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THIS ISSUE: Annual Convention News Farming in the City Why We Grow GMO Great Membership BeneďŹ ts
A publication for the more than 21,000 member families of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation Spok_fall_2015.indd 1
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F A L L
Published by: Montana Farm Bureau Federation 502 S. 19th Ave, #104 Bozeman, MT 59718 406-587-3153 www.mfbf.org
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Publisher John Youngberg Editor Rebecca Colnar Managing Editor Sue Ann Streufert Advertising Sales Kim Morgan 800-761-5234 Ext. 205 Production Services Provided by: Northern Directory Publishing
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Cover Photo Shane Clouse of the Pink Grizzly in Missoula grows produce for commercial markets along with Christmas wreaths, flowers and much, much more. Photo by Rebecca Colnar.
Dwindling Open Space Challenges Agriculturalists
© Copyright 2015. Montana Farm Bureau Federation Spokesman. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication man not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without prior written consent of the publisher. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein and the reliability of the source, the publisher in no way guarantees nor warrants the information and is not responsible for errors, omissions or forward looking statements made by advertisers. Articles and advertisements in this publication are not solicitations to buy, hold or sell specific securities; they are for information purposes only. Opinions and recommendations made by contributors or advertisers are not necessarily those of the publisher, its directors, officers or employees. Investors should be aware that risk is associated with any security, strategy or investment and are advised to seek the counsel of a competent investment advisor before making any investment, or utilizing any information contained in this publication. Subscription, advertising and circulation information can be obtained from the publisher.
For publishing and advertising information, call Kim Morgan at Northern Directory Publishing 800-761-5234 Ext. 205 Printed 9/2015
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Wreaths, Peppers and a Pink Grizzly
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The Hypocrisy of Forest Fire Policy
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Meet Agent Will Johnson, Missoula
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Labeling Is Not the Answer
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Meet District 6 Director, Wes Jensen
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Young People in Ag
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Annual Convention News
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Safety - Hunting and Wildfires
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Ag Chat
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“Ain’t This Romantic!?!” Adventures of a 20th Century Cowboy
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Why We Grow GMO
Montana Farm Bureau Spokesman
•Fall 2015
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EDITORIAL
The Hypocrisy of Forest Fire Policy By Bob Hanson, President, Montana Farm Bureau Federation
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his summer, horrible wildfires raged in the far western parts of the country. Blame the fires on what on you will, the truth is the fires burned with the intensity, size and duration they did due to 30 years of poor forest management. Often the U.S. Forest Service takes the heat (pun intended), but realize this: So far in the history of the U.S. Forest Service there has been an environmentalist behind every tree, suing them for everything they do until that tree catches fire. Let me share an example of what happened in my home county. A campground was closed in Meagher County for three years because the pine beetle infestation caused so many dead trees to fall. Every time the Forest Service tried to cut down the dead trees they would be sued. They finally got it mitigated and they are going in to alleviate the problem. But that is just a small example. It seems for everything the Forest Service does, there is a lawsuit and they are negated on doing management projects on any level. Interestingly, the only thing they don’t get sued for are forest fires. Not managing forests is an extremely unproductive policy. We do the occasional prescribed burns, but it’s not enough and is counterproductive. The problem lies in that we have a lot of fire fuel buildup due to lack of commercial logging and other activities that prevent fuel buildup. In the end, this creates larger issues with fires. Fires result in very poor air quality conditions, far more than harvesting logs would
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create. The blame for the awful air quality lies directly on the shoulders of the environmental movement, which when you think about it, is totally hypocritical. These are the people who scream loudest about clean air, yet their lawsuits have created a situation that causes dangerous air quality. Maybe because forest fires are “natural,” bad air quality gets a pass. In his editorial in the Gem State Producer, Idaho Farm Bureau President Frank Priestly points out, “The U.S. Forest Service circulated a strongly worded press release stating the cost of firefighting has eclipsed half of the agency’s budget. The solution recommended by the USFS is to throw more money at the problem which is not a long-term fix in our view.” He goes on to point out that the USFS press release states that millions of dollars are being re-routed from forest management and recreation to pay for firefighters. “The press release states that climate change and ‘other factors’ are causing the increase in firefighting costs. We will submit that the ‘other factors’ referred to in the release are environmental groups that choose to litigate nearly every single forest management activity that is proposed including controlled burns, logging, road building, insect control and many others.” Right on, Mr. Priestly. What I find amazing is Forest Service management activity is stopped with a postcard they receive objecting to any forest management. They make the excuse that you can’t do any timber
management because it’s the habitat of this or that species. There is more habitat lost, poor air and water quality created by devastating forest fires than there ever would with a wellmanaged forest. You can control the size of the area logged or undergoing a controlled burn. You can’t control the size of a raging forest fire. The bottom line is that what we’re NOT doing these days is worse for the environment than good forest management. Next time you see a forest fire, take a deep breath; it was all done in the name of saving our environment.
Montana Farm Bureau Spokesman (ISSN 08863075) Published quarterly by the Montana Farm Bureau Federation at 502 S. 19th Ave., Suite 104, Bozeman, MT 59718. Periodical postage paid at Bozeman, MT and additional mailing offices. Subscription rates $4 a year covered by annual dues to Montana Farm Bureau Federation members. Non-member subscription $25 per year. Advertising rates available upon request. The Montana Farm Bureau Federation Spokesman reserved the right to reject any advertisements.
POSTMASTER
Send address changes to: Montana Farm Bureau Federation Spokesman th 502 S. 19 Ave., Suite 104, Bozeman, MT 59718 Montana Farm Bureau Federation Officers Bob Hanson – President Hans McPherson – Vice President John Youngberg – Executive VP Diana Bailey – Exec Sec/CFO Montana Farm Bureau Board Troy Kurth – District 1 Harris Wheat – District 2 Jennifer Bergin – District 3 Ronda Johnston – District 4 Mack Cole – District 5 Wes Jensen – District 6 Tom DePuydt – District 7 Ed Bandel – District 8 Ken Johnson – District 9 Patti Davis – District 10 Jenny Stovall – YF&R Gretchen Schubert – Women’s Leadership Comm.
•Fall 2015 9/29/2015 3:40:17 PM
EDITORIAL
Labeling Is Not The Answer By John Youngberg, Executive Vice President, Montana Farm Bureau Federation
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was in the local Costco the other day and found a package of bacon that advertised boldly that it was “Gluten Free.” A nice fact to know but about as useful as advertising boneless bananas! Unless there is a new technology that I am not aware of, meat does not contain gluten. No matter where we shop or what ads we see anymore we are faced with a barrage of claims touting such assets as sustainably grown, non-GMO, natural, antibiotic-free or organic. Some package labels list all four! A challenge facing modern agriculture producers today is providing products for a market place where changes in consumer demand can occur as quickly as a new ad campaign can be dreamed up. An example of that is all-natural food. “Natural” brings a vision of a pastoral setting where animals graze on lush grass with butterflies flitting around the wildflowers. In truth, there are no hard and fast rules for using the word “natural.” Most likely all beef could be considered natural as long as it does not contain artificial flavors, coloring or chemical preservatives. Another claim popular today is “sustainably” produced. Major retailers spend a great of money and time advertising that they source sustainably grown foods. The problem is that whether it is Walmart, Krogers, McDonalds, Costco or even Coors, the definition is always somewhat vague, different for each and usually has more to do with social responsibility than food production.
McDonalds pledged in 2013 they would begin purchasing beef that was produced in a sustainable manner by 2016. The problem they discovered was there was no definition of “sustainability.” So they collaborated with the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef to develop a definition and criteria for production. This roundtable of odd bedfellows included the World Wildlife Fund, Cargill, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and JBS. The definition they arrived at is the term “sustainable” is summarized as “a socially responsible, environmentally sound and economically viable product that prioritizes Planet, People, Animals and Progress.” The small print that follows insures that products will be purchased from producers who protect the environment through improved air quality, don’t cut rainforests and feed forage that is sustainably produced. On the animal welfare front, it will include animal’s freedom to express normal patterns of behavior with the animal being raised in an environment conducive to good health and physical comfort. These are only a few of the nearly 30 criteria including paying at least minimum wage, hiring of minorities and recognizing the cultural heritage of all parties. Although some of this seems unnecessary, the criteria includes the fact that the producer needs to make money and there are criteria for the protection of property rights and they want to maintain the culture of the producers.
