Over a decade has passed since Carter Kern underwent his last treatment for acute leukemia, but his memory of the two-year illness hasn’t faded away.
“I remember a lot of going to Children’s Hospital really early in the morning and seeing a lot of doctors and nurses, all who were very nice.”
But Kern also recalled the fun adventure after when he and his family took a Make-A-Wish sponsored trip to Disney World in Florida.
Now, as vice president of the school’s FFA chapter, the sophomore had a chance to give back to Make-A-Wish, an organization that fulfills the wishes of children with a critical illness.
“The FFA wanted to do a fundraiser event since we didn’t do one with the corn drive. We chose Make-A-Wish because I was a Make-A-Wish kid. We chose a carnival because we thought it would be fun for a lot of kids, and Make-A-Wish is for kids, so it correlates.”
Kern and the rest of the FFA started planning for the carnival early this year. Held in the new gym and commons on Friday, it raised money for Make-A-Wish and the FFA as well.
Attendees earned prize tickets on games of skill or chance, including cornhole, pin the tale on the elephant, apple bopping, ring toss, cup knock down, bowling and plinko.
Kids could also have their face painted, get a temporary tattoo, have their caricature drawn by Scott Lassiter or get a twisted balloon figure.
They could throw a pie in the face of teachers Charlie Haugen or Dave Roberts.
In the commons, HomeTown Bank of Cleveland and Junior Achievement also had prize booths.
Money raised for the FFA will go towards chapter events and trips, Kern said.
Above: Carter Kern holds a photo of himself as a five-year-old during a Make-A-Wish trip to Disney World.
Clowning around. Seventh grader Rowan Nelson made balloon figures.
Dressed for success. Seventh graders Nolan Schlaak, August Keltgen and Jack Mons were the pretzel makers.
About face. Sophomore Vivian Hilfer paints the face of freshman Zayden Linder.
All in the family. Carter Kern’s grandfather, Glen O’Connor, serves up his first dish of ice cream.
Kindergartner Rory Nelson tries her luck at plinko.
Seventh grader Clara Hilfer connects with secondary math teacher Dave Roberts.
Carter Kern’s mom Becky in the food stand. Beside her are her sister Laura Bowman and her mom Sandy O’Connor.
Cassandra Connor sold stars for the star wall. All of those proceeds went to Make-A-Wish.
Math teacher Deanna Pautzke watches her son launch a ping-pong ball…
…in an attempt to drop it into a cup. Staffing the game is seventh grader Harper Rutz.
Junior Carter Reintjes, freshman Marshall Heldberg and sophomore David Draheim took donations at the front door for Make-A-Wish and the FFA.
Scott Lassiter draws a caricature of second grader Aubrey McAlister.
PE teacher Charie Haugen was a money maker in the pie throwing booth.
Sophomores Mollie Bowman and Olivia Reinhardt sold carnival tickets.
Sophomore Emma Bluhm applies a tattoo to Carter Kern.
Eighth grader Jackson Wille plays a round of corn hole.
Fourth grader Arbor Linder cashes in her tickets.
Junior Maya Lassiter took a time out after a busy evening in the pie-throwing booth.
Junior Savannah Meyer ran the Picka Pop booth. Colors on the bottom of the suckers indicated how many tickets the player won.
Second grader Daphne Page rolls a gigantic, inflated bowling ball.
Katie Mons staffed the Junior Achievement booth in the commons.
Guess how many pennies are in the jar at the HTB booth. Behind are its staff Bob Kaveney, Sally Haase, Doug Schweim, Jenny Stauff, Angie Knish and Nikki Traxler.
Kindergartner Kenza Luedke went with the cat look. Behind her is preschooler Nora Delaney.
Fifth grader Gabriel Anderson tosses a bean bag at a stack of cups.
Seventh grader Max Freier’s technique in bobbing for apples was to bite on the stem.
Teachers Charlie Haugen and Dave Roberts get pies in the face.