Hudson Skelton from Ovando makes a successful throw to dunk Angela Williams, Ovando Teacher's Aide amidst cheerful threats of "No recess for you!" from Williams.
Bri Cunha as Trixie from Trixie's Bar, Ovando and Angela Williams, Ovando dressed up for the dunk tank.
Country music, a dunk tank and food trucks drew a crowd of almost 300 to the Blackfoot Challenge's block party Aug. 11 in downtown Ovando. Seth Wilson, executive director, welcomed everyone to the celebration of 30 years of partnerships, friendships and conservation.
The Blackfoot Challenge was formed in 1993 following conservation efforts from the 1970s to build partnerships with public agencies. Early on, participants focused on working together to accomplish public access goals. In the '70s the path was paved to develop hunter walk-in areas and public stream access on private lands.
"The mission of the Blackfoot Challenge is to coordinate efforts to conserve and enhance natural resources and the rural way of life in the Blackfoot watershed for present and future generations," their website states.
In 1995 the Blackfoot Challenge bought 5,600 acres of former Plum Creek timber ground north of Ovando. The land has been cooperatively managed by a community council and used as a living classroom in partnership with public agencies to practice forest, water, recreation, grazing and wildlife stewardship. The Blackfoot Community Conservation Area encompasses 41,000 acres total.
"There's families here tonight whose parents and grandparents helped build this coalition of partnership, way back in the '70s when it wasn't cool," said Jim Stone, chairman of Blackfoot Challenge. "Looking back into the early 1990s there were less than a dozen watershed groups across this state when the Challenge got started. And today there's over 70 watershed groups in Montana. I think that says a lot for the people in Montana, people in communities that really care about the places they live and work."
"I think the Blackfoot Challenge is one of the best things that's happened to the valley," said Jay Proops, Ovando landowner. "And you know, lots of people have different objectives, different purposes. But the Challenge brings them together and gets them talking."
A rented dunk tank provided entertainment as seven volunteers took turns on the seat. Ovando school kids lined up to try and dunk the Ovando teacher's aide, Angela Williams. Additional entertainment was provided by the Thirsty Buzzards, a country-western band from Drummond.
The three band members are recent graduates of Drummond High School and played last year as well.
"We want to celebrate the communities that have partnered together as good stewards of the Blackfoot Watershed," said Jennifer Schoonen, communications and development manager of Blackfoot Challenge. "We're grateful for how people have been dedicated to working together and finding common ground in stewardship."
In 30 years the Blackfoot Challenge has grown along with the needs of the watershed; instituting a successful Trumpeter Swan reintroduction program, developing noxious weed programs, partnering with the Blackfoot Drought Response Committee.
Other projects include reducing human-wildlife conflicts through education, electric perimeter fences on area ranches, the carcass collection program and developing educational programs in area schools on timely conservation practices.
"It's all about people, it's how we want to talk to each other. We still shake hands, we take our sunglasses off and say hello. That's what it's about. And that's what we want to celebrate tonight," Stone said.
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