Often despite what is touted on a label, the labeled product on the shelf is no healthier than the non-labeled. I understand and respect that folks want to know what is in their food, but at some point we need to understand advertising is just that— advertising. Often despite what is touted on a label, the labeled product on the shelf is no healthier than the non-labeled. We must remember that as legislation is being developed to have mandatory labeling of “GMO” food products. If there are proven health benefits or risks for a product, labeling is warranted. However, it is more than likely that the labeling will simply be used for groups with an agenda to scare consumers away from buying food products that are safe, nutritious and healthy. My advice: enjoy those fully stocked grocery shelves and don’t stress about the label
NOTICE
Annual Policyholders’ Meeting Mountain West Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company
December 3, 2015 8:00 a.m. Farm Bureau Center, 931 Boulder Dr. Laramie, WY - 82070
Montana Farm Bureau Spokesman
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•Fall 2015
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YOUNG PEOPLE IN AG By Mariah Baumann Shammel
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hen I sit down to write this column, I generally have no idea what I’m going to write about. I do that because it makes the piece more authentic and timely…or maybe it’s because I’m a major procrastinator. Either way, it’s a rare occasion that I do have a topic or issue in mind ahead of time, but that wasn’t the case for this quarter’s Spokesman. By the time this article is printed, the 12th Annual Young Ag Leadership Conference will have just concluded. It’s so invigorating to be a part of the event, where nine of Montana’s leading ag organizations join forces to create a weekend filled with top-notch speakers, networking opportunities, relevant workshops and entertaining evenings. The best part is, there are young people packed into every conference room (ages 18-40), around 200 on a good year. Needless to say, the conference makes it hard not to be optimistic about being a young person in Montana’s number-one industry, so I was excited to write an article about how great it is to be one of these elusive rarities. Then the wrath of being a “yaggie” (young agriculturalist) hit Favorite Farmer and I with full force. It was like a switch was flipped—we had people who recently moved out from town calling to complain about us spraying one of our fields with chemical, some of our long-standing grazing agreements were suddenly in turmoil, certain government agencies were telling us how to run the hunting on our place and every newscaster, article and radio show was blasting the future of agriculture. The list just kept piling up. My better half and I deal with a lot of landlords, hunters, family, neighbors, kids, crazy people and every other group of society you can think of, so let’s just say we’re really good at letting things slide off our backs… usually with a smile on our faces. This particular week, however, was not a typical week in the Shammel household—tensions were high, the constant chatter of our busy household seemed muted and every time the phone rang, we braced ourselves for more bad news.
We aren’t the only ones who have to deal with these types of issues—and they’re not problems that are going away anytime soon. It’s a sign of the times and it affects all young (and old) producers. Agriculture has always been plagued with difficulties; poor markets and being at the mercy of the weather are just a couple. These are still factors in today’s ag world but due to a huge societal shift, new game-changers are constantly being thrown at us.
recreationalists can afford make it nearly impossible for us to expand or buy property for the ag value that it would be used for. On top of that, all you hear is how we need to find a way to feed the everburgeoning world population The odds against us yaggies might w i t h a n e v e n be a little overwhelming but we’re faster dwindling willing to give it everything we’ve got amount of finite and I guarantee you, we’ll love (mostly) resources in a society where ani- every minute of it. mal agriculture is constantly chastised and conventional farming is looked down upon. It makes you want to throw your hands up in the air, walk away and get a town job. Don’t think the thought hasn’t crossed our minds, because it has! With an engineering, animal science and business degree between the two of us, Favorite Farmer and I realize we have other options in the work place, but we’re not going anywhere. We made a choice together to make our living off the land and animals we care so much about and to raise our family here, aware of some of the battles we’ll have to confront but knowing it’s just the tip of the iceberg for what’s to come. The cool thing is, every other young producer I know has opportunities to be doing something else, but they’ve all made the same choices and are prepared to stick it out. The odds against us yaggies might be a little overwhelming but we’re willing to give it everything we’ve got and I guarantee you, we’ll love (mostly) every minute of it. As long as the crops are plenty, the cows are fat, the grass is green, the kids are laughing, and Favorite Farmer and I still like to be in the same room with each other, what more can we ask for—a leisurely walk down Easy Street? That would be nice but like that old Will Rogers saying goes, “The farmer has to be an optimist or he wouldn’t still be a farmer.”
People from town are buying plots of land outside the city limits and while they want to be a part of the rural backdrop, they don’t want to see, smell or hear anything that has to do with food and fiber creators. The high land values that these folks who want country living and
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•Fall 2015 9/29/2015 3:40:17 PM
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SAFETY – HUNTING AND WILDFIRES There has been a recent public education campaign called Hug a Hunter that increases awareness of the role of license fees to conservation and wildlife management. Hunting season occurs in the driest part of the year, and with this year’s wildfire outlook being so severe, we have compiled some safety tips to help you prevent a wildfire. When a wildfire occurs, the public looks at the destruction of land and wildlife, but they focus on the cause of the fire. Hunters carry a big responsibility and proper wildfire preservation is part of that responsibility. Protect resources and yourself from potential liability by always exercising common sense and following these tips: • Know the Fire Restrictions in your area and abide by them. There are numerous apps available that will assist you with researching conditions in your hunt area. A good resource is http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/. This will tell you about active fires in your area and the state of the effort to put them out. • Keep your campfires small and know how to extinguish them properly – Drown the fire with water – Mix ashes and embers with soil – Stir to make sure everything is wet – Feel the ashes with your hands to make sure the fire is out – Use only approved fire rings in designated areas
– Keep fire wood away from fire ring – Do not use burn barrels or slash/burn piles to dispose of waste
• Be cautious of the type of ammunition you use – Use steel jacketed or steel-core component ammo – Don’t use tracer rounds or exploding targets – Know what is behind your target
• Use extreme caution when smoking
– Extinguish and dispose of the materials safely – Have water nearby where you smoke
• Use your auto and recreational motor vehicle wisely
– Don’t drive or leave vehicle running in tall dry grass – Park in designated areas only, and if possible not in tall grass – Use caution when refueling from spare gas cans – Make sure your ATV has a proper spark arrestor – Make sure all vents on campers are clear of tall grass, such as furnace & refrigerator vents
• Know and use your chainsaw properly
– Inspect and make sure the spark arrestor is functioning properly – Chainsaws run hot, don’t sit it in an area with dry vegetation
• Lanterns, generators and their fuel supply are potential – Use in a safe area, no tall vegetation – Keep out of the walking path so they don’t get tipped or knocked over
• Be vigilant in watching your hunting area for potential fire risks and report any activity Hope you have a safe hunting season and enjoy the outdoors.
Expect the Unexpected. Talk to your local agent today in preparation for what may happen tomorrow.
HOME, FARM & RANCH, AUTO, BUSINESS
Visit us online at www.mwfbi.com
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Property-casualty insurance products offered through Mountain West Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company • Laramie, Wyoming.
•Fall 2015 9/29/2015 3:40:18 PM
Membership Benets Save Money Farm Bureau Insurance - Contact MWFBMIC for rates on a wide range of insurance plans. See your local lis�ngs for a Farm Bureau agent near you or go to www.mw�i.com.
