Morgan County Fair 2023 4-H General & FCS

Results continued from page 15

Wyatt Chacon, Wildcat 4-H Club, Red

Elizabeth Whitney, Wildcat 4-H Club, Blue

Tenleigh Lorenzini, Weldon Valley 4-H Club, Blue

Air Rifle Stand Alone Jr

Bentley Larrick, Morgan Sandburs 4-H Club, Blue

Gavyn Larrick, Morgan Sandburs 4-H Club, Blue, Reserve

Kash Meyer, Explorers 4-H Club, Blue, Champion

Aubrey Kauffman, Lads N Lassies 4-H Club, Blue

Liam Woodring, Valley View Ag 4-H Club, Blue

Air Rifle Stand Alone Int

Tate Oliver, Bijou Go Getters 4-H Club, Blue, Champion

Air Rifle Stand Alone Sr

Sateen Keller, Morgan Sandburs 4-H Club, Blue

Shotgun Stand Alone Int

Blake McClain, Valley View Ag 4-H Club, Blue

Axel Lorenzini, Weldon Valley 4-H Club, Blue, Champion

Saxson Keller, Morgan Sandburs 4-H Club, Blue, Reserve

Seth Whitney, Wildcat 4-H Club, Blue

Shotgun Stand Alone Sr

Rylan Schreiner, Morgan Sandburs 4-H Club, Blue

Americo Lorenzini, Weldon Valley 4-H Club, Blue, Best Records

Talan Hall, Travelers 4-H Club, Blue

Grayson Johnson, Bijou Go Getters 4-H Club, Blue

Ceri Dixon, Bijou Go Getters 4-H Club, Blue, Reserve

Soul Keller, Morgan Sandburs 4-H Club, Blue, Champion

Air Pistol Stand Alone Jr

Katelyn Jones, Explorers 4-H Club, Blue, Champion

Air Pistol Stand Alone Sr

Chad Schilling, Snyder Pioneers 4-H Club, Blue, Champion

Wiley Eicher, Explorers 4-H Club, Blue, Reserve

.22 Rifle Stand Alone Jr

Annabelle Ramos, Weldon Valley 4-H Club, Blue

Eli Thiel, Morgan Sandburs 4-H Club, Blue, Reserve, Best Records

Averie Williams, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Blue, Champion

Gabriella Ramos, Weldon Valley 4-H Club, Blue

.22 Rifle Stand Alone Int

Aiden Midcap, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Blue

Malachi Thiel, Morgan Sandburs 4-H Club, Blue, Reserve

Adrian Montes, Wiggins Cornerstone 4-H, Blue

Caden Cozad, Valley View Ag 4-H Club, Blue

Maddex Reynolds, Morgan Sandburs 4-H Club, Blue, Champion

Eli Williams, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Blue

.22 Rifle Stand Alone Sr

Ethan Bohl, Cowpokes ‘N’ Cactus 4-H, Blue, Champion

Shawn Hollis, Wiggins Cornerstone 4-H, Red

Wyatt Gorrell, Golden Clover 4-H Club, Blue, Reserve

.22 Pistol Stand Alone Jr

Abby Ramirez, Valley View Ag 4-H Club, Blue, Champion

.22 Pistol Stand Alone Int

Arisa Eicher, Explorers 4-H Club, Blue

Jaelyn Olivere, Travelers 4-H Club, Blue, Champion

Kaine Eicher, Explorers 4-H Club, Blue

Cade Ramirez, Valley View Ag 4-H Club, Blue, Reserve, Best Record

Muzzleloading Stand Alone Sr

Jasmine Brindisi, Wildcat 4-H Club, Blue, Champion

Decorative Item Jr

Liam Higgins, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Blue

Brooklyn Eggleston, Travelers 4-H Club, Blue, Champion, Best Records

Gabriel Higgins, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Blue, Reserve

