Cow Pattie Bingo returns Saturday

EAGLE — The Eagle Valley Land Trust is a very earnest organization that seeks to preserve scenic vistas, open space, historic lands, waterways and wildlife habitats.

So there’s just a delicious irreverence about the fact that the annual EVLT fundraiser is built around cow poop.

“It’s pretty funny when you describe the event to people. They don’t know what to say,” said Thomas Wessel, of the Eagle Valley Land Trust. “The Eagle Valley Land Trust is trying to do earnest, conservation work. But you have to have some fun.”

CONSERVATION-MINDED MEMBERS

The EVLT Legacy Festival and Cow Pattie Bingo returns to Eagle Town Park on Saturday. Officially, the festival aims to bring together conservation-minded members, local agencies, nonprofits and businesses to celebrate collective conservation successes.

Support Local Journalism

Donate

The event expo gives local nonprofits that have conservation as part of their mission the opportunity to showcase their operations. The result is information booths intermixed with a party atmosphere featuring food, drink, music, bull riding, lasso roping, family friendly fun and games. And while all this is going on, everyone is watching and waiting for Ol’ Bessie (yes, that is the actual name of the 4-H cow recruited for the event ) to do her business.

A huge bingo card is laid out at town park and participants purchase squares on a 600-square grid for $20 each. Wherever the poop lands, the person who has purchased that square will win $1,000 and a two-night stay at a luxury Vail lodge.

But wait, that’s not all.

This year in addition to the Cow Pattie Bingo, the EVLT is offering ba-ba bingo featuring a 4-H sheep named Ol’ Boo. The winner for the sheep bingo will take home a cruiser bike or a kids bike, compliments of Mountain Pedaler.

Wessel said the squares are selling fast and urged everyone interested in purchasing a poo prospect to visit http://www.evlt.org/legacyfestival.

Collaborative effort

Wessel noted that the EVLT Legacy Festival is presented by Vail Resorts Epic Promise and is a collaborative event.

“We have invited all local environmental organizations and businesses that have conservation in their mission. As far as we know, it is the first event of its kind in Eagle County to showcase the collective efforts of all these great organizations and the work they do,” he said. “Folks will be able to see what groups up and down the valley are doing.”

Additionally, event-goers can support the EVLT by purchasing items from a large silent auction on site. “We will have a really cool silent auction with some really great items — everything from food and movies to massages and lodging,” Wessel said.

The event itself is free and the money raised at various activities — from the pattie play to the action — will go directly to support the EVLT mission: “To preserve forever our scenic vistas, open space, historic lands, waterways, and wildlife habitats that represent the uniqueness of Eagle County and the central Rocky Mountains for the enjoyment, education, and benefit of all who experience this special place.”