4-H kicks off spring season with annual carnival

The Cheyenne County Fairgrounds were packed with people Saturday evening, months before the county fair, for games, food and fun at the annual 4-H Spring Carnival.

Attendees flocked to fifteen booths created and run by the various 4-H clubs within Cheyenne County, each featuring unique games such as target shooting, pillow fighting, prize fishing and more.

The annual carnival is the primary fundraiser for the county's 4-H council, funding its various activities and programs throughout the year.

Leyton High School senior Caitlyn Deal has been a member of the Cheyenne County 4-H for nine years, and has participated with the annual spring carnival every year since she started.

"This is a really big fundraiser for us," Deal said. "Kids buy tickets and then go through all of these booths we set up. It's just a really fun night."

As a member of the 4-H Junior Leaders, Deal helped set up and run her club's booth featuring a "needle in a haystack" game, where attendees could search through a large pile of shredded paper for hidden prizes.

"This is something that we've done in the past," she said. "It's just really fun to search for prizes in there for toys like spinning tops and bouncy balls."

Deal said the carnival is also an opportunity for Cheyenne County children to see what 4-H is all about.

"There's so many opportunities, for agriculture and things outside of agriculture," she said. "Kids can do what they really love and enjoy doing here."

As this year will be her last with the program before heading to the University of Nebraska - Lincoln to study preveterinary medicine this fall, Deal said the carnival is somewhat bittersweet for her.

"I'm sad about leaving," she said. "I've done a lot of work with the 4-H, and it's been really fun, but I am definitely going to try and stay involved in the summer."

Reggan Devier, 12, is in her fifth year with the county 4-H as a member of the Bunker Hillbillies club. For her club's booth, a trio of games were set up including a bean bag toss, three cup monte and cup stacking where participants had to spell out the 4-H pledge, written on the cups, in the correct order.

"It's a tough pledge to learn, but it's worth it," Devier said.

As a member of the 4-H, Devier said she shows sheep, goats, horses and even does some photography.

While many of the booths provided games for fun and offered chances at prizes, the Cool Kids Club offered an extra activity at their booth giving attendees a bit of science education.

Set up was a laptop computer with a "Zoomy" handheld digital microscope attached, allowing children to take up-close looks at a variety of rocks littered around the booth.

"In the summer, we'll do a whole program," Linda Whited, science coordinator for Cool Kids Club, said. "This year, we're going to focus a lot on the outdoors, and will use them out at the park to explore."

Whited said she has had the digital microscopes for only a few weeks, and was excited to see how children would respond to them at the spring carnival.

"Tonight is a good night to see how they use them," she said. "If it's easy for them and if they are enjoying them. And so far, they have enjoyed them. Some have even come back a few times to play with them, so I'm really glad."

Starting this year, the Cool Kids Club is officially part of the Cheyenne County 4-H, and will be offering its members opportunities to participate in different events at the upcoming county fair.

Food was also provided by the county 4-H in the cafeteria, with attendees choosing from sloppy joes, hot dogs and even taco salads, along with a variety of beverages and pies for dessert.

For more information on the Cheyenne County 4-H program, contact the Cheyenne County Extension Office at (308) 254-4455 or online at http://extension.unl.edu/statewide/ckb/4h/.