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Four Sedalia business owners set a new bidding record at the guitar auction Sunday evening at the Missouri State Fair's Country Gold Tour. Proceeds will be shared by Missouri 4-H and FFA organizations. Bidders are pictured with the youths: Ron Ditzfeld, owner of Ditzfeld Transfer, Inc., second row left; Gary McMullin, owner of W&M Welding; Mike Brown, owner of B&P Excavating; and Don and Cindy Weaver, owners of Don's Towing, third row center.

Guitar auction sets a record; proceeds go to 4-H and FFA

August 17, 2011 5:38 PM

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The Missouri 4-H and FFA organizations will share the $12,500 earned from a guitar auction held Sunday night during the Country Gold Tour at the Missouri State Fair. Four Sedalia business owners made the contribution, setting a new record for both the state fair auction and the concert tour.

Mike Brown, owner of B&P Excavating, and Gary McMullin, owner of W&M Welding, won the autographed guitar with a bid of $6,000. They donated the guitar back for a second round of bidding, which closed with Ron Ditzfeld, owner of Ditzfeld Transfer, Inc., and Don Weaver, owner of Don’s Towing claiming the guitar with a $6,500 donation.

The youth organizations will use the money to finance statewide programs.

The Country Gold Tour is managed by Leroy Van Dyke and his wife, Gladys, of rural Sedalia. The guitar was signed by Van Dyke and seven country artists appearing in the Aug. 14 concert.

Last year, the youth groups shared $5,000 in proceeds from the Missouri State Fair guitar auction. The Van Dykes provide this same auction opportunity during state fair performances throughout the country. Until Sunday, the South Dakota State Fair held the record, set at $11,000 in 2006.

An estimated 4,000 4-H and FFA youths representing nearly all Missouri counties are involved at this year’s Missouri State Fair, which continues in Sedalia through Aug. 21. Visit mostatefair.com for information.