The Ironton Cooperative Club regularly sponsors a myriad of civic causes, many of which pertain the education and welfare of area youth. This weekend, some of those youths will take part in one of the club's biggest annual fund raising events.

The Co-Op Club's 18th annual Arts and Crafts Show and Sale will be Saturday and Sunday at Ironton High School. Event co-chair Shaun Spencer said that in addition to the numerous crafters who take part, art students at Ironton Junior High School and Ironton High School will showcase their talent in an exhibit at the craft show. This is the first time the city school students have showcased their talent at the two-day display and sale.

"We are thrilled to have found a way to bring the Co-Op club and young people together in this way," Spencer said.

Brennan Lutz, who teaches art in grades 8-12, said the exhibit is a great opportunity for students to display their talent and for the public to see the students' work.

"We've never done anything like this. We have displayed our work frequently in the building but to actually have it on display where the public can see it, this is the first time for that," Lutz said.

The students' work will be adjudicated at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Mary Ford and Lilly Dickens of the Ironton Council for the Arts will be judges.

The theme for this year's show and sale is "An Appalachian Autumn."

More than 35 crafters will have booths with items for sale.

The list of crafters includes hand made dulcimers, hand-painted porcelain, candles, flower arrangements, woodworking, crystal jewelry and a selection of hand-fashioned wearable art.

On Saturday, local expert Porky Nichols will appraise people's collectibles. The price of each appraisal is $1.

Again this year, there will also be a cafe and bake sale. A local dulcimer group will perform during the event, as will the Singing Kernals.

Proceeds benefit various projects in the community. "Two-thirds of all the money the club raises is earmarked for educational projects within the community," Spencer said.

"One-third is donated to other civic events. We bought new banners for the (Ironton-Lawrence County) Memorial Day Parade this year."

The door prize is a basket of goods donated by area businesses. Admission to the crafts show and sale is $1. The crafts show and sale will be 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.