Seed Show brings festivities to Harlem

The 65th Montana Seed Show brings Hi-Liners to Harlem to take part in the three-day festival.

Paul Rasmussen, one of the main organizers of the show, said, if he had to guess, the event will bring in more than 1,000 people over the weekend. The most popular days for visitors are Friday and Saturday.

Thursday is the entry day for agricultural exhibits, woodworking and fleece submissions to the competition. These competitions will also be judged Thursday.

Rasmussen said they used to have chili cookoffs Thursday night of the seed show, but last year they only had three competitors, so they are trying something different.

The Thursday night Stone Soup Supper’s soups will be provided by five churches and entry to the dinner is a can of food. All the canned food goes to local Harlem charities.

Rasmussen said the more popular events are the health fair, which will be held Friday and Saturday, and the art show.

The blood screenings at the health fair are fairly popular and, Rasmussen said, “for the services they offer, I’ve been told the price is pretty reasonable.”

The Pancake Supper Friday is being put on by FFA of Harlem and is the organization’s main fundraiser of the year.

Not listed on the schedule of events is a fire personnel training course put on by the Montana DNRC that is geared toward landowners. The course will teach landowners how to combat fires in a safe fashion, Rasmussen said.

“I hope to see everybody there — it sounds like the weather’s going to be decent,” Rasmussen said. “That’s what makes the show, is people coming.”

Schedule of events

Thursday

Entry day for agricultural exhibits, woodworking, fleeces, educational and commercial booths.

1 p.m. — Wool judging, Harlem High School Gym.

6 to 8 p.m. — Stone Soup Supper, Harlem High School lunch room.

Friday

6:30 to 10 a.m. — Blood screenings and health fair.

8 a.m. to 6 p.m. — Exhibit Building open.

8 to 10 a.m. — Art show setup.

8:30 to 9:30 a.m. — Pie, bread and cupcake entry.

10 a.m. — Preliminary pie and bread judging.

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. — Quilt show.

2 to 5 p.m. — Pie and bread auction, merchandise drawing.

4:30 to 6:30 p.m. — Pancake Supper — Vo-Ag Room.

7 p.m. — Art auction.

Montana Seed Show schedule

Saturday

6:30 to 10 a.m. — Blood screenings and health fair.

8 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Exhibit Building open.

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Kids Day "Hands on History."

10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. — Quilt Show.

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Classic Car Show, High School Vo-Ag.

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Sheep to Shawl demonstration.

11 a.m. — Interest meeting, Harlem High School Library.

1 to 3 p.m. — Pie and bread auction, merchandise drawing.

4 p.m. — Exhibit takedown.

7 p.m. — Banquet, Harlem High School.