Ag Digest Spring 2012

Page 2 THE MONTANA STANDARD, BUTTE, MARCH 2012

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BY PAT HANSENfor The Montana Standard

Provider Pals, a presi-dential award winningurban/rural culturalexchange program, estab-lished 12 years ago byBruce Vincent, a Libbybusinessman, is helpingto build a bridge ofunderstanding betweenurban and rural culturesthrough natural resourceproviders. The Wall StreetJournal called the pro-gram, “the most excitingeducational initiative indecades.”

Vincent said, “MostAmericans are three gen-erations from the farm,

and 80percentlive inurbanareas.They justdon’tknowwheretheir‘stuff’

comes from. On the otherhand, rural Americansknow little about urbanrealities.”

The Provider Pals pro-gram is an opportunityfor urban classrooms to“adopt” farmers, loggers,fishermen and miners.Providers and studentscommunicate throughout

the school year. The pro-gram is hugely successfulwith more than 60,000students in 35 citiesbecoming a “pal,” and itcontinues to grow asmore providers andschools become involved.

“We are looking forthose who want to beadopted, particularlyranchers and producers,”Vincent said. “They arestarving to meet us. Wehave a lot to learn abouturban realities as well. Itis an opportunity to makefriends for a lifetime.”

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Montana’s LivestockLoss Board has released anew specialty licenseplate intended to raisemoney for wolf depreda-tion efforts.

The plates feature theboard’s ag-oriented logoand are on sale at countytreasurers’ offices aroundthe state.

The plates cost $40,with $20 going to the

LLB; subsequent renewalscost just $20.

Established by thestate Legislature in 2007,the Livestock Loss Boardreimburses livestock pro-ducers for livestock killedby wolves.

Program coordinatorGeorge Edwards said theboard has had enoughfunding to pay for live-stock claims, but not

enough to pay for preven-tion efforts.

The board has paid out$418,003 on 879 animalssince its inception.

For more informationabout the Livestock Lossboard or specialty plates,see the website atwwwwww..lliivv..mmtt..ggoovv//LLLLBB orcontact Edwards at (406) 444-5609 orggeeddwwaarrddss@@mmtt..ggoovv

Livestock loss specialty license plates availableTHE MONTANA STANDARD, BUTTE, MARCH 2012 Page 3

America is on a vision collisionsays Bruce Vincent, a Libby busi-nessman who believes America is

ready for a new vision of conservationand environmental stewardship that isbased upon hope instead of fear.

Vincent was keynote speaker at the40th annual Livestock Seminar held inDeer Lodge recently.

“When urbanites come to Montana,they fall in love with what we love.When they leave Montana they leavewith a desire to protect the Last BestPlace with its forests, water, wildlife andair quality, but their vision has a flaw;there is no provision for the last bestpeople. They are fighting to implementpolicy that has nothing to do with reali-ty, but the public’s perspective of reali-ty.”

People want fiber and food, but dowe want to import everything, or pro-duce it at home? The leading threat tothe world is poverty, not profit, he said.

He explained that in the 1960s we

saw the little planetEarth from outer spaceand realized we onlyhave one planet and thatsparked clean water,clean air, conservationand endangered specieslegislation. Now wemake decisions everyday that affect our envi-ronment – such as the

type of car we drive, plastic, paper orreusable bags for groceries. But everyday is earth day for a farmer/rancher.Production agriculture is helping torestore the environment, Vincent said.

However, in the 1960s society also learned to market fearabout the environment. That movementis still alive, but it attacks commonsense and hope.

“Americans are very concernedabout the environment, but they oftendon’t know the truth,” Vincent said.“The problem is ignorance.”

A THIN LINEA fifth-generation logger, Vincent

explained that it is the natural cycle forfire to burn public forests, but it is far better to harvest and then have smallfires to regenerate the forests.

There is a thin line between environ-mental sensitivity and environmental

insanity such as lawsuits and policiesthat stop all forest management by man;the same is happening to grazing andmining, he said.

The Vincent family has been loggingin the Libby area since the early 1960sbut now uses their logging equipment

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See VISION, Page 5

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for fire fighting in the forests thatonce provided hundreds of jobs andtax revenue.

