Mission West Community Development Partners' annual Harvest on Main fundraiser in downtown Ronan on Thursday, Aug. 27, drew strong attendance and surpassed last year’s total by $2,000, reaching an estimated $124,000.

During the event, Mission West hosted a live auction and a silent auction and served a locally sourced dinner. Ronan Co-op Brewery also joined, serving cold brews, and the Western Musicians Co-op provided live music. Valley Banks sponsored the event and stepped up to sponsor next year’s fundraiser as well. 

Lake County 4-H youth also helped serve food at the event and accepted donations to raise funds to attend the Ignite by 4-H four-day youth summit in Washington, D.C. in March.

Mission West is a nonprofit organization that, according to event coordinator and office manager Jen Ruggless, takes “a dream and finds a way to make it a reality.” Ruggless said that includes anything from a business dream, a recipe someone wants to bring to market or starting a co-op with a group of people who share the same goal. Ultimately, it helps people with the legalities of getting a product to market. 

Mission West Board of Directors Chairman Sjaan Vincent added that it’s an organization that can help from a business plan to a barcode. Mission West has also been heavily involved in community economic development in Ronan, creating the Ronan Tourism Grant Program and the Ronan Revitalization Program. That technical assistance extends beyond Ronan to the tri-county area of Lake, Sanders and Mineral Counties and beyond. 

This is the only annual fundraiser Mission West hosts, and it helps offset operational costs and fill funding gaps. Ruggless noted that last year’s fundraising funds allowed them to purchase a new juicing machine and a pasteurizing machine. 

Last year, the organization also launched a new bottling line for Montana Marinera, significantly increasing production of this shelf-stable, locally sourced product, which is distributed to 143 Montana school districts. Ruggless said they are working to expand distribution of this product to Washington schools as well. 

Ruggless said the organization's food network has expanded into the Pacific Northwest, with Mission West assisting people in Wyoming, Idaho and Oregon. 

“We had the 4-H kids that were helping, and just seeing them out there working and helping really makes us here at Mission West feel that there is hope for the farmers and for the future of the area because these kids want to see local food on their table,” Ruggless said. “They want to know where their food comes from.” 

Ruggless explained that the fundraiser is not for Mission West, but to help producers, farmers and consumers network and socialize. 

“We can help get them together and make a success,” she said. 

Ruggless noted that Mission West’s priority remains supporting the local economy. Mission West Community and Economic Development Program Manager Brittany Simonich added that these fundraising dollars are being used to support real wow factors in the community.  

Support from local businesses and residents is Mission West’s backbone, Ruggless said. 

“We couldn’t do it without the support of the community,” she said. “Ronan is where our heart is, but our soul is also the region.”

    The Western Musicians Co-op provided live music during the Harvest on Main event in Ronan. (Emily Messer/Leader)

 A silent auction accompanied the small live auction Mission West Community Development Partners hosted during its annual fundraiser on Thursday, Aug. 27. (Emily Messer/Leader)