RONAN - The Lake County Fairgrounds are getting a face-lift thanks to a number of community members and youth organizations stepping up to donate their time and a little bit of old fashioned elbow grease.

Members of the 4-H Youth Development Program Garden Project started seeding around Mother's Day. More recently, they planted 17 flower containers for the fair. Several local greenhouses stepped up to offer donations to the cause with the majority of the plants donated by Delaney's Landscape Center in Polson and Valley Greenhouse in Ronan. It's the fourth year that the kids have been filling the flower containers and the fourth year that those businesses have been donating.

Nine-year-old Cole Bick said his favorite job is planting, but his sister, 14-year-old Claire said she likes to see all the bright flowers at the fair.

The Saddle Mountain 4-H Club recently worked to clean existing beds and plant flowers at their June monthly meeting.

The Lake County Master Gardeners completed construction of a new wooden entrance to the fairgrounds on June 19. The group, comprised of volunteers educated in horticulture through Montana State University, will also establish two demonstration gardens on the grounds.

"It's going to definitely brighten it up," Julia Howlett, Lake County garden project leader and master gardener, said. "The pergola especially... It's a real nice addition because it's a natural wood feature and it just looks very nice."

In order to maintain your certification as a master gardener, you are required to donate 20 hours of your time per year. There was a need and an opportunity, Howlett said.

In addition, Jennison Tree Service planted two willow trees that were donated by the Ronan Tree and Beautification Board as a memorial to the late Denny Palmer, once an active member of the board.

"There are so many volunteers that make this work," Jack Stivers, MSU Extension agent, said. "It is a nice location to improve and enhance for the community and for the Lake County Fair. We want it to be inviting, welcoming and usable by everybody."

Stivers pointed out that the fairgrounds are a community location that its members can utilize as a park. Fairgrounds can be leased through a use agreement with the Lake County Fair Board for picnics, family reunions, weddings and events by calling 676-4271 or 676-8660.