WHEATLAND – Crowds of people came from both Platte County, across the state and some from all over the nation to be a part of the second annual Rafter MB Quarter Horses Arena And Event Center Christmas Bazaar held at 210 Sybille Creek Road in Wheatland.

There were close to 40 vendors in the huge indoor quarter horse arena and the variety of vendors was exceptional. From world renowned artists such as C.R. Saddler who was showcasing his paintings and drawings to Al Teel who was selling guns for his business Teel Gun Works. Able Tacticle from Guernsey also had a huge tent set up and was selling guns and promoting their self-defense classes.

There were cookies and knit hats and trinkets and holiday gifts for that hard to buy for shopper. There were jewelry vendors who were making jewelry on-site to Wyoming boutiques who were getting people ready to “Cowboy up.”

Myrle and Birgit Ingle started preparing the arena a week ahead of time, getting the arena prepped and ready, getting the vendors organized, shopping for the foodstuffs and making sure everything was running smoothly.

Myrle Ingle who is working in the Texas oil fields was not able to be home to help his wife get things ready for the big event and relied on much help to stoke his famous steamer/smoker where the menu.

According to Birgit Ingle, “We cooked turkey and pulled pork and ran out of things as usual. I think it went really well. I got a lot of good feedback. And we have a few vendors that want to come back April 9 for a spring bazaar. But we will see.”

The food which is a local favorite and a treat now that the BBQ restaurant is usually closed for the winter was flying out of the ordering windows.

Brigit Ingle questioned a friend as to whether he had eaten. When the man said yes, to which she replied, “Good, because we are all sold out.” 

As usual, the cuisine usually runs out long before the customers do.

The theme for the bazaar, which came from the mind of the Ingles was, “Let’s do Christmas right,” and what started out to be a small gathering of friends and family from a well-conceived plan that was created over beers at the 2020 Oktoberfest grew into multiple vendors, a full menu of food, free Santa pictures, an appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus, played by Mike and sue Fronapfel was a big hit for the kids who were waiting in line to get a private audience with the big guy.