Wild West WinterFest
March 16, 2006 Wrap-Up Meeting Minutes
(as Approved at the April 20, 2006 meeting)
ATTENDANCE: Skip Hougland, Connie Garrett, Todd Saunders, Sue Shockley, Debbie Holwegner, Karlene Pisarcik, Deb Ehlert, Carter Benedict, Sonja Berg, Todd Kesner, Al Lien, Lorna Simard, Jeannie Ralston, Travis Burian and Brad Bell.
1. CALL TO ORDER: Skip called the meeting to order at 5:35 pm.
2. APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 9, 2006 MINUTES: Connie moved to approve the February 9, 2006 minutes. Karlene seconded. Motion carried.
Following were committee remarks for our WinterFest events:
3. MARKETING:
Good |
Bad |
· Harry & Travis did an outstand job with sponsorship |
· Sometimes posters get taken down; smaller size might be better; never saw a poster at Van’s |
· Radio & TV did a fantastic job with the ad |
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· Big Sky Weekly did an exceptional job |
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· Community was supportive |
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· Posters were positive |
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4. PET TRICKS and CONFORMATION:
Good |
Bad |
· Raised over $400 for the Spay/Neuter |
· Could’ve use a stage |
· Had a lot of spectators · A lot of dogs from the humane society · Building #4 worked well |
· Participants and audience were sitting at most of the tables, not allowing much room for the ones eating |
5. DOG KEG PULL CONTEST:
Good |
Bad |
· Very well attended |
· Some rather drunk/rowdy people were there |
· Raised $279 from entry fee |
· Had two negative comments relating to beer |
· Connie mailed out winning cards to each weight class with survey |
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· Received 20 surveys back and will use this information at next year’s keg pull |
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6. AG IN THE CLASSROOM:
Good |
Bad |
· Had very good speakers |
· About 60 kids out of 300 showed up due to weather |
· 300 kids were signed up |
· Friday a tough day for participation |
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· Needed more adult supervision – safety an issue |
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· Had 4 wagons but no kids – drivers were unhappy |
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· Need more hands-on and less speakers for kids |
7. McLIEN’S FARM BARN:
Good |
Bad |
· Good setup |
· Lack of attendance due to cold weather |
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· Didn’t sell many burgers |
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· Animals left too early |
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· Needs more animals |
8. HAY SHOW:
Good |
Bad |
· Good exhibit - hay samples were in early |
· Did not include explanation of hay values |
· Judged before the start of WinterFest |
· Needs to be more educational |
· Ribbons were on exhibits |
· Cost was almost $300 – need to charge a small entry fee |
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· The numbers on the analysis sheet meant nothing to the average person |
9. COWBOY GATHERING:
Good |
Bad |
· Excellent performances – great variety |
· The Madam was a little racy/risqué |
· Carter did an excellent job organizing this |
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· Everyone appeared to be having fun |
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· Good idea to move to the sales pavilion |
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· Had about 100 people attending |
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10. WESTERN UNDERGROUND CONCERT:
Good |
Bad |
· Dynamic concert |
· Very cold in the indoor arena |
· The band was real professional |
· Ticket sales could’ve been better |
11. COWBOY CAMP:
Good |
Bad |
· Young poets in the tent were great |
· Too cold – even in the tent |
· Elk bugling contest was good |
· Not enough going on here; needs more planning · Possibly have this with the Packer’s Scramble |
12. HORSE PLAY DAY:
Good |
Bad |
· GSHC did a good job |
· Had one wreck with horse bucking two kids off |
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· Only had 14 participants, probably weather related |
13. OFFICIAL BEVERAGE CONTEST:
Good |
Bad |
· Entries were up from last year |
· Heard a bartender say “you didn’t want that drink” |
· Had fun with it |
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· Winning drink was pretty good |
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14. INDOOR/OUTDOOR EXHIBITORS:
Good |
Bad |
· Most were happy |
· A few indoor exhibitors had items stolen |
· Had great outdoor exhibits |
· Indoor exhibitors were leaving early on Monday |
· Midway was filled with exhibits |
· Indoor exhibitors want to close earlier due to lack of people |
15. FOOD VENDORS:
Good |
Bad |
· Better than last year |
· People were passing up the corndog trailer – too cold |
· More choices of food |
· Miller’s Pork didn’t always abide by the rules |
16. HORSIN’ AROUND DAY:
Good |
Bad |
· Had good crowds for horse events |
· Gate attendance just over 600 for the day. |
· Clinics were good |
· Packer’s scramble too short, needs reorganization, lost crowd after this event – nothing going on |
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· Confusion with speakers and getting people to them |
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· Need to reconsider having Monday |
17. KIDS ACTIVITIES:
Good |
Bad |
· Had a pretty good number of kids show up |
· Need better signage to activity location |
18. PEOPLE BARN:
Good |
Bad |
· It was warmer inside than outside |
· Fireplaces in middle of room caused congestion of people in middle of room |
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· Didn’t like the wood chips on the ground |
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· Uninviting atmosphere |
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· Was put together at the last minute because Lion’s Club backed out |
19. ALL STAR EXPO:
Good |
Bad |
· Went very well |
· Too cold |
20. CHILI COOK-OFF:
Good |
Bad |
· Had 22 entries – most ever |
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· Building #4 worked out well |
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21. CHILDREN’S ART SHOW:
Good |
Bad |
· Had the most entries ever at 309 |
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· Mary Ellen Fitzgerald and her volunteers did a fantastic job setting up this area |
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· They will do again next year |
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22. QUILT SHOW:
Good |
Bad |
· It was a very good show; 58 entries |
· Need to mark classes better |
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· More signage |
23. PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW:
Good |
Bad |
· Good show – 70 Youth; 152 Adult |
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24. HORSE SALE:
Good |
Bad |
· Really good sale |
· One horse went back to seller |
· Buyers & sellers were happy |
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25. BATTLE OF THE BREEDS:
Good |
Bad |
· A lot of fun; crowd loved it |
· Need to promote better |
· Eleven different breeds were represented |
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· Had twelve entries; great challenges |
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26. STALLION PARADE:
Good |
Bad |
· Fairly good turnout; had 12 or 13 stallions |
· No service auction |
27. AUTO ICE RACING:
Good |
Bad |
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· Only had 5 or 6 entries; too cold |
28. KNIGHTS OF THE GALLATIN:
Good |
Bad |
· They had a blast; met a lot of new people |
· Tight space in the indoor arena with Ag in the classroom |
29. RABBIT/POULTRY SHOWS:
Good |
Bad |
· Had a great show |
· Couldn’t see the rabbits for the races; possibly use plexi-glass on the box |
· Made about $400 on their auction |
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30. TACK SWAP:
Good |
Bad |
· Earned more money this year; $2,700 in sales |
· Moved location because of cold; had to move tack around |
· Had more equipment |
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· Sold the most on Saturday |
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31. WORKING HORSE & DRIVER CONTEST:
Good |
Bad |
· Had 16 teams |
· Two teams couldn’t get here |
· Good attendance |
· Lack of communication |
· Teamsters were happy |
· Winning results published in papers were incorrect |
32. KID’S FOOT & WHEEL CHAIR RODEO:
Good |
Bad |
· Having some of the MSU Rodeo Team there was great |
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· About 50+ kids participated |
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· Everyone loved the pizza |
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· Received positive comments from the parents |
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33. PACKER’S SCRAMBLE:
Good |
Bad |
· Good event |
· Too short |
· Good attendance |
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