LIVE LIKE A PRO
2026 GMC YUKON DENALI
Large SUV
INCLUDES ELEVATION KEY STANDARD FEATURES, PLUS ADDS OR SUBSTITUTES
• 6.2L V8 engine with 10-speed automatic transmission
• Multicolor 15" diagonal Head-Up Display
• Power-sliding center console
• Magnetic Ride Control
KEY AVAILABLE FEATURES
• Super Cruise hands-free driver assistance technology
• Air Ride Adaptive Suspension
• 22" and 24" aluminum wheels
CORWI N MOTORS OF KALISPELL
2565 Hwy 93 N Kalispell Call 406-755-5555
Giants Among Us
In 1675, Sir Isaac Newton sent a letter in which he claimed that the reason he was able to discover so much about the scientific world was due to those who first paved the way. In this letter, he famously said, “If I have seen further, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.”
Whether it’s breaking generational curses or climbing out of economic disadvantages, we are always trying to do better than those before us. And ideally, I want my daughters to do better than me, in all aspects of life.
There is often a pressure on the next generation to fill big shoes, to match or exceed the achievements of their predecessors. We should be thankful, however, when young people make the decision not to fill these shoes, but to find their own style. Because in doing so, they are laying out the blueprint for a more equitable future.
From what I can see in this issue, I’m hopeful that the next generation may be the one to heal our society. These young leaders who are inheriting tomorrow are kind, fair, and hard-working. As one 8-year-old rises early to feed her pigs, another 15-year-old sets out to start his 40 hour work week. I feel privileged to be witness to their tenacity.
As we turn these pages, I invite you to see these stories with fresh eyes and stand in awe of the infinite marvel that each kid is. There are truly giants walking among us.
SUMMER ZALESKY , EDITOR
@FLATHEADVALLEY.CITYLIFESTYLE
August 2026
PUBLISHER
Greig Fahnlander
Greig.Fahnlander@CityLifestyle.com
EDITOR
Summer Zalesky
Summer.Zalesky@CityLifestyle.com
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Nicole Macias | Hello.NikityNak@Gmail.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Kate Heston, Kristi Sellers, Susie Wall, Summer Zalesky
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Nikity Nak Creatives
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Evan Deuvall
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsey Ragain
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Anna Minnick
Proverbs 3:5-6
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scene
Zoo offers day camps to teach children how to care for animals. 4: The Flathead Food Truck Fest featured over 30 trucks at their 7th annual event. 6: The festival is a non-profit, with proceeds going toward scholarships at Flathead Valley Community College.
1: Grand opening at Cozy Critters petting zoo 2: Families can pet horses, ponies, alpacas, goats, sheep, cows, pigs, bunnies, chickens and ducks.
3: Cozy Critters Petting
We believe healing happens when you’re not rushed. That’s why every physical therapy session at Physio Whitefish is a full hour.
We believe in one patient, one therapist, giving you our total attention—and developing a relationship.
We've intentionally built a cozy, boutique space designed for comfort and healing. A place where body, mind, and the life you love are all part of your healing process.
Give us a call today. We would love to help you. (406) 730-2224
Show N’ Shine Car Show
This is one of the Flathead’s most beloved car shows. Experience a unique community tradition that showcases over 300 cars and hear the story of each car. Come meet other car enthusiasts on August 1st at 9:00 A.M. in the parking lot of Conlin’s Furniture in Evergreen.
Historical Fashion Tours
On August 27th, join Teresa Knutson, volunteer curator of textiles, for an evening of historic fashion, featuring items of sleepwear worn by men, women, and children from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The tour will begin at the Conrad Mansion in Kalispell at 5:30 P.M. Tickets are available at ConradMansion.com/Events
GET INSPIRED EAT & DRINK
Gentle Yoga on the Swan River
Krista Sanderson has been teaching yoga for over 20 years. Throughout the month of August, Krista will be teaching outdoor yoga at the Nest on Swan River. These are gentle flow classes that take place just steps from the river. Tickets are available at ThorsonYoga.com
SHOP LOCAL
The Trail
ARTICLE BY KRISTI SELLERS PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANCIENT TRADITIONS RANCH
Kids build forts and confidence at Ancient Traditions Ranch
Guide
For many parents, summer camp serves a practical purpose. It fills long days, provides entertainment and gives children a break from screens and daily routines. But at Ancient Traditions Ranch in Montana, the mission reaches far beyond simply keeping children busy.
