4-H Raising funds w/treats

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Residents in some Florida counties could soon get a knock on their door from a young sales person, but they won’t be offering seeds, wrapping paper or cookies.

In 18 Florida counties, local 4-H club members will be selling a variety of pet treats for dogs, horses and cats to raise money to support their clubs. The pet treats sales will last from October 6 – 26, 2009 in time for families to receive their treats before the Christmas holiday.

Many 4-H clubs have successfully raised funds with 4-H branded pet treats over the past two years and the idea has been gaining momentum.

“It gives people in our community an opportunity to buy a high-quality treat for pets while supporting a good cause,” said Liz Piquet, volunteer leader for the Crazy 4 Canines 4-H club. “Our youth raised $1,000 last year selling the treats. They learned basic fundraising and sales skills while telling others about 4-H.”

Other Florida 4-H clubs selling the treats include Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Duval, Gadsden, Lafayette, Liberty, Manatee, Marion, Nassau, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Polk, Santa Rosa, St. Johns, St. Lucie and St. Johns counties and the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

The treats are supplied by Best In Show Pet Treats. The Louisville, Ky.-based company has worked closely with hundreds of 4-H groups testing and refining the program. The treats sell for $4 per package and are made in the U.S.

As part of the annual fundraising campaign, 4-H members will also offer customers the opportunity to donate a package of pet treats to a wide variety of animal rescue organizations across the country, including a special partnership donating treats to military working dogs through SupportOurTroops.org.

“4-H members have donated countless packages of pet treats to animal shelters, humane societies, horse and dog rescue groups, animal therapy organizations, police K-9 units, police mounted patrols, and even military working dogs serving in Iraq,” said Jeanne Hilt, president of Best In Show Pet Treats.

For more information about Florida 4-H, visit www.florida4h.org or contact your county Extension office.