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e two scarecrow festivals aren't in competition with one
another, although Tess Brady does point out that, for her money,
Stanford's creations "stack up pretty good in comparison to
Stevensville's scarecrows." She does admit, however, that she once
drove to Stevensville to have a look.
So it will be up to the intrepid scarecrow fanatic to drive to
both and decide which has the better beer, the tastier vittles, and
the more creative scarecrows. Or they could just enjoy this rela-
tively new tradition that involves the unquestionably inventive use
of old clothes, scrap metal, straw, and whatever other materials
the creative folks of Stanford and Stevensville have on hand.
But what the creators of the Stanford and Stevensville scare-
crows are really crafting is something altogether rarer and more
valuable than merely objects for the frustration of bird appetites:
they have created a way to celebrate these small town's senses of
creativity, of togetherness, and of their pride in their community.
row in some chili and some beer, and that sounds like a hell of
a way to spend a few crisp October nights.
Methodist
Church,
Stevensville
Spiders in the Mist
Stanford by Tess Brady
Tin Head
THE ORGANIZERS OF MONTANA'S OCTOBER SCARECROW FESTIVALS
WOULD KINDLY ASK YOU NOT TO FEED, AGITATE, OR LIBERATE THE SCARECROWS.
