We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
Are you a Chinook Sugarbeeter fan, or maybe just live on the highline? Come check out our little towns Sugarbeet festival. Whereas just like our new town slogan says "Small town, Big community" we are just that.
Started October 7th, 2005, the Sugarbeet festival has been a community favorite since day one. How did the festival tradition start? I found myself asking the same question, so I looked back in the Journal's old papers and the answer was not what I was expecting. Have you heard the song "Watermelon crawl?" Well Chuck Hewitt sure did, and the watermelon festival sounded like a fun time for the community. That's when "Sugarbeet crawl" came to mind which became the Sugarbeet Anthem. Chuck Hewitt became the "father of the Sugarbeet Festival." The 3 "Gilbert sisters" even came and demonstrated the sugarbeet crawl for the town. There was a get together for the community to learn the song and dance as well. For the weeks leading up to the festival many were encouraged to write in and tell their stories of the sugarbeet farming and harvesting. I found that our factory was built by the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company in 1925. Parts were transported by railway from Washington until they took the factory back in 1952, and parts were disassembled and sent back to Washington state. By the end of production there were families that had been growing for 53 years. In the early years all the machinery was pulled by horses, even delivering to the beet dumps every few miles along the railroad. It wasn't until 1930 that trucks began to be of use. One of these hard workers was Lucille Nash, she spent many years as the scale lady. Lucille along with Roy Finely became the first King and Queen of the Sugarbeet Festival. There was a total of 501 votes sent in with Lucille receiving 107 and Roy 68. Dave Briere who had worked at the UI Sugar Factory since he was a teenager became the first parade marshal.
Many of the same events still happening today started at the first sugarbeet festival. Lady in the glass was first started to help earn money to refurbish her sign. There were contestants from Chinook, Havre, Bozeman, and Kalispell. With a special contestant, 79 years young ,Iris Gilbert Hay, of Hood River, Oregon. Our very first "live Lady in the Glass" was our very own, Bonnie Weber with Chuck Hewitt "Miss Sugarbeet" coming second and third place was Holly Dennis. After the festival the Lady in the Glass was able to get the restorations needed with almost $1000 raised. The sugarbeet growing and decorating contest is another that is still well loved. Along with the fun run, parade, and car show. The parade added the alumni to the band to play the school song in the parade for the sugarbeet festival.
When the festival first started, they tried to plan it with homecoming, but with weather and schedule changes it was easier to just plan it a little earlier. We are in luck this year folks because homecoming falls on the same weekend so you can really let that 'beeter pride out!
Blaine County will be hosting its' 18th Sugarbeet festival this September 23rd. There will be bowling and food all day at the Chinook Eagles. The Blaine County fun run will be at 10am, don't forget to dress as your favorite book character to win best prize! Put your building to the test and be a part of the build your own scarecrow contest at Inman's Park going on all day. Test your decorating skills with the Sugarbeet decorating contest at 11am. Bring the boys and kids for the car and tractor show from 11-4:30pm. These events aren't just for the humans, let the dogs out with Shores Floral's dog costume contest at 1pm, they are also having huge sales on all fall and 'Beeter gear. Stuff your face at Chinook Pharmacy and B & B Buyers pie eating contest at 2pm. And of course, see if you can beat our first "live lady in the glass" at the Lady in the glass look-alike contest at 3pm. Vendors open all day, so be sure to get all your 'Beeter gear and support local businesses! Live music by Taylor & Baird family from 12pm- 4 pm. The finally of the day will be the Sugarbeeter parade that's happening at 5pm, support the community and high school by watching all the amazing floats and vehicles in the parade. We hope to see many smiling faces this year as our small town grows. Be safe and enjoy the 2023 Sugarbeet festival! "Do the Sugarbeet crawl."
