The 4-H youth organization has been around for 100 years, and now it is getting some help from the orange cat known as Garfield. To celebrate the centennial year of the 4-H organization, eBay is auctioning off limited edition prints of Garfield, hand signed by creator Jim Davis, a former 4-H member. Proceeds from the Feb. 10-16 auction benefit the Mississippi 4-H foundation. Weekly auctions to benefit each state started in November and will continue for one year.
“This is truly a unique way to promote the 4-H centennial celebration and financially support the state programs at the same time,” Susan Holder, state 4-H leader, said in a press release.
Half of the money raised will go to the 4-H council in Washington, D.C., and the other half will go to the state that the auction is benefiting that week. Holder encourages Mississippians to bid between Feb. 10-16 so their bid will benefit Mississippi directly.
Bidding for the prints starts at $250, and the most money given for one of the prints so far has been $1,525 from New Jersey. The prints feature Garfield and the 4-H pledge.
In Mississippi, there are 125,000 children enrolled in 4-H between the ages of 8 and 18. The money raised will help secure the 4-H organization during its hiring freeze.
“The shortage of funds (as a result of the state’s economic problem) causes a shortage of 4-H agents in the state,” Danny Gardner, leader of marketing and special projects, said.
Gardner said he hopes this money can be used to hire more 4-H county agents. He said the money could also be used toward financing trips to places like Washington, D.C., for 4-H volunteers, whom he said the organization would fail without.
Projects that 4-H members participate in range from the old-fashioned aspect of raising animals to computer science.
“It (4-H) is an informal education program for kids,” Gardner said.
In 1907, Mississippi became the first state to receive federal money to support boys’ and girls’ demonstration clubs when the U.S. Department of Agriculture sponsored clubs in Holmes County.
To place bids, visit www.4-hmall.org/garfieldprint.htm or visit eBay and search for “Garfield and 4-H.