4-H Chuckwagon opens new doors at fairgrounds

Hill County 4-H had its grand opening for the new Chuckwagon building Wednesday after almost a decade of donation-gathering and planning.

Lon and Stacey Waid, who were in the forefront of the fundraising and planning of the new building, led the grand opening with Lon Waid cutting the ribbon while Stacey Waid gave the Chuckwagon walkway a brand,

Some of the 4-H clubs and other people's brands were also burned onto the walkway throughout the rest of the day.

"I can't describe it other than amazing," said Carrie Molitor, council president for Hill County 4-H. "I am excited. This is kind of like the start of what good is going to happen."

Stacey Waid said she and her husband had thought of many different ways to raise money for the project over the years and many businesses had donated to the building.

She said 4-H is important because kids learn the value of responsibility, completing a project and community service, adding that "this is a community building."

Over the past year the project was touch-and-go for awhile, Waid said, but Wally Duchscher stepped forward and gave the final push toward completion.

Waid said she and her husband were both born and raised in this community and 4-H is a big part of their lives.They and their children participated in 4-H through the years

The new Chuckwagon will be a great asset to the community, Waid said.

She added that Sunday the 4-H'ers were at the Chuckwagon, baking pies for the fair, and it was great to see the kids using the kitchen.

"It was a joy to see those kids working in that kitchen," Waid said. "We just turned them loose, and they were making pies like you wouldn't believe."

She said the pies available are apple, blueberry and strawberry.

She wants to open people's eyes to what the program has to offer, she said, adding, "There are so many things you can't learn in school that you learn from 4-H."

"The fair is important; it's just the highlight of the whole year," Waid added.

She said she was very pleased with the building and added that the goal is "to make the best better."

Another large contributor who was a driving force for the Chuckwagon building was 4-H member Karla Vaughn who Molitor said gave the first donations for the project back in 2010.

Vaughn said it feels wonderful to have to project complete.

She added that her mother, her children, her grandchildren and herself were all involved in 4-H over the years and she wanted to thank all of the supporters who helped with making the project a success.

Vaughn said that they donated in memory her daughter, the late Jamee Michelle Vaughn, to the Chuckwagon project as well as the YouthBuild Program at Montana State University-Northern.

Vaughn added that Jamee, her youngest daughter, loved working at the Chuckwagon and that "it was almost fitting that was where we were going to donate the memorial money to."

The 4-H and the YouthBuild were the two things that her daughter really enjoyed in life, she added, so it was a given that there was where the money was going to go to.

Vaughn said Lon and Stacey Waid approached the council in 2012 and started the big push for donations and contributions.

She added that Clausen and Sons was a big help, sending letters to subcontractors for their participation.

The 4-H still needs donations, Vaughn said, adding that there will also be a contribution wall for donations of more than $1,000.

Also, if the community would like to see pictures of the construction process or for more information, Vaughn said, they can go to the Hill County 4-H Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/316060995148966/.

Dave Clausen, owner of Clausen and Sons, said in an email to the Havre Daily News that Jeff Ralph, owner of Havre's McDonald's, designed the kitchen, adding that Jerry Waltari, Scott Chagnon, the Waids and he and his employees all worked hard over the past four years on the project.

"I'll be happy to see it completed," he said. "Jeff and all subs involved have helped to make it a very nice place for 4-H people and the community."

People at the grand opening event were happy to say kind words about the new building and showed their excitement of the future of the program.

Amanda Powell, who works at the Hill County Extension Office, said the Chuckwagon is the nicest facility in town and that she is pleased with how the building turned out.

Dinah Siemens, who was back visiting Havre, said that the new building is a lot better than the former one. Although, she added, she had not been to the fair in 10 years, she grew-up here and remembered the old building.

She said the new building is beautiful.

Layne and Kayla Waid, son and daughter-in-law of Lon and Stacey Waid, said that they love the new building.

Kayla Waid, 4-H co-leader for the horse division, said the she liked the space and it was a great improvement to the fair.

Layne Waid, added that the new building will improve the future program.

Layne and Kayla Waid also donated the wood decking which was being branded in the front of the building.

Jody Olson, executive director of the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce, said that the new building is fantastic and that it is a great addition.

She added that the Chamber's Agribusiness Committee donated $5,000, presenting a check to 4-H at the Northern Agricultural Research Center Field Day.

The building turned out fabulous, she said, adding that it will be an asset for the town.