T IMES
January 3, 2020
BAKER, MONTANA
‘Cattlewoman of the Year’ Fallon County rancher receives title
By Brad Mosher Country Media
W
anda Pinnow got her Christmas surprise
early. She was named Montana Cattlewoman of the Year on Dec. 11 in Billings. “It was definitely a surprise,” the current president of the American National Cattlewomen explained. “I went to the awards session and they called my name. I was totally shocked,” she said, noting it was the first time the Montana Cattlewomen organization had given the award. Pinnow has lived in the area all of her life and has been involved with the Baker CowBelles since the 1990s. “I have been really busy (with the national group),” she said, noting that her term as president of the group will end in February. But she knows who was responsible for the December surprise in Billings, she said. “It is because the Baker CowBelles nominated me for this position, it is the reason I got it. They wrote letters explaining why they thought I should win the award,” she said. The letters focused on what she had been doing for the Montana Cattlewomen and the Baker CowBelles, according to Pinnow. A longtime secretary/treasurer for the Baker CowBelles, she said that she only found out about the state award when they called her name at the awards ceremony.
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Rising Ranch to be inducted into Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame T
he Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame proudly announces the honorees for induction on the fifteenth anniversary of this prestigious organization. Local inductees to the Hall of Fame include:
Wanda Pinnow. Photo courtesy of Connie Ahlgren, Montana Cattlewomen “As president of the American National Cattlewomen, I have traveled to 15 states and I have helped put on a WIRED (Women In Ranching Education Development) event in Billings for the Montana Cattlewomen. It was a hands-on educational symposium for women and young collegians. It was a full-day thing at the Miller Horse Palace in Laurel (Yellowstone County). We had a whole day of education. We started with some classroom
education, how to mix a live vaccine, the proper mixing of a live vaccine and the proper storage of a live vaccine. We also learned about what certain medicines are for, where to give the medicine, the proper way of giving the medicine to the livestock. “It included hands-on chute education, the proper way to get cattle down the alleyway and into a chute and the proper way of setting up your alleyway,” she explained. The
group at the event was also shown the way to get cattle into the corner gate with no yelling or talking. “Just by walking slowly towards them,” she explained. “It was one of our exercises.” In addition, the event provided education on the ways to properly perform branding, castration, vaccination and worming, along with the chute
CATTLEWOMAN continued on Page 4
Rising Ranch, Baker, MT Rising Ranch is a five generation, 115 year old ranch established in 1904 by Oscar and Martha Keener. Oscar and Martha ventured west from Wisconsin and homesteaded what is now Rising Ranch. Rising Ranch is located in southeast Montana 20 miles north of Baker on Highway 7 along Ash Creek. Oscar and Martha farmed, raised sheep and cattle. In 1919 they adopted Pauline (Stroup) Keener (19161996). In 1941 Pauline married Murray Melcher (19132005). At this time Pauline and Murray took over operation of the ranch and established the first Black Angus cattle herd in southeastern Montana. Pauline and Murray raised sheep and worked hard establishing their herd of Black Angus cattle. Pauline was a charter member of the Baker CowBelles and held numerous offices in the state and national organization. Murray and Pauline
loved lambing, horses and watching their herd of cattle prosper. In June of 1944, Linda was born. Her love of animals has kept her working the ranch her entire life. In November, 1963, Linda married Ralph Rising (19342018). Together, Ralph and Linda built the cattle herd with Murray and Pauline. In 1980, Ralph and Linda took over operation of the ranch. In 1969, Ralph and Linda adopted Pete (Nistler) Rising. Since 2012, Pete and his wife Carol now live and work on the ranch. In 2018 Pete and Carol took over operation of the ranch. They have two sons, Wyatt and Morgan. After completing college, Wyatt has returned to the ranch to partner with Pete and continue the tradition. Morgan is currently in college and has aspirations to return to the ranch as well. The family is still raising Black Angus cattle, horses and enjoying the agriculture way of life. Pete, Wyatt and Morgan are past members of the National High School Rodeo Association and competed at nationals, current or past members of the PRCA, NIRA, NRA, & NDRA. The entire family has enjoyed
RISING RANCH continued on Page 4
Frosty Trees
Thick, dense fog made for dreary days Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but beautiful frost on the trees was the result.
TODAY’S FORECAST High: 34 Low: 20
Files of the Times..............2 Villa Happenings..............3 Spartan Scroll...................6
Sunny
Russell’s Clothing Baker, MT 406-778-2427
Cougar Tracks....................5 Upcoming Events..............6 Classifieds.........................7
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