GM Bonus Cash Offer - MFBF members receive a $500 discount on the purchase or lease of new Buick, Chevrolet and GMC models. This offer available with all other offers, excluding discounted pricing (employee, dealership employee and supplier pricing) and can be stacked with Choice Hotel Discount - Receive a 20% one other private offer. Only customers discount at par�cipa�ng Comfort Inn®, Comfort Suites®, Quality Inn®, Sleep Inn®, who have been ac�ve members of an eligible Farm Bureau for a minimum of 30 Clarion®, MainStay Suites®, Suburban Extended Stay®, Rodeway Inn® and Econo days will be eligible to receive a cer�cate. Lodge® hotels. Call (800) 258-2847 and use Just go to www.�advantage.com/Deals/ GM/, enter your member number and zip MFBF benets number 00209680. code, and print off a cer�cate to take to a Life Line Screening - Members can save par�cipa�ng dealership. money on painless, non-invasive, advanced Polaris Industries Inc. Discounts: Monultrasound technology for stroke and other disease preven�on through Life Line tana Farm Bureau members can now receive an incen�vized $300 per unit Screening. The screenings are performed discount on all Polaris Full Size U�lity & by a highly qualied and skilled technologist and reviewed by a board-cer�ed phy- Sport Vehicles (UTV), $200 per unit on sician. You’ll receive a conden�al wri�en all Full Size All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV) and report within 21 days and are encouraged $300 per unit on all GEM Electric Vehicles to share the results with your doctor. Call from Polaris Industries Inc., the leading manufacturer of off-road vehicles (ORVs). (877) 380-1746. To learn more about eligibility and to print your discount cer�cate, go to www.�adGrainger - Save at least 10% on your next vantage.com/Deals/Polaris. Grainger purchase. Members also receive FREE shipping on all online orders. Call Case IH Tractor & Equipment Incen�ve (877) 202-2594, check out www.grainger. Program - Farm Bureau members receive com or stop by your local Grainger store Case IH equipment discounts thanks to a and use your MFBF account number new membership value program. Eligible 854097532. Farm Bureau members will receive an incen�ve discount – from $300 to $500 Wyndham Hotel Group Discount - Mem– when purchasing qualifying Case IH bers receive up to 20% off the “Best Avail- equipment from par�cipa�ng dealerships. able Rate” at par�cipa�ng loca�ons. For A current Farm Bureau membership verterms and condi�ons or to book online go ica�on cer�cate must be presented to to www.m�f.org or call (877) 670-7088 and the Case IH dealer in advance of product give your discount ID #8000002613 at �me delivery to receive the incen�ve discount. of booking. Go to www.�advantage.com/Deals/Case/ to print your verica�on cer�cate. Red Lion Colonial Hotel - Enjoy the unbeatAvis Car Rental - Enjoy 5-25% savings able rate of $79.95/night for a standard on daily, weekend and weekly Avis car room. Call (406) 443-2100, ask for “inhouse reserva�ons” and request the MFBF rentals, special benets and the comfort membership discount. Valid only in Helena. and reliability that come with ren�ng from Avis. Log on to www.avis.com or call (800) 331-1212 and use your Avis Worldwide Montana State Fund Workers Comp Discount - As a member, you may be eligible Discount number: A298826. for a discount on your State Fund Workers’ Comp Insurance. Call (406) 587-3153 or go to www.m�f.org for more informa�on.
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Coast to Coast Vision Plan - Save on prescrip�on eyeglasses, including frames, lenses, specialty items and eye exams at par�cipa�ng retail loca�ons na�onwide. For the nearest par�cipa�ng retail loca�on, call (800) 800-EYES. Use group code number 103.
Farm Bureau Bank - Farm Bureau Bank offers a full line of banking services. Call (800) 492-FARM or go to www.farmbureaubank.com. Iden�ty The� 911 - MFBF members receive access to highly experienced fraud specialists who will guide you through the complicated resolu�on process for FREE. Call (877) 742-9991 for more details or go to www.m�f-idthe�.org. Reward Signs - Farm Bureau’s neighborhood watch program will help protect your property by paying $500 to $2500 for informa�on leading to an arrest.* Request your reward sign today by calling (406) 587-3153. *Certain limitaƟons & exclusions apply. Farm Bureau® Prescrip�on Discount Receive a FREE Prescrip�on Drug Card and save at more than 50,000 na�onal and regional pharmacies. To locate a pharmacy, print a card or look up medica�on pricing go to www.m�f.org or call (406) 587-3153 for more informa�on. Thri�y Car Rental - Whether your travel is for business or pleasure, you’ll receive discounted prices on car rentals. Call (800) THRIFTY and use your MFBF ID code 0010212772. ClearValue Hearing Healthcare Benet MFBF members will save up to 25% off all Starkey Hearing Instruments (discount off suggested retail). Schedule your FREE Hearing Assessment by calling: 1-888-497-7447. For more informa�on please visit our website: h�p://www.clearvaluehearing. com/farm-bureau.aspx Caterpillar Inc. Benets - Montana Farm Bureau members can save up to $2,000 on new Cat® machines, including wheel loaders, skid steers, backhoes, excavators and more. Discounts cannot be applied to past purchases. Members must provide a valid Member Verica�on Cer�cate to the Cat dealer at the �me of purchase or lease quote to receive the discount. Cer�cates may be obtained at h�p://�advantage. com/Deals/cat.
9/29/2015 3:40:18 PM
Why We Grow GMO “Why We” is a column written by farmers and ranchers that addresses the public’s concerns about agricultural practices.
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y name is Rhonda Steiger and my family has farmed in the Clark’s Fork Valley in South Central, MT for 99 years! Our farm is very diversified and includes both crop and livestock enterprises. Three of the crops we grow—corn, alfalfa and sugar beets are commonly referred to as being Genetically Modified (GM). But here’s a surprise for you. Virtually everything you have ever eaten has been Genetically Modified! There are three basic forms of Genetic Modification. They include Selective Breeding, Mutagenesis and Genetic Engineering (GE). Ag producers are very familiar with Selective Breeding. One example is picking out and using that perfect herd bull to help improve the genetic traits in your cow herd. With Selective Breeding, not only do you get the good traits, but you also get the bad. It can take years to find the perfect cross and many of the foods we enjoy today are the result of Selective Breeding. Mutagenesis is a process of using chemicals and irradiation to ‘force’ a gene to mutate. Mutagenesis has been used for 75 years. It has been used to create over 2,200 crop varieties which have been introduced to our food supply. Mutagenesis is approved for both conventional and organic agriculture. One example of this is the Ruby Red Grapefruit. Genetic Engineering, (GE) or Precision Breeding is the most technologically advanced plant breeding technique known today. This is what most people are referring to when they think of GMOs. Simply put, genetic engineering is a pro-
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Farmer Rhonda Steiger stands in her crop of GM Sugar Beets.
cess of adding one more gene to the plant for a particular desired trait. We have been using GE technology for 18 years. Currently eight crops are the result of GE. They are alfalfa, canola, cotton, corn, soybean, papaya, squash and sugar beets. GE traits are the only traits that are tested by the FDA. In fact, they go through a coordinated framework of review by the FDA, USDA and EPA. They are the most tested products to enter into the U.S. food supply. The majority of scientists and groups such as the American Medical Association, the American Dietetic Association and the World Health Association all agree that GE crops and food are safe. However, more than 80 percent of consumers view GE foods as unsafe. No farmer would grow a crop that makes an unsafe food product. Doing so is bad for business. As a mom, I care very deeply about the nutritional content of the food I feed my family. I confidently feed them GE foods on a daily basis. While previous generations may credit going from horses to tractors as the biggest agricultural revolution, I personally believe GE technology is the greatest agricultural advancement of our time. Since
Roundup Ready sugar beets were released, I have personally witnessed crop yields nearly double. Before GE beets, weed control was a constant struggle. Beet farmers used a tank mix of about four or five chemicals which were applied every seven to ten days in the spring. If for some reason you weren’t able to spray your fields in a timely fashion, weed control was lost and yields and profits were reduced. The American Farmer has always felt an obligation to feed its country and the world. The world population is expected to hit 9 billion by 2050. When that happens we will need 50 percent more food. It is no secret that resources such as land and water are limited. As farmers we will need to produce more with less. This is nothing new. We’ve always strived to reach the highest yield potential in an effort to stay profitable and competitive. GE crops are simply another tool in helping feed Americans and people around the world. I firmly believe that if America’s farms are going to successfully pass to the next generation, they must continue to have access to this game-changing technology.
•Fall 2015 9/29/2015 3:40:19 PM
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9/29/2015 3:40:20 PM
Meet Agent Will Johnson, Missoula
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eing involved in your community takes effort, dedication and a passion for what you do. Mountain West Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance agent Will Johnson enjoys his job and strives to be involved in the Missoula community, especially with his passion for agriculture. He serves on the Missoula Chamber of Commerce Board as well as the Chamber Ag Committee, is past president of the Missoula Kiwanis, and is on the Montana Farm Bureau Convention Committee. Johnson is no stranger to agriculture having grown up in a small agriculture/logging town in southern Oregon where he was active in 4-H and FFA. He graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in ag science. “Two weeks after I graduated, I packed up my truck and moved to Montana,” says Johnson with a smile. “I knew I wanted to be in Montana because I love hunting, fishing and the lack of people. A friend’s Dad was an agency manager in Wyoming and knew I had background in finance. He mentioned I might be interested in working for Farm Bureau Financial Services. At that time, my fiancée (now wife) had been accepted into the University of Montana Law School, and the opportunity came up in October, 2008 to contract with MWFBIC and Farm Bureau Financial Services in Missoula. When I first started there were a few agents in the office who moved on, then Kevin Leavell and I teamed up to run this office. Johnson feels the best part of his job is his ability to help people solve the problems they have, or reach their financial goals. “Whether it’s a family trying to pass down their farm or ranch, general risk management, or retirement planning, it’s a good feeling to help people accomplish that,” says Johnson. His advice to Farm Bureau insureds is to take advantage of the programs the Federation provides, such as succession planning seminars at conventions and meetings, as well as the knowledge provided (at no charge) from Farm Bureau Financial Services seminars in your area.