From the beginning, founder Lindsey Jean envisioned something deeper. She wanted a place where her son could develop life skills, discover who he was and build the kind of character that lasts long after summer ends.
According to Lindsey, “The name reflects a belief that some of humanity’s greatest strengths are timeless. Throughout history, people lived in close-knit communities where knowledge was shared, challenges were faced together, and individuals understood both their own value and their responsibility to others. While modern life offers many advantages, it can also leave us feeling isolated, disconnected from nature, and disconnected from one another. Ancient Traditions Summer Camp was created to bring some of those enduring principles back into childhood.”
Campers may spend their days building forts, tackling obstacle courses, mountain biking, ziplining, creating nature-inspired crafts or interacting with horses through a therapeutic riding partnership. Whatever the activity, campers have every opportunity to work together on challenges, explore the outdoors, and develop qualities that will serve them throughout life such as teamwork, perseverance, empathy and problem-solving.
“I believe nature gives us something that is becoming increasingly rare in modern life: The opportunity to slow down and reconnect with ourselves,” says Lindsey.
That intentionality reflects a growing awareness among parents and educators alike that children need more than constant stimulation. They need opportunities to overcome challenges, interact with others face-to-face and develop confidence through real experiences. Sometimes that growth comes from succeeding, and sometimes it comes from learning how to recover after things don’t go according to plan.
Ancient Traditions embraces both.
In an age of unyielding connectivity, the camp also creates space for something many children rarely experience: quiet moments to reflect, imagine, and simply be present. There is value in discovering how to solve problems without immediately turning to technology, and in learning that boredom can often become the birthplace of creativity.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS I HOPE CAMP -
ERS TAKE HOME ISN’T A LESSON— IT’S A BELIEF ABOUT THEMSELVES. I HOPE THEY LEAVE CAMP KNOWING, DEEP IN THEIR BONES, THAT THEY ARE CAPABLE, RESILIENT, AND FAR MORE POWERFUL THAN THEY REALIZE.
According to Lindsey, “One of the biggest things I hope campers take home isn’t a lesson— it’s a belief about themselves. I hope they leave camp knowing, deep in their bones, that they are capable, resilient, and far more powerful than they realize.”
It’s possible that the greatest teacher is Montana itself. Surrounded by towering mountains, forests and open skies, children are encouraged to slow down, explore and engage with the natural world. The landscape becomes more than a backdrop. It becomes part of the experience, fostering curiosity, independence and a sense of wonder that can’t be replicated indoors. It may be the best kind of classroom in which children are encouraged to take healthy risks, trust their instincts, and become active participants in their own adventures. Along the way, they begin to recognize strengths they may not have known they possessed.
Parents often speak about wanting their children to become capable adults, but that journey begins long before adulthood. It starts with opportunities to lead, cooperate, persevere and understand their place within a community.
“At Ancient Traditions, we place a strong emphasis on helping children develop a healthy relationship with themselves and others. Through adventure, teamwork, problem-solving, and trying new things, campers discover their own strengths, gifts, and unique contributions,” says Lindsey.
Perhaps that is what makes Ancient Traditions different. The goal isn’t simply to send children home tired at the end of the day. It is to send them home a little braver, a little more self-aware and a little more connected to the people and world around them.
Years from now, campers may forget the exact details of every activity. But they may remember the friend who encouraged them, the challenge they overcame or the confidence they discovered within themselves. Those moments become part of the story they tell about who they are.
And in many ways, that may be the greatest lesson camp can offer, not just memories of summer, but a foundation for life.
