I know the Cheese Festival was awesome, in a new and different way. It isn’t the same as it was, whether by design or default.
Not too long ago, it felt like the days of the festival were drawing to a close. The former city administration did not support it and the residents who have done the lions’ share of the work of putting it on are growing older.
Thankfully, two things happened. The city administration changed to one that supports the festival, and the Plains Collective brought in their energy, ideas and enthusiasm to recharge the event.
So it is that there are now multiple Indigenous facets of the festival, as it should be. It is high time the community began to celebrate the huge contribution that Tribal residents have made to the area. They are some of our first residents, and we should be thankful to have them as neighbors, and that they accepted us as neighbors as well.
The facts of the matter are that if left to its own devices, without the infusion of new blood from the Plains Collective, the days of the Cheese Festival were numbered. But instead of letting a good thing die, it has been dressed up, turned around and is again something to look forward to each October.
The Cheese Festival mirrors the town in many ways, although the town is much older. Without the vision, drive and enthusiasm of residents who may have been discounted or disenfranchised previously, the community suffers.
Look, for instance, at the city council members. There are multiple members in the 50-ish range, some who weren’t born here, who are here by choice. There are folks on committees who are willing to say ‘We tried this in Guthrie or Guymon or Boise City and it worked.’ Today they aren’t worried that they will be shouted down because we don’t do things that way here. Their ideas are examined and if valuable, explored to find out what it will take to make it work in Watonga.
Those ideas will create new housing, improve our parks and infrastructure and bring in new business. One day they will create a walkable, beautiful downtown area that, although different from what it was back in the day, is just as vibrant and attractive to visitors and those considering relocating as the 1950s version was.
Nobody likes change. Change can be painful. But it doesn’t have to mean abandoning our roots and accepting cookie- cutter bland as our future.
Just look at the Cheese Festival. Now on to 51!