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31st Annual Great Falls Home and Garden Show

By Rachel Ousley

Story Created: Apr 3, 2011 at 9:29 PM MDT

Story Updated: Apr 4, 2011 at 8:16 AM MDT

This weekend the Montana ExpoPark hosts the 31st Great Falls Home and Garden Show and Sale. The show is produced by the Home Builders Association of Great Falls. The show features hundreds of products from saunas, pet beds, construction, windows and doors, to gardening and home décor. Organizers say this is one of their biggest events ever.

This year's theme is "Where it All Comes Together" to emphasize the eclectic collection of home and garden products. The event coordinator, Shannon Rushing, explains the theme was chosen because they wanted to encompass everything. She adds, “everything you need for your home is right here in this building this weekend”.

The whole layout of the show is new. Rushing said originally organizers were worried how the layout would work with new bleachers bought by the county. She says the bleachers actually opened up the main arena and made wider walkways. With the growing number of vendors, both the foyer and bay area were opened this year.

Also new this year is about 54 exhibits. Rushing says, “you always have to keep everything fresh and new and exciting for both the exhibitors and the people enjoying the show; you don't want it to be the same year after year”. Some new exhibitors this year include Earth, Wind & Solar, Cool River Cutlery, Stokke Concrete Cutting, and Wildwood Manufacturing.

One of these new vendors, Earth, Wind & Solar partnered with National Resources Gateway group. President of NRG, Dan Hudson, says they came to promote renewable, sustainable energy alternatives and wind and solar are two main factors in that. Earth, Wind & Solar is the division that installs the units. The units can be roof top mounts or pole mounts.

They came this year to show visitors how going green is more than good for the environment, it can be good for you wallet. Hudson says they hope to show people how to take advantage of federal and state incentives and grant opportunities. Plus show, “what’ll it cost you if you don’t do this over the next 25 years when you consider rising costs of consumer price index and continuing rate increases” adds Hudson.

The team hopes to show how small business and home owners can improve their carbon footprint while saving money not just in the long run, but right off the bat. Hudson explains if you're financing one of these you're going to pay to buy the equipment the same price or less as your utility bill. He says this means that after the initial cost, money stays in your pocket because there are no more utility bills or rate increases.

There are links to all of the exhibitors on the show’s webpage, GreatFallsHomeandGardenShow.com. This site is up all year, so you can check out any of the businesses from the show.

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