Fifty vendors, selling everything from jewelry, to food, to woodworking, filled downtown Ronan Saturday for the annual Chamber of Commerce Harvest Festival.  

As the Trail of Bales voting comes to an end on Sept. 25, the crowd is drawn in to cast their votes and grab a craft of snack. Justine Welker, the new chair in charge of organizing the festival, said it was another record year for vendors.  

Welker explained that about one-third of the vendors are from Ronan, but they had businesses and organizations from all over the valley put in an application to attend.  

“It's kind of the last summer event that the chamber hosts before we kick off our winter,” Welker said. “Totally family friendly. We want all of the community to come from the entire valley, not just Ronan. And it's a great time to meet old friends and network.”  

The Ronan Chamber started taking vendor applications at the end of July and began planning in May. The event also had various kids' activities, which included a petting zoo, pumpkin bowling and a train barrel ride.  

The chamber also hosted a baking competition, and anyone who brought a baked good could enter. In all three categories of Cakes & Bars, Jams & Jellies, and Pies, Kathy Sweatt took top honors.  

The CSKT Wildlife Program also brought three cider presses and helped anyone process their apples. Welker said this is a partnership that they hope to continue and build education around harvesting unused apples.  

The Trail of Bales results will be posted on the Chamber of Commerce Facebook page on Sept. 25, but the bales will still be decorated throughout next week.  

    One-year-old Felix Windrum reaches out to pet a goat at the petting zoo during the Ronan Harvest Festival. (Emily Messer/Leader)

 A record number of vendors line downtown Ronan for the annual Harvest Festival. (Emily Messer/Leader)

 Rance Farrand rolls a pumpkin down the ramp in pumpkin bowling at the Ronan Harvest Festival. (Emily Messer/Leader)