Bourbon County Extension Homemakers broke their record and exceeded their goal by raising $3475 for the scholarship fund.  They accomplished this through only one event - their Helping Hands Auction.  The Bourbon County Helping Hands Auction originated in 2015.  How does it work?

· Homemakers or entire clubs pick a service (or item) that you are willing to share or teach another homemaker.

· A list of auction donations is compiled and handed out at registration the night of the annual meeting

· Homemakers or entire clubs decide what service they would enjoy purchasing.

· Then let the bidding begin!  This a live auction and the auctioneer plays a crucial role in the success of the auction.

The auction has become the entertainment for the County Annual Meeting as well as a fundraiser.  

Each club has at least one marketable service to offer.  The larger clubs will have more than one and often the club works together to offer an event rather than a skill.  The 2023 Helping Hands Auction top sales were $500 for a club to host a pool party for another club and $500 to teach a bread making class to club members.  Most auctions come down to two bidders, back and forth, back and forth.  Both clubs donating these two top selling items agreed to offer the event a second time at the same price if the "second place" bidder was willing.  They both agreed!  Each of these two donating clubs brought in $1000 (a full scholarship) to the Helping Hands Auction!

Extra benefit—While having fun carrying out  this event, the homemakers got to interact with fellow homemakers that are not in their club! 

A double success 1) $3475 for scholarships and 2) the morale of the Bourbon County Extension Homemakers has never been more positive.