The Weyburn Young Fellows Club's 51st annual TV Auction will be taking place on Saturday, April 12, at the Weyburn Curling Club.

"Everything has gone well. We have about 480 items, which is down from last year but the retail value is pretty close to the same," said chairman Mark Bratrud. Items range from gift certificates to barbecues to power tools.

The auction will be broadcast live on Access 7 television from noon to 9 p.m. The theme for this year's auction is "Bidding for a Stronger Community." Something new for this year will be online bidding at www.youngfellowsclub.ca, which began on Monday and runs until Friday, April 11.

"So far we are on target with the online bidding. Let's keep our fingers crossed because with technology there are always glitches," said Bratrud.

The Young Fellows will also have a pumpjack donated by EnCana for bidding at the site and it will be hauled down to the site courtesy of Jerry Mainil Ltd. The Weyburn Curling Club will also be facilitating a bidders lounge, located at the curling club lounge, for those of legal drinking age attending the auction to enjoy a beverage.

The YF Wives will also hold their canteen during the TV Auction at the curling rink kitchen. Once again they will be serving smokies on a bun, doughnuts, ice cream floats, pop and other beverages with all of the funding going towards the TV Auction.

Last year, the TV Auction raised over $40,000 for its 50th anniversary. The Youngfellows have averaged approximately $25,000 from each auction in the last few years. All of the proceeds raised will go back into the community through Young Fellows projects.

"The TV auction is our biggest fundraiser of the year," said Young Fellow president Ron Bartlett. "It is our 51st annual and we completely depend on the entire business community to donate items. We usually start planning around January, so it is our biggest project and it helps fund projects such as the Spray Park."

This is the Young Fellows' second year at the curling rink since moving the TV Auction from McKenna Hall. According to Bartlett, last year was a huge success and there won't be many changes to the venue.

"It was a good success at the curling rink last year and the format will be the same this year. We've found the rink is a good location for parking and walk-in traffic," said Bartlett.

Although donations are down, Bratrud is expecting to get better value for the items especially with the new online bidding that will make it easier for people to make bids.

"We are looking forward to good support from the community. We are hoping to get better value for the donations through the online bidding and a good turnout to the curling rink," Bratrud said.

Each year there are a number of "priceless" items that will go up for bid. This year's "priceless" items include the pumpjack donated by EnCana, a trip for four from Estevan to Weyburn on the Canadian Pacific Railroad Holiday Train at Christmas time, a Lanny McDonald autographed Calgary Flames jersey and hockey stick, a Snowbirds print donated by the Snowbirds and a NASCAR Carl Edwards print. The listing of items for the TV Auction are in April 5 issue of the Booster.