“If a child leaves camp seeing themselves as capable, connected, and worthy, then we’ve accomplished something far greater than teaching an activity. We’ve helped shape how they see themselves— and that has the power to influence the course of their entire life,” says Lindsey.
If you are interested in Ancient Traditions Camp, visit their website at ancienttraditionssummercamp.com or email at Hello@AncientTraditionsSummerCamp.com
Managing Your Residential & Commercial Site Work Needs
Don't Call It a Side Hustle
HOW TWO TEENS BUILT A THRIVING BUSINESS FROM SCRATCH
ARTICLE BY SUMMER ZALESKY
PHOTOGRAPHY BY NIKITY NAK CREATIVES
They say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. The treasure in this case, however, isn’t just monetary. It’s a lifelong lesson in resiliency, communication, and entrepreneurship. I could hardly believe I was talking to a 15-year-old during my conversation with Connor Riska, co-owner of Partner Pickup Junk Removal. Wellspoken, venturesome, and determined to succeed, Connor, along with his 16-year-old cousin, Parker Bach, started their junk removal business a few months ago. Now, this duo is out earning thousands a week and learning laborious lessons in leading a real company. I was reminded that teens should not be underestimated, and that this next generation is ready to do the literal heavy lifting if we would but give them the opportunity.
JUST TAKE THE RISK. YOU’LL LEARN SO MUCH FROM TAKING THAT RISK. AND IF YOU DON’T TAKE IT, YOU’LL HAVE REGRETS.
WHAT WAS THE EXACT MOMENT OR REALIZATION THAT MADE YOU SAY, “I’M NOT JUST GOING TO LOOK FOR A SUMMER JOB; I’M GOING TO START MY OWN COMPANY”?
We were originally doing landscaping, and this lady proposed the idea of junk removal. We got right into it. We didn’t think about it for too long. We built our trailer up and we got straight into getting clients. We had a little 5x8 utility trailer, and we put four-foot walls on it. We’re really close to getting a new trailer though.
BEING A YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR COMES WITH UNIQUE CHALLENGES, LIKE GETTING ADULTS TO TAKE YOU SERIOUSLY. HOW DID YOU BUILD CREDIBILITY AND WIN YOUR VERY FIRST PAYING CUSTOMER?
We actually like to advertise that we’re teenagers. People really want to use us because people like to see how you can grow a business at a young age. We also use a software called Jobber currently which is really helpful, and it has a map that shows where our job is and you can invoice off there and send quotes. It’s really nice.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST LOGISTICAL OR OPERATIONAL MISTAKE YOU’VE MADE SO FAR, AND WHAT DID IT TEACH YOU ABOUT RESILIENCE?
Not having the right equipment. At first, we didn’t have the right tools to cut up trees and fit them in the trailer. If you don’t have the right tools, it comes with losing jobs. Right now, we’re putting a lot of money towards the business.
HOW DO YOU BALANCE BEING A RELIABLE BUSINESS PARTNER WITH YOUR COUSIN?
Obviously, we argue because we’re cousins and we’re always around each other and sometimes we disagree, but I don’t know who I’d rather work with but Parker. We communicate really well even when we don’t agree. We come together and find something to fix it. We want to eventually expand and hire. We want to hire our friends so we can spend time together while we’re working.
QUICK FACTS with
CONNOR & PARKER
WORDS CONNOR LIVES BY:
"Work while they sleep. Learn while they party. Save while they spend. Live like they dream."
WORDS PARKER LIVES BY:
"The harder you work for something, the better it feels when you earn it."
HOURS WORKED: 40 hours per week
CURRENT GOALS:
To make $10,000 in one month over the summer, to hire more employees, and to purchase a larger trailer.
FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM: @Partner.Pickup.Services
ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS A CRASH COURSE IN LIFE. WHAT IS A SKILL YOU’VE DEVELOPED RUNNING THIS BUSINESS THAT YOU KNOW YOU’LL USE FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT CAREER YOU CHOOSE?
