We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
Ben Hauptman & Doug Mitchell judge pies. (l-r) Ben Hauptman, Blaine County Extension Agent, and Doug Mitchell, local chef and rancher, judge pies at last year's Montana Seed Show. Pies are a big part of the competition and a favored auction item that raised funds to support the annual show.
Myla Bell at hands on history. Myla Bell seems pretty happy at the 'hands-on-history' exhibit at the 2015 Montana Seed Show. The event is set for March 10-12, culminating with a banquet and live entertainment on Saturday evening.
Winning seeds and seed potatoes. A wide variety agricultural, culinary and artistic competition takes place at the Seed Show.
The 2016 Montana Seed Show will run Thursday through Saturday evening, March 10-12, in and around the Harlem High School. Billed as the 'longest running seed show in Montana,' organizers have brought back many regular events and added some new activities. Paul Rasmussen, long time chairman of the seed show planning group, said he's expecting another great show.
Thursday activities
Thursday, first day of the three-day show, entries for various agricultural-related products, woodworking projects and commercial and educational exhibits will be set up. Wool judging happens at 1pm and woodworking judging takes place at 2pm. Thursday evening, beginning at 6pm, chili cook-off participants will show their creations with opportunities for visitors to taste and judge the entries. There will be prizes for the 'people's choice' and a 'judges' choice.'
Friday activities
Friday begins with a breakfast in the commons area of the school that runs from 6:30 - 9 a.m. Blood screenings and the health fair will be offered 6:30-10 a.m. (If you have to fast for a blood test, you can still have breakfast afterwards at the show). There is a charge for the blood screenings and the bone density test. For more information about the various health screenings, call the Blaine County Health Department, 357-2345.
The art show entries will be set up in the morning and pies and breads will be received for preliminary judging. The commercial exhibits will be open, in the school gym, from 8am-6pm. A pancake supper will be held in the Vo-Ag room at the school from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. The art auction follows at 7 p.m.
On Friday the MT Ag Farm Safety group will present in the high school library at 10:30am. Ron Larson (now retired from MSU), longtime seed judge at the show, will present topics related to Montana's workmen's compensation program and the State Fund.
Larson said by phone, "The MT Ag Farm Safety program is supported by a grant from the state workmen's compensation program that's administered by the Montana Farm Bureau. I'll be talking about some general safety goals set by the Montana Safety Culture Act of 1993 and how that legislation relates to farms and ranches. But I want the program to be interactive and talk about safety concerns and workmen's compensation issues that the audience brings." Larson noted that participants in the seminar are eligible for a 4% discount on their workmen's compensation premiums if they participate in the Montana State Fund program.
Saturday activities
On Saturday morning breakfast will be offered and the health fair and blood screenings will be available, same locations and times as Friday. For kids the Earl Clack Foundation of Havre will offer their "Hands on History" program-some hands-on activities to give youngsters the 'feel' of history.
The quilt show will run from 10am-3:30pm with opportunity to check out some fantastic quilted and sewn items. A classic car show will be open 10am-4pm in the Vo Ag room, a 'sheep to shawl' demonstration will also run 10am-4pm in the main exhibit hall.
The Saturday morning interest meeting will be presented by Brandon Nissen, a Harlem native and financial planner. His topic will be "3 Financial Planning Strategies for Women." The interest meeting will be in the school library and begins at 11am.
The pie and bread auction always draws a big crowd, that will run 1-3pm at one end of the exhibit hall. Commercial and educational exhibits will be open from 8am-4pm. The exhibits close at 4pm to reset the exhibit hall for the evening banquet.
In addition to what always proves to be a great meal and lively entertainment at the evening banquet, starting at 7pm, there will be additional auctions with auctioneer Bob Sivertsen handling the bidding. Awards from the various competitions held during the show will also be presented.
The banquet entertainment will be Wylie and the Wild West. Wylie Gustafson, who lives and ranches near Conrad, has been taking cowboy music and yodeling to audiences around the world for three decades. He and his band have appeared on such varied venues as Public Radio's "Prairie Home Companion" to the "Grand Ole Opry," with more than 50 guest appearances at the Opry. Gustafson writes much of his own music based on his experiences on his ranch and raising quarter horses.
Asked if Gustafson's band would also be appearing during the seed show banquet, show chairman Rasmussen said, "We've got the entire shooting match contracted." Wylie and the Wild West band pride themselves on their authentic cowboy music. One critic writing a review of Wylie and the Wild West in "Country America" noted, "In this day seemingly overrun by cookie-cutter sounds and carbon-copy styles, Wylie Gustafson is a welcome one of a kind."
Most events at the Montana Seed Show are free. There is a charge for the meals and blood screenings. Tickets for the Saturday evening banquet can be purchased at The Clothing Store in Harlem leading up to the show, banquet tickets are also available Thursday through Saturday, when the show is in progress. Guests should know that only a limited number of banquet tickets are available.
Seed show 'books' are available at business around the area and have details of all the competitions, special interest meetings and lots of additional information. You can also find a schedule of activities on Facebook by going to 'Montana Seed Show.'
Plan some time to visit this longstanding celebration of agriculture and rural culture in our area. Guests will find a variety of demonstrations and commercial exhibits that relate to life along the Hi-Line.
