Welcome to
Montana Farmers Union Magazine
Show up.
And by the very nature of people being in the same room sharing ideas, something magical happens. That’s the very essence of grassroots – and of Montana Farmers Union.
Later this month, other people who care about the vitality of family farms and rural communities will show up to the Montana Farmers Union 109th Annual State Convention, where they will share ideas, debate and set the grassroots organization’s direction in the coming year, and connect and reconnect with each other.
Come to Convention. See what it’s all about. Learn something. Share something. Help to build something, not just Oct. 17-19, but throughout the years and in sync with how you already are building communities and operations worth living in and working for.
The MFU community doesn’t just show up once a year. It’s available whenever you’re ready to tap into its resources of grants, scholarships, educational programming, lobbying efforts, and, most importantly, other people who care just as much as you do about making sure our family farms and ranches are here tomorrow as you do.
You can read about several members who embody dedication for family farms and rural communities in this edition. No one lived a life more dedicated to this than Doris Bishop, who invested deeply in MFU and community, encouraging, mentoring, and using her talents to benefit others. Caroline Nelson also is invested in agriculture and community, finding balance where she can and pushing to meet her business and community’s needs.
Also in this edition, get to know MFU staff and board members and read more about what to expect at Convention, what Membership Ambassadors have been supporting in their regions, why it’s important to pay close attention to the 2024 elections, and more from professionals who work every day to support Montanans.
Nothing beats seeing it for yourself, though. Attending Convention is a great way to gain a clearer understanding of Montana Farmers Union, be inspired by its members, and become an engaged member yourself.
Show up.
Message from the President
by MFU President Walter Schweitzer
This year’s election is fast approaching. The air waves are full of ads from candidates, drowning out news about the initiatives that are on our ballot.Voters will receive a voter information pamphlet before the election, and I encourage you to read the pros and cons of these initiatives. Two of the constitutional initiatives would drastically change our election process: CI 126 and CI 127.
CI 126 changes Montana’s long-established primary election by creating an open primary. Instead of the voter choosing which primary ballot they want, there will be one ballot with candidates from all eligible parties including Independents. The Top 4 vote getters will move on to the general election. The initiative leaves it up to the Legislature and governor to decide the process for nonparty candidates to get on the primary ballot. The initiative also leaves it up to the Legislature and governor to decide how to break a tie.
CI 127 changes Montana’s long-established general election rules by requiring the winning candidate to get the majority of votes. If no candidate gets the majority of the votes, the Legislature and governor will decide a process for choosing the winner.
I would be less concerned if these undefined processes weren’t left to representatives often concerned with party politics to iron out.Voters should know what we’re really getting.
In addition to the confusing processes, both initiatives deserve a clearly defined, transparent process. They are concerning for several other reasons and won’t adequately address today’s political divisiveness, which is the intended goal.
Already over the last couple of Legislative Sessions, several bills that changed our election process were passed. However, most of these bills were challenged on the basis that they were not allowed by our Constitution, and the Supreme Court agreed, by overturning the bills. It is alarming to think that, if these initiatives pass, a Legislature that tried to create unconstitutional election processes would design the outcome of our election process.
Some have tried to suggest that this new election process would alleviate the divisiveness we are experiencing in politics today. This process doesn’t get to the root of the problem. A major cause of this divisiveness is the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine by President Reagan. The Fairness Doctrine required news outlets to report both sides of an issue truthfully. Soon after it was repealed, Fox Entertainment changed its name to FOX News and began misleading listeners with sensationalized, one-sided false narratives. Many other networks started “news” programs to compete for airtime, and the term “fake news” became part of our lives. About the same time, Texas Congressman Tom Delay started a nationwide movement to gerrymander districts. He eventually went to jail, but we still suffer the consequences today.
Following the Delay playbook, the 1990 redistricting committee in Montana redrew our legislative districts. The result created numerous “safe” districts for both Democrats and Republicans. These safe districts almost guarantee that one party (or the other) wins that district. Today, we still have several safe districts for both parties. This has allowed extreme candidates from each party to win an election. Once elected, they don’t have to govern because they know they will be reelected by their party in their “safe” district. In the last few elections, the Tea Party has successfully primaried moderate Republicans. The Tea Party’s antigovernment philosophy has created havoc and gridlock. The moderate Republicans have viewed the open primary and majority vote as a solution to this problem.
The solution to divisiveness would be better if it focused at the root of the problems. Bring back the Fairness Doctrine requiring the “news” to report both sides of an issue truthfully. Eliminate the gerrymandered districts by recreating swing districts that will require candidates to appeal to all voters and not just their party.
