteranarian, and the livestock judge was Sandy Carlson of Whitesboro.
Bartley wrapped up the day with a round of thanks.
“I want to thank our premier and presenting sponsors, all the ag teams that competed here from the different schools, all the cooking teams, the team we’ve got over at the livestock show and the great facility we have for this event. And, I thank the community, all the volunteers who put in hours and labor, everyone who donated money or supported us in some way, the members of the Masonic Lodges, and every individual and business which had a part in making this another success. Last year, with your help, we were able to donate over $108,000 to the causes that we help support; local foster families, student scholarships, the Northeast Texas Child Advocacy Center, and Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital,” Bartley said.