Organizers ask Missoula County to endorse, publicize Norman Maclean festival and help with fundraising outreach

Organizers of the biennial "In the Footsteps of Norman Maclean" festival asked the Missoula County Board of Commissioners for a formal endorsement, county publicity support and help connecting with potential funders as they finalize plans for an October 2026 program that celebrates the Blackfoot River and the author Norman Maclean.

The request came during a special presentation to the board. Jerry McConnell, identified in the meeting as an organizer, outlined the festival’s history — first held in 2015, moved to Missoula after the 2017 Rice Ridge Fire, and held roughly every two years except for a COVID interruption — and described its mix of literary and film programming and tours of conservation sites along the Blackfoot. McConnell said the festival has drawn attendees from more than 40 U.S. states and visitors from Europe and Japan.

McConnell told commissioners the festival’s operating budget typically has ranged from about $60,000 at the low end to roughly $100,000 at the high end, and that past support has come from the National Endowment for the Arts (including a $20,000 NEA film-office grant in 2017), Montana Arts Council, Montana Humanities, the Montana Department of Commerce when tourism grants were available, and private and corporate donations. He said roughly 30% of past festival revenue came from non‑grant sources and that organizers expect a mix of ticketed and free events in Missoula, including a Saturday program at the Wilma and Friday youth programming underwritten by the festival.

Organizers asked the county for several specific kinds of help: a proclamation or resolution announcing festival dates to share with potential donors, public‑relations support from county communications staff to raise regional awareness, and assistance making donor introductions. Jerry McConnell said the festival organization was “scrambling” for funding and that organizers were “watching the clock” and the bank account as they sought sponsors and grants. (Direct quote attributed to Jerry McConnell.)

Commissioners did not commit county funds during the discussion. One commissioner said the likelihood of a county financial contribution was low. Board members and staff instead offered nonfinancial support: county representatives said they would work with organizers on messaging and one commissioner asked whether the county should draft an endorsement or proclamation. Organizers accepted that offer; at the close of the exchange a county representative asked, "Do you want us to draft an endorsement?" and organizers answered in the affirmative.

County communication options identified in the meeting included issuing a proclamation or brief endorsement the organizers could show to potential donors, promotion through county channels, and one‑on‑one outreach to regional tourism partners such as Destination Missoula and Glacier Country. Organizers also flagged potential local partners and funders including the Missoula Writing Collaborative, the historical museum, university creative‑writing departments (identified in the meeting as Kristen Browski and Robert Stubblefield), and businesses that have supported past festivals.

Organizers said the festival has experimented with venues and formats. The Wilma (theater) has hosted film and evening programming; Friday events and youth programming have been held at other venues; and Sunday is typically devoted to conservation tours along the Blackfoot River and events in Seeley Lake. Opera Montana of Bozeman is mounting an adaptation of A River Runs Through It that organizers expect to feature at the festival.

Organizers said they are setting a September fundraising event tied to publicity for the Blackfoot‑themed program and will share the confirmed date with the county. Commissioners and staff offered to follow up with organizers on drafting an endorsement and on communications options; no formal motion or county funding pledge was recorded in the transcript.