Stomping grapes in Havre for good causes

Havre Daily News/Nikki Carlson

Chelby Gooch, from left in the barrels, of the Havre Jaycees team, Debbie Lofgren of Havre Dental Group team, Yvonne Skramstad of Touch Stone Crystal team and Patti Huston of the Sisterhood of the Demented Fermenters team compete at squashing grapes at the first-ever Beta Sigma Phi Grape Stomp fundraiser Saturday afternoon near the Montana State University-Northern Student Union Building.

People were stomping grapes and enjoying themselves for a good cause Saturday, in a new event an organizer hopes can continue in future years.

June Hesser of the Xi-Tau Chapter of the Beta Sigma Phi sorority said people had a blast at the grape-stomping fundraiser, held on the lawn near the Montana State University-Northern Student Union Building.

"If we can get the help, we hope to do it next year…, " Hesser said. "It was fun, and we were doing it for a good cause. "

She said the final tally is not yet computed, but the fundraiser raised a thousand dollars or more for the Havre Food Bank and for scholarships to Montana State University-Northern.

Nine teams of five contestants stomped grapes at the fundraiser, with four teams in costumes, to see how much juice they could squeeze in five minutes, with a good-sized crowd watching and celebrating.

Hesser added that the sorority now is entering a membership drive, looking for new people to join the service group. People wanting more information can contact her or any Beta Sigma Phi members, Hesser said.