Raised on Freedom - Rooted in Montana's Best: the 2026 NWMT Fair & Rodeo

Raised on Freedom - Rooted in Montana's Best: the 2026 NWMT Fair & Rodeo

Send us your feedback! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2070290/fan_mail/new] The Northwest Montana Fair and Rodeo is back for 2026, and summer in the Flathead is about to get a whole lot louder. In this episode, we sit down with Flathead County Fairgrounds Manager Sam Nunnally and Event Sponsorship Coordinator Kelsi Hansberry to preview everything coming to this year’s fair—from Walker Hayes, rodeo action, and carnival favorites to new attractions like pig races, a petting zoo, and pony rides. We also discuss major fairgrounds improvements, how the team hosts nearly 750 events and 250,000 visitors each year, and why buying tickets directly from the fair is the best way to avoid scams and extra fees. Whether you're a longtime fairgoer or planning your first visit, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at one of Northwest Montana’s biggest summer traditions. Link: www.nwmtfair.com  [https://www.nwmtfair.com/] Follow the Discover Kalispell Chamber on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube @kalispellchamber. © Kalispell Chamber of Commerce. All Rights Reserved. 406.758.2800  |  info@kalispellchamber.com

Glacier Range Riders: Building More than a Baseball Team

Send us your feedback! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2070290/fan_mail/new] The Glacier Range Riders and Glacier Bank Park have, in a few short years, become an integral part of the Flathead Valley's sports and recreation scene.   Glacier Bank Park is a pro ballpark, built fast, built right, and built Montana — with locally sourced materials, authentic Flathead Valley food, and a design that makes visitors feel like they're somewhere, not just anywhere. Now it's drawing national recognition and becoming the kind of place families build traditions around.  Brenden Craig sits down with Scot Gladstone and Patrick "PK" Kelly of the Glacier Range Riders for a conversation that's equal parts origin story, community playbook, and vision for Kalispell and the Flathead. You'll hear: * How a Pioneer League team got built from scratch — the timeline will surprise you * Why private funding matters and what it signals about this organization's independence and ambition * The Range Riders Foundation and how partnerships with schools, veterans groups, first responders, and nonprofits are turning a ballpark into a genuine community asset * The career pipeline no one talks about — seasonal jobs and internships that launch real careers in broadcasting, hospitality, and sports operations * What it means when your players make it to the MLB — and why that credibility ripples back to the valley This is a baseball story, and a story about what a community decides to become, and the people bold enough to build it. Learn more about the Glacier Range Riders at:  www.gorangeriders.com [https://gorangeriders.com/landing/index] 🎙️ Subscribe to Venture Boldly. Share this one with someone who loves the Flathead Valley. And tell us your favorite ballpark memory in a review. Follow the Discover Kalispell Chamber on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube @kalispellchamber. © Kalispell Chamber of Commerce. All Rights Reserved. 406.758.2800  |  info@kalispellchamber.com

The Case for Agritourism in Montana with Mike Sullivan of Longview Lavender Farm

Send us your feedback! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2070290/fan_mail/new] Mike Sullivan planted lavender in Northwest Montana and lost it all. Twice. What kept him going is a story about more than farming. At Longview Lavender Farm in the Flathead Valley, Mike turned a stubborn specialty crop into a thriving agritourism business, one that creates local jobs and keeps farmland open.  We talk about how he cracked the code on Montana's soil and climate, why direct-to-consumer beats commodity farming, and how lavender becomes everything from essential oils to fire starters. But the bigger conversation is about land.  The conversation widens to land use and community impact: growth pressures, zoning, and why agritourism can help smaller farms compete when farmland prices make commodity agriculture harder to justify. If you care about sustainable agriculture, rural economies, or what it takes to keep agriculture part of the Flathead Valley’s identity, this podcast is for you.  Longview Lavender Farm | Pure Essential Lavender Oil Products | United States [https://www.longviewlavenderfarm.com/] Follow the Discover Kalispell Chamber on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube @kalispellchamber. © Kalispell Chamber of Commerce. All Rights Reserved. 406.758.2800  |  info@kalispellchamber.com

Child Care Center Business Insights with Corinne Kuntz, The Birds Nest Early Learning Village

Send us your feedback! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2070290/fan_mail/new] Infant child care is one of the biggest hidden barriers to workforce participation—and one of the hardest services to sustain. In this episode, Corinne Kuntz of Bird’s Nest Early Learning Village shares her transition from in-home care to a purpose-built center and what it reveals about the real challenges facing child care in the Flathead. We break down the numbers behind the model—why infant care often operates at a loss, how programs stay viable, and what shifting policies mean for providers and families. Corinne also offers practical insight on expansion, staffing, and building trust with parents, along with strategies like summer programs and youth internships that support working families and strengthen the future workforce. The Birds Nest Early Learning Village in Kalispell Montana [https://www.thebirdsnestelv.com/] Follow the Discover Kalispell Chamber on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube @kalispellchamber. © Kalispell Chamber of Commerce. All Rights Reserved. 406.758.2800  |  info@kalispellchamber.com

Entrepreneurship in the Flathead: Wachholz Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center with Eric Harry

Send us your feedback! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2070290/fan_mail/new] In this episode, we sit down with Eric Harry of the Wachholz Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at Flathead Valley Community College to tackle a key question: how do we help founders build and stay in Northwest Montana? Eric shares insights from his work in global entrepreneurship and local startup development, highlighting what actually moves the needle—strong mentorship, real connections, and a community that shows up. We discuss the “missing middle” in business growth, why talent leaves, and how initiatives like Brew & Build are creating a more connected, founder-focused ecosystem. If you care about workforce, innovation, or the future of the Flathead Valley, this conversation offers practical takeaways and a clear path forward. Follow the Discover Kalispell Chamber on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube @kalispellchamber. © Kalispell Chamber of Commerce. All Rights Reserved. 406.758.2800  |  info@kalispellchamber.com