Communication is a big thing. Learning how to communicate with business owners and other construction businesses. You learn a lot while getting new clients. Learning how to communicate is getting easier.
WHAT ENCOURAGEMENT WOULD YOU GIVE TO ANOTHER TEENAGER WHO HAS A BUSINESS IDEA BUT IS TOO AFRAID OR HESITANT TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP?
Just take the risk. You’ll learn so much from taking that risk. And if you don’t take it, you’ll have regrets. This week we almost made $3,000. I want to be successful, and I want to invest the money for when I’m older. A lot of my friends wanted to start a business and after seeing us succeed, it helped them.
ARTICLE BY KATE HESTON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY HAVN OUTDOOR LIVING
Craftsmanship and Connection
HAVN Outdoor Living creates intentional spaces for families
After nine children, and another on the way, Aaron Loukusa is familiar with the importance of having space for family time. It’s a notion that led him in part to start HAVN Outdoor Living, a contracting business focused on custom decks, patios and outdoor living areas.
“We want to entertain people; we want to have people over. The things that we have at home can help create those environments,” Aaron says. “We are supporting families, but we’re also supporting how people live their lives.”
Originally from Minnesota, Aaron and his wife, Brooke, moved their family to the valley in 2015 for a software consultant job where Aaron helped businesses improve their systems and processes. Prior to software consulting, Aaron worked in the accounting field. Throughout his entire career, he’s valued problem solving, resiliency and improving human experience.
He has always enjoyed helping people, a natural problem solver by trade. Over time, he found a knack for the world of trades, leading him to want to start his own business as a way to support his growing family. It’s something he always wanted to do, pointing back to his kindergarten yearbook, when he stated he wanted to start his own company when he grows up.
After the birth of Aaron and Brooke’s ninth child over a year ago, Aaron took time off of work and began thinking about what he wanted to do. He connected with his nephews, Kristoph and Justin Anderson, who had been in the outdoor living space sector for a combined decade, to brainstorm.
From there, HAVN Outdoor Living was born. “The name ties to the fact that no matter what we’re creating for you, it can hopefully create that haven that you’re looking for,” he says. “We’re here to help people create beautiful experiences through outdoor spaces.”
Since 2025, Aaron and his team have helped valley residents expand on existing spaces, create new spaces and dream up custom ideas for prospective projects. A few months ago, a woman reached out asking if the team could upgrade her porch into a sunroom. It was a lovely space, Aaron says, but the woman found herself not using it to its full potential due to bad weather. She wanted to turn it into a sunroom, and HAVN helped her get there.
“She’s now thrilled because she can enjoy the space how she wants to,” Aaron says.
Aaron loves the design process as well. He’s working on a project for a family
The name ties to the fact that no matter what we’re creating for you, it can hopefully create that haven that you’re looking for.
looking to turn their backyard into a place to gather. Through HAVN, the backyard will soon transform with the addition of a custom fire pit, bench seating, a reading nook, lighting features and an inground spa.
As a premier outdoor living company, HAVN helps people make the most out of their space, combining beauty, durability and functionality. They’re still a new company, Aaron says, but the goal is to grow and continue to impact families positively.
It’s all done with heart as he hopes to become one of the most trusted and creative outdoor living companies in the Flathead. From first concepts to the final build, the team values satisfaction, transparency and quality craftsmanship.
For HAVN, helping clients bring these spaces to life is deeply rewarding.
To learn more about HAVN Outdoor Living or schedule a free consultation, visit havnmt.com
From Carr to Caton
SIX GENERATIONS OF RAISING ANIMALS WITH THE FLATHEAD 4-H PROGRAM
ARTICLE BY SUSIE WALL PHOTOGRAPHY BY NIKITY NAK CREATIVES
It’s 6:30 in the morning. The temperature is below freezing, and the Montana sky is still black as pitch. The warm bed is magnetic and powerful, but nine-year-old Scarlett’s spirit of discipline is stronger.
