We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
The 68th Montana Seed Show begins this Thursday and runs through Saturday evening. What started as a venue to showcase the area’s seed potato industry has morphed, over nearly seven decades, to a “winter country fair.” The three-day event has ag and non-ag related exhibits, health screenings, competitions of all sorts and a closing banquet with great entertainment. Except for the final banquet and health screenings, all events are free. Seed show activities are in and around the Harlem High School.
Paul Rasmussen, who has served as Chairman of the Seed Show organizing committee for several years, said the various superintendents have done a fine job putting together another great seed show. He explained, “We have some regular events that have become standard parts of the show but we have changed and added a few things.” You can find the schedule of events on Facebook (search for Montana Seed Show).
One interesting change is this year’s dedication of the show. Typically, the ‘program’ has a dedication of each annual show, normally honoring some person (s) who gave many years of support to the show or made other contributions to the community. This year the dedication is to the Blaine County 4-H and FFA members. The dedication describes the many ways, through the years, these youth groups have contributed to the success of the seed show. Rasmussen said, “As a committee we wanted to show our appreciation to these young people and recognize how they’ve helped through the years.” He added, “I hope some of these youngsters will continue to be active in organizing the show and serve in future years as well.”
Three days packed with activities and fun
Thursday is opening day for the three-day event. Much of the day is devoted to receiving various entries for the competitions and setting up the commercial exhibits. At 1 p.m. the fleeces are judged, woodworking is judged at 2 p.m. Then a new event will happen at 6 p.m. when the inaugural Beef Cook-Off will be held. For several years a chili cook-off was held on Thursday evening.
Paulette Keller, who is also an officer with the North Central Montana Cattlewomen’s group, and Kellie Rasmussen, who formerly worked with the chili cook-off, have organized the beef cook-off. Keller said, “To give some uniformity to the dishes for judging we opted to require all dishes use hamburger. That certainly does not limit chefs as there are many ways to prepare hamburger from meatballs to casserole. And, yes, if someone is still intent on entering a chili dish, as long as the meat is hamburger, that would qualify.” The Seed Show Committee and the Cattlewomen will fund the two $150 prizes—a prize each for the Judge’s Choice and the People’s Choice. The People’s Choice will be based on voting by visitors on Thursday night who taste test the beef dishes.
Friday begins with breakfast in the commons area of the high school and runs from 6:30 a.m. - 9 a.m. Health screenings also begin at 6:30 a.m. Jana Hauer, Blaine County Nurse said, “As in past years the screening will be performed by Western Health Screening out of Billings. Folks can find a list of available screenings, and fees for the tests, in the Seed Show Program or call the Health Department at 357-2345 for information. We can also tell clients if they need to fast for the test they want.”
The art show entries set up in the morning, 8 a.m. - 10 a.m., and pies and breads can also be entered from 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. The commercial exhibits will be open in the gym from 8am-6pm. The quilt show runs 10 a.m - 6 p.m. From 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. there will be a pie and bread auction and periodic drawings for merchandise donated by exhibitors. Lunch is served 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. and there will be a pancake supper in the Vo-Ag annex from 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. The art auction will begin at 7 p.m.
Saturday’s early schedule is basically the same as Friday’s—breakfast, health screenings, the quilt show, art and woodwork viewings and the exhibit hall open all day with lunch in the commons area.
From 10 a.m. -2 p.m. there will be Kids’ Activities offered by the Lodge Pole pow-wow organizing committee. Hannah Has Eagle, one of the coordinators, said the emphasis will be helping kids make fun items with recycled or by reusing common items around the house. Various sized water bottles will be used to make lighted flowers and mini-candy machines. All materials will be provided, just bring the kids.
Mid-day, 10 a.m - 4 p.m., there will be a sheep to shawl demonstration in the main exhibit hall. Out in the Vo-Ag room there will be a Classic Car Show from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. The pie and bread auctions, with more merchandise drawings, will be 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
Before lunch there will be two interest meetings—these are presentations on topics of current interest. At 11 a.m. Blaine County Undersheriff Frank Billmayer will be speaking on Human Trafficking. On the phone Billmayer said, “This is a huge crime across the country but only really recognized in Montana during the last few years. Technology has made it easier for criminals to promote sex traffic and forced law enforcement to use new approaches to stopping this problem.” He added, “You can be sure that while we have few cases in Blaine County, our being on Highway 2 means many victims of human trafficking and predators come through our county in this growing illegal activity.” He’ll be describing the problem in Montana and sharing some of the things he’s learned to identify and combat the problem.
A “pulse crops meeting” was added after the show schedule was printed. Blaine County Extension Agent Ben Hauptman said this interest meeting will have three components: 10:00 a.m., Pulse Crop Insurance Update by Richman Insurance; 10:30 a.m., Marketing Pulse Crops, Columbia Grain, Inc. and at 11:00 a.m., ‘How to Diversify Wheat Fallow and Why’ by Dr. Ken McVay, MSU Extension Cropping Systems Specialist.
At 4 p.m. the exhibit hall will shut down as exhibits are removed and the evening banquet is set up. The banquet begins at 7pm. Banquet tickets are on sale at selected locations around Harlem or during the seed show in the exhibit hall (high school gym). Tickets have been sold out in prior years and show organizers recommend purchasing a ticket before Saturday evening.
In addition to a great meal and lively entertainment, during the evening there will be additional auctions with auctioneer Bob Siverstsen at the microphone. Awards from the various competitions will also be announced and presented.
Entertainment on Saturday night will be music by Casi Joy, an up and coming face on the country music scene. A singer, musician and songwriter, Casi Joy had success in several music genres but seems to have found her niche in country music. For seven years she taught voice, piano and guitar for the School of Rock—a franchised music education program with facilities across the U.S. and other countries.
Joy has a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and used her musical skills to teach free music lessons to special needs kids in her hometown of Smithville, Missouri (Kansas City area). She’s performed for many charity functions, especially those benefiting children, including Autism Speaks, Pediatric Cancer Research, the American Cancer Society, Suicide Prevention and others.
Plan time to visit the Montana Seed Show, “the oldest running seed show’ in the state. It’s a longstanding celebration of agriculture and life in north central Montana. There are a variety of demonstrations, exhibits and activities that relate to life along the Hi-Line. See you at the seed show!