MONTANA FARMERS UNION
PO BOX 2447
300 RIVER DRIVE NORTH, STE 1 GREAT FALLS, MT 59403
PHONE: (406) 452-6406
1-800-234-4071
FAX: (406) 727-8216
mfu@montanafarmersunion.com www.montanafarmersunion.com
Board of Directors:
Walter Schweitzer, President
Rollie Schlepp, Vice President, Conrad
Jan Tusick, Secretary/Treasurer, District 6, Ronan
Erik Somerfeld, District 2, Power
Jeff Bangs, At-Large Director, District 1 & 2, Inverness
Tom Clark, District 1, Fort Benton
Brett Dailey, District 4, Jordan
Trent Stoltz, District 5, Pompey’s Pillar
Ben Peterson, At-Large Director, Judith Gap
Sig Rudie, At-Large Director, District 3 & 4, Fairview
Sarah Degn, District 3, Sidney
MFU Staff:
Walter Schweitzer, President
Matt Rains, Chief of Staff
Jan Johnson, Office Mgr., Assistant Secretary/ Treasurer
Kari Kester, Administrative Assistant
Rachel Prevost, Government Affairs Director/ Member Svcs.
Matthew Hauk, Education Director
Heather Wendell, Communications Director
Alice Miller, Press Relations Specialist
Andrea Rutledge, Social Media Associate
Samantha Ferrat, Membership Ambassador
Eleanor Dutton, Membership Ambassador
Carissa McNamara, Membership Ambassador
Mary Jenni, Membership Ambassador
Skylar Williams, Membership Ambassador
Jeri Copenhaver, Membership Ambassador
Jodi Koterba, Education Associate & Ambassador
Copyright © Montana Farmers Union, 2024 MFU Magazine is the official publication of the Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union of America, Montana Division.
MFU reserves the right to reject any advertisements. Membership: $50.00 per year
Montana Farmers Union Magazine is published quarterly.
Editors: Heather Wendell & Alice Miller
Layout & Design: Heather Wendell
Copy Editors: Alice Miller, Jan Johnson & Heather Wendell
Montana Farmers Union is the oldest & largest family farm organization in the state who represents family farmers & ranchers.
MFU is working for family farms, ranches, rural communities, & supports its members through: strong education programs for both youth and adults, advocating member-driven policies & legislation at the state and federal level, & cooperation through producer-owned co-ops.
Permaculture is an approach to land management based on the habits of flourishing natural ecosystems.
GROWING GARLIC In
By Jasmine Krotkov
When I say garlic, what comes to mind? Maybe you think of Italian food. Maybe you think of the immunity-boosting health benefits. You probably didn’t think Montana, but maybe you should, since it’s easy to grow here. In my permaculture gardens, I grow some garlic in rows, for harvesting the bulbs, and I also allow some of the garlic to go to seed, and re-seed itself wherever it likes. That lets me know where I might think of planting it in years to come. Garlic is susceptible to soil-borne diseases like Basal Rot and White Rot, so it’s a good idea to rotate it to new beds every year or two.
Whether you like orderly rows in your garden, or don’t mind a wildscape, garlic could be a good choice for you. It grows best in loose, well-drained soil, so if you’ve got gumbo, you could create some raised beds by adding compost and loosening the soil where there will be full sun. A rule of thumb is to plant 15 garlic plants for a year’s worth of garlic. Planting the cloves six inches apart means that you could prepare one row, seven feet long and one foot wide for a nice haul.
You can prepare your garlic bed after harvest, in October. Hardneck varieties of garlic are most winter hardy, with popular cultivars being Montana Giant and German Red. Separate the cloves and plant them 3” deep, 6” apart. Incorporate a slow-release, organic fertilizer with numbers for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that are all around 3. Look for ingredients like sulfur, alfalfa meal, bone char, zeolites, sulfate of potassium, feather meal, and neem cake. Organic fertilizers will feed the soil microorganisms all through the growth cycle, and the microorganisms in turn, make nutrients available to the plants.
To protect your bulbs through the winter, and to cut down on weeds, mulch the beds with 4 to 6” of straw. Mark the ends of the row with stakes, so you can find them in the spring! When the green shoots emerge in the spring, maybe mid-April, you can fertilize them with blood meal or another slow-acting, nitrogen-rich fertilizer. Don’t fertilize after mid-May, as that will only encourage the tops to grow, and not the bulbs. Some of the plants might be struggling to get through the mulch, so you can pull the mulch aside when you top dress with blood meal, and then return the mulch around the sides of the row.
