Brewery event nets more than $1,000 for Ronan fire department
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RONAN — The Ronan Cooperative Brewery and the Ronan Volunteer Fire Department teamed up on April 1 to raise funds for local first responders.
According to head brewer Jim Myers, the idea to partner with community organizations for fundraisers dates back to the start of the brewery, when organizers envisioned serving the community through civic engagement. After the brewery was opened and established, pandemic challenges and uncertainty delayed such gatherings. In the winter of 2021, the idea to hold community fundraisers was revived and the Ronan VFD was selected as the first organization to donate 50% of beer sales to.
When the brewery approached the fire department with the idea for a street closure fundraising event, Myers says the department agreed right away, even volunteering their smoker to make tri-tip for the occasion. The city council was on board as well, approving the street closure that was accomplished with two fire trucks that attendees could get a closer look at.
Taproom manager Eric Brunet said that the event grew from there, as the brewery reached out to the Western Montana Musicians Co-op to add live music to their plans. The musicians didn’t disappoint, heeding the call with bands Co-op Misfits and the Late Bloomers turning up to entertain. “They were phenomenal,” Brunet praised.
When the day finally came, all parties involved were pleasantly surprised at the turnout from the community.
“It was kind of a windy and chilly day,” Mayor and Fire Chief Chris Adler commented. “I was very surprised at the amount of people, at the outpouring that we had.”
After growing up in Ronan, Adler said he chose to stay in adulthood because of the community. “When it’s time for people to come together, they really do. It’s really neat to watch… they take care of each other,” he said.
“It went good,” said Fire Captain Dave Marmon, who spent the event cooking up tri-tip. “First year doing it, you just don’t know how many people are going to show up for sure. You try to accommodate for as many people as you think, but it’s never enough it seems like,” he laughed. “I was happy with the turn out. Glad everybody got out and had fun.”
Between 50% of the Co-op’s beer sales, tips, and the fire department selling out of food, Co-op treasurer Monty Cheff confirmed to Brunet that over $1,000 was raised for the VFD.
Myers said the brewery hopes to make this event an annual occurrence, to help raise money for the fire department and let locals meet their first responders under relaxed circumstances. “It was really neat to see how much the community in the area really supports their first
responders with things like this,” Myers said.
According to Brunet, as the weather warms the brewery hopes to hold similar events once month or so with different organizations such as the Ronan Police department and local teachers. “We’ve got a long list,” he laughed. “We’re definitely planning to do more stuff like this as the months pass by.”
To see upcoming events at the Co-op Brewery, visit their Facebook or Instagram pages online for regular updates.
