From the far west to the far east.

This morning the Billings County Historical Society is handing over their hard earned pickings.

Nearly 400 pounds of chokecherries from the badlands are now on their way to the Maple River Winery in Casselton.

These purple berries will soon be "Historic Medora Chokecherry Wine." The winery pays for the berries and a percentage of every bottle sold is donated back to the county historical society.

Museum manager Leona Odermann says the chokecherry picking has turned into a profitable and fun fundraiser for museum volunteers.

(Leona Odermann / Billings Co. Museum Manager) "Every year we have some new stories that come out of this chokecherry picking. This year you could ask one of our board members about her experience on a roadside. The rattle snake was sleeping and proceeded to wake up when she stepped on it. That was the end of that night's chokecherry picking for her."


Odermann says everything turned out ok with the rattlesnake incident.

She says in 2007 they made almost 5-thousand dollars.

Last year was so dry there was no chokecherry exchange because there were no chokecherries.

This year they are hoping to make between 5 and 7 hundred bottles of wine. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list