The Voice of the Community Since 1909, Serving Moorcroft and Pine Haven, Wyoming

15th annual Harvest Feastival

Saturday afternoon saw the 15th annual Harvest Feastival, sponsored by the Moorcroft Area Chamber of Commerce (MACC), celebrated at the MTC with 250-275 guests partaking.

The MHS National Honor Society served 19 different soups to guests and judges throughout the evening. Everyone was allowed to vote on their favorite for Peoples' Choice, which was the zuppa, made by Dane Car. Then, the judges voted separately for Jacilyn Schosser's bacon cheeseburger.

The famous baking contest returned this year and, of the nine entries, Amber Boardman won with her brownie raspberry delight.

Because the chamber did not have their own bake sale at this event, they allowed the MHS band and choir to sell their baked goods to raise funds for a trip later in the school year.

Meanwhile, local vendors were able to engage with visitors interested in purchasing their goods.

This was the first year for Laura Whistler and daughter Lucy to have a vendor's table; they were selling candy Laura freeze dried as treats as well as homemade marshmallows and peanut brickle, also freeze dried.

Sharon Bailey, another home-based vendor, advertises as an "epicure consultant" and shared many healthy hand-packaged meals with the guarantee – raw to ready in 20 minutes at her table.

The silent auction was exciting with much participation and welcome funding coming from the bidding. The moneys from the auction and all the rest of the evening's entertainment will be used to supply the Christmas Baskets next month.

As the night rolled to a close and the last of the company departed, it was obvious the 15th annual Harvestfeastival really was a roaring success.

"The chamber's very pleased with the turn out and participation this year," one chamber representative was happy to say of this event, "and plan to have next year be bigger and better."

Chamber member and co-organizer Elaine Buckmiller later said of the evening, "It seemed like families and groups stayed longer this year. [People] interacted with the MC and really got into the whole door prize thing and bidding on the silent auction was very spirited so we're considering it one of our best."