It's Spring. Let's plant wellness and watch it grow. The Bozeman Wellness Expo - May 30

May 30, 2026

Gallatin Valley Fairgrounds

Sarah Miller, Founder of the Bozeman Wellness Expo is our guest. We tell stories of Montanans showing the way on new ways to look at the intersection of food and health to encourage collaborations. What is missing, is "the place" to meet up, share stories and knowledge and to collaborate. Sarah is establishing the missing link - the place.

A community that is getting healthy together is going to thrive together and then it's going to be a place that we all enjoy to call home. -Sarah Miller

Introduction to the Bozeman Wellness Expo

Robin: It is so nice to meet you Sarah. I cannot tell you how much I've wanted to meet you ever since someone sent me a picture of a sticker about your event coming up. So with that said, I would like to just begin by asking you, what is the event that's coming up? And can you give a little bit of background so I can learn more?

Sarah: It's the Bozeman Wellness Expo by Bewell Montana. It's on May 30th at the fairgrounds in Gallatin Valley. And it's a wellness event bringing together all different types of providers that help us thrive and help the community get healthy.

Understanding Wellness and Its Importance

Robin: So can you describe what you mean by well or wellness?

Sarah: Wellness. Yes, so we wanted to use the word wellness, because we don't want people to think that it's only for crunchy or only for holistic. We didn't want that confusion. Everybody can use wellness on a regular basis. We could all be better and improve our lives in various ways.

Robin: So is it going on in the Gallatin Valley and have you done this before?

Sarah Yes, so last year (2025) was our grassroots year. We kind of had to prove ourselves, but I feel like we're gaining traction now.

Robin: Well, I think there's a lot of demand for it. Can you tell me what is your background and how did you come to the conclusion that this would be a good ⁓ community event.

Personal Journey and Community Impact

Sarah: Well, I'll be honest, I went to school for holistic health, but I did drop out. I got pregnant with my first child and I decided I wanted to be home with him more and focus on him.

Years later, when I was about 30, I'm 37 now, I started to feel funny. I had my second baby and then I was like, I don't feel good, I'm young. I should be healthy.

I started to feel arthritis type symptoms, inflammation. I would take supplements that should have helped me and they weren't really helping. We found out that we were dealing with toxicity.

That was a really daunting and long journey, even just finding out that it was mold. It took about a year because doctors, even naturopaths and functional doctors, are still learning how to be mold literate.

Once we finally figured that out, even those steps were a little bit slow moving. We were on one protocol, it didn't really work. When I found out that it wasn't working, that was soul crushing. To spend all that money. We were on one income at the time. And so I just felt very isolated.

Once we finally overcame everything and got healthy and found the answers, I just felt this calling to help other people. So that's where we are today - the Bozeman Wellness Expo.

Robin: One of the things that you've touched on is that almost everyone can make improvements, right? You know, nobody's running at a hundred percent and there's a need for good information and... one of the best pieces of information people can get is from stories like yours, right? From other people's experiences. That only comes from connecting in a community and providing an environment where people can connect.

This is one of the interests that I had in your event is that there aren't a lot of places where individuals in Montana can connect with each other to share those stories, meet with experts and benefit and then tell the recovery stories, right? And to grow that community.

Are the practitioners who can address those issues participating or how do we access them?

Sarah: Yes, some of them are. My personal doctor is actually Dr. Green of Big Sky Integrative. Dr. Bhat of Big Sky Osteopathy is great, as well. They both support and participate in it, as does Saddle Peak Dental and a growing list of providers that can help people to navigate their wellness path.

Robin:, I don't want to make this a commercial for Dr. Green, but I did have an opportunity to visit with him nearly two decades ago. He diagnosed an issue very quickly that many others had missed.I'm a huge fan because I wasn't even a resident of Montana yet and just happened to come across him at a time that was really important.

Sarah I feel that these types of providers are much more coming alongside of you instead of just ignoring or putting a band-aid on something. They have compassion and an intuitive nature and knowledge that is what we need to heal and support community.

Event Format and Activities

Sarah: So first of all, I just want to mention we do have micro events too. It is really good for people to join into our newsletter and our social media so that they can kind of be a part of events all year round.

