Expo brings out sights, smiles

RONAN — Hundreds of people came to the 22nd annual Expo and Livestock Trade Show at the Ronan Community Center on Saturday, Feb. 4 and from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., and after eating, shopping and seeing and petting area livestock, found themselves in a terrific moo-d.

Kiosks lined the inside of the community center, where people could go booth to booth, talking with one of the area’s political leaders one minute and buying candles, handbags, art or Tupperware the next. Many organizations also attended, talking with people about who they were and what they do, including Chuck Lewis, standing near a chilly entryway in a full Marine uniform. Lewis was “Standing for the Fallen” for the ninth-consecutive year at the expo.

“I’m here to bring attention to our military,” Lewis said in a sparse moment when he wasn’t meeting and greeting with visitors.

Behind Lewis was the path to a barn outside, where several area ranchers had brought cows, horses and goats for people to see.

“We have miniature herefords and we like to come to promote our breed and help people to be more aware of them,” Polson’s Beatrice Jensen said. “Plus, it’s a fun thing to do in the wintertime.”

Kids and adults alike came through for the tour, wearing smiles on their faces the whole time, with some people getting closer than others to the animals, but all having a good time. Many children wore looks of amazement as their faces froze while fixated on a horse or cow, while others couldn’t contain themselves, wanting to pet everything standing behind a fence.

Most individuals brought their animals from nearby, though others made a slightly longer trek to show off their animals.

“This is our first time coming, but it’s good for advertising our stallions,” Michele McGuigan of Plains said.

Like McGuigan, many people were first-timers at this year’s expo, but considering all the food, fun and farm animals, it won’t be their last trip to the event. Neigh, it will be the first of many.