Cow-A-Bunga Bingo Raffle

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Game Concept: A grid of 1200 equally sized 2 foot by 2 foot squares will be painted on a field at the Sherburne County Fairgrounds. The field sits at the center of all the fair action so there is plenty of room for spectators. Before and during the fair, numbered raffle tickets to each specific grid square will be sold for $5 each.

On Sunday July 19, 2009; the $1000 grand prize winner will be selected by the random dropping of a cow pie on the grid-covered field. At 2 PM, one or two well fed cows will be led on the field to let the chips fall where they may. If a cow pie has not materialized within 1 hour from the start time, a winner will be determined by a random drawing.

The winner need not be present to win. However, we highly encourage spectators to come cheer on the cows as the chips fall at this event. It will surely bring a smile to your face!

Photo Credits: 2008 Avon Historical Society Cow Chip Raffle

The 1200 raffle tickets (grid squares) will be sold prior to the designated event time, but not after the event begins.

Persons must be 18 or older to purchase a ticket and/or win a prize.

Raffle ticket holder need not be present to win.

The numbered raffle ticket stubs will be placed in sealed, non-transparent envelopes by event organizers to avoid any interference or manipulation of the game activity. After all sold tickets are in sealed envelopes, they will be randomly mixed and the outside of the envelopes will be numbered with all the numbers on the grid board (which matches the layout of the actual field grid). The numbered grid board will be on display in the Cow-A-Bunga Bingo raffle tent just prior to the start of the event.

At the designated time of 2 PM on Sunday July 19, one or two cows will be led into the grid area by an appropriate handler and let free to roam within the area until a cow pie is placed on a grid or the one hour time allotment has expired. Upon completion of a cow pie or one hour time allotment, the cow will be escorted out of the area by the handler and the independent judges (who are not allowed to participate in the raffle) will determine the results. If there is no cow pie, the winner will be determined by a drawing.

Spectators cannot interfere with the progress of the event on the fenced/roped off gridded field.

The grid containing the biggest volume of cow pie from the 1st dropped cow pie as determined by a panel of 3 independent judges will be the grand prize winner of $1000. ALL decisions by the judges are final.

If a cow pie lands on a grid which is determined to be an "unsold" grid, the winner will be the closest "sold" grid square in proximity (by actual measured distance) to the cow pie.

Winner will be announced via the fair PA system and posted in the raffle tent.

Any disputes or claims must be registered with the judges and may be forwarded to the Minnesota Gambling Control Board.

Here are some of my tips that I learned during the planning process.

Before you even get started, check with your state gambling board to see if cow chip, cow-a-bunga, or cow pie bingo raffles are legal in your state. Some states do not allow this sort of 'alternative' raffle. And in Minnesota where we are conducting our raffle, they have an entire page of rules regarding how the raffle must be conducted (right down to non-transparent envelopes).

If you are an individual trying to raise funds for say a cancer patient, you'll likely need to run the raffle through a non-profit organization in order to be exempt from state gambling rules which prohibit most raffles.

Check with local city and county officials regarding their gambling rules and permit requirements.

Make the grid sized based on the number of tickets you think you can actually sell. In smaller towns and for smaller events, consider having 500 to 750 squares.

Don't get greedy and charge too much for tickets. Price your tickets to sell.

Have a detailed plan for selling tickets. For example if you are part of an organization, 'require' that all your members sell at least 4 tickets. The bottom line is that you need a game plan up front to make sure that all the tickets get sold.

Find someone that has paint equipment specifically for fields (e.g. football fields). The rolling sprayers require special paint, but they are essential in getting straight high-quality lines.

Having a raffle at the fair has its own special requirements and associated 'issues'. You will need liability issurance and fair officials to agree to a large area for your grid. I suggest having a volunteer coordinator who finds and keeps track of the tent/booth ticket selling volunteers, the cow handlers, field painters, judges, etc. Have banners made that go around the entire field that direct people to your tent. Some companies like Pepsi will actually donate banners to causes that they deem worthy.

Most of all, try to have fun!

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All of the proceeds from this lens benefit the CAER Food Shelf.

Idea Squid clip art from Squidoo Graphics.