Here at Montana Bonfire it is important to us to know where our food comes from. We are fortunate to be able to get many of our products close to home. We love the ability to get to meet the people that own these amazing local businesses as well as even meet the animals our ranchers raise. Supporting local means supporting a small business’ dream and life’s work and we could not be more proud to serve items from the people below.
Ceres Bakery is located in downtown Kalispell, MT and is proud to have been serving bread since 2006 when the owners Rick and Hannah opened their doors. With a five ton hearth to ensure the perfect crust on their breads, the talented bakers at Ceres bring the best flavor combinations and seasonal treats to their customers. Their signature breads include baguettes, focaccia, pain au levain, French-style sourdough, and organic multi-grain, all hand shaped and baked with fresh years and without preservatives.
Roving Ram Ranch was established in 2019 and is located in Bigfork, MT. They provide Montana Bonfire with 100% grass-fed and grass-finished lamb. Seth and Amanda have over 40 years of combined experience in the art and science of both livestock husbandry and sustainable grazing management. The lambs are raised on pasture on a diverse mix of grasses, forbs, shrubs, and trees which lends to a complexity of flavor in their lamb that is hard to match in grain-and feedlot-finished animals. They raise livestock on grass because it brings them immense joy and they consider it their calling and life passion. The strategic use of grazing management and grazing livestock to protect and improve soil and pastureland ecosystems is one of the core values and farm business goals as well as the importance of continuing the long history of agriculture in the Flathead Valley.
Mannix Family Ranch was established in 1882 and provides Montana Bonfire with grass-fed and grass-finished beef. They are located in Helmville, MT. The first acreage of the ranch was purchased from Northern Pacific Railroad by Timothy Benjamin Mannix where he established a sheep ranch. Sheep were eventually phased out and cattle ranching began with Hereford being the predominant breed at that time. Over the years the ranch has grown in size but has stayed in the family and now they raise Angus cattle that have helped grow this endeavor into a full-blown enterprise that they are very proud of. The Mannix Family makes a point of being dedicated to conservation and has won several Stewardship Awards for their role in conserving the ecosystem around them.
Ferndale Microgreens are a locally grown and family owned microgreens farm located here in Bigfork, MT. Microgreens are known to many as a superfood and can be up to 40 times more nutritious than their full grown counterparts. Microgreens can be grown indoors, which means that they are able to provide a great product consistently even through harsh winter months. Owners Travis and Katheryn moved to Bigfork in 2021 and with a growing family they realized the lack of availability of fresh produce. Due to the short outdoor growing season, local farms were limited on items or were only open in summer. Looking to fill the gap for their family and local community, Ferndale Microgreens was born.
Lower Valley Farm is a small, woman-run farm just outside of Kalispell, MT. They grow everything organically from cabbage to raspberries to squash to lettuce throughout the summer. The owner, Janie, bought the farm two years ago from the previous longtime owners. She believes caring for the soil, respecting the seasons, and being stewards of the land is how we invest in ourselves, our communities, and the generations to come. By lessening the size of the farm, Janie is striving to find her niche: learning new rhythms, learning her boundaries, and feeding more people than ever before.
