Lancaster County 4-H and The Rotary Club of Lancaster partnered to host the 54th annual 4-H Strawberry Roundup and Auction on June 2. Participants ranged from first-time exhibitors to repeat champion growers.

Leah Brenneman of Manheim was awarded Grand Champion for her strawberries, which were sold to Andy Fletcher for $750. Reserve Champion Gabrielle Anger sold her strawberries for $375 to Tom Baum. The proceeds from the strawberry auction go to the 4-H growers and the Max Smith Scholarship Fund.

At the event, 4-H members participated in strawberry DNA extraction and made homemade whipped cream for strawberry parfaits while their project record books and strawberries were being judged. Strawberry judge Timothy Elkner commented on the strawberries exhibited this year and discussed with the students some of the challenges that strawberry growers faced this season.

To protect the health and safety of all individuals involved, 4-H members and their families were unable to join in the tradition of lunch with the Rotary Club and an auction of the strawberries exhibited. However, Rotary Club members contributed over $1,500 toward the 4-H members' projects.

For more information on the 4-H program and the strawberry project, contact the Penn State Extension's Lancaster County office at 717-394-6851 or LancasterExt@psu.edu.