Larimer County 4‑H Foundation says ranch changed food rules, threatened new fee for carnival

Cindy Buckhart, president of the Larimer County 4‑H Foundation, told the Larimer County Board of County Commissioners on April 15 that the foundation only learned late about a requirement that event food at the county ranch be commercially prepackaged and sourced from licensed distributors and that the policy had not been communicated to the foundation until February 2023.

Buckhart said that the foundation and its 4‑H clubs have held bake sales and carnival food at ranch events for decades and disputed an assertion in an email from county staff that the restriction was “long standing.” “Long standing is that the foundation had been having a bake sale and carnival food for 64 years,” she said. “That is long standing, not 2 years.”

Buckhart said the foundation continued in 2023 to operate as it had for the previous 63 years and that there was no formal communication about vendor or food policies throughout 2023 beyond her public comment to the board. She said county staff twice contacted the foundation in January 2024 and again in February 2024 about the carnival and that the foundation followed the directions it received at that time.

Buckhart said county staff later told the foundation in 2024 that the ranch would charge the foundation between $5,000 and $6,000 to host the carnival even though the foundation had not previously been charged. She also said recent requirements imposed by the ranch included guaranteeing a minimum in sales, placing a credit card on file, and providing a list of vendors by Feb. 1 on a one‑week time frame; the foundation’s contract with the ranch, she said, was not due back until Feb. 1.

“Per the letter of February '23, there is no mention about vendor requirements. The 2024 did not require submit to our vendors, so why would the foundation be expected to do so in 2025?” Buckhart said. She said the foundation requested documentation from county staff about the alleged violations but had not received a response. Buckhart reported that “Laurie Cadrich reached out to the foundation last week following my public comment. She stated that the meeting in person for a discussion would be best, which the foundation totally agrees.”

Buckhart also took issue with a remark she attributed to Commissioner Jody Shattuck McNally that the situation “has been ongoing.” “Commissioner Shattuck McNally, I take exception to your comment last week that has been ongoing and when it has not,” Buckhart said.

Commissioner John Kefalas responded after public comment that the commissioners would follow up on the questions raised. “I think communication is always a good thing, and it’s between the ranch and CSU Extension,” Kefalas said. “We support 4‑H. We support the 4‑H Foundation.”

No formal action or vote was taken by the board during the meeting on the foundation’s complaint. Buckhart requested an in‑person meeting; she said the foundation had been instructed twice in early 2024 and then told in late December 2024 that the ranch would again consider the organization a 4‑H entity, leaving the foundation limited time to plan for the 2025 carnival.

Why it matters: The foundation says the dispute affects longstanding fundraising activities that support local 4‑H clubs. The foundation says it has sought written documentation of county concerns and vendor requirements and is awaiting staff follow‑up.

What’s next: Buckhart reported that county staff (Laurie Cadrich) offered an in‑person meeting; no meeting date or additional staff direction was recorded in the public meeting record.