Are you ready for a rockin’ night in the country featuring great food and fun while raising funds to benefit the East Clinton FFA? Stop out at Cherrybend Pheasant Farm at 2325 Cherrybend Road on Saturday, Sept. 22 to support the second annual Rod’s Rockin’ Roast hosted by Rod’s Project.

There will be a charity clay shoot prior to the dinner. Registration is at 3 p.m. and the shoot starts at 3:30 p.m. Dinner starts at 5 p.m. and includes locally raised pulled pork and side dishes from some of your local favorite eateries including Street Side 62, Werner’s Smokehouse and Damon’s.

To cap off the evening, there will be an old-fashioned quilt auction for handmade farm and OSU-themed quilts and bags plus other locally donated items.

Rod’s Project is a non-profit that supports East Clinton High School students who have an interest in agriculture. It provides their support to many organization including the East Clinton FFA and Project Trust, plus provides scholarships to ECHS graduating seniors who pursue a career in agriculture.

To find out more about Rod’s Project or attending the Rod’s Rockin’ Roast, call Board President Chris Georges at 937-604-9454 or visit www.rodsproject.org.

About Rod

Rod Danes, for whom Rod’s Project is named, “had a love for agriculture and the Future Farmers of America chapter at East Clinton High School. He had a kind and caring spirit, willing to lend a hand to anyone in need. He would often be the first to arrive for any school project he was involved in and never sought recognition for his efforts,” according to information provided by the board.

It continues: “On a windy March night in 1984 when Rod was only 15, his life and the lives of his mother Karen and father Don, was tragically cut short when two men found their way the Danes’ home and murdered them. One of Rod’s final acts of devotion to his family was to hide his little sister in a closet to save her life.

“Rod’s Project works to preserve the memory of the Danes family and the spirit of devotion Rod had for his school, family and community by focusing on the current students of East Clinton High School, who also have a passion to continue agriculture education. It is a privilege for us involved with Rod’s Project to continue to help students in his honor.”

Board members are Chris Georges, Tammy Walker, Matt Moore, Brian Arnold, Sam McCoy, Greta Gray, Kym Parks and Chuck Parks.