DJ Sharp of Colombia Falls, Mont. holds his three-year-old daughter Tinsley up to pet M&M the donkey. M&M returned again this year with goats Peter Pan and Captain Hook for the petting zoo during Ovando's Old West Christmas Fest, Nov. 29.
Raeann and Rob Henrekin from Woodworth returned with their team of draft horses to offer shuttles around Ovando during the Old West Christmas Fest, Nov. 29. This year their daughter Jessie Lehl and her husband Brandon of Seeley Lake also pulled an open wagon with their mules Rosie and Violet. They stopped downtown, at the Blackfoot Church and at the Ovando School so visitors could take in all the activities.
Gingerbread house event organizer Jean Pocha checking in with sisters Avyann and Bryer Carda from Lambert, Mont. The Carda family was visiting family who lives in Potomac for the Thanksgiving holiday and came over the Old West Christmas event.
Lane, Cora and Bria Woodhouse sharing their lists with Cowboy Claus. They were visiting their grandparents Steve and April Woodhouse who live on Coopers Lake.
Jacob Dove, of Lincoln, coloring his entry for the coloring contest. The coloring contest was sponsored by Doug Richards of Barnyard Graphics of Seeley Lake. Everyone under the age of 15 who participated received a candy cane and was entered in a drawing for five large stuffed dogs. The winners were: 1st, Brekken Tougas; 2nd – Paige Krutar; 3rd – Cora Woodhouse; 4th – Connor Krutar and 5th – Lane Woodhouse.
Dianne Morgan of Missoula helps her son Cayden build his gingerbread house. This is the second year her family has attended the event. The gingerbread house decorating is their favorite event.
After Cowboy Claus rode into downtown Ovando and greeted all the boys and girls, Nick gave a big shake filling the air with sounds of jingle bells and creating a small blizzard around him and Cowboy Claus.
Ten-month-old Thomas Camp came all the way from Melbourne, Florida to visit Cowboy Claus. He and his parents Tommy and Stephanie were visiting family in Condon over the Thanksgiving holiday and made the drive to Ovando for the event.
At the Craft Fair, Ovando students sold pulled pork sandwiches, toaster tongs, spatulas and the World's Finest Chocolate to support their trip to Washington, D.C.
OVANDO - Good family, rural community fun drew people from as far away as Florida to the 18th annual Old West Christmas Fest. The town of Ovando came a live with sweets and treats, wagon rides, gingerbread house creations, coloring contests and the constant echo of a mule's Hee, Haw. Despite the constant snow and temperatures that dropped nearly 20 degrees throughout the day, many hardy souls came out for the fun and of course to visit Cowboy Claus.
Bite of Ovando Meatball Cook off Winning Recipe entered by Terry Sheppard of Ovando
Pineapple Sweet and Sour Meatballs
“The Montana Cookbook” ©1976 by Steven D & H Duane Harvey
½ pound ground pork sausage
½ pound ground game meat
Salt and pepper
1 cup beef bouillon
1 green pepper, thinly sliced
1 onion
1 large can pineapple chunks
½ cup sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 egg
Combine meat, egg and ½ onion, finely chopped, to make small meatballs (may add bread crumbs as needed). Brown meatballs and add bouillon. Cover and simmer 30 minutes. **NOTE: Sheppard shared a tip from an Italian woman the used to live in Ovando. Mix the meat as usual, make the balls large or small and then place them on a cookie sheet and bake in the oven. Sheppard said this saves a lot of preparation time versus cooking in a skillet and having to constantly stir the meatballs.
Add pineapple, drained sugar and soy sauce. Add salt and pepper to taste. Thicken with cornstarch and add ½ cup pineapple liquid: simmer a few minutes. Add finely sliced green pepper and remaining onion. Cook 10 minutes. Serve over rice.
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