Curious about this western lifestyle market near Spokane? Read all about our experience! We hosted our first bar sponsorship in September at Market in the Mountains at Moose Valley Ranch in Springfield, WA this past September. Our Simple Goodness Syrups sponsorship helped support the Lucky Break Rescue mission with sales in mimosa flights and cocktails, and we had a sales booth set up in direct view of the bar, so we got to watch all of our new friends enjoy our garden to glass syrups in drinks. 

We’ve heard about this unique shopping experience that takes place North of us about 6 hours by car and draws fans from as far as Montana, Oregon and Idaho to celebrate the western lifestyle, and this year, we knew we had to be involved. There’s a beautiful community growing at Market in the Mountains and we were excited to be a part of it. 

The event showcases over 100 brands, offering handcrafted goods and local products that embody the spirit of the Pacific Northwest. The event’s founder, Jessica Garza, has managed to bring  together a rural community of business owners separated by several states. We’d first become acquainted a couple of years ago, sponsoring drinks for one of her Gather dinners, and this year we were excited to do our first ever bar sponsorship at Market and attend as vendors. So, in late September, we booked a cabin at a nearby lake for ourselves, the husbands, the kids, and even Belinda’s in-laws, and loaded up every vehicle with syrup and booth supplies and headed Northeast. 

The drive was a doozy after a work day, but it gave us one of the most dramatic strawberry moons I’ve ever seen, full and red and looming to the right of the highway in Sprague, WA. We pulled in late Thursday and found our rooms and cracked a beer on the couch, to discover that we wouldn’t have wifi for the weekend. Perfect for a last burrah of summer, a bane to Farmer Ross’ anxiety, Friday morning we were greeted with perfect weather and turkeys calling in the yard outside the cabin. We drove to get our first in person glimpse of the Ranch hay fields, nestled against the trees and a wide, blue sky for a perfect backdrop. We did a quick set up and hellos at the Ranch (we really are pros at booth set up now, we’ve got it down to a super speed) then headed back to the cabin for games, sitting around with drinks in hand, and catfishing off the dock after dinner. 

Saturday morning found us up early and wiping bottles at our booth (it’s been a dry year and there was a lot of dust despite our host's considerable effort to tamp it down with water trucks.) As the opening hour approached the line formed on the highway and we all watched, amazed after a long line of cars began to park. On the little two lane road the efficiency of the parking situation was really pretty admirable, seeing how the admission numbers hit record attendance that first day, with most of the couple thousand folks coming in early. The cars just kept coming, with attendees doing a lap, hitting the bar in the beer garden, shopping some more, and whiling away the afternoon on the property. After all, many people drove a long way to get there (we had multiple people come from our area and introduce themselves which was so fun) and I loved seeing how people made the day of it, bringing big groups of families to play (there are kids amenities I talk about below) or a few girlfriends to shop and hang out. 

The beer garden, served by the Pour Cowgirl mobile bar out of Leavenworth, was definitely the spot to be, as you can’t wander the property with alcohol, and the bright, delicious drinks with Simple Goodness Syrups and cold cans of Coors Light drew folks in. The bar sales benefitted the Lucky Break horse rescue, and as we watched, glass after glass of the Coastal Cowgirl was poured (a tequila, lime, seltzer and Blueberry Lavender cocktail that seemed to be the crowd favorite.) Every drink sold meant more horses saved, so thank goodness there was also a mimosa flight with Rhubarb Vanilla, Apple Pie, and Berry Sage syrups and the "Horse Haven," a vodka cocktail with Berry Sage syrup and lemon. As people tried the drinks, they did what we’d hoped: they made their way 15 feet over to our booth and said “how do I buy one of those?” 

We’ve been to a lot of different sales in our years in this business, from small farm markets to huge, curated food shows, but we’ve never sponsored a bar before and the experience was really gratifying. We know our syrups sell themselves the second you taste them, but to watch people, all day long, enjoy them then hightail it over to us to get their bottles, was another layer of sweet. 

We’ve already got ideas for next year, as long as that drive is. Do you want to attend the event? Here’s everything you need to know (that we can fit in this blog, anyway) For the rest, check out the wealth of info from the host, Moose Valley Ranch.

