Paso Robles POA invests in local youth, one livestock project at a time

By Camille DeVaul · Thu Aug 06 2026

Annual golf tournament fundraiser seeks sponsors and participants to support POA initiatives

PASO ROBLES — For the Paso Robles Police Officer Association (POA), supporting local youth goes far beyond wearing the badge. For the past five years, the organization purchased an animal at the California Mid-State Fair Junior Livestock Auction this past July.

This year's purchase was a market pig raised by Templeton 4-H member Hailey Reese. Prior to the CMSF, the POA called all FFA and 4-H students in San Luis Obispo County to submit buyer letters and come to the Paso Robles Police Department to interview with an officer or dispatcher for an opportunity to have their animal purchased by POA.

"The biggest reason we do it is the interaction with the interview process ... getting the kids to come in to sit down with officers," said Paso Robles Police Sgt. and POA Treasurer Chris Hart. "Sometimes for these kids, that's the only interaction they've ever had [with law enforcement]."

Officers, dispatchers, sergeants and other department personnel volunteer to meet with the students, giving them an opportunity to talk about their livestock projects, the work they've put into raising their animals and what they've learned through 4-H or FFA.

Hart said the interviews have become one of the most rewarding parts of the program.

"It's pretty cool to see kids coming back ... the first year they're very nervous ... and by year four they're calling you by your first name," Hart said.

The association interviewed approximately 75 exhibitors this year and provides add-on contributions to as many students who participate in the interview process as funding allows. On auction day, the POA also aims to purchase one exhibitor's animal. However, Hart said budget limitations can make it difficult for the organization to compete with larger buyers.

This year, the association successfully purchased Reese's market pig after no other bidders stepped in.

While the selection may ultimately come down to auction timing and budget, Hart emphasized that the organization's goal is to support youth from throughout San Luis Obispo County, not just Paso Robles.

The funds used to purchase the animal and support the livestock program come largely from the POA's annual golf tournament, the association's largest fundraiser. Last year alone, the POA donated approximately $20,000 back to the community through youth-focused programs and generous giving.

Beyond purchasing livestock, proceeds from the tournament allow the organization to respond to community needs throughout the year. Hart said the POA has replaced stolen bicycles for children, supported local Little League and softball teams, donated to Paso Robles High School athletics, and provided emergency financial assistance to officers and their families facing unexpected hardships.

"We do so many little things all year long," Hart said.

One memorable example involved replacing a child's expensive mountain bike after it was stolen. Rather than purchasing a less expensive replacement, the POA worked to buy the exact same model so the child could have the bike they had worked so hard to earn.

This year's fundraising efforts will continue on Saturday, Sept. 19, when the POA hosts its 7th Annual Golf Tournament at Hunter Ranch Golf Course.

The tournament includes breakfast, prizes, and opportunities for participants to support the officers and dispatchers of the Paso Robles Police Officers Association while helping fund community programs throughout the year. Registration is currently open at PRPOAgolf.com

Hart said the tournament has raised an average of about $25,000 annually, with some years reaching as much as $50,000. However, securing sponsorships has become more competitive. Roughly $10,000 of the proceeds each year goes directly toward the POA's Junior Livestock Auction efforts.

The event continues to receive strong backing from longtime community partners and local businesses — like Associated Traffic Safety, Borjon Auto Center, and Hope Family Wines — that believe in the association's mission of serving both officers and residents. For the past two years, the organization has been able to partner with Cal Poly to process the fair animal they purchase at the auction. Those partnerships have helped sustain programs that connect law enforcement in Paso Robles with young people in positive, meaningful ways.

Although purchasing a fair animal has become a beloved annual tradition, Hart said the experience begins long before the auction ring.

"It's remarkable to see kids coming year after year," he said. "The main thing is interacting with these kids ... it's such a fun experience."

For more information on the Paso Robles Police Officer Association, contact them at pasoroblespoliceassocation@gmail.com

Feature Image: Templeton 4-H member Hailey Reese is shown with members of the Paso Robles Police Officers Association (POA) at the California Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles. The POA purchases an animal every year at the fair's Livestock Auction, and this year they bought Reese's market pig. Photo courtesy of Paso Robles Police Department