Scores turnout for annual barbecue for Boys & Girls Clubs

Auctions, food, music and fun were the vibe at the 16th annual Kids Auction & World's Greatest Barbecue on Saturday, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada's largest fundraiser of the year.

It appeared no one had more fun than Jean Russell of Carson City who, with a $4,200 bid, outdid two others vying for the opportunity to name a Bob Baffert race horse. An auction item finagled out of Baffert by former Carson City mayor Marv Teixeira, whom Baffert named a horse after in 2008.

Russell, wife of Carson Station owner Clark Russell, was tickled with the outcome of the rapid fire auction, clapping and smiling broadly as the auctioneer declared her the winner.

The name she chose? Deuce.

"It's a good strong name," she said, noting she already has dog she calls Deuce.

Allison Snyder, auction coordinator for the Boys & Girls club, said they filled 20 less tables this year in the Pony Express Pavilion at Mills Park, but she believes they'll turn a large profit thanks to the community donations of the auctions items and food to put on the event.

The money raised Saturday will go toward running the main club in Carson City, the Mentor Center of Western Nevada, the Community Outreach bus and satellite programs at Carson Middle School, Bordewich Elementary School and Mark Twain Elementary School.

Diane McCoy, director of operations for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada, said the lesser number of attendees is likely attributed to the downslope in the economy. Ironically enough, that translates into an upswing in enrollment at the clubs.

"We have more kids than ever," she said.