Santa made his annual appearance at the Rich Ranch Community Appreciation Day, Dec. 16. After listening to the children's Christmas wishes, they each received a goodie bag full of candy, peanuts, an orange, flashlight and toy instrument.
Mules Rosie and Violet heading out for another loop pulling their carriage with coachman Jessica Henrekin and members of the Wallace family.
Local musher Jessie Royer gave rides for children and adults throughout the day. This is the first time she has brought her dogs to the event. Many children rode as many times as they could.
Attendees enjoyed cookies made by the Seeley Lake Trailblazers 4-H Club and a mix of Holiday and bluegrass tunes performed by local musicians Pete and Rachel Feigley.
Attendees enjoyed the four entries in the Seeley Lake Lion's Chili Cook-off.
SEELEY LAKE – The Rich Ranch welcomed the community to their annual Community Appreciation Day, Dec. 16. Rich Ranch owner Belinda Rich said that this year was one of the largest gatherings they have had for the event and it was very rewarding to watch the fellowship and feel the sense of community.
C.B. and Helen Rich started the Community Appreciation Day back in the 1950's and 1960's when they owned the Double Arrow Ranch. C.B. was Seeley Lake's Santa for more than 30 years.
"They strongly believed in being a part of the fabric of the community, and this was one of the ways to do that," said Rich. "We are proud to be carrying that tradition forward here at the Rich Ranch."
The horse drawn sleigh rides offered by Rob and Raeann Henrekin and their team of Percheron draft horse has long been a part of the magic of the day. The past couple of years, their daughter Jessica has brought her mules Violet and Rosie to give carriage rides.
This year champion sled dog racer Jessie Royer expressed an interest in joining in with her sled dogs. Royer won the 500-mile Race to the Sky when she was only 17. She started running the more than 1,100-mile Iditarod Sled Dog Race across Alaska in 2001 as a rookie. She has only missed two races since placing in the top 10 six different years. She recently moved to the area around Placid Lake.
"We were excited to have her join in the fun," said Rich. "It was a real hit."
This year, recently inducted Seeley Lake Lion Rachel Feigley won the Lion's Chili Cook-off by one vote. This was the first time Feigley has ever entered a chili cook-off making it like her family always has, adding a little of this and a little of that until it tastes right.
Numerous other groups and individuals stepped in and joined the Rich Ranch over the years to make the event special. In addition to the Henrekins and Royer, Rich was grateful to the Seeley Lake Trailblazers 4H for the cookies, Seeley Lake Lions Club for the Chili cook off, Cory's Valley Market for the help filling the Santa bags, and Pete and Rachel Feigley for their musical entertainment.
"In our family business we subscribe to a quote credited to Helen Keller, 'Those that bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves,'" said Rich. "This pretty much sums up the way we feel about Community Appreciation Day and why it is so important to us to continue this long standing family tradition."
Rachel Feigley's Award-Winning Chili Recipe (#3 in the competition)
2 pounds antelope burger
1.5 onion chopped
1 green pepper chopped
Kidney, pinto and black beans
Stewed tomatoes
Tomato sauce
Tomato paste
Spices: Chili powder, chipotle pepper, salt, cayenne pepper and black pepper
Taste often. Adjust amounts to taste
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