Through spring and summer, apply about an inch of water per week. In midsummer the curly tops, called scapes, will begin to unfurl. Cut them off to get bigger bulbs. Use the chopped scapes for salads, or as you would garlic bulbs. Garlic will be ready to harvest when about half the leaves are browning and dried. Loosen the soil around the bulbs with a garden fork, and gently lift and brush the soil off. Tie the plants in loose bundles, and hang them in a cool, dry area to harden. It will be cured in 3 to 4 weeks, when you can cut off the tops, and store the bulbs in a mesh bag in a cool, dry place.
MFU Offers Broad Range of Educational Programming
By Jodi Koterba, Education Associate
As your Montana Farmers Union Education Associate, I am excited to provide an Education Column for the Magazine. Montana Farmers Union is built on three pillars: education, legislation, and cooperation. Each of the pillars is critical to supporting the success and continuation of MFU and each of the other pillars.
What kinds of education and knowledge can Montana Farmers Union provide? We have a strong team of individuals who advocate in and about agriculture and for family farms and ranches.We strive to keep abreast of the current topics and controversies in the agricultural industry related to scientific development, technology implementation, legislative actions, cooperative development, and much more.We strive to present an unbiased and non-partisan view of issues.
Spring and Summer of 2024 has had some great youth educational programming around the state.There have been four main types of programs: ag in the classroom, MFU sponsored Day Camps, MFU presentations at existing programs, and our summer camps at Arrowpeak. Our Membership Ambassadors and educational staff worked with a variety of schools, agencies, and groups to provide ag in the classroom workshops.These ranged from in classroom visits to a countywide venue that reached more than 800 students in two days. Our staff covered topics from solar cars in Broadwater County to invasive weeds in Toole County to pollinators in Cascade County.
Many of our Ambassadors have directly hosted Day Camps. These camps are generally four to five hours in length and open to school-aged children.They are often based on a theme or topic that is relevant to the area. Mary Jenni hosted a “Mary had a Little Lamb” in Central Montana in early spring.This on-farm tour allowed interacting with sheep and lambs, wool, and their production practices.There have been about 10 camps around the state.
In some cases, the Day Camps are held in conjunction with existing programming. Carissa McNamara coordinated a gardening camp with the Keystone Day Camp in Hamilton that reached more than 60 kids.This interactive workshop helped identify the parts of plants, what different plants look like and how they grow, and planting marigolds to take home.
Jerri Copenhaver and her outstanding team of counselors have conducted five overnight summer camps at the Arrowpeak Lodge facility in Highwood.These camps are organized by camper ages to allow for the most positive camper interactions.This
year, the Aim to Tame camp theme focused on beef cattle and animal production. Campers were presented with branding, feed rations, and other production practices.They also participated in a cooperative camp store, policy debates, and cooperative games and activities.There is a lot of growth and development occurring at Arrowpeak.This year, the campers were able to enjoy fresh eggs laid by the chickens on site.There was some produce grown in the garden and greenhouse then prepared in the kitchens for chow time!
Of course, youth is not the only educational focus.There have been a number of adult events that cover a diverse range of topics. Montana Farmers Union helped to sponsor the Montana State University Field Days located at each of the research stations.We have also been at the county and regional fairs helping with everything from interview judging to hosting the livestock show rings. Our members have showcased their operations and shared their experiences hosting farm tours, soil crawls, regenerative practice sharing, pasture tours, weed ID, and much more.
One program of Montana Farmers Union is Ladies Who Ag. These programs are geared toward the women in and around agriculture.The programing is not limited to female attendance, but the presentations are geared toward those participants.We have hosted Financial Literacy training, pasture tours, noxious weed ID, and several organizational meetings.
Have you ever thought about what you would do in a medical emergency while waiting for services to arrive? Montana Farmers Union is partnering with local emergency medical services throughout the state to offer Far Out and Waiting workshops. These cover allergic reactions, bleeding control, cardiac arrest, falls, stroke/diabetic emergency, and other health emergencies.
Members and others interested in agriculture also can listen in to the Montana Farmers Union Lunch & Learn Podcast.A new episode is released every other Friday. Generally, it is a conversation format between the host and guests covering the topic of the week.To date, topics have included What is Montana Farmers Union,Agrotourism, Hay in Montana, Farmers Markets, How to Host MFU Educational Events, and Organic Farming. Feel free to reach out to staff with topic, guest, or feature ideas for this new endeavor.The podcast links can be found on our website.
If you have ideas or educational programming you would like to see in your communities, please reach out!
Growing Up Ag
By Lance Rutledge, Big Sandy
When I drive down roads leading to my family farm, I can name every field, house, and person I pass.Whether I went to school with their family, helped them haul grain, or worked in their shop on different equipment, we are connected by the agriculture community.As a member of a rural lifestyle, a tight knit community has always been an important part of my life. Neighbors helping neighbors is something that I have found, and can only be found, in a rural setting.
