EAU CLAIRE - The Country Today will have a hand in two auctions to benefit the Wisconsin FFA Foundation next month.

In early March, the newspaper will sponsor a live auction at the Eau Claire Farm Show, held at the Eau Claire Indoor Sports Center. The Eau Claire Farm Show is co-sponsored by North Country Enterprises and The Country Today.

Later in March, a silent auction will be held in conjunction with the Wisconsin Public Service Farm Show in Oshkosh.

The Eau Claire auction is scheduled for noon on Wednesday, March 2. Jack Hines of Hines Auction Service of Ellsworth will call the auction that will primarily feature items donated by Eau Claire Farm Show exhibitors.

Donations of all types are welcome from individuals or businesses. If interested in donating an item, please contact Marion Loew at The Country Today at (800) 236-8808, extension 3276, at (715) 833-9276, or via e-mail at marion.loew@ecpc.com.

Wisconsin FFA officers will help clerk and sell the auction items.

Different items will be sold each day during the silent auction at the Wisconsin Public Service Farm Show, scheduled for March 29-31 at the EAA Grounds in Oshkosh. Auction hours will be between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. March 29 and 30, and between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. March 31. The silent auction is co-sponsored by The Country Today and the WPS Farm Show.

WPS Farm Show exhibitors will donate most items, but other contributions are also welcome. For more information, please contact Mary Gagnon at the Wisconsin FFA Foundation at (608) 831-5058, or via e-mail at wisffafoundation@tds.net.

"Our live auctions in past years at the Menomonie and Eau Claire farm shows have combined to raise more than $10,000 for the Wisconsin FFA Foundation," said Jim Massey, editor of The Country Today and chairman-elect of the Wisconsin FFA Foundation Sponsors Board. "We're hoping for continued success in Eau Claire, and that the WPS Farm Show will be a new way to generate funds for agricultural education programs in Wisconsin."

All proceeds of both auctions will go to the Wisconsin FFA Foundation. The foundation supports a variety of scholarship and recognition programs for young people involved in Wisconsin agricultural education programs.