Clover and Denim Fundraiser to Support Northern Virginia 4-H Center

Denim, dancing, and a little Western flair will come together Oct. 3 as supporters of the Northern Virginia 4-H Educational Center gather for a new fundraiser to help maintain and improve the longtime local facility.

The Clover and Denim fundraiser begins at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at Shenandoah Valley Golf Club. The evening will include dinner, music, dancing, an open bar and a silent auction, with organizers emphasizing a relaxed atmosphere rather than a traditional formal gala.

Katie Tennant and Jan Bresh recently discussed the event and the 4-H Center’s work.

Bresh said the idea behind Clover and Denim is to reflect the atmosphere people experience at the 4-H Center itself.

“It is kind of a Western theme, but really what it is, it’s a 4-H theme,” Bresh said.

Rather than dressing up for a formal evening, guests are encouraged to come ready to relax, spend time with friends and support the Center.

“We want it so that it really does feel like a community event, not a stiff event,” Bresh said. “We want people to have fun.”

That community atmosphere will include a DJ with ties to the 4-H camps, Western music and dancing, along with a variety of silent auction items donated by local supporters.

Expected items include a custom fire pit from Winchester Metals featuring 4-H clovers. Other auction offerings include a catered dinner for two prepared by a local chef, wine tastings and a green Louisville Slugger bat made for 4-H.

One item is likely to draw particular attention from country music fans: a fiddle signed by the late Charlie Daniels.

Organizers said the variety is intentional, giving guests with different interests something to bid on while raising money for the Center.

Dinner will follow the same casual approach as the rest of the evening, with a hearty menu that includes fried chicken and pot roast. Vegetarian options will also be available, and the bar will be open during the event.

Tickets are $125 and can be purchased online through a link on the Northern Virginia 4-H Educational Center’s website or through the event’s Facebook page.

Money raised during Clover and Denim will support improvements at a facility that has served young people for decades.

The Northern Virginia 4-H Educational Center serves 19 counties, bringing children and groups to the Front Royal area from across Northern Virginia.

Its programs extend beyond the traditional 4-H summer camp experience. The Center hosts specialty camps, retreats, and other programs, including Camp Fantastic for children with cancer.

Tennant said the common thread running through the Center’s programs is positive youth development and finding ways to serve both young people and the wider community.

“We do a lot of things. We serve a lot of diverse groups,” Tennant said. “So we want to bring everyone together and just really celebrate the impact that they’ve had on the youth, the impact that we’ve been able to then have on the community, and find ways that we can continue to give back.”

Bresh said programs such as Camp Fantastic can provide a camp experience for children who might not otherwise have that opportunity.

The Center is also a standalone nonprofit, Tennant explained, meaning it is not completely funded by the federal or state government. Fundraising and community support help keep its programs and facilities operating.

That need becomes particularly important as the property ages and hosts thousands of visitors.

The Center dates to 1978 and is approaching its 50th anniversary. Organizers said an ongoing list of repairs and upgrades is needed to keep the facilities ready for campers and other groups.

Work is already underway in some areas, including amphitheater renovations.

The Center’s heavy use also takes a toll on its buildings and grounds. Tennant said the Center can host more than 300 campers each week during the summer, creating heavy use of everything from flooring and carpets to outdoor facilities.

Bresh said proceeds from Clover and Denim will help address some of those needs so the Center remains available for future generations.

The event is supported by local businesses and organizations, with Broadview Automotive and Rappahannock Electric Cooperative serving as lead sponsors. Other community supporters have contributed sponsorships and silent auction items.

Guests will also hear directly from a camper about the experience of attending programs at the Center.

For Bresh, conversations while organizing the fundraiser have shown how far the Center’s reach extends. She said she has encountered people who attended 4-H camp decades ago and still remember the experience.

That connection between past campers, current families and the wider community is part of what organizers hope to celebrate during Clover and Denim.

The fundraiser begins at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at Shenandoah Valley Golf Club. Tickets are $125 and include dinner, dancing, and an open bar. You can purchase tickets through the Northern Virginia 4-H Educational Center’s website or its Clover and Denim Facebook event.

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