Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
WORLAND — For the past six years the Washakie County 4-H Roadrunners Club has volunteered at the Fur Ball, the annual fundraiser for New Hope Humane Society.
Former club leader Stephanie Voss said in 2015 she had been talking to event organizer Deb Coronado who was looking for volunteers. She said for about two years the club volunteered with the Boys Scouts to serve the food, bus tables and help with the auctions.
She said her husband, Brian Voss, oversees the live auction and directs the club members. The Vosses will be assisting again this year.
Club leader Cindy Lentsch said the club has a “real strong desire to find, support and be involved in community service activities throughout the school year.”
This year, the seventh for the club to volunteer at the Fur Ball, Lentsch has at least six club members who will be volunteering at the 12th annual Fur Ball on Friday, April 22. She said only members who are in fifth grade or older due to food safety guidelines. She said other club members have previous commitments.
The club members will help with some of the set up, starting their duties at 4:30 p.m. Lentsch said club members arrive at 4:30 p.m. and are usually treated to pizza while they get a lesson in food safety.
Doors for the event at the Washakie County Fairgrounds, open at 5 p.m. with the silent auction beginning as people arrive, according to event organizer and New Hope Humane Society employee Deb Coronado.
Then they work on setting up, help with food service and bus tables. They track the silent auction items and will hold and display auction items during the live auction. They will also help clean up following the event.
“The kids are pretty awesome at stepping in,” Lentsch said, noting members love the community service event.
Stephanie Voss added some of the same members volunteer each year.
Why New Hope and the Fur Ball for a community service project?
“It’s a great hands-on community service project,” Voss said.
Lentsch said the Fur Ball “lines up with our mission to give back to the community.”
She said the club also holds a drive for food and other needs for New Hope during the year.
Lentsch said that in 4-H one of the project areas is animal science and veterinary science; and a lot of members have interest in health and wellbeing in animals.
She said there are also quite a few members who participate in the county fair dog show and cat show and helping New Hope is another way for the members to learn about their project by learning about agencies who help and protect animals.
Serving at the Fur Ball also helps build confidence in the members and helps them with public speaking, another 4-H life skill.
Voss said, “It gets them out in the community, talking to adults. It’s a hands-on project and gets them thinking of someone other than themselves.”
FUR BALL
The Fur Ball will be at the Washakie County Fairgrounds. Coronado said tickets are selling fast so people should not wait as there may not be tickets available at the door.
Doors open at 5 p.m. on Friday. Dinner, a New York strip steak with side dishes catered by Brass Plum, begins at 6 p.m. and the live auction begins around 7 to 7:30 p.m.
Coronado said the beer garden also helps raise funds for the Humane Society and this year a keg of Ten Sleep Brewery’s popular Speedgoat has been donated to the beer garden.
There will also be a raffle of some items in addition to the two auctions.
All proceeds benefit the spay and neuter program at New Hope, as well as providing for other medical needs of the animals. Funds are not used for operational costs or employee salaries, she said.
The fundraiser usually raised $15,000 to $18,000 annually.
They also sell calendars each year as their only other fundraiser.
Voss added, “The Fur Ball is a super fun event,” noting people have fun bidding against each other. She said it is an opportunity for community members to gather together, build camaraderie.
“It gets everyone together for a good cause and some good food,” she said.