I am the fifth generation on our family’s farm and ranch in North Central Montana. I grew up raising my own herd of Red Angus livestock among my family’s angus cattle herd on the rolling hills and peaks of the Bear’s Paw Mountains. My high school career was filled with numerous activities, many of which deepened my passion for agriculture.
For example, in 2016 I joined the National FFA Organization. This organization instilled in me the leadership skills I use daily, as well as many hard skills I use while working in agriculture. I knew the experiences FFA gave me were something I wanted to share with others.This passion led me to serve as the Montana FFA State Treasurer in 2023 and 2024.With that platform, I was able to encourage younger generations in their pursuit of agriculture. I was able to grow my tight knit community.
I know I would not be the person I am today if it wasn’t for the experiences I had growing up in agriculture. Early mornings and long hours hauling grain to the elevator instilled in me time management. Broken equipment taught me problem solving, but also how to take tasks one step at a time. Sickness in our cattle herd taught me humility.Agriculture taught me gratitude for the community surrounding me. Because in all of those situations, we always had a neighbor willing to step in help. I believe the attitude of helping others in need is something only found in agriculture.
This year, I will be returning to Montana State UniversityBozeman to continue my degree in agriculture business.With my degree, I will be able to return to my community and help continue my family‘s tradition of helping to feed the world. I will be able to give back to my community in ways they have helped my family throughout the years. I am grateful to have grown up in a setting where I know people, and they know me. I am so grateful to have grown up in agriculture.
Consider all Options when Tailoring Insurance Plans
Consider all Options when Tailoring Insurance Plans
By Melissa Wacker, Wacker Insurance Agency
Farmers
Union Insurance
Hello, Montana Farmers Union! I am Melissa "Missy" Wacker a Farmers Union Agent located in Hardin. 1967 was the year Wacker Insurance Agency began its generational bond with Farmers Union Insurance. My folks, Dennis and Deb Wacker, started the business. I am a second-generation agent that was raised in the insurance world along with farming, ranching, and auctioneering. I have two children, Davey Pitsch and Darbey Pitsch, and three beautiful grandchildren with the fourth on the way! My office is full of family from Mom all the way down to the grandchildren. Dad passed too soon in 2011. I am proud that four generations are on the ground and are active in agriculture and business.
I remember when quoting was done from manuals and the applications were mailed into the company along with Polaroid photos. Now, we have texting, on line applications, uploads, downloads, and everything in-between.Thankfully, Darbey works alongside me to keep everything running smoothly.
The insurance industry continuously changes, as does the world around us. Insurance rates have increased. Property values have increased. Inputs into farming and ranching have increased, and the bankers ask more questions when applying for loans! We do our best to work with our clients to keep the insurance expenses down by increasing deductibles, revisiting policies on an annual basis, and discussing what form of coverage is the most beneficial to the pocketbook while still protecting the assets of the family and the business.The following are a few points that I feel are important:
1. Liability Insurance - make sure your coverage for personal, business, and farm/ranch liability protects the assets you have worked so hard to achieve.
2. Property Coverage - discuss deductible options and coverage options available. Know what type of coverage you have for your home, farm, ranch, crops,machinery, livestock, and personal property.
3. Vehicle Insurance keep liability limits at an asset protection level - review deductibles and other coverages provided by the policy. Update drivers and household members.
4. Umbrella/Excess Liability Insurance - a great way to ensure that your assets are protected.
5. Business Owners/Commercial General Liability Insurances - make sure exposures are listed accurately and that the coverage is correct for your business.
6. Life/Health Insurance - look at options that will fit your budget to protect yourself and your family.
The best way to review the above points is to talk with your agent. Communication is the key.
Last, but not least; I was given the opportunity to attend the National Farmers Union Convention this year. The number of members from a multitude of geographical areas amazed me. We had workshops, speakers, policy discussions, good food, entertainment, and networked with people who shared the same common interests and goals.
Thank You, Montana Farmers Union and Farmers Union Insurance, for all that you have done and continue to do for me, my family, my clients, and the State of Montana.
