BCC staff purchase hog
Sherry Cardani, left, Matt Leonard, Stormi Duvall and BCC superintendent Bob Alsept.
The Buckeye Career Center staff has wrapped up its annual purchase and donation of a hog from the Tuscarawas County Fair, with this year’s hog benefiting Journey’s End Ministries in Newcomerstown.
Staff members raised $1,706 to put toward the purchase and became the highest bidder of Stormi Duvall’s 244-pound market hog. Duvall is a Claymont senior who is enrolled in the cosmetology lab at BCC. Her hog placed 10th overall in the hog competition.
The animal was processed by BCC’s own meat cutting, deli and bakery students and instructor Mr. Scott Ripley. It resulted in 137 one-pound packs of ground pork, which was picked up by Pastor Matt Leonard on Friday, Oct. 8.
“We are always hoping for additional food to give to our clients. These are people who need extra assistance,” Leonard said. “It is a blessing to share with the community what the community shares with us.”
Journey’s End serves 120 families each week.
Duvall said auction day at the fair is always emotional. “Once I heard the BCC staff bought my hog, it made my day better because I knew it was my school and I knew it would help out a lot of people,” Duvall said.
Staff members began contributing money to the fundraising effort in September. All money was raised by teachers, instructors, support workers, administration and others. This is the 11th-consecutive year staff members have raised money to purchase a hog from a student, raising a total of $11,938 over the years. The effort was spearheaded this year by superintendent’s secretary Mrs. Sherry Cardani.