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“I think one of the most difficult challenges farmers and ranchers face is generational planning and tax issues,” says Johnson. “Starting those conversations isn’t easy, but it’s necessary. Helping folks navigate through those challenges is very rewarding.” Johnson’s clients not only live in the Miss- Will Johnson, Mountain West Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Agent. oula area, but in Bozeman, Drummond, Phillipsburg, Trout Creek, Kalispell and all through Ravalli County. “I enjoy traveling to see my clients at their operations. Those kitchen table discussions are very enjoyable and helps me get a better idea of what we are working to protect.” He is not only involved in the Chamber, but purchases a market animal every year from 4-H or FFA and has helped Youth Little League. He’s also participating in the Missoula Hellgate High School Finance Academy which focuses on learning through a specific branch of business. Currently, Johnson has a student who is working as an intern in the office to learn about advanced finance and financial planning. “I enjoy being involved in the community and with MFBF,” says Johnson. “I look forward to seeing our members at the MFBF Convention in Missoula.”
•Fall 2015 9/29/2015 3:40:22 PM
Meet District 6 Director, Wes Jensen
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es Jensen would rather be working cattle than testifying before a committee in the legislature, but he realizes sometimes you need to get out of your comfort zone and talk about agriculture to the public. Jensen is no stranger to ranching. In 1910 his grandfather homesteaded the area where the ranch is today northeast of Circle. Jensen’s father, Earl, and his two brothers formed the Jensen Brothers Ranch Corporation in the 1960s. “The ranch used to raise cattle and grain, but the ranch evolved into just cattle,” says Jensen, although he admits there is still tractor time. They grow dryland hay, barley, millet and peas, all for livestock forage. The ranch is commercial cow-calf with a strong Angus influence. “We calve in March and April and brand the first of May with our neighbors. We primarily graze on private land. We’re fortunate enough to have easy land to gather, not rough country. We sell our calves through a buyer in the fall. It’s just my wife Cheryl (who is the McCone County Farm Bureau secretary), my 91-year-old dad, Earl, and myself running the ranch.”
The Jensens had left the area for several years, then returned to Circle with Wes planning to continue his work with western art sculpture. “But life got more involved on the ranch and we needed to take over the responsibility of running the ranch. I don’t h a v e a n y c o m - Wes Jensen of Circle is the MFBF p l a i n t s . I e n j o y Director in District 6. being involved in agriculture. What it boils down to is you have a lot of independence and freedoms that the general public doesn’t get to experience. The isolation of rural life is not for everyone, but for Cheryl and I it adds t o t h e b e a u t y o f where we live. We are blessed to be able to be living our dream as ranchers.” Continued on page 14
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•Fall 2014
13 9/29/2015 3:40:23 PM
Meet District 6 Director, Wes Jensen Continued from page 13
Farm Bureau can develop policy that can make it into the American Farm Bureau Federation policy book. In a society that reacts emotionally, it’s rewarding to see that Farm Bureau doesn’t act on emotion. All the policy in that book has been discussed carefully.”
Wes Jensen, his son and father appeared on a Montana Farm Bureau Animal Care billboard and sign.
The Jensens have been Farm Bureau members for many years. Wes and Cheryl decided to get more involved when they read through the policy book. “The policy book was consistent with our values,” notes Jensen. “People should realize if you are a Farm Bureau member, you can make a difference. Even a small county
Jensen says everyone in agriculture should be speaking up. “Our biggest hurdle is farmers and ranchers aren’t aggressive people. They just want to do their job producing food. It seems agriculture is always on the defensive. I think we need to turn that around and ask the people who are negative about us some difficult questions. We also need to take time to connect with the other side and explain what we do in a way they will understand. What I urge everyone in agriculture is to get involved in organizations and let your voice be heard. Without strong organizations like Farm Bureau working tirelessly to protect this way of life, we will lose the privilege of living a dream and find ourselves just dreaming.” As a board member, Jensen plans to be involved in surfacing younger leaders who will carry the torch. “Young people are showing interest in agriculture. We need that new energy to communicate with the world outside,” Jensen concludes.
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Montana Farm Bureau Spokesman
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•Fall 2015 9/29/2015 3:40:26 PM
96th Montana Farm Bureau Annual Convention & Trade Show November 8-11 * Hilton Garden Inn * Missoula
PAST TRADITIONS;
Future Innovations
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING Spok_fall_2015.indd 15
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Schedule of Events Sunday, November 8 Noon
Registration Opens
1-3pm
Women’s Leadership Committee Mtg
12:30-4:30pm Small Landowner Information Sessions (See more details in the Highlights) 1:30-3pm
Commodity Advisory Committee Mtgs
3:30-5pm
Commodity Advisory Committee Mtgs
7:00pm
Vespers Service • Message by Youth With A Mission
3pm
Board of Directors Meeting
4:30-5:30pm Ag Safety Training 7:45pm
Reception hosted by WLC • Entertainment by Youth With A Mission
Monday, November 9
6:45am
Century Club Members Only Breakfast Keynote: Dale Moore, AFBF
8:00am
Opening General Session • Presentation of Colors • National Anthem • President’s Address • Keynote: Governor Steve Bullock
9:10-10:30am Workshops • What’s next with GMOs - TBD • Beekeeping 101 - Jaylene Naylor, Beekeepers of the Bitteroot • COOL Update - Dale Moore, AFBF • Cover Crops - Dr. Clain Jones, MSU 9:10-11am
YF&R Committee Meeting
11:00am
Audit Report
12-1:15pm
Lunch hosted by YF&R Committee Keynote: Joe Ritzman, SSA Marine; Gateway Pacific Terminal Project
10am-4pm 11:15am
Bull & Heifer Show
Open Resolutions Session
1:15-2:30pm Workshops • How to put on a Farm Fair - Jay & Colleen Meyer, Ravalli County • Animal Bio-Security - CSU • Embryo Transfer in Cattle - Dr. Thomas Geary, USDA-ARS Ft Keogh 2:30pm
Ice Cream Social
5:15pm
YF&R Discussion Meet - Final Round
7pm
Young Farmer & Rancher Social
3-5pm 6pm
District Caucuses MFBF Social
Tuesday, November 10
6:45am
Presidents & Secretaries Breakfast
10:30am
Resolutions Session
1-5pm
Resolutions Session continues
8am
General Session • Insurance Report • Exec Vice President’s Address • Roll Call of Delegates • Credentials Committee Report • Nominating Committee Report and Introductions
11:45am-1pm Lunch hosted by Women’s Leadership Committee 5:30pm
MSU Alumni/College of Ag Social
7:00pm
Awards Banquet
6:00pm 9:00pm
MFBF Social
Entertainment: The Peterson Brothers
Wednesday, November 11
8:00am
Resolutions Session
The Board of Directors will meet immediately following the resolutions session.
1:15-2:30pm YF&R Discussion Meet - Round 1
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Montana Farm Bureau Spokesman
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•Fall 2015
9/29/2015 3:41:04 PM
96th Montana Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention REGISTRATION FORM
November 8-11 * Hilton Garden Inn * Missoula Due November 2
Please print name(s) as you want them to appear on name badge(s): Name:________________________________________________________________________________________________ Name:________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address:____________________________________________________________________________________________ City:___________________________State:_________Zip:________________County:_______________________ E-mail:___________________________________________________________Phone:___________________________ Voting Delegate
Alternate
REGISTRATION AND MEALS
Registration Fee (required to attend all events) Monday Lunch (Joe Ritzman, SSA Marine) Tuesday Lunch
Tuesday Dinner & Awards Banquet
TOTAL
$40 $20
$20 $35
Guest x x
x x
_______ =
$_________
_______ =
$_________
_______ =
$_________
_______ =
$_________
$________
LODGING INFORMATION
PAYMENT _______ Check Enclosed (payable to MFBF) _______
Member
You can register online with a credit card at www.mfbf.org.
Attendees are responsible for making their own room reservations with the hotel. Call the Missoula Hilton Garden Inn at (406) 532-5300 and request the MFBF room block for special conference rates. Be sure to book your room by October 23!