As producers of food and fiber weknow we aren’t perfect and have mademistakes, but although imperfect, weare still the best there is in the world -the safest, most productive, and mostenvironmentally concerned. We arethe green choice of the next millennium, Vincent stated.

DEMOCRACY WORKS“Democracy works, but it is not a

spectator sport,” he said. “Farming,logging, fishing families make up 20percent of the population of 45 mil-lion Americans. You must getinvolved.”

He said, “The problem is we arefighting groups, instead of fightingignorance. They want to know who weare and what we do. We need to askthem questions about what is it theywant to know. Get involved, talkabout what you are doing and yoursuccesses.

He urged people to work with con-servation districts, county commis-sioners, chambers of commerce, leg-islators and representatives and togive them accurate information.

“When people lead, leaders follow,”Vincent said. “You are the experts.Talk about what you are doing, andyour successes.”

A MOVEMENT OF HOPEHe challenged listeners to spend

one hour a week getting involved incultural activities.

“Teach the future generation envi-ronmental sensitivity and not environmentalinsanity,” he said. “Plan to spend onehour a week to do something for yourculture by getting involved with 4-H,FFA and schools.”

Vincent said, “Americans are tiredof hearing about what is wrong andwant to know what is right. The newmovement is a movement of hope.Young people want a message of hopefor this planet and their generation.They are desperate, and they need us.We need our young people back onthe farms and forests to lead us intothe future, and provide for 11 billionpeople on earth. There is a ripple ofhope. Together we’ll make a wave.”

Vision ...Continued from Page 4


Area ranchers were among thosereceiving the 2011 Montana NeighborAwards in recognition of their land stew-ardship and good neighbor policies.

Jim Dinsmore of Hall and John andIrene Weaver of Ovando received certifi-cates signed by members of the awardscommittee and Gov. Brian Schweitzer.

For nearly four decades, Dinsmoreand his family have been farmers andranchers near Hall. Through the yearsDinsmore has demonstrated a commit-ment to cooperation, land stewardshipand community leadership. He allowspublic access for hunting and fishing onhis property and has a permanent ease-ment on a wetland on his property aspart of the Natural ResourcesConservation Service Wetlands ReserveProgram.

Since 1981 Dinsmore has been activewith natural resource issues andlandowner relations with the GraniteConservation District (GCD) of which hehas served as chairman since 1985.

Dinsmore is a modest man who ispleased to receive the award.

“I just go about doing what’s sort ofright and taking care of things,” he saidof his stewardship philosophy. “I’m try-ing to keep things as they are. Some

growth is fine, but there’s a reason welike it here and appreciate it.”

John and Irene Weaver have beenranching in the Ovando area since 1955.The couple has developed a reputation assolid, trustworthy neighbors who lead bytheir good example, wrote StanBradshaw of Trout Unlimited in his letterof nomination.

The Weavers have demonstrated theirconservation ethic on a number offronts. They have placed much of theirland into a conservation easement on600 acres along the North Fork of theBlackfoot River, and converted part oftheir irrigation water right into a 30-yearin-stream lease that helps maintainflows in the North Fork during criticalmigration times, wrote Bradshaw.

The couple has actively participatedin a number of cooperative initiativeswithin the Blackfoot watershed. Some oftheir efforts include working with theBlackfoot Challenge on an energy con-servation initiative with the MissoulaElectric Co-op, in cooperation with sev-eral groups they installed permanentelectric fencing of their spring calvingarea to reduce conflict with grizzly bearsand wolves, and they participate in amulti-landowner block-managementinitiative to keep substantial parts oftheir ranch lands open to public, walk-in

hunting.The Weavers are also active in the

Ovando community. John served on theschool board for many years and wasinstrumental in generating communityapproval for construction of the schoolgymnasium that has become an impor-tant community center, and Irene isactive in a variety of community enter-prises including the Brand Bar Museum.

“We are very happy to get the award,but surprised, too,” Irene said. “Thereare lots of people who have done somuch in our valley.”

“It’s quite an honor, but we are justdoing what we always do to look afterthe wildlife and take care of the land,”she said.

