Longtime farmer named Great Chief

Though by all accounts he is someone who doesn’t care for the spotlight, Robin Street has received a number of community awards in his lifetime.

The longtime local farmer, whose family began homesteading on land near Rose Crossing in 1883, received perhaps his most high-profile recognition Thursday night with the bestowing of the Flathead Chamber of Commerce’s 41st Great Chief award.

Street was honored during the Chamber’s 108th annual banquet and auction. The event at the Hilton Garden Inn was called “Building It Better in the Flathead.”

“The award spans a lifetime for someone who makes the Flathead a better place to live and work,” Chamber President Joe Unterreiner said. “He [Street] fits the bill. He has a long history of contribution to the Flathead.”

Great Chief honorees are chosen from a slate of nominees by a committee of former Great Chief award winners.

One of Street’s biggest fans is Mark Lalum, general manager of CHS Kalispell.

“In discussing my plans to submit Robin’s name as a Great Chief candidate, I received resounding support,” Lalum wrote in his nominating letter. “Robin is a very humble individual who asks nothing for his help but has been a giant blessing in this valley, and we would love to honor him for that.”

One of Street’s biggest gifts to the community was the Pine Grove Fishing Pond that opened in April 2011. Street excavated a five-acre area and sold the gravel to fund the creation of a pond open to children for fishing.

He also donated 13 acres of land worth at least $200,000 at the site off Rose Crossing north of Kalispell. The pond, maintained by Fish, Wildlife and Parks, has been a popular fishing site since, with an estimated 10,000 people visiting in its first year.

Street’s other contributions make up an extensive list: He was on the board of the Flathead Conservation District for 26 years, with emphasis on river and stream management within the valley; he received a Presidential Award from President Ronald Reagan for his work at Flathead High School in vocational education; he spent 20 years with the West Valley Fire Department, including five years as chief; and he was instrumental in bringing together the Equity Supply and Farmer’s Union cooperatives to create CHS Kalispell.

Other awards handed out at the Chamber banquet:

v Member of the Year — Lisa Brown, general manager, Red Lion Hotel.

Brown is one of the founders of the downtown tourism business improvement district. She was lauded also for her readiness to offer special prizes or gift promotions that have helped make special projects a success.

“She’s really dedicated to downtown and tourism promotion,” Unterreiner said. “She is very creative with her marketing.”

v Businessman of the Year — Jim Ness, senior vice president, Glacier Bank

Ness is the incoming board chairman for the Kalispell Chamber. He served several years as head of the downtown merchants association and serves on a committee aiming to expand commercial airline services to the Flathead Valley.

“He is someone who has helped a lot of community organizations,” Unterreiner said.

v Businesswoman of the Year — Melanie Cross, owner, Camas Creek Yarn.

Cross not only runs a retail yarn and knitting supply store on Kalispell’s Main Street, she recently launched a national licensing program with 100 colleges and universities for school logo knitting kits. She has also served on the board of the Downtown Business Improvement District.  

“I think she’s a great example of a hard-working business woman who has built a business from concept to reality,” Unterreiner said. “She’s creative, innovative, entrepreneurial and hardworking.”

v Project of the Year — Montana Dragon Boat Festival

The festival made a huge impact in its first outing, drawing 56 teams, including 20 from out of the area, and 4,000 spectators. Dozens of nonprofit organizations were able to raise money through the festival, including the local breast cancer charity Save-a-Sister, which received a donation of $10,000.

“We want to recognize the huge great effort by the Convention and Visitors Bureau,” Unterreiner said.

Business reporter Heidi Gaiser may be reached at 758-4439 or by email at hgaiser@dailyinterlake.com.