Please return registration form by November 2 to:
Montana Farm Bureau Federation, 502 S. 19th Ave, Ste 104, Bozeman, MT 59718 or fax (406) 587-0319 Call the MFBF office at (406) 587-3153 or e-mail info@mfbf.org with questions. Montana Farm Bureau Spokesman Fall 2015 17
•
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9/29/2015 3:41:05 PM
Convention Highlights! Small Acreage Seminar
Sunday, November 8, 12:30–4:30pm This is a great conference that is free and open to the public! Can you be a farmer on three acres? The answer is YES. Learn how to turn your small acreage into an income-producing venue while enjoying the process. Erin Turner, who operates Turner Farms with her family, will talk about marketing strategies for both farmers markets and directly from the farm. She’ll cover how to set an eye-appealing vendor booth, tips on increasing market sales, social media advertising and how to make your farm customer friendly. The seminar will also include a small acreage commodity panel featuring the owners of Living River Farms who talk about marketing grass-fed beef and poultry, along with speakers on growing garlic and producing and marketing apple cider. Looking for start-up funds? Representatives from the MT Department of Agriculture and Northwest Farm Credit will provide useful information to get you going.
D.C. Policy Update
This “Washington Insider” knows everything about the inner workings of your government. In 2001, Dale Moore was appointed by President Bush as USDA’s Chief of Staff and served all four individuals appointed as Secretary of Agriculture by the President Bush. He provided transition assistance to President Obama’s agricultural advisors and spent over a dozen years on Capitol Hill, working in various positions for the House Agriculture Committee. Dale is going to give us the scoop from D.C. including where the EPA is on the Water of the U.S., the latest with GMO labeling, what’s happening with the Endangered Species Act and COOL, to name a few.
Polaris Ranger Up For Grabs
Polaris and the Young Farmer & Rancher Committee are upping the ante! This year the winner of the 2015 MFBF Discussion Meet will take home a brand new Polaris Ranger 570 plus an expense paid trip to Orlando, FL to compete in the national YF&R Discussion Meet. All voting members ages 18-35 are eligible to compete for this amazing prize package. Encourage members from your area to attend the convention on Monday, November 9 for a great day of events for YF&Raged members. For more information contact, Sue Ann at sueanns@mfbf.org. Spok_fall_2015.indd 18
Meet the Peterson Farm Brothers
The Peterson Farm Brothers will be joining MFBF members during the Awards Banquet Tuesday evening. If you’re on a computer, you have probably watched YouTube videos of the Petersons feeding their cows, plowing, baling, leaping about and having a good time to their own lyrics for popular tunes. Be sure to attend the Awards Ceremony then stay in your seats and watch some entertaining (and educational) videos and hear the brothers talk about how their popularity all came about.
Expanding Exports Joe Ritzman with SSA Marine will talk about The Gateway Pacific Terminal, located in Northwest Washington State. It will be a modern cargo-handling facility to expand America’s exports of dry bulk commodities, including up to 6 million metric tons of agricultural products destined for the Asian market. Proposed by Washington-based SSA Marine, the terminal will meet the state’s stringent environmental standards. During 2 years of construction it will generate over 4,400 jobs in the region’s economy. At full capacity it will generate over 1,250 permanent jobs. SSA Marine was founded as Bellingham Stevedoring Company in 1949 and has been a part of the local community for decades.
Bull & Heifer Show is Back! Monday, November 9, 10am–4pm
Convention attendees in the past know just how cool this is—cattle on Reserve Street. It’s kind of fun to see Angus, Simmental and Herefords a few steps away from the Hilton Garden Inn, Staples and Hooters! Stroll out to the pens during a break and visit with the breeders of these fine livestock. Watch FFA kids and the MSU Livestock Judging Team rate the animals. Be sure to stop by the Steer-A-Year booth to find out all about this worthy program.
9/29/2015 3:41:08 PM
Dwindling Open Space Challenges Agriculturalists With the Montana Farm Bureau Convention taking place November 8-11 in Missoula, Spokesman Editor Rebecca Colnar traveled to that area to visit with one rancher in Potomac dealing with encroaching development, and Turner Farms who raises produce minutes from busy Reserve Street. The Montana Products article features Shane Clouse of the Pink Grizzly whose greenhouse produces everything from 6,000 Christmas wreaths to lettuce for the upcoming MFBF Annual Convention.
The Wills Cattle Company
R
anching north of Bonner presents a unique set of challenges not faced by eastern Montana ranches—namely encroaching development and mountainous, tree-covered land. The Wills family homesteaded in the Bonita area in 1894. The family expanded their landholdings in 1928 to where the ranch is located today. W.K. Wills had three sons and one daughter, and the Wills Ranch Company was divided among the four. Currently his grandson, Sidney Wills and family operate Wills Cattle Company. “My great uncle had the upper place, the other siblings had the actual Wills homestead, and Grandpa and Grandma had the place where we are today,” explains Heather, the fourth generation to be ranching in the area. Sidney, Heather’s father, explains that when the family first came over the mountain to Potomac, they primarily raised sheep, pigs and workhorses. It was a symbiotic relationship: ranchers provided the food and animals for the timber camps, and logging companies would lease the timber grounds for grazing. In the late 1930s when the camps closed, the family switched to raising cattle and timber. Timber plays a huge part of the Wills Ranch, as it makes up 95 percent of the land base. The Wills log approximately 150,000 board feet per year. “In the early 1930s a grazing association was established between local ranchers, the timber company, the State and BLM, and that has lasted over the years,” explains Sidney. Today, three ranches run on 80,000 acres that stretches from Potomac over the Garnet Mountains to Clinton. Through the years there were land transfers between the timber companies, the Nature Conservancy and the State.
Heather Wills explains the family’s timber business.
“It’s a different concept going from a private timber company to a public land agency,” notes Heather. “The timber outfit is mainly concerned about their trees, but the public agency is different as they need to satisfy public interest. We had been working with the State, but it’s different when they own the majority of the land. “We’ve been fortunate enough to have someone in the conservation district who is skilled at finding ways for private landowners and agency people to work together.”
Calving Season Year Round
Unlike many ranchers who calve in the spring, the Wills calve their 200 mother cows year round. “Until the 1970s, we used to feed out our own animals, have them butchered and sell them to Missoula grocery stores. The stores needed a steady supply of meat, and we were able to provide that by calving year round,” explains Heather. “However, competition and regulations forced those small packing houses to close. Our pens were on a creek and there were environmental concerns, so we stopped doing what would probably be today called ‘local beef.’ We decided to keep calving all year because it works well for the three of us and my sister helps when she can.” Cattle are in the mountains June 1 – September 30, then they are gathered out of the mountains and are at the home ranch for the rest of the year. “The cattle are Continued on page 20
Montana Farm Bureau Spokesman
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•Summer 2015
19 9/29/2015 3:41:10 PM
Dwindling Open Space Challenges Agriculturalists Continued from page 19
primarily raised on the hayground (300 acres), so we feed from the end of November through April. We calve heifers in March, keeping them close to the house so we can keep an eye on them. As for the cows, we calve every month, highest numbers in January and February, we wean four times each year and brand in the fall and spring,” says Heather. “We keep our replacement heifers and sell our calves at our local stockyard a trailer at a time. That works for us as we hit the high markets in the spring.” The Wills family admits that development plays a part in ranch management. “We are surrounded by subdivided 10 and 20 acre parcels which influence the way we run our operation. More and more houses are being built on the land that is part of our summer grazing. When we were surrounded by other ranches, everyone worked together, and we’d just leave the gates open and the cows would come out of the hills and come home in the fall. Now when we bring our cattle down from the hills, we need to trail them through a subdivision and need to ask permission from a few of those neighbors,” says Heather. “There are more dogs and people and cars. With those subdivisions, we don’t have total control.”
Another challenge is wildlife. In the past 10 years elk have been living on the valley floor and not leaving like they used to. “They will show up the middle of May and stay through the summer. We do participate in the Block Management hunting program for archery and rifle. We will have up to 350 hunters sign in per season. It’s important to have hunters for wildlife to be managed or we could have a real problem with disease,” Heather notes. (Elk are known to carry brucellosis which cause abortion in cattle and undulant fever in humans.) The family is active in agricultural organizations, and Heather has been especially active in Farm Bureau. “Like everyone else, I was busy with the ranch, I was coaching at school and working with a youth group. Bill Meadows, a former MFBF District Director, kept urging me to join. Then the Young Farmer and Rancher Chair Peter Taylor invited me to come to the YF&R Discussion Meet at the MFBF Convention in Missoula,” says Heather. “I attended the Northwest Counties Annual Meeting, was a voting delegate at the MFBF Annual Meeting and was full bore from then on. I was on the YF&R Committee for a few years, and I have been chair of the Natural Resources/Forestry Committee for the past couple of years.”
