It’s a raffle of items donated by puppeteers across the country, conducted during the National Puppetry Festival every two years, and it has a purpose:

The Puppeteers of America is a volunteer organization, and the nine-member Board of Trustees pay their own expenses to travel to two meetings a year. The Traffle idea was conceived several years ago as a way to provide a source of funds that can help a bit to defray some of those expenses.

So when you either donate items to the Traffle, or buy Traffle tickets during the Festival, you’re helping support the Non-Profit Puppeteers of America.

As items are donated, they will be added to this site, so check back often.

Traffle Coordinators are Karen Backes and Claire Uldrich, assisted by Peter Effaldana

To ship any Traffle items in advance of the festival,
please send NO LATER THAN JULY 10th to:
Karen Backes, Backes Puppeteers, 7500 Babcock Trail, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077

AFTER JULY 10TH: Please notify Karen Backes if you have an item to donate and will be bringing it to the Festival. (Email, or call 651-457-6044)

DONATED TRAFFLE ITEMS
All donated items are on display during the week of the Festival, at a location to be announced.
During the week volunteers will sell Traffle tickets, which you can deposit in boxes next to the items you hope to win.
A drawing is held at the end of the week.
Original George Latshaw puppet: "Monsieur Zephir"

Donated by Kate Okami
Original Cast Album of Bil and Cora Baird's "Man in the Moon"
Vinyl LP, but also comes with a CD burned from the vinyl. Display the album, listen to the CD.

Donated by the Twin Cities Puppeteers
(Thanks to Kurt Hunter, Laura Krentz and Dean Gahlon)
Indonesian Shadow Puppet
from the collection of Diane Rains

Donated by Claire Uldrich of the Twin Cities Puppeteers
Sarina Jay Rod Puppet
from the collection of Diane Rains

Donated by Claire Uldrich
Books: Hugs and Kisses, with Dora puppet;
Clap Your Hands, with Elmo puppet

Donated by Claire Uldrich
Book: Library Lion
and Folkmanis Lion Puppet

Donated by Claire Uldrich
Dinosaur Finger Puppets and book

Donated by Claire Uldrich
Ventriloquist dummy, bought at auction

Donated by Claire Uldrich
Simple Pinocchio marionette, made of wood

Donated by Bev Jackson Cotter, wife of Michael Cotter, both storytellers from Minnesota
Sock Puppets Book and Kit, from Borders Book Store in Ames, IA

Donated by Claire Uldrich
Simple Mexican girl marionette, bought at Antique Ames in Ames, IA

Donated by Claire Uldrich
Two "Dancing Girl" pins, puppet-like, made from recycled wire in Kisumu, Kenya. One has Dancing puppet earrings. Bought at Worldly Goods in Ames, IA.

Donated by Claire Uldrich
The Frog Prince -- Book and Puppet Theatre by Wendy Brandon, purchased at Target in Ames, IA

Donated by Claire Uldrich
Clown Jumping Jack, purchased at auction in Mason City, IA. Dates from 1920s, '30s or '40s.

Donated by Claire Uldrich
The Foam Book - DVD Edition - with Tips and Tricks

Donated by Drew Allison
Dragon Hand and Rod Puppet, made from the Backes Pattern

Donated by Karen Backes
Wooden Limberjacks, hand crafted by Len Backes

Donated by Karen and Len Backes