Worland-Ten Sleep Chamber pleased with Hunter Fest turnout
Harvest Dinner a success despite snowstorm
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WORLAND – Despite the fresh fallen snow and colder temperatures the Worland-Ten Sleep Chamber of Commerce is pleased with the turn-out for this year’s 23rd annual Hunter Fest and deemed the event a success.
According to Worland-Ten Sleep Chamber of Commerce board member and event organizer Bill Fuchs the event usually generates about 500-600 event goers. This year the number of event goers was around 300 with hunters and vendors alike not being able to make it due to the inclement weather.
The cold and snow encouraged people to sample the many different chilies offered for the second annual chili cook off to be showcased during Hunter Fest. Sarah Dehmel, representing the Ten Sleep Senior Center was selected as the winner.
The storm, which hit Ten Sleep in the afternoon on Saturday, caused the temperatures to hover in the 20s and low 30s for the rest of Saturday and all day Sunday. The snow piled up quickly, leaving around six inches of wet heavy snow, melting to the roads causing the roads to resemble an ice skating rink until the sun on Sunday melted the ice, leaving the roads covered for hours with slush.
Also affected by the storm was the Big Horn Mountain Stage Company’s mutton chop competition Saturday. Only six participants braved the wet, blowing snow to showcase their sideburns with one contestant coming from as far as Casper. Ten Sleep resident Wes Linster’s chops earned the title of chop master.
The Ten Sleep Harvested dinner Saturday evening appeared to be the least affected by the storm.
“You know, this is my synopsis of it, yes it was a success. It reminds me of the Grinch, when the Grinch comes and takes everything away from Whoville but it doesn’t matter, the whole process goes on and people still gather. So even though there was a big snowstorm and the roads were crappy, people just gathered anyway. It was amazing. We saw a number of hunters that were new,” Washakie County Library Director Karen Funk said. Funk added that hunters who usually come to the Harvest Dinner but were unable to make it due to the weather approached her Sunday at Hunter Fest wanting to make donations.
Proceeds from the Harvest Dinner benefit the Ten Sleep Ambulance Service and the Ten Sleep Library.
