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Grown in Montana Products Highlighted at Montana State Fair

Grown in Montana products will be showcased for the first time at the Montana State Fair in Great Falls.

Cody Shick with Montana’s Agriculture Department put together the store.  It’s an effort by the agency to promote value added agriculture.

“They really wanted to take some of these smaller companies that use Montana crops and process in Montana and really help market and promote," said Shick. 

Nineteen companies will offer 1 to 5 of their products for sale.

One item is Holt Chew, a smokeless tobacco made with alfalfa leaves. Creator Dave Holt from Whitehall developed it out of necessity.

“I had chewed tobacco for 45 years,” Hold said. “And after five heart operations and cancer I said, 'There’s got to be a better product out there that will help us.'”.

The Grown in Montana store will only be at the State Fair this year. Organizers say it could expand next year if it proves popular.

The store is located in the Trades and Industry Building.  The fair opens July 29, 2016  and runs through August 6, 2016.          

Kay Erickson has been working in broadcasting in Billings for more than 20 years. She spent well over a decade as news assignment editor at KTVQ-TV before joining the staff at YPR. She is a graduate of Northern Illinois University, with a degree in broadcast journalism. Shortly after graduation she worked in Great Falls where she was one of the first female sports anchor and reporter in Montana.