One of the old homestead barns on the Wills Cattle Company land.
Heather values Farm Bureau tremendously. “MFBF’s Calling on the Capitol was very valuable. I learned how to testify and contact legislators when there are issues about access or water. I like the Farm Bureau conventions to hear opinions of others across the state, and I enjoy the MFBF Summer Conference,” says Heather. Continued on page 21
Some of the challenges facing ranchers today is the perception that you are “privileged and rich.”
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Montana Farm Bureau Spokesman
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•Fall 2015 9/29/2015 3:41:13 PM
Heather notes some of the challenges facing ranchers today is the perception that you are “privileged and rich.” “What they don’t see is the hard work and what you sacrifice. You have no pension. You give up a steady salary. In my case I have to buy shares in our ranch and I need income to do that.” She urges other agriculturalists to stay involved with local planning and join groups other than just ag groups. “It’s up to farmers and ranchers to get the word out about what you do, and by joining different groups you get to talk to different people,” she says. “Remember you need to adapt as your community changes.” With the challenges of encroaching development, increasing wildlife, and governmental land management, why does the Wills family stay? “You stay because you know what your problems are. You stay because your family has worked here for generations. We want to stay,” says Heather.
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Montana Farm Bureau Spokesman
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•Fall 2015
21 9/29/2015 3:41:18 PM
Dwindling Open Space Challenges Agriculturalists Turner Farms – Farming in Suburbia
“Y
ou have corn, tomatoes, kale, onions, zucchini and carrots in your sack this time. Don’t forget to look at the extra vegetables on our free table.” So starts a typical conversation Tuesday afternoon at Turner Farms where Erin and Jon Turner hand out bags full of homegrown goodness. Turner Farms has a garden of beautiful corn, rows of vegetables complete with an irrigation system, chickens and hogs. What makes it especially interesting is that it’s nestled in a subdivision four miles from busy Reserve Street in Missoula and its owners, Erin and Jon Turner, although native Missoulians, did not have a background in agriculture. “I grew up with a garden but never animals. The garden was simply for my family’s use and I married Jon, he started to garden and found he really enjoyed it,” explains Erin. A move to their current location found two of their sons, age 3 and 5 at the time, wanting bunk beds, so the parents said they had to earn money to buy them. Up went the Kool-Aid stand which, although ambitious, was not particularly profitable. But then the kids decided that selling the family vegetables might do the trick. “We all harvested our garden together and sold it at the end of our driveway. At the end of the season, the kids had enough money to buy the bunk beds and we realized growing food could actually be a business. The next year we doubled the size of our garden and it has grown.”
Erin has spent the last five years trying to make it profitable. “We realized that we can make a certain amount of money but not enough to retire so we keep gardening and use it to educate people. We have fourth graders come in the spring and plant an acre of pumpkins. They harvest the pumpkins as fifth graders and sell them. They’ve made $1,000 for their school,” she says. “We’ve noticed when we go to a ballgame with our boys, other students will see our kids and say, ‘I’ve picked potatoes at his place. Did you know French fries come from potatoes?” The Turners decided to start raising chickens, with Erin learning how to grade eggs. “We were going to do this right and learn everything we could about chickens and
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Montana Farm Bureau Spokesman
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Jon Turner harvesting onions.
eggs. We started with five chickens and now we have about 100. At first we were delivering eggs, but it was too expensive. Eggs are $5 per dozen; come out, get your eggs and leave your money in the fridge!” The chickens are part of the education process as well. Three different schools do field trips to the farm where they receive eggs, do incubation and bring the baby chicks back. Turners’ three sons are involved with 4-H where they have pig and steer projects. “We plug 4-H when we talk to the kids. We’ve had kids in Missoula public schools join 4-H. This is such a great way to educate kids on where food comes from. We want people to know it doesn’t take much land to raise a lot of food,” says Jon. “This has been very educational for our boys. For instance they will help us pick cucumbers that we sell to a local grocery for $97.50. That covers the cost of the seed, compost, etc. The other cucumbers we pick and sell are profit. It’s good for kids to learn that.” Continued on page 23
They admit farming in a populated area has its challenges, one of them being that buying more land is cost-prohibitive.
•Fall 2015 9/29/2015 3:41:21 PM
Continued from page 22
“We were trying to do the Friday night Farmers Market, and it was difficult to get babysitters, pick vegetables and be at the market in time to get a space. You need consistency and need to be there every week. It was just too hard. Jon is in a business referral group and someone said we should start a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), which has been very successful,” says Erin. “People pay so much at the beginning of the season and they come to the farm where they get what we harvest. We started with five people in 2009 and now have 16 which is just right for us. We now have a waiting list.” One unusual farm activity is hog processing. “We hunt and like to use venison for sausage and needed pork fat. Jon thought maybe our son could raise a hog and we could use that. So he raised two pigs, one for 4-H and one for us, and that was the beginning of our hog business,” explains Erin. “We sell live hogs and the buyers come here and we help them butcher the hogs. We have tents set up. Everyone works on packaging the meat, we often have a cider press going. It’s like stepping back into the past. If you took a picture in the 1930s, you couldn’t tell the difference.” Jon especially enjoys when school kids come out and see the pigs. “I ask them if they like bacon and they raise their hands. Then tell them bacon comes from pigs. It’s a learning experience. If a kid or an adult questions us
“This is such a great way to educate kids on where food comes from. We want people to know it doesn’t take much land to raise a lot of food,” says Jon. about eating the animals we raise, we explain that we take care of them and they take care of us.” Erin has started a blog about the farm, which lets people read about farming and also has a CSA newsletter. Jon praises the technology today that allows them to touch the lives of many people via the internet. “We post updates on the crops and animals. It’s a great way to keep people connected.” What they enjoy most is the diversity of having a small farm. “Every year is brand new,” says Jon. “My favorite thing to do is weed. It’s quiet and peaceful and you look back at where you’ve weeded and it’s beautiful. This is something we can do together as our family.” They admit farming in a populated area has its challenges, one of them being that buying more land is costprohibitive. “Fortunately, we are grandfathered in for ag, and we are surrounded by good neighbors who have small farms. We have 10 acres behind us where they wanted to build 40 houses, but were able to put that on hold for now. It may come back up.” The Turners welcome the public to walk around their small farm, see the crops and watch the animals. “There is a real hunger out there for a connection to a simpler way of life and an old-fashioned style of raising food for your family,” says Erin. “We know that a small farm can only feed so many people, but this is a great way to educate the public about food and animals. It’s a great lifestyle. Simply put, we love farming.” Visit the Turner Farms website at: turnerfarmliving.com and visit their Facebook page.
Erin Turner gives a customer a sack of fresh vegetables as part of the Community Supported Agriculture business.
Montana Farm Bureau Spokesman
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•Fall 2015
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M O N TA N A
PRODUCTS
Wreaths, Peppers and a Pink Grizzly year. We have 26,000 square feet of greenhouse space under cover and another three acres outside. We grow 40,000 petunias and 6,000 flower baskets, just to give you an idea. Another aspect is when our ornamental plants are gone we grow peppers for restaurants and Kalispell’s regional medical centers. Although we grow flowers and ornamentals, I find it especially fulfilling to grow food.” Clouse has been a lifelong advocate for agriculture. “In my time at Montana State University and being in AGR, I wanted to grow food for folks,” he says. “Peppers work well for our environment. We grow all sorts of peppers—red and yellow sweet bells, poblanos, anaheims and three varieties of hot peppers. Although the peppers aren’t the most profitable, they create income where there was none before.”
