Community Service

Since many of our members are new to 4-H, we wanted to explain a bit more about the upcoming 4-H Carnival.

This is Larimer County’s 63rd year holding the carnival, which raises funds for the 4-H Foundation. The fundraising goal for this year’s carnival is $50,000.

The carnival is organized by the 4-H Foundation, with the assistance of the county’s 4-H clubs. The 4-H Foundation uses the funds generated to support youth with scholarships, awards, registration fees and travel expenses for conferences and competitions, equipment for projects like shooting sports, leader training, and so much more.

4-H members sell tickets for $1 beginning in January and leading up to the carnival in March. These tickets give the purchaser an entry into the cash prize drawing as well as door prize drawings held throughout the day. The center portion of each ticket can be exchanged for two coupons to play the booths at the carnival. Game booth coupons are also sold on the day of the carnival for 25¢ each.

The Foundation asks that all 4-H members sell at least 25 tickets. By helping to support this fundraising effort, 4-H members are eligible for scholarships and assistance with expenses. And 4-H members are encouraged to sell MORE than their 25 tickets. The members who sell the most and the club with the highest average receive cash prizes for their efforts.

The 4-H clubs volunteer to create and work at carnival game booths, and carnival-goers pay coupons to play. Every player receives a prize for participating. A portion of the funds from the booths goes to the organizing club.

Members and their parents sign up to work the club’s booths, and this as well as selling tickets counts toward community service to be noted in their e-Record books for the fair.

A highlight of the day is two Live Auctions, held at 12:00 noon and 2:00 p.m. Local businesses, generous families, and the 4-H clubs put together items and baskets to be auctioned to raise funds. Half of the money generated by each club basket comes back to the donating club.

And no carnival would be complete without food! This year there will be a bake sale and some clubs will be selling carnival food at their booths. (The on-site concessions will not be available this year, so bring a lunch or snacks if you wish.)

Admission to the carnival and parking are free at the event.

The Larimer County 4-H Exchange Club is also sponsoring a dance to be held after the carnival at 6:00 p.m. in the McKee Building.

Be sure to invite your friends, family, and neighbors to come and have a wonderful, fun time and support 4-H!

This year, the Larimer County 4-H Carnival will be held on Saturday, March 5, 2022 from 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. at the First National Bank Building at the Ranch (5280 Arena Circle, Loveland, Colorado 80538).

Cindy has carnival tickets available for all of the 4-H members to sell. Each member is encouraged to sell their 25, but we have more if you’re feeling ambitious! If you run out, contact Cindy for more. Cloverbuds are not required to sell tickets, but can if they wish.

Our club voted to donate three baskets for the Live Auction with the themes of Colorado/Sports, Sweets, and Camping/Outdoor Skills. Please bring items to be included in these baskets to the February club meeting.

Our club will also have four carnival booths: Iron Man, Toilet Paper Toss, Rubberband Guns, and Lollipop Pull. We ask that members and parents sign up to work a shift. The SignUpGenius is available on the Signups page. (Cindy is a Foundation board member and has many responsibilities on carnival day. We ask that parents lend their time and organization at the booths during the day.)