Copperas Cove Buyers Club holding casino night

By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press

Copperas Cove students in local Future Farmers of America (FFA) and 4-H clubs are hoping the turnout will be big along with the funds raised at the Copperas Cove Buyers Club’s second annual Casino Night. 
The event is set for Saturday, August 5, from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, located at 6830 F.M. 2657. 
Tickets are $40 per person, with a table of six available for $200. 
The menu includes tacos, with the fixings, beans and rice, along with margaritas. 
Chips will be awarded throughout the evening at a variety of casino games, with chips to be turned in for door prize tickets for a chance to win a variety of prizes. 
Vance McAnally, who’s chairing the casino night this year, talked about some of the prizes up for grabs at the silent auction along with grand prizes and the live auction. 
“We have donations of everything from household décor, to sporting goods, and some outdoor items,” McAnally said. “We have several tables full of items that will close throughout the night.
When the party is over, you can cash in your chips and get raffle tickets, and we’ll draw for some of the grand prizes. We have some college memorabilia, a Yeti cooler, and more.” 
The club is bringing in an auctioneer to hold a live auction for some of the larger items to include an outdoor fire pit, outdoor furniture, a variety of tools, as well as a pickup toolbox. A card raffle will also be held that evening for a 9-mm handgun.
Auction item donors so far include businesses like Home Base, Tractor Supply in Lampasas, Cinergy Cinemas and more. 
All proceeds raised will go toward Copperas Cove FFA and 4-H Club kids whose entries make it into the annual premium auction at the Coryell County Youth Fair coming up in January. 
“The buyers club is set up to help the 4-H and FFA kids in Copperas Cove at the Coryell County Youth Fair in January, when the club will bid on all the Copperas Cove kids’ items, whether it’s animals, from steers to pigs, chickens, or rabbits, and the home ec items as well.”
McAnally said the club collects donations throughout the year from local businesses and will bid in those businesses’ names at the annual auction. 
All the money raised goes right back to the kids, to help fund their projects and also help pay for college, for some of them.  
“It’s an extremely rewarding tool, 4-H and FFA,” McAnally said. “You learn responsibility, you learn accountability. Because it’s hard work at times. We try to help those kids, and this is something to give back for their hard work.” 
For more information or to obtain tickets, contact copperascovebuyersclub@gmail.com.