Ronan Ag Appreciation Dinner Returns Friday
Beth and Craig Blevins to be honored
Brandy Ayla photo
Veterinarian Beth Blevins floats the back teeth of a horse while her husband Craig holds onto the horse's halter.
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
RONAN — On March 25, the Ronan Area Chamber of Commerce will host their annual Agriculture Appreciation Dinner for the first time in two years, this time honoring locals Beth and Craig Blevins.
The Blevins have been a busy couple during their decades living in Mission Valley. Beth has served as a veterinarian in the area for 35 years, while Craig has worked as an A.I. tech for 45. On top of their careers, raising Black Angus and commercial cattle on their farm, and bringing up their children Michaela and Ethan, the couple has dedicated years of their lives to the community.
Craig served as beef superintendent for four years, served on the Market Livestock Committee, and held the role of Vice President of the 4H council locally. Beth, on top of volunteering with many of the same organizations, is a member of the Round Butte Women’s Club, has given numerous educational presentations for children on bringing their animals to the fair, and taught cooking classes for lefse and crème brulee. Both Blevins belong to the Western Montana Stockmen’s Association.
Beyond all they’ve contributed to Ronan, the two have made an impact on the agricultural industry of Montana as a whole, according to the Ronan Chamber of Commerce. The Blevins have both served many roles within the Farm Bureau, with Beth acting on both the Livestock and Animal Health Committees, and Craig serving as past president and current director of the Northwest Counties Farm Bureau and as the district one director on the Montana Farm Bureau Board.
The programs this couple have given their time and energy to contribute to the funding and education of young people interested in agriculture, as well donations toward the Montana Stockmen Association’s heifer program.
“The Blevins family has been and continues to be an instrumental part of the Montana ag industry,” the Ronan Chamber of Commerce said in a statement. “We are so proud to have them in our community and thank them for everything they have contributed.”
This year, the committee will be mixing up how future ag appreciation nominations are done. In the past, the committee itself has come up with the nominees and voted on the winner. This year, however, to make sure the agriculture community itself can submit nominations, there will be a section for it on the back of each ticket. Attendees will be able to write in and submit whomever they’d like to be considered for recognition next year.
Ronan’s ag appreciation dinner, held for more than four decades, allows citizens to come together and show their gratitude for the hardworking producers of the Mission Valley.
The Ronan Chamber gives special thanks to Jack and Susan Lake for the donation of potatoes, the Boys and Girls Club of Ronan for cooking the potatoes, Allentown and Pizza Café for the donation of homemade buns, Glacier and Valley Banks for sponsoring and hosting the social hour, Jack Stivers for his committee work on the event as the master of ceremony, Westland Seed for the event decorations, and finally Dave Marmon and Crew for grilling steaks for the event.
“There’ s so much that goes into (the dinner), and so many people that really put their time, effort, and energy into this event,” Ronan Chamber of Commerce Manager Katie Jo Elliott commented. “This is just one way that we try to show our appreciation and gratitude to the people that dedicate their lives to agriculture... The Chamber of Commerce would like to thank Craig and Beth Blevins and their family for the work they’ve done and continue to do in our community.”
