Long ago, entire communities would gather together to build a neighbor’s barn. Fellow citizens would contribute what they could in exchange for the knowledge that their neighbors would come to their aid when necessary. Barn raising as a tradition is being lost, but in Bozeman, it is alive and well. A group of winter enthusiasts is diligently working to organize the community for one more barn raising. But, there is a catch. The barn won’t hold cows or horses. It will be home to hockey players and figure skaters, and it is going to take a little longer than a day to build.

Since 2006, the Gallatin Ice Foundation (GIF) has been spearheading fundraising efforts to create a year-round ice skating facility at the Gallatin Valley Fairgrounds. Currently, Bozeman’s only indoor ice-skating rink is at the Fairgrounds, in Haynes Pavilion. From October to April, this ice rink is packed with skaters of all kinds. According to Justin Tribitt, Director of Development for GIF, ice time is booked solid from 6am until midnight every day of the week. “We need more ice, or more hours in a day,” Tribitt explained.

To meet this incredible demand for ice time, GIF hopes to build a second ice rink that would be connected to the current rink in Haynes Pavilion. However, this second rink would be open all year long. Lacing up the ice skates in July would no longer require hundreds of miles on the road, or be a topic reserved only for jokes. It could be a reality. The boards are being installed in Haynes Pavilion right now, for all those skaters eager to get on the ice this October. If all goes according to plan, skaters may be able to lace up year-round in just two years.

Around the Fairgrounds, the project is affectionately referred to as Haynes Jr. It will be bigger than the existing facility, but younger, and it is a labor of love for those involved. “It is a plus for everybody,” according to Sue Shockley, Fairgrounds Manager. When hockey and skating first started in the Haynes Pavilion, it brought new groups of people to the Fairgrounds that had probably never been there before, she added. Shockley views the rink as something that will benefit all the other events at the Fairgrounds. Parents could browse antique fairs, quilt shows, and other events while their children went to skating practice. And, the idea of offering ice skating during the County Fair in July has her downright giddy. “The Fairgrounds is here to serve the community. We’ve got the land. We’ve got the space. Let’s do it,” Shockley said in reference to getting started on the project.

There is not currently any year-round ice in Montana. A facility like the one planned by GIF would be beneficial to local people, and attract skaters from around the region, according to Tribitt. BAHA (the Bozeman Amateur Hockey Association), the Bozeman Ice Dogs, the Bozeman Figure Skating Club, and the general public all compete for ice time in the Gallatin Valley. Many of these programs are growing despite limited ice facilities. A number of parks have skating rinks, but that ice is subject to the whims of winter weather. Shockley said the number of public skaters in Haynes Pavilion increased dramatically last winter because of the fickle temperatures.

A second, indoor facility will allow more people to learn to skate, and will allow talented skaters to compete at a higher level. Mary Black, president of Bozeman Figure Skating Club (BFSC), said that the limited ice time makes it harder to get young kids excited about skating. The ice time after school, but before bedtime, is in high demand. Most of the ice time the Bozeman Figure Skating Club has right now is at 6am. “It is awfully hard to ask parents of little kids to get them up and have them at the very cold rink ready to skate at 6am,” Black pointed out.

The number of members in BFSC dropped dramatically when the year-round Valley Ice Garden closed. The program was once a training center for skaters throughout Montana and surrounding states. Some members even qualified for national championship competitions. However, when the ice is only seasonal, this is not possible. “Any competitive skaters I have had since the move from the Ice Garden have left the state, and their families, to train where there is ice time during the months that we do not have ice in Bozeman,” Black said. The return of competitive figure skating would be just one benefit of many for local skaters, she added.

An immense amount of work has gone into planning this year-round ice rink, which will more than double the size of the existing facility to 69,000 square feet. It is estimated that the project will cost $4.5 million to build, with that money being spent in various phases spread over four to six years. The first phase of the project involves adding an East entrance to the existing Haynes Pavilion and an adjacent parking lot. The year-round ice rink will connect to Haynes Pavilion on the West side, and will displace some of the current parking space. Work on this portion of the project has already begun. GIF is securing the necessary permits while site preparation and utility relocation take place. The new entrance on the northeast side of Haynes Pavilion and the adjacent parking lot will be built this year.

“Based on the success of our fundraising campaign, we will put the shell of the structure up next spring and summer,” Tribitt said. The third phase of the project would involve installing the concrete slab and refrigeration system that would enable the formation and maintenance of ice all year. The completed project will include permanent seating for 1,000, locker rooms, concession areas, and a skate shop. GIF’s goal is to have usable, year-round ice in place by 2014.

The location at the Fairgrounds was chosen for several reasons, but proximity to the current ice rink is what really makes the location ideal for tournaments and larger events. Tribitt noted that hockey camps are often held in areas considered vacation destinations because entire families like to travel to camp with their hockey players. We all know that Bozeman is an incredible place to vacation; all it needs to attract hockey camps is ice in the summertime. Hockey camps, tournaments, and figure skating competitions could prove to be a boon to the local economy, filling hotel rooms, restaurants, and stores. The new, centrally-located facility would be “a great hub for skating activity in the state. It reaches out beyond Bozeman” and would draw people to the area, Tribitt said.

Bozeman has long been known as a ski town. Now, members of GIF are working to expand its reputation to “winter sports town.” Fundraising is challenging in the current economy, but GIF is finding success with its message and exploring all of its options. They are working to secure various grants and welcome corporate and private donations. “Any donation is a help,” Tribitt said. The first Rockin’ The Rink was held in September to kickoff this winter’s skating season. Tribitt said the barbeque went well, and GIF hopes to make it an annual event. For more information on how you can help Raise the Ice Barn and bring more skating opportunities to Bozeman, visit http://www.raisetheicebarn.com.

Everyone working to Raise the Ice Barn is optimistic. The Bozeman community has a long history of supporting projects that are a benefit to everyone. “We really need to think about our youth. It is really important to keep kids busy, keep them involved. Our community is really good at that,” Shockley said.

Sarah Cairoli is very excited to go ice skating in July. Maybe then, when she is sprawled out on the ice, people will think she is just cooling off. She can be reached at scairoli30@hotmail.com.