Old Missoula

Foresters’ Ball Is Gala Event for Many Years

Over the years the number-one social event at Montana State University in view of the attendance has been the Forester’s ball.

The ball, a unique event, began at Montana State in 1913. A group of shorthorn foresters, all members of the U.S. Forest Service, who attended the University for refresher courses in range and timber management and control, originated the tradition.

A few of these students banded together to present the first Foresters’ ball in what is now the old women’s gym. Admission was free and guests brought their own food and refreshments.

It was a success. In 1914 efforts doubled and costumes were first introduced to carry out a forester and westerner theme. Students had their frontier model Colts slugged with soap and shots rang out throughout the dance. When soap slugs ran out, the magazines were reloaded with the real thing and before long the gym roof looked like a sieve.

That year the food was cooked out of doors over an open hearth.

In 1915 tickets were 50 cents. The first tree and bough decorations appeared. Police attended to eliminate live ammunition and fires. At every ball Paul Bunyan, the patron saint of all good foresters, occupied a prominent spot.

Lack of room on campus forced the big ball of 1922 to the Labor Hall in Missoula, where more than 180 attended. In 1924 the ball was held in the Men’s Gymnasium. Until 1927 all financial gains were used for additions to the School of Forestry and for the publication of the Forester’s Kaimin, student publication.

Later the surplus profit was organized into the forestry school loan fund to help deserving students. It is currently one of the largest funds of its kind in the United States.

Usually held in February, preparation for the event began in November with the selection of committees, bosses, etc. In January wood butchers, as they are called, turn out in subzero weather to gather the hundreds of pounds of cedar boughs and jack pines. In 1958 foresters cut 1,500 trees to decorate the Field House. It takes about 3,000 man hours of work before the ball starts. Two days preceding the ball are holidays for all forestry students. Usually, an old-time tavern is constructed to serve soft drinks and a corral is erected to herd chaperons.

A sure harbinger of the event is the sprouting of beards on forester’s faces for the annual beard-growing contest. And it’s a ticklish business when bartenders collect a kiss from ladies in return for a “drink.”