The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

The date has been set for the 2023 Harvest Festival! This is the third annual event hosted by the PCW (Parish Council of Women) from the Catholic Church in Big Sandy. PCW hosts Harvest Festival as their only fundraiser of the year. They use the money raised for scholarships to graduating seniors, maintenance and improvements to the church, funeral services, and other services throughout the community.

From its inception, Harvest Fest was designed as a multi-purpose event. To raise funds for the PCW was the initial goal, but beyond that, bringing the community together, celebrating a bountiful harvest, and supporting other causes in the community have been the desired outcomes of the event. In 2021, as well as this year, 50% of all funds raised will be donated to the Youth Group for a Pilgrimage to Italy. The group got to go to Mexico in 2022 where they learned much about their faith, but also about culture different than their own. In 2022, half of the funds raised were donated to the Big Sandy Pool Project. At this time, the plan is to donate to the Volunteer Fire Department in 2025.

Harvest Festival continues to evolve as the years pass. The time will be shortened significantly this year, but the festivities will be as grand as ever. On September 23, from 3 pm - 7 pm, you will find carnival games and a bounce house for the kids, and bingo and cornhole as well. On the menu will again be, the Blue Ribbon Cheddar Brats and Polish Dogs from Hi-Line Meats (Jim Dumas), hot dogs, fresh-cut french fries, baked beans, coleslaw, fry bread, and pie! And of course a beer garden. This year the drink menu will consist of Coors Light and a few specialty beers from the local breweries. If you have a special request, be sure to let Sarah Sura know. There will also be an adult beverage made special for those playing Bingo.

Other than the condensed time there are a few changes to the events themselves. You'll find 4 hours of bingo this year, as the request the past two years was for "More Bingo!" Each bingo card is $1 each and the cash prize is 50% of all cards sold for that game. You'll also find two separate brackets in the Cornhole Tournament. A Backyard Pro bracket for those more competitive players, and an Amateur bracket for those that only play once in a while. Registration remains at $50/team, with 50% (-$50) going to the first-place team and $50 returning to the second-place team. We will also Calcutta the Cornhole tournament teams, with the winning team buyer receiving 30% of the paid total, and the second place team buyer receiving 20% of the Calcutta total. Finally, there will be vendors at this year's event as well! This is a great opportunity to get new eyes on your fantastic products or get a headstart on your Christmas Shopping with some great local wares. Some local creators who have already registered for booths include, The Crafty Peacock and Country Cattle Skulls. To register for Cornhole or apply for a vendor booth please reach out to Jessica Ophus or check out the Facebook page.

As with any event of this nature, it is only successful with great participation. From volunteers to host the event and work behind the scenes, to community members who show up and support it, to donors who help defray costs, it takes participation at every level. The businesses of Big Sandy and the surrounding areas are great at supporting community events and we were blessed with their generosity again last year. We are asking that anyone

willing to sponsor this year's event reach out to Judy Yirsa at 406.378.2573 or mail a check payable to SMMCC, PO box 20, Big Sandy, 59520.

A heartfelt thanks to those who have already offered their tax-deductible donations this year. We truly look forward to seeing you all there for food, fun, and entertainment.

Don't forget to join the Facebook group, Harvest Festival 2023- Big Sandy, to keep up with all the latest details and chances to win free tickets!