Protecting the Pulse of Main Street

The Entrepreneurial Women on McLeod Street 

Big Timber, Montana

Photography by Christine Bakke 

November issue - 2025

Gusts of Big Timber has been a community anchor on main street for over 75 years. Located on the corner of 2nd Ave and McLeod Street in Big Timber, the brick building is as familiar to customers as Sweet Grass County High School’s Sheepherder mascot.  

Established in 1947 to meet the needs of the locals, Virgil Gust’s successful business plan continues to be carried forward by current owner, and Virgil’s daughter, Susan St Germain.  

“Dad always said if we take care of the community, the community will take care of us,” Susan said. “We have kept that personal service to our customers.” 

When so many small towns across the region are struggling to keep businesses alive on main street, Big Timber remains vigilant in doing everything possible to keep store fronts open and relevant.  

“It goes back to keeping Big Timber strong and vital,” Susan said. “We don’t want to see businesses fail because it leaves a hole and it affects all of us.” 

On McLeod Street, in addition to Gusts, shoppers have access to a variety of shops that offer everything from clothing and houseware to souvenirs and antiques. A healthy assortment of businesses is tucked among the retail stores including a hardware store, three banks, two galleries, a quilt shop, a drug store, a community thrift store, several eateries and a dentist’s office, all within a four-block stretch. 

“If we have enough to offer the locals, there is less likelihood they will shop out of town,” Susan commented. “Our intent is to keep local dollars staying local as much as possible yet attract tourist dollars as well.” 

Her department store relies predominantly on local shopping and to accommodate that, Susan carries a variety of working men’s clothing, including Levi, Wrangler, Carhartt and Ariat.  

“The men’s department is my bread and butter,” she explained. “I cater to the farmers, ranchers and outdoor workers. But we also offer a great line of women’s clothes, children’s clothes, housewares, and we do a lot of custom embroidery and screen printing.”  

Gusts is just one of several women-owned businesses on McLeod Street in Big Timber.  

Just down the street, Lisa Wagner’s shop, Crazy Woman Trading is filled to the brim with eclectic displays of women’s clothing and her own personal line of jewelry. 

“Twenty years ago, I started with a couple dozen t-shirts, my own jewelry and a few other things,” Lisa said. “This has evolved from there.” 

Lisa depends on tourist dollars to stay in business.  

“I work really hard during the summer,” she explained. “Summerfest, the Rodeo and the month of July are my busiest times.” 

Because of her busy summer, she doesn’t mind shortening her hours and taking a month or two off during the long, cold months of winter. 

Both Lisa and Susan are aware of the need for a healthy and vital main street and are on several committees that are working hard to keep all of Big Timber energized. 

The Sheepherder Square is a gathering space in the heart of Big Timber where the former high school once stood. The ambitious plan for the space is to build an amphitheater for outdoor performances, a firepit for winter celebrations, a splash pad, ice rink, restrooms and flexible gathering spaces that would appeal to a variety of groups and sizes. 

“It’s a work in progress,” Susan said. “But we’re getting there, and people are excited about it. When you have something in the community that the community wants to stay and use, they will also stay and shop. The big question is always: How do we go forward and still preserve what we have in a healthy way?” 

Jen Holman owns Thistle Creek and began her career in retail in 2020 by purchasing and revamping an existing business. Set back from the street by an attractive courtyard with a shade tree and seating, her shop is welcoming even before customers get to the front door. Over 40% of Jen’s inventory is from artists around Montana.  

“Sales have been really good for us,” she said. “Locals support us year-round, and I appreciate that, but I’m also very grateful for the tourist season.” 

Though the retail stores in town might be competing for the same dollars, they are all quick to say that they respect one another and often encourage customers to check out each other’s shops.  

“We have to be a community,” Jen said. “We’re all here for the same reason: We’re passionate about Big Timber. We’re a unique community and we want to offer our customers something they can’t get everywhere - that small town experience.” 

Just a few blocks from the retail stores on main street in Big Timber, Dr. Kelsey Fraser has a thriving family dental business. She opened her business five years ago, after purchasing it from the former dentist and remodeling the building. 