Also receiving the award were WolfCreek-area ranchers Mike and Lisa Bay,fourth-generation ranchers, who have along record of working closely with theirneighbors as well as public agencies inthe area.

The Montana Neighbor Award win-ners were selected by a committee com-prised of members of the MontanaAssociation of Land Trusts, ArtemisCommon Ground, Montana Farm BureauFederation, the Nature Conservancy ofMontana, Montana Council of TroutUnlimited and Montana Dept. of Fish,Wildlife and Parks.

Area ranchers receiveMontana Neighbor awards

The federal grazing fee for 2012 is the same as last year. Itwill be $1.35 per animal unit month (AUM) for public landsadministered by the Bureau of Land Management and $1.35 perhead month (HM) for lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

An AUM or HM — treated as equivalent measures for feepurposes — is the occupancy and use of public lands by onecow and her calf, one horse, or five sheep or goats per month.The newly calculated grazing fee, determined by a congres-sional formula and effective on March 1, applies to nearly18,000 grazing permits and leases administered by the BLM andmore than 8,000 permits administered by the Forest Service.

The formula used for calculating the grazing fee — estab-lished by Congress in the 1978 Public Rangelands ImprovementAct - has continued under a presidential Executive Order

issued in 1986. Under that order, the grazing fee cannot fallbelow $1.35 per AUM, and any increase or decrease cannotexceed 25 percent of the previous year’s level.

The annually determined grazing fee is computed by using a1966 base value of $1.23 per AUM/HM for livestock grazing onpublic lands in Western states.

The figure is then calculated according to three factors —current private grazing land lease rates, beef cattle prices, andthe cost of livestock production. In effect, the fee rises, falls, orstays the same based on market conditions, with livestockoperators paying more when conditions are better and lesswhen conditions have declined.

Permit holders and lessees may contact their local BLM orU.S. Forest Service office for additional information.

BLM, Forest Service grazing fees stay same


Grizzly bear management changesRanchers questionFWP about depredation, delisting


The number of grizzly bears and theirinteraction with humans and animalsthroughout southwest Montana haschanged in the past 15 years.

Jamie Jonkel, Montana Fish, Wildlifeand Parks biologist in bear management,recently told an audience at a meeting inPhilipsburg, “We are starting to seemore things going on: more depredationand grizzly bears ‘hanging out.’ But ithelps when I get photos because not allsightings are grizzly bears.”

He cited examples of grizzly beardepredation including a calf killed in theAvon area last June. In that case, trapswere set but the bear was not captured.In September, “Couglin” a sub-adultmale raided a bee yard near Deer Lodge.He was caught in the Helmville Valley in2010, but died during tranquilization in2011.

“Males get one chance after the ini-tial kill, and females get two chances,”Jonkel said. “I haven’t had to put down abear in more than five years. Sometimespeople have livestock in places wherethey will be killed.”

“Is the livestock on their privateproperty?” retorted Brian Quigley, Avonrancher and president of RockyMountain Stockgrowers Assoc.

“In 2011 I figured the deaths of 10 calves to grizzly bears, wolves andmountain lions and weight loss on theother calves cost me $21,000. That wasmoney out of my pocket. If I came andtook that money out of your pocket, youmight think differently.”

Chuck Johnson of Hall asked if a private property owner is allowed to killa grizzly caught in the act of killing hislivestock.”

Jonkel replied, “No. If you see a grizzly killing livestock, you must callU.S. Wildlife Services trapper BartSmith.”

GRIZZLY BEAR POPULATIONThe grizzly bear population in north-

west Montana was listed as threatenedunder the Endangered Species Act in1975. They remain under federal juris-diction, but Montana Dept. of Fish,Wildlife and Parks is responsible formonitoring and management of thebears that have been found in 28 counties ranging 2.6 million acresbeyond the 1993 recovery zoneboundary set by the USFWS.

According to a U.S. Geological Survey(USGS) there are 765 grizzly bears in theNorthern Continental Divide Ecosystem(NCDE) from north of Missoula to theCanadian border, 30-40 animals in theCabinet-Yaak Ecosystem (CYE) innorthwest Montana and northeastIdaho, and according to the InteragencyGrizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) website,650 grizzly bears live in the YellowstoneEcosystem.

