Chuckwagon drive moves forward toward goal

Hill County 4-H is on its way to meeting its goal of opening its new 4-H Chuckwagon on the Great Northern Fairgrounds by the start of the 2017 fair.

One of the main efforts for this summer will be selling raffle tickets for the 2015 Flex Travel Trailer, said Stacey Waid, chair of the fund drive.

The trailer, valued at more than $40,000, was donated by Western Trailer Sales.

She said 4-H hopes to raise $100,000 from the raffle. Tickets will be $50 each. They hope to sell 2,000.

She said people she has spoken to seem excited about the raffle, and 4-H is looking forward to the coming drive to sell tickets.

The trailer is on display and tickets are being sold this week at the fairgrounds during the Western Trailer Sales RV Show.

Saturday, the trailer will be taken to the front of Stockman Bank on 3rd Avenue during the Discover Downtown festivities, the all-day program of fun organized by Havre Historical Properties.

Tickets will be sold at Tilleman Hi-Line Dodge May 16 to May 19.

People stopping off at the Fresno Reservoir for the Walleyes Unlimited fishing derby can buy tickets May 20 and 22.

When people drop off recyclables at Pacific Steel and Recycling on Recycle Hi-Line’s May 21 recycling drive, the trailer will be there.

The next week, it will be parked most of the time at Spencer’s Hi-Way Bar & Grill in Hingham. Tickets will be sold during the Eagle Riders’ motorcycle run that benefits the Wounded Warrior program May 28. Spencer’s is a stop during the motorcycle run.

Waid said the fund drive is moving ahead on other fronts as well.

Independence Bank plans on making donations, she said.

And Rachael Dean, administrative assistant to Montana State University-Northern Chancellor Greg Kegel, is seeking grants for the project, Waid said.