"Give us a callOur Agents Live and Work where you Live"
Anaconda
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Butte
Chester
Choteau
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Conrad
Cut Bank
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Great Falls
Stefanie Thompson: 563-5991
Craig Parker: 388-6774
Matt Triplett:952-0451
Judd Long: 252-9391
KJ Fauth: 969-2282
Art Hoffart: 586-6230
Dean Derby: 556-0893
Trent Leintz: 551-2163
Wesley Schwend: 662-3930
Jesse Fleming: 436-2115
Mathew Luedtke: 270-5304
Megan Hedges: 759-5150
Scott Allaire: 466-5146
Kaylen Lehner: 485-3303
Flathead Insurance 208-667-7485
Dirk Elings: 271-7047
Ashley Vanek: 873-2249
Judy Siring: 683-2365
Sara Nye: 683-1250
Matt Luedtke: 467-3444
Donna Manuel-590 0866
Watts Agency: 346-1196
Austin O’Dea :766-2205
Brady Burgess : 228 8282
Eric Hinebauch: 453-8413
Aeric Reilly: 570-5853
Kyle Tschetter: 836-7261
Hamilton
Hardin
Havre
Helena
Bryan Jones: 363-6583
Melissa Wacker: 665-1867
Meagan Kinsella:265-2693
Alex Thornton:879-2028
Todd Crum: 443-4630
East Helena
Hingham
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Eric Hinebauch: 437-2053
Alissa McClendon: 397-3146
Ray Lipp: 397-3146
Shawn “Tater” Erickson: 366-1287
Flathead Insurance: 752-8000
Randy Bloom: 257-1252
Lorna Olson: 628-6649
Raleigh Heitzman: 538-8736
Bruce Marshall: 538-2331
Colleen Wood: 293-6228
Cole Mauch 222-7151
Shane Anderson: 654-1589
Tayler Kennedy: 874-2560
Watts Agency: 874-1804
Andre Marcure: 543-7184
Ben Barker: 721-2540
Josh Rollins: 830-3073
Pam Jacobsen: 721-0599
Tom Monaghan: 926-2552
Lisa French: 826-4633
Andrew Luedtke: 837-1395
Andrew Luedtke: 676-0173
Audrey Stoican: 568-2336
Tom Monaghan: 677-7400
Matt Stentoft: 487-2629
KW Insurance: 424-8480
Russ Seubert: 434-5211
Cathy Hintz: 488-8326
KW Insurance: 937-6950
Watts Agency: 635-5782
Lisa French 827-3221
Rial Gunlikson: 862-4700
Jesse Fleming: 653-2200
Production Director Director of PL Production Director of CL Production
Jeff Dow: 799-4096
Chris Strand: 871-2260
Ryan Kuntz: 581-4493
Montana Cooperatives:
The Lifeblood of Rural Montana Communities
By Tracy McIntyre, Executive Director of Montana Cooperative Development Center
Montana’s rural communities are the heart and soul of the state, stretching across vast landscapes where resilience and innovation have always thrived. At the core of many of these communities lies a powerful and often underappreciated force: cooperatives.
With more than 160 cooperatives operating across Montana, these member-owned businesses contribute a staggering $7.1 billion to the state’s economy and infuse over $1.6 billion into family incomes each year. From agriculture to credit unions to broadband to housing, cooperatives are indispensable to rural life, and their influence continues to grow.
Montana’s cooperative roots run deep, with a history shaped by the pioneering spirit of the agricultural sector. Farmers and ranchers in rural areas quickly realized the power of collective ownership as they banded together to form cooperatives, allowing them to pool resources and create economic power. These agricultural cooperatives have been vital to the state’s economy for decades, ensuring that farmers could access markets, supplies, and fair prices.
This cooperative spirit expanded into other sectors, notably in the formation of credit unions and utility cooperatives. Credit unions provide financial services to thousands of Montanans, often offering more competitive rates and personalized services.
Electrical cooperatives have been responsible for electrifying rural areas and powering homes, farms, and businesses for decades, while telecommunication cooperatives are providing broadband to some of the most remote areas of the state. Together, these cooperative models have laid the foundation for the modern cooperative movement in Montana, one that now encompasses a broad array of sectors meeting both old and new needs.
Today’s cooperatives are as diverse as the needs of the communities they serve. While agriculture, credit unions, electrical, and telecommunication cooperatives remain integral to Montana’s cooperative landscape, new and innovative cooperatives are addressing the modern challenges of rural life.
One of the most pressing issues in many rural communities is the survival of local grocery stores. When a rural grocery store closes, it can force residents to drive 60 miles or more for basic
necessities like milk and infant formula. For many, this is simply unsustainable. Cooperatives have stepped in to address this crisis. By forming grocery store cooperatives, communities can take ownership of their local stores, ensuring that essential goods remain accessible to all residents. This model not only sustains the local economy but also fosters a sense of shared responsibility and ownership among community members.
Cooperatives are also providing innovative solutions for job sustainability and community development. Workerowned cooperatives create pathways to ownership for employees, giving them a stake in the business’s success. They also provide a valuable means for succession planning, allowing business owners to transfer their company to their employees. By transitioning businesses to worker ownership, communities can retain local businesses that might otherwise close or be sold to out-of-town buyers.
