This episode of the Venture Boldly podcast takes listeners behind the scenes of the Flathead County Fairgrounds—an iconic 60-acre hub in Kalispell that hosts over 750 events and draws more than 250,000 visitors each year. While many know it as home to the Northwest Montana Fair and Rodeo, the fairgrounds serve as a year-round space for community, culture, and connection.
Fairgrounds Manager Sam Nunnally and Event Sponsorship Coordinator Kelsey Hansberry share how their personal ties to the Flathead Valley shape their vision for the fairgrounds’ future. From major facility upgrades to securing top-tier entertainment like Joan Jett and Scotty McCreery, their team is focused on preserving tradition while driving meaningful growth.
Listeners will hear about the fairgrounds’ impact on youth development through 4-H and agriculture, as well as long-term plans for milestone celebrations in 2026 and 2027. With new rodeo partnerships and a dedicated preservation foundation, the fairgrounds continue to evolve while staying rooted in community values.
Links:
Northwest Montana Fair and Rodeo - Northwest Montana Fair and Rodeo
Fair contests: Contests - Northwest Montana Fair and Rodeo
Schedule of Events: Schedule of Events - Northwest Montana Fair and Rodeo
Fairgrounds facility rental: Fairgrounds Facilities and Rentals | Flathead County, MT
Follow the Discover Kalispell Chamber on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube @kalispellchamber, and on twitter @KalispellChambr.
© Kalispell Chamber of Commerce. All Rights Reserved. 406.758.2800 | info@kalispellchamber.com
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.