Barn Bash raises $20K+

By Paul Gaudette on Wednesday, October 21, 2026
  • Crowds join together to raise funds for the new Dublin FFA barn at a Barn Bash event Saturday, Oct. 17. Miss the event? Funds are still being contributed in a variety of ways including purchasing engraved bricks from local street projects. For additional photos go to The Dublin Citizen Facebook page. Paul Gaudette | Citizen staff photo
    Crowds join together to raise funds for the new Dublin FFA barn at a Barn Bash event Saturday, Oct. 17. Miss the event? Funds are still being contributed in a variety of ways including purchasing engraved bricks from local street projects. For additional photos go to The Dublin Citizen Facebook page. Paul Gaudette | Citizen staff photo
  • A wide variety of items, including a live tree, were available at the Dublin FFA Barn Bash hosted Saturday, Oct. 17 in order to raise funds for the new FFA barn. Paul Gaudette | Citizen staff photo
    A wide variety of items, including a live tree, were available at the Dublin FFA Barn Bash hosted Saturday, Oct. 17 in order to raise funds for the new FFA barn. Paul Gaudette | Citizen staff photo

    More than 200 people filled the Dublin Secondary Cafeteria Saturday night, Oct. 17, for the Barn Raising Bash.

    Dublin FFA organized the evening to raise funds for a new ag building with a 96’x90’ arena, an animal science classroom allowing for live demonstrations/lessons, swine stalls on the southern side and adaptable pens on the northern side and more. The event raised approximately $23,000 to assist with the facility’s construction with $12,000 raised during the auction which included a variety of in-demand items donated by local businesses and FFA supporters.

    “The Dublin Ag department is incredibly grateful and humbled by the support shown by the community,” said HS ag teacher Sophie Hayhurst. “This new facility will be an amazing addition to the campus to offer livestock housing to students and FFA event growth opportunities.”

    Those in attendance enjoyed a homemade carnitas meal prepared by Secondary Principal Dr. Norma Villicana-Arreguin and her family complete with an array of desserts and aguas frescas. Live music including the “Chicken Fajitas” (a group of FFA members also in the Sound of Dublin Band) and tours of the facilities to showcase the accomplishments and potential of the FFA/ag program were also a highlight of the event.

    “This event was a great representation of the hardworking members of the school board, administration, ag department, and FFA members who made it possible,” said Hayhurst.

    Dublin ISD School Board has dedicated money for the project and Prime Metal Buildings has agreed to provide metal at a large discount, but fundraising continues for the facility that will make hand on animal care and animal science education better for DHS students.

    One way that people can help the project is by sponsoring a historic Thurber brick reclaimed from Dublin’s streets. A $500 donation secures a brick that will be laser etched by FFA students and placed with the new ag building, preserving a piece of Dublin’s history for generations to come.

    Business sponsorships are also available ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 (the highest of which offers overall naming rights for the building.)

    For more information, call the Dublin ISD administration office at (254) 445-6095.