Larimer County 4‑H Foundation tells commissioners it was denied use of ranch facilities

Cindy Burkhart, president of the Larimer County 4‑H Foundation, told the Board of County Commissioners during public comment on May 12 that the foundation has repeatedly been denied access to a ranch facility that was funded in part by an $800,000 donation from the Thomas McKee Trust Committee in 2005 and had been made available to the foundation at no cost.

Burkhart said the foundation has been criticized for supporting programming tied to the county health department and that she found no written agreement authorizing ranch staff to decide who may use the facility. She said the foundation has prepared to award $21,000 in youth scholarships and submitted a petition of more than 200 signatures requesting full access to the ranch, and that those requests were ignored. "Despite repeated attempts to resolve this issue, the foundation continues to be denied use of a public facility founded by the citizens of Larimer County," Burkhart said.

Chair Jody Shibeen Alley thanked Burkhart for bringing the matter to the public, and Commissioner John Kefalas and others expressed appreciation for the foundation’s work. Chair Alley said she "respectfully disagree[s]" with some of Burkhart’s characterizations and asked for factual details, and no formal board action or staff directive on the issue was recorded during the meeting.

The remarks occurred during the public comment portion of the meeting; the board did not place the matter on the agenda or take immediate action. Commissioners indicated they value public input and suggested follow‑up outside the meeting to clarify facts and next steps.