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Townsend Area Chamber Hosts Atv Run
Author: mt43news staff reporter

MT43 News Staff Reporter

It “Ain’t No Fun in The Sun” if you weren’t in the All-Terrain-Vehicle(ATV) Poker Run Saturday. ATV owners hit the roads on the 80-mile run through the Elkhorn Mountains for the 13th annual ATV run hosted by the Townsend Area Chamber of Commerce. Riders came from all over the region with 187 vehicles registered. According to one of the organizers, Rachael Brug, there were fewer vehicles registering this year.

Former chamber member and ATV run organizer Bob Saxby said he had talked with Townsend ATV owners whose families came from Minnesota specifically to ride in the run. “I think the popularity of the run is a combination of people wanting to get out in the country, plus getting some use out of their very expensive ATVs. They enjoy visiting with new people at the end as well,” he said.

Around 350 people enjoyed the day despite the dirt and the long ride. This, according to David Berube, the paramedic who signed in everyone at the last stop. “We make sure everyone who registered shows up at the fairgrounds in good condition. If someone did not come in, we would go looking for them on the official route,” he said.

The poker run is based on the rules of poker: each participant must buy a hand, after which his or her ticket is stamped along the route, then draws and plays poker with his or her cards at the end of the run. Each player qualifies to play and to win the $1,000 pot.

“We will come back next year for sure!” Those comments were from Three Forks residents Scott Murphy and Robin Ferrman. They had come with their friends, Mindy and Preston Pierce. They mentioned all the dirt, but they really enjoyed seeing all the different ATVs.

Doug Sitton and Rachael Brug, Chamber officers, gave out $515 to the winner of the 50/50 drawing, plus awarded many players with shirts and water bottles from the Chamber.

Broadwater County First Responders receive a part of the profits from the annual fundraiser.

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PhotoCredit: Nancy Marks, MT43 News Photographer
Image 1 Caption: Poker Run participants came from all around including from left: Robin Ferrman, Scott Murphy, Preston and Mindy Murphy, all of Three Forks. Nancy Marks, MT43 News Photographer
Image 2 Caption: Chamber Secretary Rachael Brug, left, and Bell Barkman draw winners for the 50/50 drawing of $530 and other prizes. Nancy Marks, MT43 News Photographer **
Image 3 Caption: Paramedic David Berube checks in one of the last poker run participants at the Fairgrounds Saturday afternoon. Nancy Marks, MT43 News Photographer **
Image 4 Caption: Close to 200 ATVs lined up at the Fairgrounds after the run through the Elkhorn Mountains on Saturday. Nancy Marks, MT43 News Photographer **