Made in Montana Tradeshow returns to Helena

Tradeshow offers bounty of Montana-made food and gifts March 11-12 at fairgrounds

Art Beat

Discover authentic Montana-made products at the annual Made in Montana Tradeshow, March 11-12 at the Lewis & Clark County Fairgrounds in Helena.

Made in Montana's Native American Pavilion includes designs by Crow artist Della Stump.
Made in Montana’s Native American Pavilion includes designs by Crow artist Della Stump.Photo © Designs by Della

Wholesale buyers shop for new wares to stock their shelves on Friday, March 11. Typically 450-500 buyers represent up to 300 companies.

On Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. throngs of visitors shop for the latest in Made in Montana food, home, gifts and more during Public Showcase Day.  Admission and parking are free.

This year’s tradeshow boasts 20 new and 95 returning exhibitors, including artists, food producers, makers and entrepreneurs. The popular Native American Made in Montana Pavilion showcases authentic Native American products from eight exhibitors.

Among this year’s unique offerings:

  • RightOnTrek of Kalispell cooks up an array of wilderness adventure meals made with all-natural ingredients with compostable packaging that offer “the experience of cooking good food, savoring the aromas, and sharing meals with friends”;
  • Go Roam Free of Hot Springs sells Roam Free Bison Bites and Bison Chili, made from their own free-range, grass-fed Bison, with proceeds helping “restore bison to their native home and regenerate native grassland – America’s #1 most endangered ecosystem”;
  • 41 Grains of Circle, a locally owned and operated milling company, mills locally grown crops such as wheat and chickpeas into flour for resale and also markets pre-packaged goodies; and
  • Designs by Della of Hardin showcases Della Stump’s Native American-owned clothing line. Her culturally-inspired designs have been featured in Vogue, Paris, Chicago, and Phoenix fashion weeks and two pieces are on display in the Smithsonian.

The Made in Montana program was created in 1984 to provide a unique identity to value-added products made and/or grown in Montana. Through the years its purpose has grown to assist Montana producers who grow, create, make and/or enhance products in the state connect with the retail store owners who sell and carry their products.

For more on Montana makers visit the Montana Marketplace.