UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Early Christmas shopping and bargain hunting can be combined when the Pasto Agricultural Museum holds its fourth silent auction during the first two days of Penn State's Ag Progress Days, Aug. 19-20. Nearly 150 items -- including Penn State/Ohio State football tickets, a new John Deere lawn tractor and a new Massey Ferguson tractor blade -- have been donated, according to museum volunteer curator Darwin Braund.

"Buyers will find items to meet practically any interest, need and checking account," says Braund. "Donors have been generous in supplying a wide 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 and farm tools, a scale, a butter churn, iron kettles, a miner's basket, newer and antique model tractors and trucks, meats from the University Meats Lab and Penn State Creamery cheese. Farm production items include bull semen, a cow stall mat, 10 tons of shredded and baled newsprint for animal bedding, fencing supplies, alfalfa and corn seed, and subscriptions to Lancaster Farming and Farm & Dairy newspapers.

Donations for fun and recreation include Penn State football tickets, Nittany Valley Symphony tickets, a cottage rental on Lake Raystown and certificates for dinner.

Items that might make good gifts include an ox yoke, photographs and prints, gift baskets, fresh peaches, a hanging corner cupboard, antique pewter ice cream molds, milk bottles, Penn State sports balls and clothes, and DVDs.

Equine enthusiasts can find a Western Pleasure saddle in excellent condition. It was donated by the family of James P. Gallagher, in memory of the former Penn State extension specialist. It was his personal saddle with a rich medium oil color and silver trim. It has a 15 1/2" seat.

Collectors of brass bells will have many choices. Included are four sets of sleigh bells on leather straps, three sets of Conestoga wagon bells (three-, four-, and five-bell sets), four sets of sleigh shaft bells, two sets of hames bells and two school hand bells.

New this year will be a cash and carry section. Buyers of these items won't have to bid and wait until the end of the auction. They can pay cash for each specially marked item and take it with them upon completion of the transaction. Early arrivals will have the advantage in this section.

Bidding will close promptly at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 20. Successful bidders can pick up their items after payment is processed Wednesday.

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 Aug. 19; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Aug. 20; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 21. Admission and parking are free.

For more information, call (800) PSU-1010 toll-free until August 21 or visit the Ag Progress Days Web site at http://apd.cas.psu.edu.

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Contact:

Cheryl Anthony cka106@psu.edu 814-863-0938 814-863-9877 fax

Chuck Gill cdg5@psu.edu 814-863-2713 814-863-9877 fax #204