With a heavy coat, a bucket of feed, and a sense of responsibility, Scarlett marches out to the pens to care for her pigs. Her mother, Aubrie Caton, has offered to help, but Scarlett politely declines. Watching her daughter from the frosted kitchen window, Aubrie feels proud. But the scene of her daughter braving the cold to care for her creatures isn’t just a proud parenting moment, it is history repeating itself. Before Scarlett, there was Aubrie, and long before Aubrie, there was Reu Carr.
The story of this dedication stretches back over a century, long before Scarlett was even a thought. It began in 1917, when a farmer named Reu Carr packed up his life, his sheep, and his dairy cows, moving from Iowa to Montana.
Reu had a passion for animal husbandry and a desire to pass that knowledge on to the local youth. He founded a group called the Creston Go-getters, a ragtag group of farm kids that would eventually evolve into the Lakeview Livestock 4-H Club.
Reu’s great-granddaughter, Melanie Hayek, grew up with that inspiration and spent her own youth under the 4-H banner, earning ribbons with her market pigs, before eventually stepping into leadership roles to guide her own children through the program.
“The number one thing I hear from adults is that they can always tell when they’re dealing with a 4-H kid,” Melanie says. “They’ve got a good handshake, they look you in the eyes, and they can carry a conversation.”
Today, Melanie sees a state where nearly one in six youth—roughly 20,000 kids across all 56 Montana counties—participate in 4-H under the guidance of the Montana State University Extension. And Scarlett
is just one of those 20,000 kids learning valuable life skills through the program.
While the program offers everything from photography to robotics, the livestock projects carry a unique weight.
“Parents will set their kids up the first year buying their pig or their sheep or their beef,” Melanie explains. “But from then on, the kids have to raise and care for the animal, and they have to market the animal. After the sale, they put the money into an account and hold onto it for next year. So, they are basically creating their own business.”
Besides grit and emotional resilience, these kids are building financial literacy. Melanie has watched 4-H kids leverage their livestock earnings to fund their college education and even put down payments on their first homes.
The program values this individual success as well as the overall well-being of a community. Guided by the four core pillars—Head, Heart, Hand, and Health— Lakeview Livestock participates in service such as cleaning up the streets of Somers, making fleece blankets for those in need, volunteering at the West Shore Food Bank, and raising money for Toys for Tots.
It was this blend of hard work and love of community that drew Aubrie Caton back to the club when Scarlett expressed interest. Aubrie’s own childhood memories are wrought by the magic of 4-H: family camping trips at the fairgrounds, the sweet routine of feeding her animals and cleaning pens, and the reward of a beautiful blue ribbon. Now, it’s Scarlett’s turn as she prepares to take one of her pigs to the Northwest Montana Fair in Kalispell.
While fun, this preparation for the fair will reveal a grounding truth for Scarlett, and many other kids preparing for their first 4-H. Raising a market animal
The number one thing I hear from adults is that they can always tell when they’re dealing with a 4-H kid. They've got a good handshake, they look you in the eyes, and they can carry a conversation.
My great-grandfather would say, ‘Never let it rest until the good is better, and the better is best.’
means understanding exactly where food comes from. One of the final, sobering steps of the project is selling the animal at auction, knowing its destination is the slaughterhouse. It is a profound life lesson, and Aubrie’s voice softens with sympathy when she talks about her daughter navigating that reality.
Yet, the confidence it builds is undeniable. When asked about her journey, Scarlett’s eyes light up, and she emphatically states she most certainly will do it again next year.
“I love taking care of the animals and getting to play with them every day,” Scarlett says brightly. “I’m really looking forward to doing jumps on my horse and pageants with them someday.”
It has been more than a hundred years since Reu Carr brought his livestock to Montana, but his philosophy still echoes through the valley.
“My great-grandfather would say, ‘Never let it rest until the good is better, and the better is best,’” Melanie says, a smile in her voice.
Ultimately, the true measure of the program is found in the character of the people it produces.
LEARN MORE: 4-H is the MSU Extension youth development program and the state's largest out-of-school program. If your family is interested in joining the 4-H program, please call 406-758-5553.
