Wild West WinterFest
September 21, 2006
(as Approved at the October 19, 2006 Meeting)
ATTENDANCE: Sue Shockley, Debbie Holwegner, Karlene Pisarcik, Harry Huntsinger, Travis Burian, Skip Hougland, Todd Kesner and Sonja Berg.
1. CALL TO ORDER: Harry called the meeting to order at 7:10 a.m.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Karlene moved to approve the June 15, 2006 minutes as presented. Sue seconded. Motion carried.
3. FINANCIALS: Sue reported there was no change in financials.
4. MARKETING: Harry stated that WinterFest has been hard to market to potential sponsors. Sponsors have questioned attendance due to bad weather and how are we going to keep people coming. Harry stated we need a “product” to sell to the sponsors. To do this, we need to bring this event to a higher level. To a level where the public will experience the old and new west. Have an “old West theme” and follow through with it for decorating, the events and even the exhibitors. The consensus was to pursue the “Old West” theme. It was suggested to add a tag line like “A Celebration of the West” after Wild West WinterFest.
Ideas were:
a. set up an old saloon area in the entertainment building (need to find an old back bar)
b. have whiskey tasting
c. hire a quick-draw artist and trick roper
d. have Western art, antiques, firearms and collectables
e. decorate using antiques and collectables
f. contact MSU film students to see if they would do a history presentation
g. contact Tom Wagner at Big Sky Western Bank as he is an expert historian
h. make suggestions to exhibitors and vendors to “dress the part” of the old West
i. assist visitors by creating a pathway to the barns and the indoor arena – use woodchips and possibly solar lights
j. have a high class auction selling CM Russell paintings and high end jewelry
k. try to target tourists at motels including Big Sky and West Yellowstone areas
l. it will be very important to have entertainment going on at all times
m. get a hay tarp and have someone paint a western mural on it and display it on the west wall in the indoor arena
5. PET TRICKS/DOG CONFORMATION: No report.
6. DOG KEG PULL CONTEST: No report but Connie has said they will do this again.
7. AG IN THE CLASSROOM: Todd reported this would be on Friday and be in the Sales Pavilion. This seems to work out better for the kids.
8. RABBIT/POULTRY SHOWS: No report.
9. ALL STAR DOG EXPO: No report
10. McLIEN’S FARM BARN: Skip reported the sub-committee has been meeting and have put together what will go in the barn. Kevin Joyce has joined us and is trying to put together a 4H steer and heifer livestock show. If there is enough interest from the 4H livestock kids, this will be on Saturday and Sunday. We would like to find some baby pigs. The Alpacas will be back again.
11. WORKING HORSE & DRIVER CONTEST:
12. PACKERS SCRAMBLE: We will check with Jim Boorman to see if he is still interested in doing this event. If so, we will have this Friday night in the indoor arena, have two classes and try to get guest ranches to participate.
13. HORSE SALE/STALLION AUCTION: No report.
14. BATTLE OF THE BREEDS: No report.
15. TACK SWAP: No report.
16. HAY SHOW: Dennis Cash from MSU is going to help with this. Entrants will get to have their samples tested free and will be no cost to the Fairgrounds. Dennis will also help with the educational information to put on signs so that the public will have a better understanding of what hay is all about. Entry deadline needs to by January 8th. The entry form and rules are done. Ron Carlstrom said he would advertise this in their newsletter if we supplied the article.
17. COWBOY CAMP: No report.
18. CHILI COOK-OFF: No report.
19. KID’S BOZEMAN ROUNDUP RODEO: No report.
20. KIDS ACTIVITIES: No report.
21. BAHA HOCKEY TOURNAMENT: No report.
22. COWBOY GATHERING: Carter has moved to Wyoming so we need to find someone to take this over if we still want to have this. Sue is going to contact John Westbrook to see if he would like to help with this. If not, we will probably try to have some cowboy poets on stage throughout our event. The band called, “Night Ride” has been reserved to play Friday evening in the entertainment building.
23. CHILDREN’S ART SHOW: No report.
24. QUILT SHOW: No report.
25. PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW: No report.
26. EXHIBITORS: No report.
27. FOOD VENDORS: No report.
28. ENTERTAINMENT: We will move all entertainment to either exhibit building #1 or building #2. We will set up two stages and have entertainment going on all the time. It was suggested to try to have a fiddlers contest in the Sales Pavilion. Sue suggested contacting Betty McCoy who plays honky-tonk music. Sue is going to check with Todd Kesner to see if the 4H Clubs would be interested in putting on a carnival as a fundraiser.
Travis has been in contact with Rail Jam with would represent the “new West”. This is skiers and snowboarders riding rails. Some people from Moonlight Basin are excited to help with this event. This event would be held on Saturday and be at the east side of the people barn.
29. OTHER BUSINESS: None.
30. NEXT MEETING DATE & TIME: October 19th at 7:00 a.m. at the Ag Center meeting room.
31. ADJOURNMENT: Meeting was adjourned at 8:30 a.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
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