Posted by: John_Hamilton on 02/06/2012 05:21 PM
Updated by: John_Hamilton on 02/06/2012 05:42 PM
Expires: 01/01/2017 12:00 AM
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Calaveras County Junior Livestock Boosters Annual Dinner and Dance at Frogtown! ~By Patrick Works
February 4, 2012 Calaveras County Fairgrounds (aka Frogtown) Angels Camp, CA...Saturday night it seemed the whole population of Calaveras County turned out for the annual Calaveras County Junior Livestock Boosters dinner and dance. The boys in the cookin' room started smoking meat early, as a huge crowd was expected to come with both their families and their appetites....
 
Click Above for Over 50 Photos by Patrick Works
Those expectations were met, and then exceeded, as the parking lot filled and then the Mark Twain Hall changed from wide-open to filled nearly to capacity.
This event has been a part of Calaveras County for over 25 years, and this reporter was honored to have a chance to sit down with Jim and Kathy Burns, who've been a part of it all since almost the beginning. Seeing that local youth who work so hard all year to bring animals to show and auction at our annual County Fair and Frog Jumping Jubilee are met with sales results that leave them in the black is the goal of the Calaveras County Livestock Boosters.
Jim Burns put it simply,
"We would just hate to see any of these kids that work so hard all year lose money in the end. That's why we're all here."
Kathy Burns added,
"Historically we've had great crowds; and we're still growing."
Indeed people kept coming all night. The Flanagan family, of Angels Camp, brought out all their kids, as this was definitely a family event. All the volunteers, not the least of whom were nearly a dozen sent by Gary Kuntz and the Calaveras County Sheriff's Department, made sure that everyone was well fed, entertained, and had a happy and safe evening. More than a few young people from Calaveras County came out to spend a fine Saturday night dancing the night away. It was no surprise to see our latest Saddle Queen Jessica Conley, pictured here with Troy McCann. They were both looking their best, and seemed to be having a wonderful time serving our community, and just enjoying themselves Saturday night.
Just after dinner the dancing began, as Paul Justin and the Saloonatixx brought out a fantastic performance. Little kids, grandmas and grandpas, and everyone in between put their best foot forward as the dance floor filled up long before the first song had ended.
The coffers also filled well and in record time. This was a fundraising event after all. Raffles and auctions were a key part of the evening. Bob Ralston and Rich Marino of Rendesvous Primitive Firearms in Ione were kind enough to offer five beautiful weapons for auction at cost to the Junior Livestock Boosters. Calaveras County has no shortage of appreciation for fine firearms, so it was no surprise that the shotguns and rifles on offer elicited a great deal of attention.
This reporter was not able to stay long enough to determine how much was raised Saturday night, but the crowds in attendance and all the fine folk who helped make this night possible were surely rewarded with a bank worthy of their efforts.
Please stay in touch with thepinetree.net to be in touch with all that goes on to support our community. Don't forget March 31st is the Calaveras County Deputy Sheriff's Association dinner and dance in San Andreas!
And please visit the folks in Ione at Rendesvous Primitive Firearms. They've got everything from an indoor archery range, a full offering of bow hunting equipment and support, as well as more contemporary equipment for the outdoorsmen (and women!) of our area. They're at rendesvousprimitivefirearms.com
Is there an event you would like to see covered by thePinetree.net? Send us an email at news@thepinetree.net and we'll be there!
Patrick Works for thepinetree.net
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