Grant-Kohrs Ranch Days this weekend

By Pat Hansen - 07/25/2008

DEER LODGE — Music by Rob Quist, Jack Gladstone, Open Range and Gloria Clark will highlight Grant-Kohrs Ranch Days Saturday in Deer Lodge.

The festivities also include living history demonstrations, a chili cook-off, branding, birding, pioneer games, frontier stories, haying with horses, wagon rides and railroad scooter rides along on the old Milwaukee Road.

Admission is free. The schedule follows: 8 a.m. — Gary Swant, ornithologist, leads a bird walk and chili cook off entrants begin cooking.

10 a.m. — All other activities will begin.

Meanwhile, the musicians will rove through the yard and take turns entertaining visitors on the wagon rides.

11 a.m. to noon — Jack Gladstone is singing in the flower garden Noon to 1 p.m. — Rob Quist will perform in the garden.

3 p.m. — Open Range will entertain at the dairy barn during the chili judging.

6 p.m. — In the pasture across from the Visitor Center, musicians gather for an evening of music and fun.

Throughout the day, in the lower yard, kids can learn how to make butter, try walking on stilts and play frontier games. Living history demonstrations, along bunkhouse row, will include spinning of yarn, rug making, canning fruit, and old fashion cross stitch.

Gloria Clark plays period tunes on the Kohrs’ family 123-year-old piano for visitors touring the home.

Throughout the weekend, in the nearby meadow, teamsters will be putting hay up loose in stacks using teams of horses and a beaverslide.

For details, call 846-2070 ext. 224 or www.nps.gov/grko.

Chili cookoff event offered DEER LODGE — It isn’t too late to enter the Grant-Kohrs Ranch Days Chili Cookoff on Saturday. You could win $100.

All you need is a recipe, crockpot, basic cooking skills, and the desire to show off your chili-cooking skills. Amateur and commercial categories are available. The contest is limited to 12 entrants.

Participants start preparation at 8 a.m. Judging will begin at 3 p.m. based on aroma, color, consistency and taste.

For information, call 846-2070 ext. 224.