Finally, investment cooperatives, also known as opportunity cooperatives, are helping revitalize rural main streets. These cooperatives allow community members to pool their resources to create a localized revolving loan fund or to purchase and renovate blighted commercial buildings. Once renovated, these buildings can incubate startup businesses, providing essential services and job opportunities to the community. This model helps keep wealth circulating locally and can create vibrant, sustainable communities.
Cooperatives are essential to rural Montana as they are designed by the people who use them, which means they are tailored to meet the specific needs of their members and communities. Whether it’s providing electricity and broadband to remote areas, ensuring access to food through community-owned grocery stores, or helping families achieve financial stability through credit unions, cooperatives are at the forefront of solving problems for rural Montana. This member-driven approach also fosters a sense of community and shared purpose, which is vital to the social and economic fabric of rural Montana.
Convention attendees will set MFU’s direction for 2025
By Alice Miller, MFU Press Relations Specialist
For more than 100 years, Montana Farmers Union has been a united, grassroots voice put into action to support family farms and ranches.
The organization’s Annual State Convention, planned Oct. 17-19 at Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish, is critical to MFU’s efforts for family farmers and ranchers in its key areas of education, legislation, and cooperation.
“Convention is an opportunity to get together with likeminded people and to commiserate on the good and bad, to remember the people who aren’t with us today, to talk about the future – and to have an impact on the future,” MFU President Walter Schweitzer said.
Both longtime and new members alike will have opportunities to delve deeper into what MFU offers, including its programs, meeting their Membership Ambassadors, and taking advantage of educational speakers and industry professionals attending Convention. Families also can take advantage of a Day Camp planned for youths during Convention (more information available with online registration).
Not only will members have a chance to catch up and share ideas and professional knowledge with each other and from speakers, but they also will elect leaders and debate and set policy ahead of the Montana State Legislature convening in January.
Last year, MFU member Carah Ronan attended Convention for the first time.
“Convention is the time to come together with members from across the state to listen, learn, dream, imagine, bullshit, problem solve, and commune. Last year I walked away with new ideas, friendships, and ideas that wouldn’t have been made had I not attended,” she said about her experience.
“Growth for the farm, personal growth, and contacts were all positives that came from attending Convention. During Convention, I have made lifelong friends, was elected and flew to my first National Convention to represent my state, participated in policy, and got to meet and hang out with Sarah Vogel – in person! The opportunities and open doors are there, you just
have to come and take advantage,” she said, encouraging others to attend this year’s Convention.
MFU member and Membership Ambassador Carissa McNamara also encouraged members to come and experience Convention and learn more about MFU and how members work together to support agriculture.
“We gather as members of Montana Farmers Union and as representatives of our farms and ranches to stay relevant, gain perspective, and move the needle in the direction of preserving small family farms and rural communities,” she said.“Our future is your voice, whether that’s silent or lifted.”
Farm Tour Oct. 17
Convention attendees can experience and explore agriculture in the Whitefish area during farm tours and dinner on Thursday, Oct. 17.
“I think that because we have moved the convention this year to Western Montana and the Flathead Local has become really engaged and active, it’s going to be an opportunity to meet a lot of new members and old members you haven’t seen in a while,” Schweitzer said.
The fun afternoon features Kalispell Kreamery, Glacier Processing Cooperative, and Fritz Farm and its corn maze, as well as a locally sourced farm-to-table dinner.
Cost is $20 and pre-registration is required when registering for Convention.Transportation will be provided, leaving from Grouse Mountain Lodge at 12:45 p.m. and returning at roughly 8 p.m.
The Farm to Table dinner will be locally sourced ham, potato dish, corn bread, salad, Kalispell Kreamery Ice Cream sundae bar.
Speakers
This year, members will hear from Zach Ducheneaux, who, in his role as Administrator for USDA’s Farm Service Agency, provides leadership and direction on agricultural policy, administering loan programs, and managing conservation, commodity, disaster, and
farm marketing programs through a national network of offices.
Ducheneaux previously served as the Executive Director of the Intertribal Agriculture Council and had been with the IAC since the 1990s. He has also previously served as tribal council representative for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. He has spent his career educating people about the critical role of improved food systems, value-added agriculture, and foreign exports to respond to the enduring economic and social challenges facing Native Americans and reservations.
Additionally, Ducheneaux serves on the board of directors for Project H3LP!, a nonprofit founded by his family to benefit their local community by providing life lessons through horsemanship. His family still operates the fourth-generation ranch on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation.
Convention also features more speakers and panel discussions on hot topics in family farm agriculture, including soil health and regenerative ag, a panel discussion with the Montana Farmer Veteran Coalition, the opportunity to learn how to get involved with your MFU Ambassador, and more.
Elections
MFU members will elect a Vice President, three board of directors positions, and other leadership positions during. Board members play an active role in the organization and its programs, including the MFU Foundation.