Decorative Item Sr

Kirstin Powell, Bijou Go Getters 4-H Club, Blue

Tate Strand, Open Range 4-H Club, Red

Senior Grand Champion Shooting Sports Exhibit: Jasmine Brindisi

Senior Reserve Grand Champion Shooting Sports Exhibit: Chad Schilling

Intermediate Grand Champion Shooting Sports Exhibit: Shylynn Larrick

Intermediate Reserve Grand Champion Shooting Sports Exhibit: Axel

Lorenzini

Junior Grand Champion Shooting Sports Exhibit: Brooklyn Eggleston

Junior Reserve Grand Champion Shooting Sports Exhibit: Abby Ramirez

Woodworking

Measuring Up Unit 1 Jr

Teegan Bellinder, Bijou Go Getters 4-H Club, Blue, Champion, Best Record

Lukas Richardson, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Blue

Measuring Up Unit 1 Int

Lukas Walter, Golden Clover 4-H Club, Blue

Nailing it Together Unit 3 Int

Todd Makings, Lads N Lassies 4-H Club, Blue, Champion, Best Record

Nailing it Together Unit 3 Sr

Savannah Blake, Morgan Sandburs 4-H Club, Blue

Senior Grand Champion Woodworking: Todd Makings

Intermediate Grand Champion Woodworking: Teegan Bellinder

Morgan County Fair 2023

Breeding and Market Show

Breeding Goats

Sunday, July 30, 2023

71 Dairy Breed Senior Kid (born 8/1/21 to 12/31/22)

Zylana Vlieger, Lads N Lassies 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, 1

Ella Farnik, Snyder Pioneers 4-H Club, Snyder, 2

72 Dairy Breed Doe (yearling 1-2 years)

Zylana Vlieger, Lads N Lassies 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, 1

73 Dairy Breed Doe (aged 2 years and over)

Tucker Martens, Sunshine 4-H Club, Wiggins, 1

Piper Neal, Weldon Valley 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, 2

Wesson Farnik, Snyder Pioneers 4-H Club, Snyder, 3

Raylan Neal, Weldon Valley 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, 4

Raylan Neal, Weldon Valley 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, 5

Piper Neal, Weldon Valley 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, Participant

Grand Champion Dairy Goat: Zylana Vlieger

Reserve Grand Champion Dairy Goat: Tucker Martens

80 Meat Breed Junior Kid (born after 1/1/23)

Caiden Healey-Mitchell, Wiggins Cornerstone 4-H Club, Wiggins, 1

Jarrett Haubert, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Wiggins, 2

Joslyn Haubert, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Wiggins, 3

Gretchen Vermillion, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Wiggins, 4

Payson Poland, Cowpokes ‘N’ Cactus 4-H, Brush, 5

Addyson Spradlin, Travelers 4-H Club, Weldona, Participant

Joslyn Haubert, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Wiggins, 3

81 Meat Breed Senior Kid (born 8/1/21 to 12/31/22)

Kealy Langford, Bijou Go Getters 4-H Club Fort Morgan, 1

Owen Steffen, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Wiggins, 2

Natalie Higgins. Winning Edge 4-H Club, Brush, 3

83 Meat Breed Doe (aged 2 years and over)

Ellie Hansen, Valley View Ag 4-H Club, Brush, 1

Ellie Hansen, Valley View Ag 4-H Club, Brush, 2

Grand Champion Breeding Meat Goat: Caiden Healey-Mitchell

Reserve Grand Champion Breeding Meat Goat: Kealy Langford

Goat Showmanship

01 Senior Goat Showmanship (14-18)

Caiden Healey-Mitchell, Wiggins Cornerstone 4-H, Wiggins, 1

Kealy Langford, Bijou Go Getters 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, 2

Riley Hunt, Long Meadow 4-H Club, Wiggins, 3

Josie Hunt, Long Meadow 4-H Club, Wiggins, 4

Sateen Keller, Morgan Sandburs 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, 5

Eli Kalous, Bijou Go Getters 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, Participant

Owen Steffen, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Wiggins, Participant

Ariana Yoder, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Wiggins, Participant

Jarrett Haubert, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Wiggins, Participant

Owen Steffen, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Wiggins, Participant

