A crowd of all ages enjoys the benefit steak dinner in Calamus, Iowa. The labor auction followed the dinner.
In January 2025, the Calamus-Wheatland FFA Alumni Chapter held a steak dinner in Calamus, Iowa. The dinner was intended to raise money for the Calamus-Wheatland FFA Alumni general fund, which is put toward college scholarships for Calamus-Wheatland seniors and helps the local FFA chapter pay for conventions, competitions and more.
Following the dinner, the Calamus-Wheatland Alumni Chapter hosted its first “labor auction,” where FFA members’ services were auctioned to the highest bidder. The steak dinner served around 200 meals, and bidders stuck around after dinner for the auction.
Junior high FFA members participate in the auction on stage.
In total, 31 members, or about 40% of the total chapter, volunteered to participate in the auction. Each member wrote a short profile, which included three “labor categories” they would provide. A two-hour minimum, with no maximum, was placed on the time frame they would donate to the highest bidder. FFA members also selected whether they were auctioned off individually, with one other FFA member or with a group (a maximum of four members per group). A general agreement was in place that all labor must be performed within one year for the winner. Types of labor included:
- General labor, such as sorting, loading or fitting livestock or fence repairs
- Cleaning
- Mowing the lawn or performing basic yard maintenance
- Getting groceries
- Babysitting
- Pet sitting
In total, the Calamus-Wheatland Alumni Chapter raised approximately $5,000. Bids ranged from $75-$600, with the average around $292.
“We had an excellent turnout at the steak dinner,” says Calamus-Wheatland FFA Alumni Chapter Secretary Loren Nicklaus. “It was great to see all of those who came to support us, and the labor auction was a huge surprise, too. We appreciate our community and the FFA members who donated their time. Thank you to everyone who helped make this successful!”
The plans are to make the steak dinner and auction a biannual event, with the next one planned for January 2027.
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