Moose Valley Ranch is known for its stunning mountain views and warm, welcoming atmosphere. The ranch provides the perfect backdrop for vendors and visitors alike to enjoy the great outdoors while supporting local artisans.

Featured Vendors

At the Market in the Mountains, you can expect to find a diverse lineup of vendors offering an array of products that reflect the western lifestyle. There is a whole list, with store links, here at the Market webpage. The field is full of over 100 tents selling their wares, with another section dedicated to a food count, stage for live music, and a beer garden. Sprinkled throughout were activities to keep kids happy so parents could shop: horse drawn wagon rides, hay bale lined corn pits for the kids to play in, several bounce houses, and an remote control car off-roading track. We didn't have time while working to visit every booth, but here were some of the things we took home or added to our wishlists:

• Handcrafted Leather Goods: we saw a ton of beautiful, durable leather bags, wallets, and accessories that combine functionality with style. Some of these will last your lifetime and the work was exceptional. I’ve got a leather belt from Lone Tree Leatherworks out of Montana on my wishlist now.
• Artisan Jewelry: There were a variety, from rustic to elegant designs, silversmithing to hand beading. Jessica does a great job of jurying the entrants to ensure there aren’t duplicates or a lot of resellers of inexpensive stuff manufactured overseas.
• Local Food Producers: One of our favorite fruit growers was there, Nicholson Orchards, and Henry and I had two pears a day, but we balanced out all that wholesomeness with the best cookies ever (flourless chocolate cake) from Coowi Cookies. Appel Heights wheat and Dalkena Highlands meat (the nicest people!) were available as well. The Skagit Table was a favorite for lunch where a big food garden provided a ton of options with really reasonable wait times- as restaurant owners we were impressed by the efficiency of the food court! 
• Art & Home Décor: Explore a selection of rustic and western-themed home décor items that bring the essence of the outdoors into your living space. Homestead was our neighbor and brought a beautiful set of of her shop! Troy bought me a gorgeous handmade oil tureen from Nina Paul Designs, whose ceramics had the coolest vintage looking prints. Venise and I both want a piece from Clara Smith Designs, who does such cool rodeo art.
• Fashion: from vintage ware to curated collections of Western inspired pieces. Venise and I both brought home wildflower wood burned suede ballcaps from Westward hats who does every piece by hand, and  there was a wide variety to see (mostly women’s ware, guys) but my far and away favorite was watching Josie's Hats steam and shape cowboy hats to order. Deyton loved her hat from Rebel Hart Co. 

Something I love about these events is not only the chance to buy that day but the opportunity to discover a new person whose work and business I admire. I follow them on social, earmark them in my brain as someone to buy a Christmas present from later, learn about upcoming events and workshops they’re hosting, etc. These sales events are exhausting to work as a vendor but they are also the very best opportunity to present yourself as the maker behind the products. As a customer myself, I love that. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Where is it?

The event is hosted by Moose Valley Ranch, a private property, and available to attend through ticket purchase the day of or in advance. Follow them on Instagram and visit their website for updates and more information about the event.

2. Is there an admission fee?

Yes, there is a small admission fee that helps support this event and the ranch’s ongoing events. Children under 12 are free!

3. What should I bring?

We recommend bringing cash for purchases, although most  vendors accept cards, we always appreciate saving on the fees. Don’t forget to wear comfortable, flat shoes for the uneven ground in spots (this is a hay field after all, so cowboy boots are a great choice)  and dress for the weather!

4. Are pets allowed?

No dogs are allowed since the cars are parked by volunteers on horseback and they have had past issues with pups in attendance. 

5. Will there be food available?

Absolutely! This year there was a food court offering several vendors from the local town restaurants and surrounding areas. We had everything from tacos to potroast, bbq and salads. There were benches and picnic tables  to enjoy your snacks while soaking in the mountain views and listening to the live music on stage, which cycled throughout the day so if you stay, you get to hear several shows.

6. How can I stay updated to attend next year?

Follow Moose Valley Ranch on Instagram and subscribe to their newsletter on their website for updates on upcoming events and artisan sales. Mark your calendar, gather your friends and family, and join us next year!

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