Holden talks with Santa during the Rich Ranch Community Celebration day on Dec. 17.
Mila, left and Sofia take a lap on the sledding hill on Dec. 17.
Chantel Lynch grabs a bowl full of chili at the Rich Ranch on Dec. 17.
Rob Henrekin prepares to do another lap on his horse-drawn wagon.
Americk slides down the sledding hill, just seconds away from wiping out.
Logan and Harrison wave to their friend Mia, who is also on a wagon, during the Rich Ranch Community Celebration Day
Virginia shows off her socks to Santa
Longtime residents, visitors and those checking out the area for the first time descended on the Rich Ranch last Sunday, Dec. 17, to celebrate another year of appreciating Montana's scenic outdoors and acknowledge all the work area residents do for each other.
The idea is that we opened up our home and our hearts to others to share our passion for Montana and its great outdoors, this is just an extension of that for the community," Jack Rich, owner of the Rich Ranch, said. "We are just part of something bigger than us, and we continue that on because that is what you do. You give back to your community."
The day featured chili, cider, coffee and holiday desserts to go along with wagon rides, live music, sledding and of course, Santa. Rich could not say who Santa was, but he did say occasionally one of the North Pole helpers comes down to the Rich Ranch.
The ranch has been doing community celebrations at its current location since 1994, Rich said. Before that, his parents held a community celebration around Christmas time, first at the Double Arrow Lodge and then at the old community hall.
Rich said his favorite part of the event is how each year is a new mix of people, with new conversations and new stories. Each person has their own story, Rich said, making each memory shared during the celebration its old world.
Perhaps one of the biggest stories of the celebration was the chili competition, which had well over a dozen competitors. Many unique combinations were on display, including chicken chili and chocolate lamb chili. The winner is ...,
Joe Saalfeld of the Seeley Lake Lions said the club has been very lucky this year, gaining new members and getting active around the area during the summer and fall.
"We're always excited to do this event every year, it's just such a great day," Saalfeld said.
Wagon rides were done by Rob Henrekin and his team of black percherons. The Seeley Lake Lions Club will be handing out its annual holiday food baskets to families around Seeley Lake on Dec. 20, and will start using the community park for an ice rink once it gets cold enough.
To see more Rich Ranch celebration photos, visit Seeleylake.com
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