Fair trip a favorite for care center residents

Like so many in Hill County, each year Ila McClenahan makes the drive to the Great Northern Fair. McClenahan lives about 25 miles outside Havre and as someone with a background in ranching, the animal exhibits always capture her attention.

What is unusual, however, is the large entourage that has accompanied her for 16 years. As pastoral care and activity director for Northern Montana Care Center, a housing facility for seniors, McClenahan orchestrates outings for residents.

"We try and bring those we know would appreciate (coming to the fair) and value it at the time the most," said McClenahan.

Each year, weather permitting, McClenahan and other staff load groups of residents into a bus with a wheelchair lift. Another staffer transports wheelchairs in a pickup to the fairgrounds for those who have difficulty walking. Thursday, 10 or 11 residents made the trip to the fairgrounds, and a second group will be brought there today. This year, a larger staff makes it possible to take more patients than usual.

"They enjoy seeing the animals, the fair food and all the exhibits," said McClenahan. "It's a great afternoon."

The groups make their way around the fairgrounds with the help of nursing assistants in scrubs.

Some residents come not only as observers, but also as participants who have items on display. Most years, Arlene Brown, who has been a resident at the center since 2010, has entered quilts in contests, twice winning awards for "best in show." Brown, however, was unable to do so this year because she gave all her quilts as gifts.

Vivian Blackburg, a patient from Fort Belknap, comes to the fair each year, drawn to the photography and floral exhibits.

Sometimes, Mother Nature interrupts this tradition. One year bad weather forced them to forgo the outing. Still, staff made do by showing a video of scenes from fairs, and bringing residents snow cones, scones and pronto pups.

"We kind of brought the fair to them," said McClenahan.

It's crucial residents have the chance to travel outside the walls of the facilities where they live, said McClenahan. This means not only an annual excursion to the county fair, but other activities such as picnics and visits to other care facilities.

By day's end, the wind picks up as the residents snack on scones, french fries drowning in melted cheese and pronto pups sold at the nearby Lion's Club food booth.

With a sudden chill in the July air and the once bright sky turning a marble gray, soon the residents headed back to the van. With the sounds of the fair echoing in their ears and the smell of fried food slowly fading they returned home, until next year.