The itinerary for Bozeman Wellness Expo 2026 starts out with a mild yoga. Nothing crazy! You just bring your own mat and we start the intention of the day that way. And then, we have a few guest speakers at the event, not very long, but timely topics --- about 30 minutes max.

This year we're gonna have a kickboxing class later in the afternoon, so the day has a nice flow to it. We have food vendors accessible there and with healthier options. For children, we have a petting zoo area so that we we kinda have something for everybody to keep it all inclusive and make you feel welcome to support connection and community.

Diversity of Vendors and Participants

Robin: And what is the diversity of vendors that you're targeting this year? How diverse does it go in terms of practitioners, providers, service and product providers?

Sarah It's quite diverse. We have everything from functional doctors, female hormones, natural herbal female hormones, and then we also have hormone replacement therapy for male and female. We also have mental health experts, like natural psychiatric options, which I think is pretty cool. Mental health is so important. We have counselors and we even have, the Living Soil Alliance of Montana. They are known as natural cannabis growers, but they have hemp on the forefront. Sustainability is something I want to focus on more too in the future. I want to incorporate outdoor options like outdoor guides and other that directly relate to wellness. After all, it's Montana!

Robin: I have the big question. How about food? And not vendor food, but food exhibitors, those people who are producing food for health.

Sarah Last year we had a few CSA's. We have an amazing rancher that I love and we use their beef here at our home. He's a regenerative practitioner with a lovely family. We are open to a number of options.

Robin: So with the vendors or the speakers, what is the opportunity for people to participate in 2026 or beyond? D o you have openings for additional vendors or speakers this year?

Sarah

We have like two spots that I can probably make happen. And I would say that we have an outdoor spot or two also. It is just one of those things where we plan these things ahead of time. if someone misses the window for this year, I would definitely encourage them to email me.

Regarding 2027 I give a discounted rate for securing ahead of time. Talking to vendors and engaging them in the coming together in person to connect is a joyful thing.

Future Collaborations and Sponsorships

Robin:

How you would like to collaborate with others around the state of Montana. I'll open that up. Who and how would you like to collaborate going forward to not only do this event in Bozeman, but your future events and locations?

Sarah

We're definitely pursuing Missoula right now. I'm aiming for either spring or summer of 2027 to launch Missoula. So if anyone in the Missoula area is interested, please contact me.

Robin: What specifically would you be looking for for vendors or participants? You just mentioned hemp. We have a lot going on in industrial hemp in the state of Montana right now. What kinds of sponsors would benefit?

Sarah:

I'm open to sponsors that are wellness related. I have chiropractors, but anything from acupuncture to body work. I'm open to all sorts of practitioners to apply. The only time I really turn someone down is if there's already, for example, three chiropractors. I can't say yes to a fourth chiropractor just out of like it's not that I wouldn't ever cross promote this whole entire business model is based on cross promotion.

Robin: So tell me where would somebody contact you ? Let's just say starting with participation with coming to the event. Do you have to get tickets to RSVP? Do you just show up? How's that work?

Sarah: We do encourage people to RSVP because when they RSVP, they are getting our newsletter. And we also have like a little QR code they can scan when they arrive and then they'll get their canvas bag. If someone is interested in being a sponsor, they can email me here. 

Robin: Okay and again what are the hours of the EXPO?

Sarah: It's May 30th at the fairgrounds, Gallatin Valley Fairgrounds, from 9am to 3pm.

I was mentioning earlier that I'm really trying to grow and expand our sponsors because I really want to have grants where people can apply for themselves or like their mom with MS or something that can't afford care. So that's my big goal is to have that coming up in the future.

Conclusion and Community Health Goals

Robin: Congratulations on doing this and stepping forward. People really deserve our ⁓ hugs and handshakes for taking the commitment to step forward and show us a new way, a new path that is is for our benefit, both in terms of meeting our neighbors, understanding our assets that are in the neighborhood and the colleagues, and joverall wellness opportunities. It is fabulous to meet you. I really, really appreciate that you've stepped forward and done this interview, and I look forward to doing more as you develop your program.

Sarah: Thank you. Yes, a community that is getting healthy together is going to thrive together and then it's going to be a place that we all enjoy to call home.