VALE—The little town of Vale was lively on January 7 as neighbors filled the Vale Community Hall for the 20th Annual Ag Appreciation Fair. Locals turned out in droves to visit with area ag businesses and celebrate the ag community.
“We have any kind of agriculture-based vendors come in and they make themselves known to the people around here. And it’s a big appreciation event for the businesses, as well as the people around here too that do business with us. So we gather everybody in one place,” explained Angie Hansen, Community Club Board President.
The vendor numbers were up over the previous year and so were the participation numbers. A free lunch was served that included pulled pork sandwiches, baked beans and mac & cheese along with desserts and drinks. The meal is provided on behalf of the vendors. Hansen shared, “The vendor table fees go towards the meal—and thank God we have all the ladies back in the kitchen helping make that all possible!”
A host of door prizes from businesses around the area were awarded throughout the event. A simple sign-up area, to enter attendees into the drawings, greeted everyone when they walked in the door. As a special fundraiser, the Vale Fire Department raffled off a Pit Boss pellet grill with all proceeds going to support the VFD. Radio station KBHB was on hand for the afternoon and broadcast live.
Vendors from a variety of business specialties lined the Community Hall. Most anything one could need for their ag endeavors was on hand, from seeds to chemicals and finances to animals. Information to help everyone out was available. Businesses on hand included: Midwest Meats, Butte Equipment, Belle Fourche River Watershed Partnership, Butte Conservation District, Wulf’s Metal Works & Rustic Design, Jenner Equipment, SD Stockgrowers, WRCTC, VIP Insurance Agency, Belle Valley Irrigation, Tastefully Simple, Vale Fire Dept., Edward Jones Investments, Grossenburg Implement, SoDak Application, Butte/Meade Sanitary Water District, Leber Ag, First National Bank, Casteel Auction & Real Estate Inc and Warne Chemical Co.
Hansen said the event was very successful and thanked everyone for coming out. Up next at the Vale Community Hall is a Pancake Feed. “Our next thing is in February—the last Sunday of February we’re having a pancake feed for everybody in the community and surrounding areas,” she said.
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