Champion Senior Goat Showman: Caiden Healey-Mitchell

Reserve Champion Senior Goat Showman: Kealy Langford

02 Intermediate Goat Showmanship (11-13)

Joslyn Haubert, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Wiggins, 1

Henry Langford, Bijou Go Getters 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, 2

Saxson Keller, Morgan Sandburs 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, 3

Maycie Jones, Lads N Lassies 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, 4

Cason Tow, Cowpokes ‘N’ Cactus 4-H, Brush, 5

Landon Crispin, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, Participant

Maveryk Vondy, Golden Clover 4-H Club, Brush, Participant

Ashlyn Chacon, Wildcat 4-H Club, Snyder, Participant

Peighton Arndt, Weldon Valley 4-H Club, Weldona, Participant

Ryder Halley, Cowpokes ‘N’ Cactus 4-H, Brush, Participant

Champion Intermediate Goat Showman: Joslyn Haubert

Reserve Champion Intermediate Goat Showman: Henry Langford 03 Junior Goat Showmanship (8-10)

Remington Butler, Sunshine 4-H Club, Weldona, 1

Abby Ramirez, Valley View Ag 4-H Club, Brush, 2

Paityne Mora, Cowpokes ‘N’ Cactus 4-H Club, Wiggins, 3

Natalie Higgins, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Brush, 4

Gretchen Vermillion, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Wiggins, 5

Darlene Smith, Bijou Go Getters 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, Participant

Brody Yoder, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Wiggins, Participant

Morgin Koch, Golden Clover 4-H Club, Brush, Participant

Haedyn Varelman, Golden Clover 4-H Club, Brush, Participant

Bristol Stolberg, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Wiggins, Participant

Matlock Hunter, Long Meadow 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, Participant

Edward Arndt, Weldon Valley 4-H Club, Weldona, Participant

Ryder Butler, Sunshine 4-H Club, Weldona, Participant

Kash Meyer, Explorers 4-H Club, Wiggins, Participant

Cash Gould, Golden Clover 4-H Club, Brush, Participant

Payten Thompson, Explorers 4-H Club, Weldona, Participant

Tucker Martens, Sunshine 4-H Club, Wiggins, Participant

Champion Junior Goat Showman: Remington Butler

Reserve Champion Junior Goat Showman: Abby Ramirez

Market Goats

11 Goat Underweight - 1

Fallyn Gregersen, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Wiggins, 2

Jason Dias, Fort Morgan FFA, Fort Morgan, 4

Ilithyia Packer, Wiggins Cornerstone 4-H Club, Wiggins, Participant

Raylan Neal, Weldon Valley 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, 5

Fallyn Gregersen, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Wiggins, Participant

Bristol Stolberg, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Wiggins, 3

Darlene Smith, Bijou Go Getters 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, Participant

Morgin Koch, Golden Clover 4-H Club, Brush, Participant

Skylar Gregersen, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Wiggins, 1

21 Goat Lightweight – 1

Ryder Butler, Sunshine 4-H Club, Weldona, 1

Bristol Stolberg, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Wiggins, 2

Morgan County Fair 2023 Breeding and Market Show continued from page 16

Payten Thompson, Explorers 4-H Club, Weldona, 3

Edward Arndt, Weldon Valley 4-H Club, Weldona, 4

Paityne Mora, Cowpokes ‘N’ Cactus 4-H, Fort Morgan, 5

Payten Thompson, Explorers 4-H Club, Weldona, Participant

Madison Dreier, Wiggins FFA, Wiggins, Participant

Lorin Koch, Golden Clover 4-H Club, Brush, Participant

Jasmine Brindisi, Wildcat 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, Participant

Ashlynn Thompson, Explorers 4-H Club, Weldona, Participant

Adysen Spelts, Explorers 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, Participant

Ashlynn Thompson, Explorers 4-H Club, Weldona, Participant

22 Goat Lightweight – 2

Henry Langford, Bijou Go Getters 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, 1

Josie Hunt, Long Meadow 4-H Club, Wiggins, 2

Braden Weibert, Sunshine 4-H Club, Weldona, 3

Ariana Yoder, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Wiggins, 4

Ashlynn Thompson, Explorers 4-H Club, Weldona, 5

Jacy Jo Dreier, Wiggins FFA, Wiggins, Participant

Brody Yoder, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Wiggins, Participant