I
f the building wasn’t Pepto-Bismol pink you might miss it. The Pink Grizzly Greenhouse is located on busy Russell Street in Missoula and the property has been in the Clouse family since 1956. “This was a nursery even before my parents bought it,” says Shane Clouse who is bustling around the greenhouse checking on peppers, helping a customer buy a few chrysanthemums and answering the phone. It’s a busy late summer day at the Pink Grizzly. “My dad grew up on a farm in Michigan, and my parents wanted their eight kids to have a background in agriculture and develop an entrepreneurial spirit,” Clouse says. “The Pink Grizzly name came about in the 1970s. My dad built the building. At that time there were seven kids and not a lot of money, so dad bought bright pink paint on special. The Pink Panther movies were popular so we were going to call it that, but the name was copyrighted, so we opted to use the word ‘grizzly’ because of the University of Montana mascot. Growing up, it was kind of like the boy name Sue. It made me tougher to own a pink building. My parents had a gift shop there and sold produce from their truck garden at that site, so the name just stayed through the years.” Although the name is fun, Clouse takes his business seriously. “The name of our corporation is AgroVitae. Agro means cultivate and vitae, life. We grow over a million individual starter bedding plants and ornamentals each
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Montana Farm Bureau Spokesman
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When the bedding plants, ornamentals and pepper season is over, the Pink Grizzly doesn’t sit dormant. It swings into high gear with forest products. “We sell several thousand Christmas trees. We don’t grow them but they are harvested locally. We got a Forest Service permit for cutting our own materials for Christmas wreaths. We cut four different species to use as raw materials for our wreath business.” They added a “Montana Select” wreath to their line which incorporates wheat, sagebrush and red twig dogwood. “This product is unique to Montana, and can be used not only as a Christmas wreath but a decorative one. We’ll add in Montana plants we find on the ranch such as yarrow. This really delineates our products from a wreath you can buy from any other state. The only part of our wreath that isn’t from Montana is the metal frame.” The hard-working entrepreneur believes their business is popular because it still has that mom-and-pop feel. “My parents started this greenhouse business as a way to teach their kids about agriculture and as a way for those kids to make money for college,” Clouse explains. “This has provided me with a career. Instead of staying in a corporate job that I had for several years, I was able to come back to Montana.” The business employees 28 people seasonally and five full-time. Three generations of the family are directly involved in the business. “I serve as the onsite director and field manager. My brother, Shaun, handles the technical aspects of the business. One of my nephews is my manager. My mom is 86 (sadly, Dad passed away two years ago) and makes the jam we sell,” says Clouse. “My sister sews pillows and tree skirts. We have a nephew whose wife is a talented welder and makes gifts for the store.”
•Fall 2015 9/29/2015 3:41:25 PM
A Montana Select wreath was added to their product line, which incorporates wheat, sagebrush and red twig dogwood. This product is unique to Montana, and can be used not only as a Christmas wreath but a decorative one. Amazingly, the family business remains well-rooted in Missoula despite development on all sides. “Our property is an island fairly unaffected by development. Instead of resisting it, we are part of the planning process. I don’t believe the growth can be stopped, but I look at the tremendous opportunity it provides for our business,” says Clouse. “With all of the development, I can have a 60 percent larger customer base. Traffic increased by more than 200 percent when they put in a road on the south side as did traffic into our greenhouse. If you looked at a plat of the property, developers might say having a greenhouse is not the highest income and best use. However, because we are a retail center, we have created the highest and best use environment. We can market directly to our consumers without the middleman.” The Clouse family knows how to work with opportunity. The garden center that started as a truck farm more than 45 years ago not only offers plants, bare-root trees, ornamentals and potted plants for sale to the public, they offer value-added products such as fertilizer, gardening tools, decorations and uniquely Montana gifts. They give generously back to the community, and with the large number of the extended family in the area, many are involved
Shane Clouse works on one of the Pink Grizzly’s signature products, a custom-made wreath.
in community organizations. Clouse is a member of the Agribusiness Committee for the Missoula Chamber of Commerce. (They also sell fireworks and Clouse is a musician, but that will have to be saved for another article.) The family is very supportive of 4-H, buying animals at the 4-H sales. “We owe a lot to 4-H for what we learned through that program. We want to give back.” Clouse is always looking for new opportunities. “A lot of things that were an idea 10 years ago—such as a website, our commercial produce business and the retail nursery, have come to fruition,” says Clouse. “It takes years to become an overnight success!” To learn more about the Pink Grizzly visit their website www.montanawreaths.com or visit them on Facebook.
Montana Farm Bureau Spokesman
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•Fall 2015
25 9/29/2015 3:41:26 PM
Ag Chat COUNTY NEWS County Farm Bureaus all held annual meetings over the past month, featuring speakers on pertinent topics and surfacing policy to be voted on at the MFBF Annual Convention November 8-11 in Missoula.
Big Horn County Annual Meeting Broadwater County Annual Meeting
Carbon-Stillwater County Annual Meeting
Chouteau County Annual Meeting Park County Annual Meeting
Meagher County Annual Meeting
Wheatland/Golden Valley County Annual Meeting and screening of the movie Farmland.
Mussellshell County Annual Meeting
Gallatin County Annual Meeting
Sweet Grass County Farm Bureau held an ATV Safety Training during the Sweet Grass Farm Fair. (Pictured in Kathy Hanson talking about ATV Safety.)
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Montana Farm Bureau Spokesman
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Prairie County Annual Meeting
Front Range Counties Meeting
•Fall 2015 9/29/2015 3:41:28 PM
Ag Chat A LASTING MEMORIAL Montana Farm Bureau Foundation receives a number of memorial donations to recognize departed members. What an appropriate way to remember someone to whom Farm Bureau has been an important part of their life! This charitable remembrance perpetuates their belief in the future of agriculture. The Foundation supports the ag community in many ways including: • Youth ag education & leadership development • Young Farmers and Ranchers Program • Mini grants to elementary & high school student projects relating to agriculture • Scholarships • Ag research • Youth speech contest • Public education about agricultural issues Next time you ponder how to express your appreciation for a friend or acquaintance who has passed away, consider a memorial that promotes agriculture and will have a meaningful impact. Personally consider a codicil in your own will leaving a small percentage of your success to the Montana Farm Bureau Foundation. It will help pave the road for future generations of farmers and ranchers.
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Fergus County Farm Bureau held a Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) Golf Scramble and Social Sept. 19. They had great attendance and following they went to the bowling alley for pizza.
Ravalli County Farm Bureau held a YF&R social at Cowboy Troy’s in Victor where they enjoyed pizza. Former Ravalli County president and CPA Wade Weber talked about taxes.
• Full length inside wall skin eliminates area for material to build up and add weight to the king pin and tandem areas. • Stronger hoppers with 2 stiffeners per side plus corner bracing means less bulge and sag causing rivets to loosen or pop. • All Wilson Commodity trailers are engineered to maximize even weight distributions from steer axle to rear axle – You’ll feel confident in achieving your best payload.
See This Authorized Wilson Dealer
48 Years of Wilson Quality Experience! 1705-1709 Old Hardin Road • Billings, Montana 59101 406-259-2053 • Fax 406-259-4587 Email: krrauch@krrauch.com kevinrauch@krrauch.com
Montana Farm Bureau Spokesman
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•Fall 2015
27 9/29/2015 3:41:29 PM
Ag Chat MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY’S STEER-A-YEAR Montana ranchers who would like to donate a steer to benefit students in MSU’s College of Agriculture should contact College of Agriculture SteerA-Year Program Manager Hannah DelCurto or members of the steer-a-year class. Steers will be accepted between Oct. 30 and Nov. 13. Performance data will be taken and sent out to donors as collected. Awards will also be presented to the best initial feeder steer, the steer with the top rate of gain and best carcass. Donated steers make a direct impact on students, particularly those participating in the livestock judging team. The funds allow judging team members to compete and represent MSU at the national level. The steer contributions are also important because they enhance the educational experience for students in the College of Agriculture providing hands on learning experiences in courses such as beef cattle management, meat science and livestock evaluation. Additionally, the newly created “steer-a-year” class allows students to be involved in all aspects of managing the steers. For more information about the Steer-A-Year program or how to donate a steer, contact DelCurto 406-994-3752 or hannah.delcurto@montana.edu.
AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION ANNUAL CONVENTION
Join your fellow ag professionals and attend the 2016 American Farm Bureau Federation’s Annual Convention co-located with the IDEAg Trade Show, in Orlando, Florida. Farm Bureau members and non-members alike are welcome to be a part of the nation’s largest general ag organization’s event January 8-13. Come conduct business on the trade show floor, expand your knowledge at educational workshops, vote on up-and-coming businesses trying to achieve the American dream, network with your peers, and deepen your love for agriculture. Featured speakers include Bob Stallman, who will step down from his 16-year post as AFBF president, and Barbara Corcoran, acclaimed real estate mogul and “Shark Tank” investor. Visit annualconvention. fb.org for updates and other information.
