Head over to Riverland Community College this weekend to pick up a pair of jeans, some artwork or kitchenware, children’s toys, a couch and a new, used pick-up truck. These are a few among hundreds of items being sold at the SkillsUSA rummage sale.

The sale takes place Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon in the college’s west building, 1900 Eighth Ave. NW. All proceeds benefit a local chapter of the national nonprofit SkillsUSA, which serves students preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled services.

The group will also run a coinciding $6 breakfast fundraiser on Saturday from 8 to 10 a.m. at Applebee’s, 1404 18th Ave. NW.

Riverland’s SkillsUSA chapter, made up of about 30 students, hopes to raise at least $700 through the fundraisers — enough to cap off a fund to send the team to the SkillsUSA 2010 Minnesota Leadership and Skills Conference next month in Bloomington, Minn.

The conference includes competitions in several technical education areas, including: arts and communication; construction; health services; legal and protective services; hospitality; human services, manufacturing; science, engineering and technology; and transportation.

Last year, five SkillsUSA students from Riverland earned gold medals at the state competition. They went onto compete at a national conference.

“How great would that look on a resume?” Annette Beasley, Riverland student and SkillsUSA state officer said. “To win a state or even a national competition in your trade… That would be amazing.”

Beasley, a cosmetology student at Riverland, will participate in a hairstyling competition at the conference.

She said that she and other SkillsUSA students in the cosmetology department have stayed busy practicing for the competition.

“Anytime I do a client’s hair, I am practicing for the competition as well,” Beasley said.

When the students are not preparing, Beasley and the other SkillsUSA students spend time doing community service projects and raising funds to make it to the conference and competitions.

“The goal is to earn enough that we can send anyone who might qualify to the nationals,” Beasley said.

SkillsUSA students are also currently selling Papa Murphy’s coupon cards for $5. Contact a student or SkillsUSA advisor Tom Wilker at 456-1630 to buy a card.

SkillsUSA Rummage Sale

When: Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon

Where: Riverland Community College, west building

1900 Eighth Ave. NW

SkillsUSA Applebee’s Breakfast Fundraiser

When: Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon

Where: Applebee’s, 1404 18th Ave. NW

Cost: $6