Sanders County showcases businesses at annual trade fair
Wanda Thorpe represents the Thompson River Animal Care Shelter (TRACS) at their booth during Saturday's trade fair. Thorpe had raffle tickets for sale for the quilt and shotgun depicted above.
Mahalia Harris of the Plains Drama Club sells Krispy Kreme donuts on Saturday at the trade fair. Harris is a member of the club which was selected to compete at the national event after their performance of "Our Diamond."
Patrons and entrepreneurs filled the Plains High School Gym on Saturday morning as the 16th Annual Sanders County Trade Fair took place.
The event was full of hands-on product demonstrations, free samples and handouts, great buys, food, prizes and drawings.
Customer from every walk of life came to explore businesses from every industry. Specials were even offered on services and products. For every dollar someone may have had, a vendor had some ideas on just how they could spend it
For green thumbs there was a farm fresh produce booth and a flower nursery. For ladies, there was booths with embroidery, leather purses, lotion and candles booths. People who like to work with their hands could frequent the woodworking or picture framing booths. Multimedia fans could checkout talk to someone from 99.1 The River, or Blackfoot communications.
For big spenders Rehbein ford offered a booth and for penny pinchers, there was Tupperware available. There were even booths for non-profit organizations like React Against Corporate Tobaacco (REACT), the Sanders County Tobacco Education Prevention Program, and Thompson River Animal Care Shelter, TRACS.
Even the Plains Drama club had a booth to help fundraise for their trip to Nebraska for nationals later this summer.
According to Sherry McCartney of the Plains-Paradise Chamber of Commerce, 48 businesses were in attendance. The fair is a great way for customers to familiarize themselves with Sanders County businesses and an opportunity for businesses to get the word out about their products and services.
Event emcee and local business owner Randy Garrison said, “It’s a great way to support the chamber and keep in contact with customers.”
The fair is especially advantageous to organizations or business with limited advertising budgets.
Jan Parmalee the Sanders County Tobacco Education Prevention officer said the event is one of the only chances she gets to meet with the general public. After spending so much time in and around schools Parmalee relished the opportunity to talk to adults and get their feedback.
Wanda Thorpe, TRACS co-founder, said this is one of the only chances her organization gets to talk to people about what animals and services are offered at the shelter. Thorpe feels the trade fair has been effective and TRACS has had a booth there for several years running.
Garrison estimated 500 people in all came through the fair.