‘I’ll carry your pioneer courage with me’: kids construct unique Riverton float

The July 24th Days of 47 Parade has dozens of floats, but one from Riverton had a unique background that’s all about the children.

“I am making some grass and flowers,” said young Ruby Fisher as she and several other kids worked on a garage floor finishing the final decorations for the Utah Riverton South Stake Float. “I Like how we get to celebrate the pioneers.”

“Then we are putting sprinkles on them,” said Savana McCay, another child volunteer.

The 26-foot long and 10 feet wide float is all about the pioneer children and what they would have brought across the plains.  The wording on the float reads “I’ll carry your pioneer courage with me.”

The float has a large journal, some toys, a huge doll, a quilt, a guitar, and a Book of Mormon.  It took months and about 800 hours of work designing and painting and cutting and decorating. 

But most of the dozens of volunteers were all children. And that included the recording of two primary songs written and composed by the committee chairperson and another volunteer. The kids sang the songs and played the instruments.

“At the beginning, I think it was about creating something beautiful. By the end of the project, it was about creating a beautiful experience,” said Nina Perkins the float committee chairperson. “I think it’s been more work to do it with children with all the volunteers but it’s been more worth it.”

Even if it may not turn out to be an award-winning float.

“I don’t think we are winning any awards,” said Perkins with a laugh. “If there is an award for the most children working on a float then it’s ours.”