Flour, baking soda, and sugar mean thousands of dollars of fundraising for the FFA.

On October 4, the Linganore-New Market Community Show  hosted the 47th annual cake auction from 7-9 pm, with the goal to raise money for Future Farmers of America (FFA) and to support the future community shows.

This has been a meaningful and long-lasting tradition in the Linagnore-New Market community. Most of the bidders are repeat cake purchasers. 

“I’ve been doing this for 45 years. I was a part of FFA, and so were my kids,” said Ronnie Harshman, a 1965 LHS graduate and cake auctioneer.

Jimmy Summers joined Harshman as auctioneers. In addition to desserts, the auction also included flower arrangements.

With a community dinner served just before the auction, people were buzzing with anticipation to get to the best part of the evening, dessert.

Several of the desserts auctioned for as much as $400 each, but one, a coconut cake, auctioned for $525.

“I’m so happy to see the community come together, and even though we didn’t have one last year [due to the pandemic], the community is still just as strong,” said Harshman.

Flower arrangements or baked goods are entered to be judged and ranked in three divisions, youth, junior, and adult. While winning grand champion might feel great, it feels even better to know that the money spent on the cakes goes back to the FFA and the community.

The cake auction allows people to get together with family and friends, and support what some would say is their second family. Children were jumping up and down as prices started to increase, it really is a unique experience to see new generations take the reins.  

With new generations come new connections bringing the community even closer together.

Patricia Beachy, a FFA advisor, won grand champion in the adult division and her granddaughter Cooper Beachy also submitted her gluten free sugar cookies. Beachy’s cake raised $450 for her cinnamon apple pecan cake with butter cream caramel frosting.

Bidders spent $50 for oatmeal cookies which is the equivalent of $2.46 per calorie.

The evening raised a total of $10,000 in auction items and donations. 

Amy Stephens bought more than ten baked goods for her family.

“I grew up up in agriculture, and I have been in this community since high school. I’m proud to see how far we have come,” said Stephens.

Her oldest children, sophomore Gracie and freshman Marshall, have followed in their mother’s footsteps and joined the FFA. Both students carried cakes around the room in order for bidders to see the desserts.