UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Bargain-hunters should expect the unexpected when the Pasto Agricultural Museum holds its third silent auction during Penn State's Ag Progress Days, Tuesday, Aug. 20 and Wednesday, Aug. 21. Nearly 150 items, from Penn State/Nebraska football tickets to a new John Deere lawn tractor, have been donated, according to museum curator Darwin Braund.

"Buyers will find items to meet practically any interest, need and checking account," Braund says. "Donors have been very generous in supplying a variety of useful items to help generate funds to preserve the rich heritage of agriculture and rural living. Proceeds will benefit the Penn State Ag Alumni Endowment for the Pasto Agricultural Museum."

Items for bid include antique hand tools and furniture, newer and antique model tractors and trucks, a year's supply of Penn State Creamery ice cream, meats from the University Meats Lab, gift certificates for dinner and ornamental grasses. Farm production items include bull semen, one ton of Agway calf feed, farm implement tires, an electric fence charger, alfalfa and corn seed, and a five-year subscription to "Lancaster Farming" newspaper.

Donations for fun and recreation include Penn State football tickets, Nittany Valley Symphony tickets, a full day of fly-fishing for trout on world-famous Spruce Creek in Huntingdon County, a cottage rental on Lake Raystown, and antique and modern golf clubs and bags.

Items that might make good gifts include hand-made carvings, photographs and prints, maps, Chinese peonies, muzzleloading shotguns, antique pewter ice cream molds, milk bottles, Penn State sports balls and clothes, and a signed Joe Paterno photo.

Many war books will be auctioned including a 10-volume Civil War set (reserve bid), and several on the Spanish-American War, World Wars I & II and the Korean War. Other books include "Paterno: 324" and "Sources of Strength," an autographed copy of former President Jimmy Carter's book.

Of particular interest to Penn State football fans will be a collection of 20 years worth of Penn State football booster buttons. Auctioned by seasons, these will include the 1982 and 1986 National Championship seasons, the 1993 inaugural Big Ten season, the 1,000th football game button, and the 1994 Big Ten championship season that was capped topped with a win over Oregon in the Rose Bowl. Date, opponent and score are on the reverse side of each button. Additional bags will have other Big Ten and pre-Big Ten seasons.

Auction catalogs are available from the museum office and will be at the site. All auction items will be on display Tuesday and Wednesday in the tent beside the museum. Bidding will close promptly at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. Successful bidders can pick up their items after payment is processed Wednesday afternoon or make arrangements for shipping.

For more information, contact Darwin Braund by phone at 814-863-1383 or by e-mail at pastoagmuseum@psu.edu.

Because of concerns over the possible transmission of foot-and-mouth disease and other foreign animal diseases, visitors who have been overseas within two weeks of attending Ag Progress Days are asked not to visit the event's live-animal exhibit areas.

Penn State's Ag Progress Days is held at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs, nine miles southwest of State College on Route 45. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday. Admission and parking are free.

For more information, call (800) PSU-1010 toll-free until August 22 or visit the Ag Progress Days Web site at http://apd.cas.psu.edu.

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EDITORS: Contact Darwin Braund at 814-863-1383 or pastoagmuseum@psu.edu.

Contact: Gary Abdullah gxa2@psu.edu 814-863-2708 814-865-1068 fax #226