Adult females are considered themost important segment of the grizzlypopulation and the major focus of anymonitoring effort.

Scientists estimate 470 of the 765bears are females distributed throughoutthe NCDE study area, indicating goodreproductive potential. Jonkel said dur-ing the study 103 females were collaredand they produced an average litter size

of 1.97 cubs. There is a three percentincrease in numbers each year, he said.

“With bear numbers increasing theprocess for delisting has begun,” heassured. “To begin the grizzly delistingprocess we had to have a known population, a growth trend, and femalesurvivability.”

State Sen. Gene Vukovich,D-Anaconda, asked, “How many bearsrealistically do you want? They are multiplying and spreading.”

“In the ‘old days’ the original goal fordelisting was 250, but that has beenincreased to 1,000,” Jonkel replied. “Amove to delist the grizzly bear popula-tion will start in 2014-2015. We’re put-ting together a conservation strategydraft and hope to have it complete bymid-summer.”

Members of the audience were frus-trated when Jonkel admitted individualbiologists and scientists in the variousecosystems seldom share their informa-tion with colleagues.

They wanted to know why informa-tion isn’t shared by overlaying comput-erized grizzly bear sightings and DNAinformation.

Vukovich reminded Jonkel, “Bears donot stop at a line they don’t even

know exists.”Daniel Stackhouse of Philipsburg

asked, “Why isn’t FWP putting infor-mation together from all managementareas to get a state-wide delisting?”

Because grizzly bears are a federalresponsibility, folks wanted to knowhow much the studies cost. Jonkelresponded it is a “team effort” with bothfederal and state funding.

A 2010 USFWS survey showed$6,294.00 was spent per grizzly bear inthe lower 48 states by government agencies.

BLACKFOOT CHALLENGE PROGRAMJonkel estimates there are 60 bears in

the Blackfoot River drainage and thenumbers are increasing as they movesouth, east and west.

He said from 2006-2011 eight grizzlybears were collared, 33 were capturedwith 22 of them going to research facili-ties, 11 were released elsewhere, and 36bears died.

He praised the Blackfoot Challengepro-active community-based programworking to minimize human-wildlifeconflicts.

According to the Blackfoot Challengewebsite, the group of 45 ranchers andother participating residents uses pre-ventative strategies and projects thatinclude range riders, removal of deadwildlife and livestock carcasses, pur-chase of bear-resistant dumpsters,installation of 14,000 linear feet of bearfencing around bee hives, calving andsheep pens, and a bear-alert phone treewith 100 residents on the line.

Their actions have reduced human-grizzly conflicts by 50 percent,according to the website.

FWP PHOTO

MONTANA FISH, WILDLIFE AND PARKS OFFICIALS are seeing more killings oflivestock by grizzly bears, and more bears “hanging out,” biologist Jamie Jonkel told residents and ranchers at a Philipsburg meeting.

“In the ‘old days’ the original goalfor delisting was 250, but that hasbeen increased to 1,000. A move todelist the grizzly bear population

will start in 2014-2015. We’re putting together a conservation

strategy draft and hope to have itcomplete by mid-summer.”

Jamie Jonkel, biologist, Montana FWP


“When life gives you lemons, grow anorchard and start a lemon business

… unknown

Thirteen years ago Ed James ofHall was irked that the price ofwool was so low it cost him moreto sell it than what he received.He explained, “Wool was bring-

ing five cents a pound, but the wool poolwas charging seven cents to sell it, and Ihad to make up the difference.’’

James and his wife, Sue, pondered thedilemma and realized the only way forwool to be profitable was to add value tothe raw product. They set out andtoured woolen mills in Oregon andWashington before deciding to establishtheir own small mill at 211 Lower WillowCreek Road, southwest of Hall.

The Sugarloaf Wool Carding Mill was

the first of five small mills established inMontana. James said none of the millscompete with each other because eachhas its own niche.

They constructed a building for themill and were able to purchase all of theequipment in Montana. They were alsofortunate to meet Svend Larson ofPolson who was the professor of wool atthe University of Wyoming for 25 years.