Payten Thompson, Explorers 4-H Club, Weldona, Participant

Ceri Dixon, Bijou Go Getters 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, Participant

Ashlynn Thompson, Explorers 4-H Club, Weldona, Participant

Kinser Smith, Bijou Go Getters 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, Participant

23 Goat Lightweight - 3

Riley Hunt, Long Meadow 4-H Club, Wiggins, 1, Reserve

Owen Steffen, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Wiggins, 2

Arath Carrazco, Long Meadow 4-H Club, Wiggins, 3

Eli Kalous, Bijou Go Getters 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, 4

Ryder Butler, Sunshine 4-H Club, Weldona, 5

Haedyn Varelman, Golden Clover 4-H Club, Brush, Participant

Cash Gould, Golden Clover 4-H Club, Brush, Participant

Ceri Dixon, Bijou Go Getters 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, Participant

Ashlynn Thompson, Explorers 4-H Club, Weldona, Participant

Landon Crispin, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, Participant

Ryder Halley, Cowpokes ‘N’ Cactus 4-H, Brush, Participant

Champion Lightweight Market Goat: Henry Langford

Reserve Champion Lightweight Market Goat: Riley Hunt

31 Goat Mediumweight - 1

Caiden Healey-Mitchell, Wiggins Cornerstone 4-H, Wiggins, 1

Jason Dias, Fort Morgan FFA, Fort Morgan, 2

Ariadne Carrazco, Long Meadow 4-H Club, Wiggins, 3

J.R. Meyer, Explorers 4-H Club, Wiggins, 4

J.R. Meyer, Explorers 4-H Club, Wiggins, 5

Brody Smith, Bijou Go Getters 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, Participant

Payten Thompson, Explorers 4-H Club, Weldona, Participant

Madison Dreier, Wiggins FFA, Wiggins, Participant

Raylan Neal, Weldon Valley 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, Participant

Kash Meyer, Explorers 4-H Club, Wiggins, Participant

Olivia Herrera, Valley View Ag 4-H Club, Brush, Participant

32 Goat Mediumweight - 2

Remington Butler, Sunshine 4-H Club, Weldona, 1

Wyatt Chacon, Wildcat 4-H Club, Snyder, 2

Cason Tow, Cowpokes ‘N’ Cactus 4-H Club, Brush, 3

Ashlynn Thompson, Explorers 4-H Club, Weldona, 4

Owen Steffen, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Wiggins, 5

Kash Meyer, Explorers 4-H Club, Wiggins, Participant

Payten Thompson, Explorers 4-H Club, Weldona, Participant

Landon Crispin, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, Participant

Ryder Halley, Cowpokes ‘N’ Cactus 4-H, Brush, Participant

Skylar Gregersen, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Wiggins, Participant

Madison Dreier, Wiggins FFA, Wiggins, Participant

Matlock Hunter, Bijou Go Getters 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, Participant

33 Goat Mediumweight - 3

Eli Kalous, Bijou Go Getters 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, 1

Alan Carrazco, Long Meadow 4-H Club, Wiggins, 2

Cason Tow, Cowpokes ‘N’ Cactus 4-H, Brush, 3

Alan Carrazco, Long Meadow 4-H Club, Wiggins, 4

Ariadne Carrazco, Long Meadow 4-H Club, Wiggins, 5

Maycie Jones, Lads N Lassies 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, Participant

Saxson Keller, Morgan Sandburs 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, Participant

Braden Weibert, Sunshine 4-H Club, Weldona, Participant

Brody Yoder, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Wiggins, Participant

Natalie Higgins, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Brush, Participant

Journee Vondy, Golden Clover 4-H Club, Brush, Participant

Champion Mediumweight Goat: Remington Butler

Reserve Champion Mediumweight Goat: Eli Kalous

41 Goat Heavyweight - 1

Henry Langford, Bijou Go Getters 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, 1

Sateen Keller, Morgan Sandburs 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, 2