Names appearing on the ballot are:
Vice President, 2-year term: Rollie Schlepp and Erik Somerfeld.
Both Schlepp and Somerfeld are longtime MFU members, with Schlepp, from Conrad, serving as the current vice president. Somerfeld, from Power, currently is serving as District 2 Director.
District 1, 3-year term, John Ferrat,Toston.
District 3, 3-year term: Sarah Degn, Sidney.
District 3 & 4 At Large, 3-year term:April Martin, Busby.
Other positions that will appear on the ballot are:
Conductor, 1-year term: John Wicks, Ledger.
Doorkeeper, 1-year term: Carah Ronan, Laurel.
Additionally, MFU members will elect delegates to attend the National Farmers Union Convention to be held in 2025. Delegates will be MFU’s voice during policy debate at the national level during the NFU Convention.
Policy
A large portion of the Convention agenda is set aside for policy discussion and adoption. Leading up to Convention, Policy Committee members have combed through MFU’s existing policy, making recommendations for additions, deletions, and updates.Those recommendations, as well as member-submitted recommendations, are discussed on the floor during the Policy sessions at Convention, with members voting to finalize any changes.
The approved policy then guides MFU leaders and staff through the following year, which includes a Montana Legislative Session and most likely a Farm Bill renewal.
“Montana Farmers Union policy is the marching orders for MFU staff and leadership to advocate on behalf of their membership. Agriculture is a vibrant industry. It’s changed so much in just my lifetime and the issues have changed, the priorities have changed,” Schweitzer said.“It’s important that you have an actively engaged membership debating and developing a policy that reflects all the family farms in Montana.”
Schweitzer said he hopes Convention impacts members and their communities after it ends.
“I hope that our 109th convention will energize our members, engage our members,” Schweitzer said. “And I hope it follows through with them showing up at their Legislature to help advocate for the family farm, to participate in one of our book clubs, to come to a local meeting, to bring a friend or neighbor, and to have pride in the organization they belong to.”
FARM TABLE HolidayTraditions
My only memories that align with food-related “holiday traditions” are stealing the black olives from the relish tray before dinner even started. My husband’s family, on the other hand, has longstanding traditions. So when we decided to host Thanksgiving in his grandparents’ newly remodeled home we moved into a week before the big day, I was feeling overwhelmed. The weight of following traditions I lacked the skills to make happen, along with the sheer number of attendees requiring two turkeys meant we needed a different plan – and just like that, our tradition became breaking tradition.
Instead of turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing(s) and other holiday trappings, we served macaroni and cheese three ways, including a Thanksgiving version with turkey and cranberry sauce as a nod to traditional traditions. We also served crab mac and cheese as a homage to my East Coast roots, and Alpine mac and cheese in homage to a dear Swiss connection.
In the end, no one really cared what was on their plates, and no one went hungry. They just wanted an excuse to gather together and laugh and reminisce.
Food nourishes our bodies and, arguably more importantly, our souls. It gathers and binds. Regardless of what your traditions are or aren’t, food is a medium for connection. We hope you enjoy these recipes with those dearest to you – whatever traditions you have!
By Alice Miller
Mulled Wine
Submitted by
MFU Member Whitney Graham
4 C apple cider
1 (750-ml) bottle red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon
¼ C honey
2 cinnamon sticks
1 orange, zested and juiced
4 whole cloves
4 oranges, peeled, for garnish
Combine the cider, wine, honey, cinnamon sticks, zest, juice, and cloves in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. Pour into mugs, add an orange peel to each, and serve.
Chocolate Pecan Pie
Submitted by MFU Ambassador Mary Jenni
1 C sugar
1 C light corn syrup
½ C butter
4 eggs, lightly beaten
¼ bourbon
1 tsp vanilla
¼ tsp salt
½ C semisweet chocolate chips
1 C pecans
1 unbaked 9” Pie shell
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Combine first three ingredients in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat stirring constantly until butter melts and sugar dissolves. Cool slightly.
Beat eggs, bourbon, vanilla, and salt in a large bowl, then gradually add sugar mixture, beating well with a whisk.
Stir in chocolate chips and pecans. Pour into unbaked pie shell.
Bake 50-55 minutes until set. Serve warm with Chantilly Cream.
Plum Pudding with Hard Sauce
Submitted
by
MFU Ambassador Mary Jenni
This is a medium to difficult recipe but worth all the trouble. It makes a big batch so can be used for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Note: Though it is called Plum Pudding, it has no plums and is not the viscosity of pudding. A special item of six 13 oz coffee cans are needed for this. Plum puddings can be made months in advance and frozen. One coffee can yields 8 pieces of dessert.