“Svend’s eyes light up when you talkabout wool,” James said. “He becameour main resource and spent days help-ing us get the equipment set up andteaching us how to use it. We opened inApril 2000 and had a steep learningcurve, but it would have been evenworse without Svend’s help. It’s been aschool of hard knocks because there areno woolen mills close enough to internat.”

The Sugarloaf Wool Mill processesprimarily Suffolk wool because it isnon-felting wool with little market

value. Sugarloaf Wool Mill developed amarket for Suffolk fleeces by makingbatts, pillows, mattress pads and com-forters. Although harder to find in thisarea, they process some good qualitywhite wool into roving for the homespinners and do custom processing for

people who have sheep.Ed and Sue no longer raise sheep after

they lost 70 head to wolves two yearsago.

“We just couldn’t sustain the loss,” hesaid.


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Sugarloaf mill cards woolSee WOOL, Page 8

Today they purchase wool from indi-viduals throughout Montana, but gener-ally from within a 100 mile radius.

“This gives us a better opportunity toeducate producers about how to handlethe wool to get what we want,’’ Jamessaid. “Most people don’t shear beforelambing. But for the best quality wool itmust be sheared before lambing or at

least no more than two weeks laterbecause the fever a ewe has duringlambing causes the wool to break duringprocessing. By educating producers weget better quality wool and pay more for it.’’

The wool arrives at the mill in four-foot square bales weighing up 400 lbs.The first step of the process is tomechanically open the fibers and cleanout the dirt. Once the fibers are open,the wool is washed by hand three times


PAT HANSEN PHOTOS

DESI MASON SEPARATES WOOL from fleeces purchased in 400-pound bales andputs it through the cleaner to remove dirt and debris at the Sugarloaf Wool Carding Mill. 112 Willow Avenue • Helena, Montana 59602 406.443.5110 • www.dallas-land.com

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Wool ...Continued from Page 7

See WOOL, Page 9

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WHEN A BATT IS COMPLETE, Ed James cuts it off the roller and pulls it onto a tablefor folding and packaging.

in 150 degree water and liquid dishwash-ing detergent to remove the lanolin.Then it is rinsed, run through an extractor to spin out the water and driedin a dryer for 1 to 2 minutes.

“Wool fiber does not absorb mois-ture, it stays on the outside, so the wooldries in just a few minutes,” James said.“Air does the majority of the drying.”

The cleaned wool is loaded into atwo-bank carder that weighs a hefty32,000 lbs. and will process 2-3 millionpounds of wool before needing an over-haul.

There are more than 200 breeds ofsheep in the world and the wool fromeach breed has different qualities. Noone carding machine will do them all,James said, ours does medium to coarsewool.

James explains that carding aligns thefibers laying them parallel for batts androvings. Crimp creates elasticity in woolfiber. Fine crimp Merino (80 spin countand up) is a small diameter fiber used forwool clothing and is preferred by handspinners. A 60-70 spin count works bestfor batting and felting.

Sugarloaf Wool ships products tobuyers throughout the country. Wool is

not heavy, it also breathes and wicksaway moisture which is good in areaswith high humidity. Green builders areusing wool batts treated with borax forinsulation. James explained that 3 ½-inch batts have about the same R factoras fiberglass. Wool is naturally fireresistant, and borax is an effective treat-ment for moths.

“Many people have come so far fromtheir roots that they don’t know wherewool or cotton fabric comes from,”James said. He added that all naturalfibers are better for a person’s healththan synthetic but conceded there is aplace for synthetics.

At first the couple only made battsand roving. Then Sue began handcraft-ing pillows of different sizes and density,quilts, mattress pads and comforters, aswell as wall hangings, recliner blankets,dryer balls and wool toys.

INTERESTING FACT:Suffolk wool produces a 54-62 spin

count. One pound of 62 spin count woolwill make 10 miles of single ply yarn.

See WOOL, Page 10

MARCH BALER BAILOUTMARCH BALER BAILOUT

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To make felt, woolbatts are layered horizon-tally and vertically withsoapy water on a bambooblind, rolled up and agi-tated in the feltingmachine.

Felted wool used fordog beds is popular withowners and animalsbecause the felted matsdo not hold animal mois-ture or odor. They arehand washable in warmwater and line dried.

