Arlee to celebrate community, harvest
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ARLEE — The harvest is in, and it’s time to celebrate at the final Jocko Valley Farmers' Market of the year. A bluegrass festival, Indian taco dinner, pie-baking contest and cider press demonstration are just a few of the events planned for Friday’s community harvest party in Arlee. It’ll all take place in downtown Arlee — on northbound U.S. Highway 93 — from 4 to 8 p.m.
Proceeds and donations from the dinner and bluegrass festival will benefit the Arlee Community Development Corporation, which sponsors the farmers' market. The CDC supports the arts and community development in the Jocko Valley through several organizations like the Jocko Valley Trails Committee, Killdeer Artisans Guild and the Jocko Valley Farmers' Market. The CDC also sponsors an after-school art program for youth and holds a Chocolate Lovers Festival each February to benefit the Jocko Valley Library’s youth programs.
CDC board member Ron Snyder lined up local groups Baba Ganoush, The Gravely Mountain Boys and The Black Mountain Boys to play at Friday’s bluegrass festival.
“(Bluegrass) goes so well with the whole farming thing,” farmers' market organizer Deb Little said.
This spring, Little led an effort to start the farmers' market, and she’s looking forward to celebrating a fruitful, although short, summer. The market’s first season “was a very successful year — it just turned out so good,” organizer Deb Little said.
After a slow start to the summer with cool weather and heavy rainfall, the market picked up at the beginning of August as farmers finally had plenty of produce to sell.
“It was just such a cold, rough season … (but the market) really ended up happening,” Little said. “It’s kind of exciting.”
Anyone interested in helping to make Indian tacos, donating taco toppings or entering the pie contest can contact CDC secretary Kelley Brown at 726-5550.
“Come out and celebrate harvest; it really is fun,” Little said.
