"Have Fun, Give Back" Program a Success at the Boone Co. Fair

​Nearly 400 kids were able to enjoy the carnival rides over the 4 days of the Boone County Fair this year. The "Have Fun, Give Back" program, developed by the Boone County Fair Board and sponsored by the Boone County Farm Bureau, allowed fairgoers to donate a non-perishable food item in exchange for a free carnival wristband.
The basis of the program was to gain sponsorship to cover the cost of the carnival so families who normally wouldn’t be able to afford the carnival rides, would be able to come out and have fun at the fair.  As a part of the program, those wishing to receive the free carnival wristbands would need to donate a non-perishable food item. With over 11% of Boone County being considered "food insecure", the fair board thought this would be a great way to shed light on the issue and get the community involved. 
“It is great that we are teaching our children the importance of giving back to the community” said one mother with young children enjoying the rides. “We are grateful for this sponsorship and the 'Have Fun, Give Back' program, so we can enjoy the rides at the fair.” 
This year, almost 300 pounds of non-perishable food items were collected through this program and were donated to local food pantries.  The Boone County Fair Board is planning to continue the "Have Fun, Give Back" program in the future, and is looking for more area businesses to help sponsor this great program to support our community. For more information about this program or information on the 2021 Boone County Fair, contact [email protected].