On the secondSaturday of the monthfrom October throughApril (except forDecember), a hand spin-ning session is conductedat the mill for those inter-ested in learning the craft,or those who want towork on their own projectin the company offriends.

May through October,

you can find SugarloafWool at the Clark ForkMarket near HigginsBridge in Missoula onSaturdays from 8 a.m. to 1p.m.

Visitors are welcome atthe mill. School children,quilt guilds, retiredteachers, spinning andweaving guilds, andtourists have enjoyed

learning how wool isprocessed. To scheduleschool and group visitscall 406-288-3398.

The mill is openMonday through Friday,9a.m. to 5 p.m., andweekends by appoint-ment. For more informa-tion and directions to themill, go to their website:wwwwww..ssuuggaarrllooaaffwwooooll..ccoomm

ITEMSAVAIL-ABLEFORSALE atthe millincludeskeins ofwool forknitting,roving forhomespinners,pillows,quilts, felt-ed petbeds andmore.PAT HANSEN

PHOTO

Auctioneer’s Note: Rollie and Dorma Hebel of Mcallister, Montana have chosen our sale to liquidate theirentire stock of tack, carts, implements and antiques. Also included is the Hebel’s unique collectionf bit b ll d


BU-20306070

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Wheat plunges on Russia’s exports planBILLINGS (AP) — Wheat prices are

plunging after Russia decided againstlimiting grain exports this year. Thatcould increase competition for U.S.wheat in the global marketplace.

Wheat finished down nearly 3 percentMonday at $6.5225 per bushel.

Russia’s prime minister says that thenation has overcome problems stem-ming from a severe drought in 2010,which prompted a ban on grain exports.

His deputy, a top agriculture official,predicts that this year’s exports mightreach 27 million tons.

Investors have been speculating thatU.S. wheat would be more in demandbecause it’s the cheapest in the worldand some European crops may have beendamaged by winter weather.

In other trading, prices for gold,copper and oil are higher. Corn and soybeans are lower.

Warm weather prompts some Mont.farmers to plant spring wheat

BILLINGS (AP) — Atleast a few wheat farmersin the Upper Midwest aretaking advantage of theunusually mild and drywinter to start plantingin mid-March.

While there’s still achance of a bad frost,they’re taking a calculatedrisk that the early start

will let them reap a biggercrop this summer.

Mike Bergeron startedsowing wheat on his farmnear Fisher, Minn., on St.Patrick’s Day. One weekearlier, he was still snow-mobiling. He says he andhis business partner havealready planted 450 acreson their way to 1,200.

Experts say the earlystart is as rare as itsounds, but the gamblemay pay off.

Corn and soybeanfarmers are still sittingtight, however. Earlyplanting doesn’t normallybenefit their crops, whichare more vulnerable tofrost.


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T he RockyMountainStockgrowersAssociation wasorganized in

March 2011 by arearanchers after theMontana Department ofFish, Wildlife and Parksproposed to relocate bisonto the Spotted DogWildlife ManagementArea near Deer Lodge andAvon.

An affiliate of theMontana StockgrowersAssociation, RMSGA is alocal association of stock-men and other supportersof agriculture in theRocky Mountain region,not just the Tri-Countyarea, who have united toaddress issues affectingthe livestock industry inthis area.

President Brian Quigley,of Avon, said the organiza-tion is dedicated to provid-ing education to the publicand encouraging partici-pation on issues not onlyrelated to bison, but toissues that include grizzlybears, wolves, water rights,private property rights,and now child labor laws

that will affect family busi-nesses.

“Some people don’tunderstand that as a fam-ily we work and playtogether. Branding andvaccinating cattle are justpart of life,” Quigley said.“We look forward to presentinginformation on the issues.I can’t stress enough howimportant it is to getinvolved; to get educatedabout the facts and theneducate others who maynot understand what weare all about.”

Vice president JoeDippold of Deer Lodgesaid, “A lot of people feltlike they were on a teeter-totter when FWP pur-chased Spotted Dog say-ing there were no plansfor bison but within threemonths they had completed plans to move

them to Spotted Dog.There comes a time whenwe need to stop beingpolitically correct andstand up for what isright.”