J.R. Meyer, Explorers 4-H Club, Wiggins, 3

Kash Meyer, Explorers 4-H Club, Wiggins, 4

Maycie Jones, Lads N Lassies 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, 5

Ashlyn Chacon, Wildcat 4-H Club, Snyder, Participant

Ariana Yoder, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Wiggins, Participant

Abby Ramirez, Valley View Ag 4-H Club, Brush, Participant

Peighton Arndt, Weldon Valley 4-H Club, Weldona, Participant

Payson Poland, Cowpokes ‘N’ Cactus 4-H, Brush, Participant

42 Goat Heavyweight - 2

Kealy Langford, Bijou Go Getters 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, 1

Joslyn Haubert, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Wiggins, 2

Gretchen Vermillion, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Wiggins, 3

Paityne Mora, Cowpokes ‘N’ Cactus 4-H, Fort Morgan, 4

Remington Butler, Sunshine 4-H Club, Weldona, 5

Paityne Mora, Cowpokes ‘N’ Cactus 4-H, Fort Morgan, 4

Paityne Mora, Cowpokes ‘N’ Cactus 4-H, Fort Morgan, Participant

Ashlynn Thompson, Explorers 4-H Club, Weldona, Participant

Raelynn Carlock, Lads N Lassies 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, Participant

Brody Smith, Bijou Go Getters 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, Participant

Payten Thompson, Explorers 4-H Club, Weldona, Participant

43 Goat Heavyweight - 3

Jarrett Haubert, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Wiggins, 1

Arath Carrazco, Long Meadow 4-H Club, Wiggins, 2

Joslyn Haubert, Winning Edge 4-H Club, Wiggins, 3

Cason Tow Cowpokes ‘N’ Cactus 4-H, Brush, 4

Abby Ramirez, Valley View Ag 4-H Club, Brush, 5

Payson Poland, Cowpokes ‘N’ Cactus 4-H, Brush, Participant

Maveryk Vondy, Golden Clover 4-H Club, Brush, Participant

Raelynn Carlock, Lads N Lassies 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, Participant

Matlock Hunter, Bijou Go Getters 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, Participant

Cade Ramirez, Valley View Ag 4-H Club, Brush, Participant

Ellie Koch, Weldon Valley FFA, Fort Morgan, Participant

Evy Lozier, Weldon Valley 4-H Club, Weldona, Participant

Champion Heavyweight Goat: Kealy Langford

Reserve Champion Heavyweight Goat: Henry Langford

60 Catch-It Goat Class

Abby Ramirez, Valley View Ag 4-H Club, Brush, 1, Champion

Evy Lozier, Weldon Valley 4-H Club, Weldona, 2

Matlock Hunter, Long Meadow 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, 3

Haedyn Varelman, Golden Clover 4-H Club, Brush, 4

Cash Gould, Golden Clover 4-H Club, Brush, 5

Champion Catch-It Goat: Abby Ramirez

61 Rate-of-Gain

Brody Smith, Bijou Go Getters 4-H Club, Fort Morgan, 1, Champion

Ashlynn Thompson, Explorers 4-H Club, Weldona, 2, Reserve

Payten Thompson, Explorers 4-H Club, Weldona, 3

Payten Thompson, Explorers 4-H Club, Weldona, 4

Payten Thompson, Explorers 4-H Club, Weldona, 5

Champion Goat Rate-of-Gain: Brody Smith

Reserve Champion Goat Rate-of-Gain: Ashlynn Thompson

Grand Champion Market Goat: Kealy Langford

Reserve Grand Champion Market Goat: Henry Langford

Morgan County Fair 2023

Creative Cooks Results

Eighteen Morgan County 4-Hers competed in the 2023 Creative Cooks Contest held on July 27th at the Morgan County Fair Grounds in Brush, Colorado. Members competing in the Creative Cooks contest planned a menu, developed a theme around the menu, and then cooked one item off of the menu to serve to the judge and public. There is also a Colorado Specialty class in which participants must cook a meal using a predetermined ingredient set by the State 4-H Office. This year’s ingredient was Apples.

