RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
The importance of military families and children will be celebrated as the Randolph Youth Center hosts its free Fam-a-Ganza April 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Fam-a-Ganza is an annual event that encourages Team Randolph families to come out and enjoy games, arts and crafts, food and visit the more than 30 informational booths from base agencies on the youth center grounds.
"Fam-a-Ganza is the youth center's way of celebrating the Month of the Military Child," said Chris Fussell, youth center assistant director.
Since it began, Fam-a-Ganza has grown in attendance each year among active-duty personnel and retirees. An average of 3,000 people have come to Fam-a-Ganza each year.
Ms. Fussell said Fam-a-Ganza provides a variety of activities for children and adults to enjoy, from entertainment to educational.
"When families come to Fam-a-Ganza, they will discover information about base resources they may have not known about while having fun at the same time," she said.
Activities and exhibits include a youth center drill team demonstration, a gymnastics demonstration, a petting zoo, a Randolph Fire and Emergency Services demonstration, games, door prizes, food, refreshments and the Colossal Cookie Challenge, a baking contest youth can participate in.
Jeri Peterson, youth center youth director, said the Colossal Cookie Challenge allows children to test their baking skills.
"Children who participate in the Colossal Cookie Challenge come up with their own cookie recipes, bring samples of the cookies and have them judged for competition," Ms. Peterson said.
A new event at this year's Fam-a-Ganza will be the base Parent Advisory Council book fair, scheduled to be held in the youth center gym. Parents and children will be able to buy or order educational books at the fair, while proceeds from the book fair will help the PAC fund programs that support the youth center and the Child Development Center.
For more information, call the youth center at 652-3298.