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  • The Tahlequah High School Orange Express Marching Band raises money for its activity fund selling Blue and Gold sausage, bacon and chicken. Participants include, from left: Isaac Allen, son of THS Assistant Band Director Josh Allen, Josh Girdner, Maxwell Smith and Dylan Brown. Teddye Snell

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March 10, 2011

Whole-hog fundraising

Several area schools, including Keys and Tahlequah, rely on Blue and Gold products to supplement activity budgets.

By TEDDYE SNELL Staff Writer

TAHLEQUAH — Whether your child participates in Future Farmers of America, 4-H, band, athletics, or another activity, chances are he has also been involved in fundraising to help defray expenses.

In Cherokee County, one of the most popular school fundraisers is the sale of Blue and Gold products – sausage, bacon and chicken.

Darrell Hood, agriculture teacher at Keys School, said his students sell the products to raise money for supplies and activities.

“We get all three – sausage, bacon and chicken,” said Hood. “We use the money to buy everything from supplies for livestock shows to shop supplies. We have a high rate of participation by the students, and we place orders twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring.”

According to the Blue and Gold website, the company concept began in the early 1960s, by Don Ramsey. As an agricultural education teacher in Jones, he was constantly faced with the responsibility of raising money for his FFA chapter. To fund ongoing projects, Ramsey began processing pigs raised by his FFA members and making breakfast sausage for students to sell.

As the popularity of the fundraiser grew, so did the number of groups wanting to participate. Over the years, the project has evolved into a successful business, providing fundraising opportunities for not only FFA chapters, but bands, youth groups and other nonprofit agencies in Oklahoma and surrounding states.

Blue and Gold is family-owned and operated and has helped participating groups raise more than $2,500,000 annually for projects. The products are shipped fresh from the producer and are not available in stores.

Hood has tried the products, and likes the bacon and sausage the best.

“It comes to us fresh, which is a good selling point,” said Hood. “And it really helps the kids out. All the money goes back to the kids.”

The Keys High School Agriculture Program started in 2002 and has grown by leaps and bounds ever since. Classes offered include horticulture, power and technology, equine and animal sciences, archery, agriculture 1, shooting sports and a livestock show team.

“Our livestock show team is going to state on Saturday,” said Hood.

The Tahlequah High School Orange Express marching band also benefits from the fundraiser, selling the products throughout the school year.

Band Director Harvey Price said band proceeds depend on volume, but in this economic climate, every little bit helps.

“About 20-25 percent of the purchase price goes to the band,” said Price. “And the money goes directly to our activity account. We use it to pay for instrument repairs, to buy music and to partially fund scholarships for students to participate in activities.”

Price said this year, THS purchased about $10,000 worth of products from Blue and Gold, which nets the band around $2,500.

To preserve the quality, Price places orders throughout the year.

“People seem to really like it,” he said. “The bacon is the best. I’ve never had anything that tastes as good a Blue and Gold bacon.”

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