Five individuals competed in the junior age division, with Luke Makings placing as champion in the Junior Individual Category with her Banana and Chocolate “Chimp” Muffins. Gavyn Larrick was the Junior Individual Reserve Champion with his Chicken Alfredo Lasagna. The final participant in this category was Everlee Tramp who made a Cowboy Caviar. The Champion Colorado Specialty Individual, Bentley Larrick, made an Apple Slab Pie. The Reserve Champion in the Colorado Specialty Individual Category was Rhylee Lambert with her Flowerpot Apple Crumble Muffins. The Overall Reserve Grand Junior was Gavyn Larrick. Luke Makings received Overall Grand Champion Junior. The Junior Grand Champion award is sponsored by Peppy Coffee in Fort Morgan.

Six individuals were in the intermediate age division. Receiving a champion for her individual entry was Lexy Sears with her Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta. The Reserve Champion Intermediate Individual was Kimber Heid and she made a Melon Pan. In the Intermediate Specialty Team Category, Shylynn Larrick and Arisa Eicher made a Norwegian Apple Soup, earning class Champion. Eden and Annie Tramp took Reserve Champion with their Apple Dumplings. The Overall Reserve Grand Champion Intermediates were Shylynn Larrick and Arisa Eicher. The Overall Intermediate Grand Champion was Lexy Sears. The Intermediate Grand Champion award is sponsored by Bun Appetit.

In the Senior age division, Thomas Sears served Italian Lasagna, which received Champion.

Rylan Schreiner served Red Hot Applesauce Jell-O in the Senior Specialty Category and was Champion. The Overall Reserve Grand champion was Thomas Sears. The Overall Grand Champion Senior award went to Rylan Schreiner. These awards are sponsored by The Flower Petaler and Brighter Day Original of Fort Morgan.

Cloverbuds were also allowed to participate in Creative Cooks, making their favorite no-bake snack for the judges and public. Cloverbuds participating were Emery Fox, Luke and Jace Lambert, Amelia Meusborn, Delaynie Piper, and William Sears.

One-Fifth Of Crested Butte’s Restaurants Have Closed, Leaving Tourists Hungry

To top it off, the grocery store will be temporarily closing soon. But thankfully, this is a short-term problem.

by Nancy Lofholm, The Colorado Sun

hammering of change.

None of those promising activities helps visitors with hungry kids in tow who are waiting for the chance to order a slice of pizza at the Secret Stash or a breakfast sandwich at Butte Bagel.

“You definitely hear about the limited options,” Crested Butte town administrator Dara MacDonald said.

“It’s certainly an unusual problem,” she said, and added that town officials didn’t see it coming, or compounding, as it did this summer.

The problem has been dire enough to produce a staff report “Restaurant Status in Crested Butte” for the town council in June.

“These closures and reductions in operations have many negative impacts on the community and the Town of Crested Butte, including reduced dining options, increased dining costs, increased workload/stress on current operators, loss of municipal tax revenues, and negative experiences for valley visitors, to name a few,” the report stated.

The closed restaurants have resulted in an estimate of more than $400,000 less in town coffers this year. Overall, bar and restaurant sales taxes are up 4% for the year and 1% for June. MacDonald said that increase would usually be heftier for the start of the summer tourist season. The fact that they didn’t explains the estimated big bite out of this year’s town revenues.

(Dean

Growing pains are plaguing some Colorado resort towns. Crested Butte is also rumbling with hunger pangs.

Seven of the restaurants up and down Elk Avenue are closed. Many of those still cranking out meals for long lines of diners have had to cut back on days and hours of operation because of a worker shortage.

And maybe this isn’t a good time to mention this as stomachs and tempers growl, but this month the town’s only full-service grocery store is closing down for four months for a major renovation.

Having 19% of the town’s dining establishments flying “Closed” signs at once is a painful inconvenience in a historic resort town where tourists have expectations of some decent grub after a day of mountain biking or wildflower hiking.

“It’s strange. It’s crazy,” said Glo Cunningham, who has been leading tours around downtown Crested Butte for two decades. “But it’s what I call a first-world problem — people who have the money to come here and vacation struggling to find food.”