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Montana Farm Bureau Spokesman
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DONATE A DOLLAR, ELECT A WINNER: THE COUNTY FARM BUREAU PAC CHALLENGE Your donation makes a difference…donate to the Farm Bureau PAC today! With an ever-changing political climate, it is increasingly important for the voice of agriculture and rural Montana to be heard loud and clear. The Farm Bureau PAC is a non-partisan, voluntarily funded advocacy group that seeks to promote the interest of Montana’s agricultural industry in state government. The PAC helps candidates who support agriculture and the values of rural Montanans. This year the PAC Board of Directors has issued a new challenge to county Farm Bureaus to donate $1 per member to the Farm Bureau PAC. Your donation furthers the mission of Montana Farm Bureau Federation by helping to elect our farming and ranching neighbors who fight for agriculture and natural resources in Montana and Washington, D.C. In addition to the County Farm Bureau Challenge, the PAC also accepts individual contributions. If you would like to donate individually, please write a personal check to the ‘Farm Bureau PAC’ and mail to 502 S. 19th Ave, Ste. 104, Bozeman, MT 59718. For questions or more information contact Chelcie Cremer at chelciec@mfbf.org or 406-587-3153.
WIN A CHEVY SILVERADO Picture yourself driving along the road in your 2015 Chevy Silverado 1500 Z71 Crew Cab pickup that you won at the 2016 Montana Farm Bureau Convention in Billings. How? Just fill out an entry form and then be at the convention when your name is drawn. Voting Farm Bureau members and Century Club members are eligible for a bonus entry for every new voting member they recruit. The new member will receive one bonus entry form, and if you upgrade to a higher Century Club membership, you also get a bonus entry form. Twenty-five entries will be drawn prior to the MFBF annual meeting in November 2016. Those 25 will not only win free registration to the 2016 Annual Convention, but the winner of the Chevy Silverado will be drawn from those 25 entries at the awards banquet Tuesday night of the convention. Go test drive one today for another bonus entry.
•Fall 2015 9/29/2015 3:41:29 PM
RUNNING FOR OFFICE? YOU CAN WIN! The Montana Farm Bureau will be holding a Campaign Management Seminar at the Red Lion Colonial Inn in Helena, November 19-20, 2015. MFBF hosts this in-depth seminar in non-legislative years to help educate and prepare candidates for running successful campaigns. The seminar teaches participants how to evaluate the candidate and the electorate, build a campaign structure, raise money, enlist allies, create coalitions, and get last-minute Election Day voter attention. Senator Taylor Brown of Huntley says, “Of all the things I did to get elected, the two-day campaign management training seminar offered by Montana Farm Bureau was by far the most valuable to my eventual success.” Chelcie Cremer, director of state affairs for MFBF, notes the seminar is open to more than just legislative candidates. “This seminar is designed to prepare any candidate—or those who are undecided about their candidacy—for running their campaign successfully.” The seminar has additional benefits for spouses, campaign managers and anyone who will be assisting the candidate on the campaign trail. The seminar is limited to 30 participants. For more information or to register online, go to www.mfbf.org or call Chelcie Cremer at 406-587-3153.
2015 WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE PHOTO CONTEST Theme: “Traditions and Innovations” Rules: • Entrant must be a current MFBF member. • Open to amateur photographers only. • Photos must be taken by entrant. • B&W or color photos, 3x5 to 5x7 or panoramic 4x12. • Name, address and membership number must be on back. • No more than three photos per entrant. • No matting or framing. Entry deadline: October 22, 2015 Prizes: First: $75 Second: $50 Third: $25 All photographs will be on display at the MFBF Annual Convention and judged by popular vote. Winners will be announced at the awards banquet. The top three winning photographs become property of MFBF to be used for display and publicity purposes. Send photos to: Beth Blevins, PO Box 735, Ronan, MT 59864, raftere@ronan.net. Questions call: 406-676-2819. 2014 Photo Contest Winners First Place: Jodi Minor Second Place: Tamara Choat Third Place: Andrea Keller
CLIP & SEND
(See reverse for entry form)
MFBF member! You can win a 2015 Chevy Silverado 1500 Crew Cab LT Z71! MFBF will be giving away a new 2015 Chevy Silverado pickup to one very lucky member! Just fill out the reverse side and return this entry form to: Montana Farm Bureau Federation, Attn: Silverado Giveaway, 502 South 19th Avenue, Suite 104, Bozeman, MT 59718
A huge THANK YOU to these participating dealers! Show your support for their investment in Farm Bureau by stopping by and test driving a Chevy. Denny Menholt Chevrolet - Billings Karl Tyler Chevrolet - Missoula Ressler Motors - Bozeman City Motor Company - Great Falls
Notbohm Motors - Miles City Danhof Chevrolet - Manhattan Tilleman Motor Company - Havre Beaverhead Motors - Dillon
Dee Motor Company - Anaconda Mildenberger Motors - Hamilton Duane Sparks Chevrolet - Lewistown Jim Taylor Motors - Fort Benton
Receive bonus entries for renewing your membership, recruiting a new member, upgrading to Century Club or taking a test drive at one of the sponsoring dealerships above.
Montana Farm Bureau Spokesman
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•Fall 2014
29 9/29/2015 3:41:29 PM
Book Review “AIN’T THIS ROMANTIC!?!” ADVENTURES OF A 20TH CENTURY COWBOY If you ranch, you’re going to get a good chuckle from this book. If you don’t ranch, you’re going to get a chuckle and wonder why on earth cowboys/ranchers keep on doing what they do. Hanawalt’s introduction finds him pushing heifers and calves on a snowy, blowy 5-degree day. He ponders the fact that films like Lonesome Dove make the cowboy life By Kent Hanawalt romantic. What’s missing is the reality of broken equipment, grouchy mama cows, grumpy horses and harsh weather. What I like most about this book is that Hanawalt’s tales primarily focus on real ranch life, and he has a simple, easy way of explaining aspects people involved with cattle know, but those not as knowledgeable can learn: how a squeeze chute operates, cow-calf behavior, what a dally is, why you keep replacement heifers and much more. Stories about outfitting and hunting are included, but daily ranch work is the primary topic.
Stories of what can befall cowboys trying to rope a cow from a pickup truck and other hilarious tales will have all ranchers laughing and nodding. We’ve all been there with angry cows trashing the pickup truck and vehicles that break down in the middle of important business. Weather always plays a big role in a rancher’s life and blizzards play a common theme in the trials and tribulations of Hanawalt. According to the bio on the back, Hanawalt has “spent the last 40 years on top of and underneath horses in the mountains, foothills and prairies of Central Montana and shares his tales about trailing cows, shoeing mules, hunting elk, drinking brandy, roping calves, sorting cattle, baking pies and blowing up the washing machine.” Stories are short enough to read a few at a time before bed or with your morning coffee. As an added treat, there is a section in the back “Grassy Mountain Cowboy” by Kenny Doig, cousin to renowned writer Ivan Doig. Most stories are only a few paragraphs and enjoyable. This is simply a fun book to have. For a print edition, visit www.createspace.com/3730867 or for a digital edition, www.smashwords.com/boks/view 41420. Hanawalt may also be reached at klhanawalt@gmail.com. – Review by Rebecca Colnar
CLIP & SEND
(See reverse for contest details)
MFBF Silverado Giveaway Official Entry Form Please check the box next to the entry item below. Name: Address:
City:
E-Mail:
State:
Zip:
Phone:
Test Drive at Sponsoring Dealer (Dealership Representative Signature) Recruiting a new Voting or Century Club Member (List Member Recruited Here) New Voting or Century Club Member
Upgrade to Century Club
Membership Renewed for 2016
No purchase is necessary. An entry form must be filled out and the winner must be present at the MFBF Annual Convention during November 2016 when the truck will be given away. Open to Montana residents only. Mail to: Montana Farm Bureau Federation, Attention Silverado Giveaway, 502 South 19th Avenue, Suite 104, Bozeman, MT 59718
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Montana Farm Bureau Spokesman
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•Fall 2015 9/29/2015 3:41:29 PM
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO BUY?
IT’S NOW!
MODEL YEAR END INVENTORY CLOSEOUT
SILVERADO 1500 BUILT TO WITHSTAND A HARD DAYS WORK
ü 5 year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty ü 3 year/36,000-mile bumper to bumper warranty ü 2 years/24,000 miles of scheduled maintenance*
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Check us out on Facebook at City Motor Company Covers only scheduled oil changes with filter, tire rotations and 27 point inspections, according to your vehicle’s recommended maintenance schedule for up to 2 years or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first. Does not include air filters. Maximum of 4 service events. See participating dealer for other restrictions and complete details.
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9/29/2015 3:41:35 PM
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