“Coming to Big Timber was like coming home for me,” Kelsey said. “Everyone has been incredibly welcoming.” 

Though Kelsey grew up in Miles City, her father’s family ranched in Sweet Grass County for four generations.  

“When the opportunity to come here came up, it was an easy decision for me,” Kelsey continued. “I have college friends and relatives here. It’s been a great community.” 

Kelsey says that many of her patients travel from Livingston and Bozeman because they like the small-town atmosphere and friendly feel of the town. 

“We offer comprehensive dental care which has attracted not only Sweet Grass County residents, but surrounding areas too,” Kelsey explained. “I always ask them what they plan to do after their appointment and many of them just like to hang out in the area, hike up the Boulder, fish, shop downtown or visit friends.” 

Big Timber Family Dental has six employees including three dental hygienists. Kelsey added that, among the seven of them, nine babies have been born in the last five years, including her own son just a few months ago.  

“We’re starting Sweet Grass County’s next generation,” she laughed.  

Sandra Crawford opened her store, 1895 Antiques, on McLeod Street, over a year ago.  

She said her main customers are antique lovers who travel to Big Timber specifically to visit her store and spend the day shopping at other businesses in town. 

“I support all of downtown and shop locally myself as much as I can,” she said. “I’m pro Big Timber; it’s a fabulous town.” 

Christine Bakke agrees. She owns a photography business on McLeod Street and has also been active with the Chamber for the past eleven years; serving as the director for the last five.  

It was during her time as director that the town received a substantial grant from the Department of Commerce to support economic growth. A consultant was hired to come up with a master tourism plan for the community that would benefit the tourist industry and impact local economic growth and stability. The plan includes branding, signage and beautification of the downtown area with additional streetlights and murals. 

“When tourists come to see the museum, hike Natural Bridge, or attend one of our community events, we want them to stick around and eat or shop too,” Christine said. “Everyone benefits when we promote ourselves effectively.” 

When the quilt shop on McLeod Street came up for sale two years ago, Kary Engle couldn’t resist purchasing it, even though she’s a physician’s assistant and owns Meats of Montana and Pioneer Meats with her husband, Brian. 

“It was more about keeping the community viable than anything else,” Kary said. “I bought the shop because I didn’t want to see a business vacant, especially one that brings people here from out of town.”  

Little Timber Quilts and Candy built its reputation on carrying an outstanding selection of fabrics in the latest prints and colors along with every tool a quilter would need.  

“Quilters love to road trip,” Kary said. “They make a trip out of visiting several towns with quilt shops. Big Timber is in a good location. We get a lot of out-of-town quilters traveling through and stopping.” 

The quilt store holds weekly open-sewing time and various “how-to” classes giving seamstresses opportunities to bring their machine and work on projects.  

“Something is always going on,” Kary said. “We try to give people a reason to keep coming in.”  

Years ago, the quilt shop began offering weekend quilting retreats and though the store no longer hosts them, two Big Timber women, Vicki Uehling and Katherine McKenzie, voluntarily took over directing the four-day retreat twice per year.  

“It’s been amazing,” Kary said. “Thirty-five women come and work on their quilts in the exhibit building at the fairgrounds. They stay overnight, they shop, they have lunch and dinner. It’s a wonderful event.” 

As with the other store owners, Kary and her staff are always quick to promote the other shops, eateries, activities and things to do in town. 

Owning and operating a business is difficult, especially in a small town. There’s always something that needs attention: finding and keeping quality employees, accounting, overhead costs, competition through online shopping, correct ordering, attractive merchandising and the ability to sell product. It can be overwhelming to say the least. The women-owned businesses in Big Timber face those hurdles every day, yet all love what they do and work hard to contribute to the health and well-being of the entire town.   

“Owning a shop is a lot harder than I ever thought it would be,” Jen concluded. “It’s challenging, but it’s also very rewarding. I love the people that come into my store, whether it’s a tourist or a local. I’m grateful that they’ve taken the time to stop in and I’m proud to be a shop owner on McLeod Street.”