Jackhammers signal this is a short-term problem

The dining dearth is not expected to be a long-term problem. The shuttered restaurants are in various stages of makeovers to eventually reopen.

And that presents another problem: The sound of jackhammers, backhoes and beeping dump trucks jars the flower-bedecked, mountain-town ambience for tourists and locals alike.

Crested Butte’s dining problems really began after the COVID pandemic shut down the town’s restaurants along with its ski area and pretty much everything else in and around Crested Butte. The reopening of Crested Butte businesses came with a tsunami of visitors eager to get out and vacation after being cooped up. But many of the pre-pandemic workers had moved on to other jobs or other towns. Restaurants struggled and hung up “Help Wanted” and “Closed” signs on front windows.

Oh, and also, the grocery store is closing to The Colorado Sun)

Many towns went through similar post-pandemic business whoop-de-doos. But what complicated Crested Butte’s situation was a billionaire buying spree.

Mark Walter, a Chicago-based financier and an owner of the L.A. Dodgers as well as a home in Mount Crested Butte, started buying up commercial buildings in and around Crested Butte. He bought the 142-year-old Grubstake building. He snapped up the Princess building that had recently housed a wine bar. The Wooden Nickel, Crested Butte’s oldest restaurant, became his. The Forest Queen and the Gunnison Savings and Loan building went into his real estate quiver.

Some of that comes from the former Brick Oven Pizzeria and Pub in the heart of downtown Crested Butte. The loss of that business represents a particularly painful example of the flipping of the town’s dining scene.

The Brick, as it was fondly known, was a communal gathering spot with an Elk Avenue-bordering patio. It was the see-and-be-seen place to meet friends, grab a beer and rehash details of an epic mountain bike adventure.

Since April of last year, the Brick has sat vacant except for occasional gatherings of locals who couldn’t let it go. They started meeting weekly on the bare patio outside the closed building for BYOB get-togethers.

The gatherings and the joking stopped in June when a crew with chainsaws whacked down the line of aspen trees that used to provide shade on the patio. Then a construction barrier went up and the headachy drill of jackhammers permeated Elk Avenue as the patio was obliterated.

“It made me sick to my stomach,” Cunningham said. Lines are long, options are limited Up and down Elk Avenue, other closures and construction zones are strung out as reminders of what’s no longer available for breaking bread together, and as teasers for what the future holds.

The longtime popular Last Steep with its wonky wooden steps and tilting floors has a sign promising that it will reopen soon as The Hideout. The construction sounds from the former Brick signal that something that will be named the Bruhouse is in the works. The historic Forest Queen that most recently housed the Coal Creek Grill is wrapped in a construction barrier and has earthmovers lumbering around outside its funky mining-era clapboard walls bringing hope that there eventually will be burgers and fries served up there again. The former Montanya Rum tasting room and small-plates hangout (Montanya moved down the street) has sporadically emitted the

Off Elk Avenue, Walter purchased a building with a health club and office space and an undeveloped lot that is ready and approved for the building of a hotel and shops. He also bought the Almont Resort, a compound of cabins and commercial buildings 20 miles south of Crested Butte.

That was in early 2021. Crested Butte residents are still waiting to find out what he plans to do with those properties.

The notoriously private Walter has not said. He has been goaded by Crested Butte News editor Mark Reaman for more than a year to come forward and let Crested Butte know what his plans are. Reaman’s editorial pleas have not yielded so much as a comment or a news release.

Rumors bouncing around Elk Avenue have Walter visiting Crested Butte this summer and deciding then what he will do with his properties.

On the heels of Walter’s acquisitions, longtime Crested Butte resident Jeff Hermanson went on his own property shopping spree. Hermanson, who turned Larimer Square and Union Station into thriving commercial areas in Denver, bought four Elk Avenue buildings that had housed restaurants.

One-Fifth Of Crested Butte’s Restaurants Have Closed, Leaving Tourists Hungry continued from page 18

He opened his first Crested Butte restaurant in the historic Slogar building in the 1970s.

