RONAN – The 23rd annual Lake County Ag Expo and Livestock Show was the place to be this past Saturday, boasting a lively atmosphere, good food, and even curly horses.

Dedicated to the area’s agrarian heritage at its core, the expo featured many booths with friendly faces eager to dispense information about resources available to local farmers and ranchers.

Two such individuals were Anita Matt and Kim Adams, who joined forces to increase awareness about the application process for USDA farm loan programs.

Donna Day, representing the Montana Farm Bureau at a nearby table, was another friendly source of agriculture-related information for passers-by. Day, who is a Valley View cattle and hay farmer along with her husband, says that in essence, the Farm Bureau is a political action organization that works on behalf of the farming community.

“If you get a farm, you’ll want to be a member,” said the straight-shooting Day as she distributed educational materials to those interested.

Beth Blevins, who assisted Day at the Farm Bureau table, said that the expo is a key venue for the organization to increase its exposure, especially at a time when “the public is asking how their food is produced and where it comes from.”

But despite its name, the expo has come to encompass a lot more than simply agriculture. Numerous area merchants were in attendance, in addition to Life Savers Animal Rescue, and many other service-oriented organizations active within the community.

For instance, the Lake County 4-H members were busy preparing food in the kitchen, aiming to satiate the appetites of the masses while also raising money for their activities at the local level.  Proceeds generated will also support an upcoming exchange program with another 4-H chapter in Sterling, Colo.

“Instead of always selling something, let’s provide a service,” chapter co-leader Amy Vaughan said of the organization’s rationale for getting involved with the expo for the first time.

“This is what 4-H kids should be doing, is getting involved with things in the community,” Vaughan added.

The Boys and Girls Club, represented at a booth manned by John Schnase echoed the notion that the expo is vital for outreach and heightened visibility in the community.

“We want to inform the public that there’s a safe place for kids to go after school with wholesome activities that will build character,” Schnase said.

Expo attendees could even get their blood pressure and blood sugar checked, courtesy of St. Luke’s Community Healthcare, another fixture at the annual event.

Tanya Smith, a St. Luke’s employee working her third expo, noted that the traditional blood tests have even helped to discover diabetes in some people who stop by the table.

And that was just the hubbub inside the community center. In the barn next door were Tracy Dalke’s curly horses from Charlo, one of the day’s main attractions. Dalke’s rare horses are made immediately discernable by their signature “curly” hair, which may be collected and spun into yarn or felted, much like wool. The hypoallergenic horses are also celebrated among equine enthusiasts for their calm temperament and smooth riding ability.