Old Salt Fest takes over Helmville

Riddy Arman serenaded the crowd with her folksy bluesy voice proclaiming "a cowboy hates fencing with love on his mind" against the backdrop of misty green hills, fading as rain showers threatened.

People sat in clusters on rows of straw bales under an 80 foot x 160 foot tent listening to the music and chowing down on pork barbecue and beans. They were cooked low and slow overnight in cement block fire pits and 30 gallon cauldrons. Some played corn hole and ladder golf in the background.

"It's a mellow crowd," Randy Mannix said, as he watched the cooks put four 50 pound slabs of beef shoulder roasts in the fire pits Friday night for Saturday night's meal at the Old Salt Festival June 23-27 in Helmville.

"So much work has gone into this," Mo Mannix said. "I'm really proud of the volunteerism, teamwork, sponsors and the visionary spirit of the next generation. Cole (Mannix) has had this dream and he's making it work."

Chefs came from Portland, Oregon, or Bozeman; and chef Jeremy Johns came to join the cooking crew from St. Johns, Newfoundland.

"It's been amazing to be here in Montana," Johns said. "I've met some great people and I'm happy to jump in."

Experience in cooking 'off-grid' is useful on a cow pasture turned festival ground in just a few days. Chefs plan to cook about 1,000 pounds of pork, beef and goat for each of the Grand Meals over the three festival days.

The meat cooked overnight is tended by Joe Rodriguez, known as the CFO, or "Chief Fire Officer' who will add additional cherry, apple, pine wood or mesquite briquettes to each cooking fire all night long.

Speakers will be sharing the benefits of agriculture, conservation and beef, among other things.

Eleven bands will play and a vendor hall will be open during the day. As of Friday night, more than 1,000 tickets had been sold. A complete festival report will be in next week's Pathfinder.