Well, for me, it's Victor, Montana. Home of the hardest working, self-sacrificing, most giving people you will ever meet. M-m-m-m, I think I've heard that description about Montana's population in general. Oh, and did I mention Victor has breathtaking views, like Bear Creek Overlook, Fred Burr Lake, Sweathouse Creek, the Bitterroot River, just to name a few? Like most of us, I love the community I call home and the valley we live in. For me it's Victor and the Bitterroot Valley.

For most communities, there is a signature event and Victor has their own. The last four years a handful of volunteers and I, with the support of some businesses, non-profits, and a few individuals, have had the privilege of keeping the annual Chief Victor Days celebration flourishing. It's a time every year we as a community get to share in honoring Chief Victor, after whom our town is named, one of the many great leaders of his time. Chief Victor Days was the second weekend in June. Last June was the 28th annual celebration. This celebration is one honoring our heritage and celebrating the culture of the Victor Community – A Gathering of Traditions.

Like many communities in Montana and elsewhere, keeping participation and enthusiasm alive is hard work, especially during difficult economic times. Chief Victor Days, in the early years, had a large group of community volunteers; an event of this size requires it. There were donations of time and money from people throughout the valley and Missoula. Products and services were a fraction of the costs compared to now. We as a community are so grateful to have had the participation and contributions from so many, for this special event, over the years. As we wait for Highway 93 construction to be completed through the town of Victor and an upturn in the economy, it seems we have an opportunity to take a breath and examine the future of the Chief Victor Days Celebration.

It is with regret that I have decided to step away from the position of director for Chief Victor Days. The Chief Victor Days Event, its history and inventory, has been placed under the care of the Victor Heritage Museum until the Community regains its energy and decides how to move forward. The friendships, the history, the stories all combine to make Victor a unique entity in the Bitterroot Valley. I have truly enjoyed being a part of what makes Victor so special. I look forward to the future of this unique spot in the road that many of us call home.

Sincerely,
Angie Dobberstein, former Director of Chief Victor Days

Originally printed in the Tour Montana's From River to Ridge publication.