Cindy Buckhart, president of the Larimer County 4‑H Foundation, told the Larimer County Board of County Commissioners during public comment on Sept. 30 that the foundation has been removed from use of the county ranch facilities and urged the commissioners to reconsider that action.

Buckhart said the foundation has supported the ranch complex and helped promote the facility and related sales tax revenue to voters. “How is it that the Larimer County 4‑H Foundation is removed for noncompliance when other events have taken place that violate the ranch policies?” she asked. She described examples she said involved cottage‑food vendors at trade shows and other events that continued to use the ranch facilities.

The foundation president warned that the foundation’s removal threatens the future of the organization’s annual carnival, saying vendor approval problems at this year’s event put the “60th annual carnival” at risk. Buckhart said the foundation did not know certain vendors were cottage‑food certified when the carnival occurred and that the group had planned to change its vendor application for 2026 but had not been able to implement those changes.

Following Buckhart’s remarks, a commissioner acknowledged the foundation’s contributions and said there has been “extensive communication over the last couple of years to find a path forward,” adding, “I don’t think we’re ignoring things.” No formal action or vote on the matter was taken during the meeting.

The comments were made during the meeting’s public comment period; commissioners did not provide new specifics about the county’s decision or schedule any follow‑up at the meeting. Buckhart and other speakers referenced county policies and the Colorado Constitution’s ethics provisions in arguing the removal was harmful to the public and local 4‑H members and volunteers.

Commissioners present at the meeting were Kristen Stephens (chair of the Board of County Commissioners), Jody Shattuck McNally and John Kefalas. The board did not vote or direct staff to take immediate action on the foundation’s concerns during the Sept. 30 session.