It was back in 1985 that a slow moment during the Wells County 4-H Livestock Auction led to what’s become an annual tradition: the auctioning of Helen Witte’s famous cherry pies. Now at age 90, Witte is still baking pies for the Wells County 4-H Foundation Auction, having raised more than $40,000 for youth scholarships over the years. Last year’s pies brought $2,000 each. This year’s pies will be auctioned off Thursday evening, along with a pair of commemorative silver coins donated by Ron and Judy Myers. Witte’s pies will be baked in commemorative ceramic pie plates bearing the 4-H logo and made by Luke Vickery. The Livestock Auction begins at 3:30 p.m. but the Foundation items will be auctioned off toward the end of the event. Left, Witte shows off this year’s pie plates to new 4-H Youth Development Educator Anya Aulbach and Bill Horan, Wells County Extension Agent for Agriculture. (Photo by Tanya Isch Caylor)