At the final RMSGAmeeting of the year,members agreed to sup-port a resolution present-ed by Crazy MountainStockgrowers to theMontana StockgrowersAssociation requestingthe state organization todevelop a strong policyfor the livestock industryas a whole concerningguidelines for relocationof bison in the state.

More than 200 attend-ed their first annualmembership banquet heldin October.

The board of directorssay they are unable to doall the work alone toaddress various issues.Dippold stressed theimportance of all mem-bers getting involved onone or more of the stand-ing committees thatinclude: wildlife, ban-quet, scholarship, mem-bership development, andothers that may be estab-lished as issues arise.

See FIRST, Page 16

Stockgrowers Assoc.celebrates first year

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The 36th annual Montana RangeDays will be held in Deer Lodge on June18-20.

The popular family-oriented eventattracts people from throughoutMontana for three days of educationalclasses, presentations, competitions,food, fun and friendship for all ages.

Previously, Range Days was held eastof the Continental Divide and the nearly300 people attending last year’s event inDeer Lodge enjoyed seeing and learningabout the different range ecology andplants of western Montana.

John Hollenback, chair of the localcommittee said it is fun to see entirefamilies enjoying Range Days together.

Workshops will include:■ Basic plant anatomy, common

rangeland vegetation and growth char-acteristics.

■ Geology, climate, vegetation andanimal life associated with local range-lands.

■ How vegetation and forage pro-duction on range sites change over timewith different grazing management,with a comparison of present day forageproduction to historic plant communi-ties.

■ Calculate stocking rates and howto measure utilization of key foragespecies and discuss how grazing useaffects range plants.

■ Range planning with a real-liferanch scenario and the range manage-ment decisions that maintain resourcesto keep the ranch in business.

Tours being offered for adults willinclude: The Old Montana Prison andAuto Museum, the Superfund cleanupsites and activity, Grant-Kohrs RanchNational Historic Site including theirprogram to train cows to eat noxiousweeds.

The Deer Lodge Valley ConservationDistrict, Natural Resource ConservationService, and Northern Ag Network hostthe event.

Registration, including workshopmaterials and six meals, is: Individuals$40, Family $90

Registration forms and more infor-mation are available on the website:www.montanarangedays.org. or call(406) 846-1703

Montana Range Days set June 18-20

PAT HANSEN PHOTO

FAMILIES ENJOY LUNCH on a sunny day during the 2011 Montana Range Days

With an increasing commitment torangeland education, the MontanaRange Days program is offering three$1,000 scholarships to assist youngpeople with an interest in RangeScience.

They are the “Bob Sitz MemorialScholarship,” presented by the SitzFamily and the Sitz Angus Ranch ofHarrison and Dillon, MT; a “MontanaRange Days Scholarship,” and the“Harold and Lillian Jensen

Scholarship,” which is sponsored bythe Jensen Family of Baker.

Students planning to major inRange Science or a related field areencouraged to apply for all three of thescholarships by completing a simpleone-page application form.

The form can be obtained on theMRD Web site at www.cartercd.orgor by contacting: Montana RangeDays Scholarship Committee, MikeSjostrom, Chairman, c/o Montana

Livestock Ag Credit Inc., P.O. Box 4549, Helena, MT 59604;(406) 442-3740.

Selection is based on the applicant’s involvement in range activities, leadership, academicachievement and financial need.

The deadline for applications isApril 30, 2012.

The winners will be announced onJune 19 at the 2012 Montana Range Days.

$1,000 Range Days scholarships offered


Membership is open to individuals, partnerships,and businesses who are actively engaged in agriculturalproduction or who support the industry.

To become a member, send $25 dues made payable toRocky Mountain Stockgrowers, P.O. Box 364, Avon, MT59713.

Include phone number and email address.For details, call Reece Price 439-7071 or Brian

Quigley 459-4454.

First ...Continued from Page 12

PAT HANSEN PHOTO

EARLY MORNING SUNLIGHT warms the Charley Graveley family of Avon as they trail cattle home from summer pastures.

ON THE TRAIL

RANGE DAYS

WORKSHOP

YOUNG PEOPLE checka reference book as they identify plants during aMontana Range Days workshop in 2011.


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We do our part.You do yours.

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