Old-Fashioned Fun Comes to Hoodland: The First Annual Field Day Carnival

An event of this size could not happen without a dedicated committee working behind the scenes.  The following members were on the field day committee and were instrumental in having such a wonderful event.

Lion Sarah O’Dowd, Event Chairwoman, envisioned the Field Day Carnival as an old-fashioned gathering where Hoodland families and neighbors could come together simply to have fun. She worked tirelessly with committee members and volunteers to organize the first-of-its-kind event, turning that vision into a wonderful day enjoyed by more than 200 people. Her leadership, dedication, and community spirit helped lay the foundation for what promises to become a treasured annual tradition.

Lion Kristin Graybeal coordinated the volunteers, with help from Lion Dave Anderson. The event received generous support from Lions Club members and non-members alike, all of whom helped ensure that people were in place and ready to keep the day running smoothly. As possibly one of the most volunteer-intensive events the club has ever hosted, the Field Day Carnival demonstrated just how much can be accomplished when the entire community comes together.

Lion Dave Anderson was the committee’s jack-of-all-trades. In addition to helping coordinate volunteers, he worked with Heather Ostrander and the WPTCO to secure the carnival concession machines and helped coordinate the vendors who participated in the event. His willingness to step in wherever needed helped bring many important pieces of the carnival together.

Lion David Buoy led the kitchen crew, handling everything from planning the menu and setting prices to shopping for supplies—a task that required multiple trips into town. He also helped bring vendors into the event and lent the club a machine used to inflate the seemingly endless supply of balloons—and there were a LOT of balloons! Thanks to David and his crew, hungry carnivalgoers enjoyed hot dogs, hamburgers, and nachos throughout the day.

Lion Marlyne Casley contributed countless hours of painting and pitched in with setting up the carnival and putting everything away afterward. Throughout the week leading up to Field Day, she was there whenever needed, readily taking on any task that helped bring the event together.

Lion Candice Kelly’s creativity, connections, and steady support were invaluable throughout the planning process. She helped create many of the fliers and signs, ordered the banners, and helped, as the committee fondly put it, “keep Lion Sarah sane.” Whenever time allowed, Candice and her furry companion, Leo, could be found at the clubhouse, ready to pitch in with whatever needed to be done.

Lion Nancy Padberg provided support wherever it was needed, helping with both setup and teardown. On the day of the carnival, she welcomed attendees as a greeter and passed out many of her signature flashlights.

We also extend our sincere thanks to the PR Committee, especially Lion Nicole Guyer and Lion Kate Willie, for helping spread the word about Field Day. Their work creating and sharing social media posts helped build excitement, keep the community informed, and encourage people to attend. Remarkably, their outreach reached audiences up and down the West Coast and even into Canada!

Every committee member pitched in during setup and teardown. Their willingness to work together—from the earliest preparations until the final items were put away—made the first Field Day Carnival possible.