Blackfoot Challenge brings back annual Block Party

The Blackfoot Challenge Summer Block Party returned in full swing last week as more than 200 people filled Ovando's small downtown Wednesday, Aug. 11.

The evening, though warm, saw the smoke that had lingered across the valley dissipate somewhat, allowing the gray haze to give way to a blue sky.

The Challenge started the new annual tradition in 2018, with a celebration of its 25th anniversary. This year's get together didn't mark a milestone anniversary, but it provided a sort of catharsis for the small community as it rebounds from a tough economic year in 2020, a hot, dry summer, and a tragic bear attack just a few weeks ago.

"It's just that sort of break, with all the uncertain things that have happened, with not only climate stuff going on and the bear. It was just a nice release to have something that people can come t.," said Jim Stone, chairman of the Blackfoot Challenge and owner of Rolling Stone Ranch just west of Ovando. "It's how we heal, I think. We do it together. We do it as a valley. It's a pretty special time to do that."

For the Backfoot Challenge organization, the Block Party gave board members and supporters a chance to reconnect after a year of Zoom meetings and mask mandates.

"Thank you for being here tonight. It is so nice to see so many familiar faces after so much time behind our computers," Executive Director Seth Wilson told the crowd during brief remarks ahead of a performance by the Copper Queen Band.

"It's important to the Challenge to be able to host this gathering after a year off. Just to bring everyone together, all our members, our partners who work, day in and day out, on behalf of the watershed, and to just celebrate the work we do and the partnerships we've built," said Sara Schmidt, the Challenge communications manager.

Schmidt said Helmville rancher Jay Coughlin, who's "really good at counting heads" due to his experience in keeping a count on herds, counts the number of guests every year.

This year he said they had 208 guests, up from 185 in 2019.

Deb Dillree, an Ovando resident and the Challenge office administrator, said the block party provides an atmosphere that's better than any sort of formal meeting, and that the community appreciates it. "People come from all over. There are people here I don't recognize. It's just awesome."

The event also served as a sendoff for operations manager Sydney Weydemeyer, who stayed on long enough to enjoy the party and celebrate the people and communities she's come to know.

"What I appreciated about working here, especially during this time of divisiveness in the world, it was great to work with people from all political stripes and backgrounds and livelihoods, and actually get things done," she said.