He has workers turning the Last Steep into The Hideout, a fast-casual restaurant. The building that used to house the Montanya Rum tasting room reportedly is being made over into an upscale dining establishment with a trendy wood-fired hearth. He also owns the building where the Breadery — an eatery, bar and bakery across the street — continues to operate.

To bring Elk Avenue restaurants into their new iterations, Hermanson has partnered with another restaurateur in Crested Butte, Kyleena Falzone. Falzone owns the Secret Stash pizza joint and Bonez taco restaurant that have helped to keep many tourists fed during the restaurant famine.

A chance for newer spots to shine

MacDonald said town officials are still pondering what can be done about the lack of restaurants this summer and fall until planned reopenings promise more dining options by ski season. They are working with color-coded charts and maps to keep up on the progress of eateries.

“We have reached out to all restaurants that have gone through the permit process to see if there is something we can do to help them get open sooner,” she said.

MacDonald said several of the smaller, locally owned businesses have reached out for help with liquor licenses and kitchen-safety requirements.

Cunningham said, in the meantime, when tourists ask the inevitable question about where to eat, she directs them to a newish sandwich shop or to longtime stalwarts Pitas in Paradise or Teocalli Tamale. When long lines spill out of too many places, she advises visitors to make their own food in their condos.

That advice may be taking hold. Grocery sales taxes in Crested Butte are up 14% so far this year.

But with Clark’s Market closing from mid-August to mid-December, that will mean a nearly 60-mile round-trip drive to the Gunnison City Market or Safeway stores to stock up on groceries. There will also be the option of squeezing into Mountain Earth, a small health food store just off Elk Avenue.

Cunningham said it’s possible hunger could be a good thing for a tourist-stuffed town. “Maybe people will be so disgusted they can’t get a place to eat that they will go elsewhere.”

MacDonald is serving up a more upbeat end for Crested Butte’s food shortage.

“We have had a robust Elk Avenue for many years,” she said. “It will be back.”

South Platte Valley Historical Society Gets Ready for Trappers Day

by Jackie Smith

Whether visiting the park or volunteering, South Platte Valley Historical Park offers a sense of cultural experience and an excellent opportunity to give back to a worthy cause. Taking place several times throughout the summer, the society hosts periodic workdays where volunteers help maintain the park. They clean, trim branches, remove dead wood and trash, stain wood, and paint. These volunteers are a special bunch of people dedicated to the success of the park. Volunteers like Ron Martin who lends his expertise to repair doors, beams, and signs; Ken Wee who puts his painting experience to benefit the park. Bill Taylor is also constantly in the park. Dressed in his stylish bibs, Bill can usually be found in the settler’s garden growing tomatoes, beets, and other delicious vegetables. He also assists in the repairs, mowing, and gives tours when the park is closed to visitors who just show up. These are just a few of our numerous heroes! Thank you to all who graciously donate their time. If you are interested in helping out, Sunday, August 13 is the next scheduled workday from 9AM – 2PM; lunch will be provided for the volunteers. All you have to do is bring your gloves and show up.

Do you know what is coming up September 9th? It is Trapper Days and Jerry the mountain man is back, and he has brought a few friends and they are hungry! So, what’s Jerry to do? Well Jerry, you can take your friends and go to the Annual South Platte Valley Pancake Fundraiser Breakfast. You and your friends can get all you can eat pancakes, sausage, and drink for $10.00. Kids under six eat free. Smiles are also free. The Society will be flipping them up early from 7-10 AM at the Ft. Lupton Fire Station on Saturday, September 9. Part of the downtown Trappers Day festivities. Umm, umm good! Also, on Trappers Day the park will be open with re-enactors in the park. Visit us from 10 AM-4 PM.

Do not forget to join us for our potluck membership meeting and historical talk on Monday, August 8 at 6:00 PM. A historical guest speaker will enlighten us on the 1800’s. Check the website for details www. spvhs.org or follow us on Facebook South Platte Valley Historical Park. Remember we are not just a fort, but a living history park. We are located at 2001 Historic Parkway in Fort Lupton. On highway 85, the northside of Fort Lupton, turn West on 14 1/2. The park will be on your right. We are looking forward to your visit.