66th Montana Seed Show kicks off in Harlem

The 66th Annual Montana Seed Show began Thursday at Harlem High School and will continue through Saturday.

Many activities took place, including the Chili Cook-Off, which held its first show after a three-year hiatus.

Paul Rasmussen, chairman of the Seed Show, said this event brings people together.

"We bring, over the course of the weekend, a couple thousand people to town. It's like the last thing we got that's our own," he said. "It's fun. It brings the community out."

The Chili Cook-Off drew in a crowd Thursday evening. Five chili entries were submitted this year.

Rasmussen said that the Chili Cook-Off went on a hiatus due to lack of entries in the past.

"The last year that we did it, we paid three places and we had three entries," he said.

Wool judging took place Thursday as well.

Tyler Lane, Montana State University extension agent in Chouteau County in Fort Benton and judge of the wool competition, said judging was based on a variety of criteria, including weight and length. Twenty-four entries were submitted this year.

"It's great that producers are bringing in some fleeces," he said. "The market is favoring the sheep industry - we've got really good lamb markets, really good wool markets. Hopefully we'll see some more growth."

The winners of the wool competition and chili cook-off will be announced the last day of the Seed Show during a banquet at Harlem High School Saturday.

For more information on the Seed Show, call 379-2592 or 353-4524. For more information during the event, call 353-7230.

To read and see more about the 66th Annual Montana Seed Show, check out the Hi-Line Living section in the March 20 issue of the Havre Daily News.

Schedule of Events:

Today

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

8 a.m. to 10 a.m. - Art show setup

8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. - Entry of pies and breads

9 a.m. to 12 p.m. - Estate planning workshop in library

10 a.m. - Preliminary pie and bread judging

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Lunch

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. - Quilt show

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

4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. - Pancake supper in Vo-Ag Room

7 p.m. - Art auction

Saturday

6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. - Breakfast

6:30 a.m. 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 2 p.m. - Lunch

10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. - Quilt show

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Classic car show in Vo-Ag Room

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Sheep to Shawl Demo

11 a.m. - Interest meeting: High School Library

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

4 p.m. - Take down and remove exhibits

7 p.m. - Banquet: Harlem High School, auctioneer Bob Sivertsen