TREY & KATIE KENNEDY
ON MARRIAGE, KIDS, AND THE COMEDY OF REAL LIFE
Trey Kennedy makes a living finding comedy in regular life. Marriage. Toddlers. Yoga pants. The Thursday-night scramble between school dropoffs, soccer practice, and whatever has to be done by morning. Twelve years in, it shows: millions of followers across every platform, three stand-up specials, a sold-out Relatable Tour, and a style of humor fans send each other captioned, “Are you watching me?” He delivers the kind of comedy that travels because everyone’s living some version of it.
Katie, his wife of six years, is a former biomedical engineer who also built a modeling career. She’s now raising their kids and co-hosting Correct Opinions alongside Trey — the show where the two of them swap takes on marriage, parenting, and whatever came up that week.
Trey has been at this longer than people realize. An Edmond, Oklahoma kid who grew up playing basketball described himself as a “shy kid who never thought he’d be an entertainer.” He started making videos while attending Oklahoma State University. After building millions of followers on Vine before the platform shut down, he gave himself six months on Instagram and Facebook to see whether he could rebuild from zero. He did. Stand-up soon followed. His first special, Are You For Real?, streams on YouTube; the second, Grow Up, on Amazon Prime; the third, built around the Relatable Tour, wrapped earlier this year. “I’ve been trying to be funny every week for like twelve years now,” he says. A slow climb, made one bit at a time.
ARTICLE BY KALI KASPRZYK PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES
“I’ve been trying to be funny every week for like twelve years now.”
Most of what Trey writes lately starts in his own kitchen. Thomas is three and a half, and he is, in his father’s words, “a movie.” He narrates his own life from the moment his eyes open and mispronounces words in ways his parents now repeat to each other because no one else would believe them. His younger sister, Eva, is what Katie calls “the calm one.” With a third now in the mix, the Kennedys are officially outnumbered.
After six years of marriage, Trey and Katie have learned that the partnership runs best when it gets its own time on the calendar. So once a week, they leave the kids with a sitter and go out for coffee. “You need a system,” Katie says. “It’s about taking time to look each other in the eye. Not the kids. Not the cameras. Just each other.”
The same instinct shapes the work. Most of Trey’s trial and error happens onstage or on Instagram, but the first read is always Katie’s. “There’s only been one time ever I’ve had to be like, ‘you’re not doing that,’” she says. The rest of the time, she just laughs first.
FEATURING TREY & KATIE KENNEDY
Trey and Katie talk about marriage, parenting, and the moments that don’t make the Instagram feed.
Watch or listen to the full conversation wherever you get your podcasts.
HAIR & MAKEUP BY MIKAYLA CRANE
events
AUGUST 1ST
Montana Beer, Wine, and Spirits Festival
196 Elk Park Road, Columbia Falls | 2:00 PM
Tastings from statewide distilleries, breweries, and wineries will pair nicely with live music by Nick Spear, lawn games, and food trucks. Enjoy one-of-a-kind, specialty beverages all evening.
AUGUST 1ST TO 2ND Festival of the Arts
Downtown Bigfork | 7:00 PM
More than 6,000 attendees will be drawn to downtown Bigfork to celebrate the arts. 150 plus booths will showcase art such as paintings, sculptures, handcrafted jewelry, pottery, and more. Accompanied by music and food (also art forms) this event will leave you inspired.
AUGUST 5TH
Picnic in the Park with Mike Murray
Depot Park, Kalispell | 3:00 PM
Close out 35 years of Picnic in the Park's summer concert series with Mike Murray. Generous local sponsors make this event free, so bring the family and soak in the last bit of summer.
AUGUST 14TH
Much Ado About Nothing
755 Grandview Drive, Kalispell | 6:00 PM
Montana Shakespeare in the Parks is teaming up with the Wachholz College Center to offer a free performance of Much Ado About Nothing. The performance will take place outdoors at the O'Shaughnessy Amphitheater. Seating is first-come, first-served and audio accessibility options are available.
