Pasture Pickin’ in Libby

 reprint from article on LibbyMT.com

Bluegrass Pasture Pickin’ May & August
Great music, casual, old-time, bluegrass and country pickin and singin
by Dawn Ballou and Maggie Craig, LibbyMT.com
May 20, 2005
Pasture Pickin’ is a twice a year gathering of musical friends in a pasture in Libby. Once in the spring, and again in the fall, hundreds of people from all over North America and Canada gather to share music and song. Pasture Pickin’ has been an annual event for more than 10 years, growing each year. This year approximately 145 RVs and campers are expected to attend the event in May and August. Pasture Pickin’ is NOT a music festival. It is by invitation only.

Organizers do not charge admission or try to make a profit. It is best described by the words on their website, www.pasturepickin.com, “What Pasture Pickin’ is about is friendship, bound by a love of music of all kinds, and a deep and abiding respect for one another as human beings. When friends are sick, we pray. When it pours down rain or snow, we gather around a barrel stove in the barn and play all night long. When it turns unmercifully hot, we gather beneath the trees or simply wait until later in the day, then play all night long. Most of all, Pasture Pickin’ is about friends, both old and new and the music itself.”

The spring session Pasture Pickin’ starts on Sunday, May 29th and goes through Sunday, June 5th. The second session starts Sunday, August 14th and goes through Sunday, August 21st.

If anyone reading this story would like to participate, please remember that Pasture Pickin’ is by invitation ONLY. If you don’t know anyone who has ever attended, send an e-mail message to the organizers at music@pasturepickin.com describing why you want to attend.

In order to keep things running smoothly, the organizers have a few rules. Campers should note they will be staying on private ground, not a public campground. This is a dry camp situation in the middle of a pasture a few miles up Pipe Creek road north of Libby in scenic mountain country near the Kootenai National Forest.

There is a ZERO tolerance for drugs at Pasture Pickin’, with no exceptions to this rule. Anyone caught using or having drugs will be escorted off the property.

Children must be with their parents at all times and must be watched closely. Pets are welcome, but must be well-mannered and kept on leashes away from your own campsite. Owners must pick up their animal’s waste droppings.

The property owners and Pasture Pickin’ organizers are not responsible in any way for lost, broken or stolen property or personal injuries during the event.

For more information, contact Dale Berg at 406-293-6608, or e-mail: music@pasturepickin.com.

Directions to Snyder Field: From Libby, travel north on Hwy 37. About ¼ mile across the Kootenai River bridge, take a left onto Hwy 567 (Pipe Creek Road). Travel on Pipe Creek road for 5-1/2 miles. The Snyder place is on the right, address 5502 Pipe Creek Road. During Pasture Pickin’ time you won’t be able to miss the field with campers and motor homes. If you get lost, call Dale or Dorothy Berg on your cell phone at: 406-293-6608.

Big Jam - photo from www.pasturepickin.com

Big Jam - photo from www.pasturepickin.com

MRBA Newsletter Vol 12 Issue 3 (May-Jun 2009)

MRBA Newsletter Vol 11 Issue 3 (May-Jun 2009)

MRBA Newsletter Vol 11 Issue 3 (May-Jun 2009)