Our Best Fair Yet: Thank You, Missoula

August 18, 2026

If you walked the Western Montana Fair this year, you saw us.

From July 31 through August 8, Missoula County Republicans were out at the fairgrounds — greeting neighbors, running trivia, selling merch and raffle tickets, and talking with anyone who wanted to stop by. Not behind a screen. Out in the open, in the middle of Missoula’s biggest community week.

It was our most successful fair booth yet. That only happens because of our volunteers and the people who showed up to say hello.

Thank you

Thank you to every volunteer who took a shift — and to those who took several. Greeting the public, hosting trivia, answering questions, selling merch and raffle tickets: whatever you did, it showed. Fairgoers met a friendly, busy Republican booth that honored America’s 250th birthday and treated people like neighbors.

Thank you to our supporters who stopped by, played the game, bought a shirt or a raffle ticket, signed up for updates, or just stayed to talk. You made the booth worth staffing.

What the week looked like

  • More than 1,000 people played our local civics and American history trivia game.
  • We added more than 100 new contacts who want to stay in touch.
  • A full 40 feet of booth — trivia, candidate literature, merch, and an 1861 cannon that stopped families in their tracks.

Curious what Missoula conservatives are doing locally? This is it. We show up where the public already is, we talk to people, and we invite them in.

Photos from the booth

The Missoula County Republicans booth stretches across four tents at the 2026 Western Montana Fair as visitors talk with volunteers.
Fairgoers stop under the Missoula GOP tents to browse literature and talk with volunteers.
Missoula GOP volunteers greet visitors at the booth table, with the 1861 cannon and Founders displays behind them.
A wide view of the Missoula GOP booth tents along the Western Montana Fair walkway, with flags and the cannon at left.
Fairgoers gather at the Missoula GOP tents on a sunny day at the Western Montana Fair.
A Missoula GOP volunteer in a red apron greets fairgoers at the booth under the Missoula County Republican Central Committee banner.
A volunteer staffs the Missoula County Republican Central Committee table while fairgoers look on.
A volunteer sits at the booth table with trivia flyers, ready to greet the next visitor.
Trivia prize flyers sit on the Missoula GOP booth table as a volunteer works the shift.
Visitors look over campaign buttons and 50/50 tickets at the Missoula GOP merch table.
A volunteer and a fairgoer smile together at the Missoula GOP booth.
A volunteer talks with a visitor beside gun-raffle flyers and candidate literature.
An 1861 cannon on display at the Missoula GOP Western Montana Fair booth.
The 1861 cannon stands beside life-size Abraham Lincoln and George Washington displays at the fair booth.
America 250 and patriotic shirts and hats hang on display at the Missoula GOP merch wall.
A volunteer staffs the table with gun-raffle posters, merch, buttons, and a Celebrate America 250th sign.
Gun-raffle posters, hats, and shirts fill the front table of the Missoula GOP fair booth.
A patriotic photo cutout at the Missoula GOP Western Montana Fair booth.
Candidate yard signs stand beside the 1861 cannon at the back of the Missoula GOP booth.
White Founders cutouts and candidate signs mark the edge of the Missoula GOP fair booth.
Candidate signs for local and statewide Republicans sit beside the cannon display.

What’s next

The fair is over. The work is not. Our next big gathering is Celebrate America 250th Birthday Dinner on Thursday, September 10 at the Broadway Inn — chicken and steak, a great speaker, and a night that funds this kind of outreach.

Get dinner tickets

P.S. Thank you to Keith Baer for these photographs. He sent them so we could share the week as it actually looked — flags up, tables full, and Missoula conservatives out in the wild.

Join us in making a difference

Become a part of the movement that shapes the future of Missoula. Whether through membership or volunteering, your involvement with Missoula County Republicans strengthens our community and amplifies conservative voices. Together, we can drive meaningful change and uphold our values. Join us now and make a lasting impact!

Get Involved