The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

The Fort Belknap Indian Community invites everyone to its 52nd Annual Mid-Winter Fair (MWF), which is slated for February 5-8. For this year's MWF, the theme is "Envisioning the Future, Embracing the Past," and event organizers promise four fun-filled days. Although most activities will take place at the Fort Belknap Bingo Hall, others will be held on the Aaniiih Nakoda College campus.

Booth set-up will begin on Monday, February 3, when various college and community groups and organizations will descend on the Bingo Hall to transform it into a carnival-like atmosphere. These "interior decorators" will attempt to draw the judges' eyes with streamers, slogans, and other colorful attractions that celebrate their programs. This transformation process will continue into February 4 until 6:00 p.m. when the Mourners' Feed will occur.

A ceremonial meal, the Mourners' Feed invites attendance from people whose relatives have died throughout the past year. Its purpose is to reintegrate the bereaved into society and to encourage them to participate in the upcoming social event.

On Wednesday morning at 10:00, booth judging will start, and an Opening Ceremony is scheduled for noon on February 5. Elder Protection Bingo will follow from 1:30-3:00 p.m., and that evening a banquet will be held at Hays/Lodge Pole at 6:30 p.m.

An event-packed day, Thursday, February 6 will kick-off with the Rancher's Roundup taking place on the Aaniiih Nakoda College campus from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. The Art and Quilt Show is also on the schedule from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with judging arranged for 10:00 a.m.

Other Thursday highlights include canning, bread, and pie contests; jerky making and dry meat classes; adult bingo; and an adult Chopped Contest. The day will close with a Stick Game Tournament at 7:00 p.m.

The instructor for the jerky and sausage making classes will be the owner of Nakoda Jerky, Dennis Longknife, Jr. From 2:00-4:00 p.m. on Thursday, and again on Friday if there is a need, Longknife will share his techniques and seasonings, which are popular not only in Fort Belknap but throughout the west. Participants will get to keep the meat and supplies after the class.

Longknife, who has twenty years in the jerky business, invited community members to this class: "Come and learn how to make great tasting jerky and summer sausage. You will learn how to season and cure your meat, then prepare it for smoking or dehydrating. If you have any wild game, bring it with you, thawed out, and we will use it in our class," he said.

To sign up, interested persons should text message Longknife at 390-5690 or register with Elizabeth Werk, Agriculture Agent at the Fort Belknap MSU-Extension Office. Werk can be reached at 353-2656.

Keeping the focus on food, the MWF Chopped Contest scheduled from 11:00-1:30 on Thursday will mimic the Food Network program Chopped, hosted by Ted Allen. Chopped-a cooking competition show that is all about skill, speed, and ingenuity-challenges promising chefs to turn a selection of everyday ingredients into an extraordinary three-course meal.

During each episode, four chefs compete in three timed rounds to prepare each course. In each round, the chefs receive a basket containing between three and five unrelated ingredients, and the dish each competitor prepares must contain all of these ingredients. The chefs are required to cook their dishes and plate them before the time elapses. After each round, a rotating group of culinary judges critique the dishes based on presentation, taste, and creativity. Course by course, the chefs are CHOPPED from the competition until only one winner remains.

According to Event Chair, Pam Weasel, the MWF version will run in much the same way as the television show, where each team of two adults will receive 3-5 "mystery" ingredients and will have 45 minutes to prepare their meal with bread included. This bread can be fry bread, flat bread, tortilla, bannock, or some other variety. It can be brought with the team or cooked on site.

"The judges will be selected at random from the audience, so even that part will be a surprise," Weasel said. "The Couples Teams should also wear matching attire, even if it's just matching aprons," she added.

A youth version of this competition will take place on Friday from 11:00-1:30 p.m. Contestants in the MWF Chopped Junior Contest will be teams of two, ages 10-14, and should know how to operate a skillet and hot plate. Flyers for the event share other relevant rules, and a complete set of rules is available from Fort Belknap Extension.

Teams for these two competitions are encouraged to sign up early, as there is a limit of five teams of contestants, given space limitations. Each two-member team is responsible for providing its own electric skillet and extension cord. Teams will also be required to record their recipes on a card and to designate a spokesperson who will introduce the team as well as describe their dishes. Dishes will be judged on presentation, creativity, and taste.

Anyone interested in signing up for either of these contests or for a full list of rules is encouraged to call Fort Belknap Reservation Extension at 353-2656 or to contact Weasel by calling 353-4783 or 353-2601.

In addition to the Youth Chopped Contest, Friday's activities will include another Rancher's Roundup, a vendor sale, youth carnival, Head Start activities, Baby Parade, and pie eating contest. To round out Friday's events, the ever-popular fiddle, jig, and waltz contest will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Anyone who might be interested in sponsoring one of the prizes for the fiddle, jig, and waltz contests is encouraged to contact Robert Fox at (406) 673-7864 or (406) 673-3773. More information about these contests, which will have both adult and youth categories, is also available by calling Fox.

The Grand Entry is a time of great pomp and pageantry. Surrounded by classic regalia and group drumming, even the youngsters find a way to express their heritage. These little girls, from a past Grand Entry at the Fair, showed their fancy regalia and demonstrated their dance moves.

The Fort Belknap MWF Committee, Opportunity Link, and Fort Belknap Economic Development Credit Department will be coordinating the Mid-Winter Fair Bazaar and vendor event on Friday, February 7 from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Fort Belknap Bingo Hall. Anyone interested in participating is encouraged to call Kerry Racine with Opportunity Link at 265-3699 or Bridgette Shields with the Fort Belknap Economic Development Credit Department at 353-8409 to register.

The group is looking for all crafters, vendors of baked goods, those in direct sales, or anyone who is just looking to market their business with flyers, brochures, or business cards. All are invited to reserve a table.

Those seeking additional information regarding table fees, available space, and options for setting up at the powwow on Saturday from 1:00-9:00 p.m. are encouraged to contact Racine or Shields.

The culminating event of the MWF is the Grand Entry at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 8, followed by a Traditional Pow-Wow at 7:00 p.m. The 2020 MWF Princess is Mahina Cuts the Rope.

For more information on these events or on any other aspect of the Mid-Winter Fair, the curious are encouraged to contact Fort Belknap Extension at 353-2656.