1 lb raw cranberries
10 C soft bread cubes (white or wheat)
2 C flour
2 C sugar
1 lb raisins
12 oz Currents
4 C ground suet
1 tsp each ginger and nutmeg
2 tsp cinnamon
Mix all the above ingredients.
Mix 2 cups buttermilk and 4 eggs. Add this mixture to the bread mixture and stir until moistened.
Line greased coffee can with brown paper. Fill coffee cans with the pudding. Double cover the tops with wax paper and tie with a string. Fill a canner ¼ full of water. Bring to boil. Add cans to rack inside the canner. Cook covered 3 hours. (Watch water level). After 3 hours, remove cans from canner. Cool pudding. Remove puddings from cans and unwrap. Bag in freezer bags and freeze.
Hard Sauce
1 C powdered sugar
½ C melted butter
½ C heavy cream
Heat these three ingredients just to boiling. Add 1 tsp of vanilla.
To Serve
Thaw pudding. Slice with serrated knife a slice and place on a plate. Warm puddling gently (microwave works great). Drizzle very warm hard sauce over the top of pudding and serve with Chantilly Cream (optional).
Thanksgiving Mac & Cheese
Submitted
by
MFU Press Relations Specialist Alice Miller
2 C cooked turkey, cubed 3 C Havarti cheese, grated 1 box macaroni, cooked 4 stalks celery, diced 1 onion, diced 1 box stuffing, prepared ¼ C flour
¼ C butter
1 C milk
1 C chicken broth
Salt, pepper, thyme to taste Cranberry sauce for serving
Sautee celery and onion with thyme, salt, and pepper until soft. Set aside in large bowl. In same pan, melt butter. Add flour and mix to make roux. Cook for 1-2 minutes. Slowly pour in milk while stirring. Do the same with chicken broth. Stir until thickened. Add 2 cups cheese and melt. In large bowl, mix together cheese sauce, cooked macaroni, vegetables, and turkey. If too thick, add milk until reach desired consistency. Pour ½ of mixture into 9”x13” baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Add other ½ of mixture. Top with stuffing. Bake at 350F for 30-45 minutes, until bubbly and warmed through. Serve topped with a dallop of cranberry sauce.
Tom and Jerry Batter
Submitted by
MFU Ambassador Mary Jenni
12 eggs, separated
1 pint marshmallow cream
1 tsp Cream of Tartar
Oil of Clove and Oil of Cinnamon (do not substitute for ground spices)
1 ½ lbs powdered sugar
Beat yolks until they stand in peaks (takes a long time), then add marshmallow cream, and flavoring oils. Drop in 1 drop of oil at a time. (Most folks like 1 drop of each oil, but I prefer two so do it to taste). Beat egg whites to peaks, then add cream of tartar, and then slowly add powdered sugar to the mixture so you don’t have a cloud of sugar in your face. Mix just until all combined. Fold yolk mixture into white mixture.
To Serve
In a large mug, add ½ oz rum and ½ oz brandy, hot water or hot milk or a combination of, and top with the Tom and Jerry batter, then sprinkle with nutmeg. This is also good without alcohol.
Store batter in the refrigerator for five days. This recipe serves a small holiday party.
Kops Caramel Corn
Submitted by MFU Communications Director Heather Link
1C brown sugar
1 stick of butter
1/4 C Karo Syrup
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
3 qts air popped corn
Mix together brown sugar, butter, Karo Syrup, and salt in a microwave safe bowl.
Microwave for two minutes, stiring halfway through. Make sure it boils up a little in the microwave, and then remove.
Add in 1/2 tsp of baking soda and stir well (notice soda changes consitancy - that’s a good thing).
Drizzle over popped corn, stiring as you pour, coat evenly (use microwave safe bowl).
Microwave for 2 mins, stir, and pour evenly on wax paper and let cool, then serve.
Wheat Salad
Submitted by MFU Communications
Director Heather Link
3 C cooked, drained, & cooled wheat kernels
8 oz package softened cream cheese
3.4 oz packed of JELLO instant vanilla pudding
8 oz ctn. Cool Whip
12 oz can of crushed pinapple, drained
Mix JELLO instant pudding, drained crushed pineapple, and softened cream cheese until well blended.
Fold in all carton of cool whip. Next add cooled and dried wheat. NOTE: you can add as much of the 3 cups of wheat as desired can me more or less. We love the texture so we add it all!
Chill for 3-4 hours (we choose longer).
Serve cold.
Scalloped Corn
Submitted by MFU Member Martha Prevost
2 tbsp butter
1/4 C finely chopped onion
2 tbsp flour
1/2 tsp paprika
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp dried mustard
Couple dashes of black pepper
3/4 C milk
16 oz can corn or 2 cups fresh or frozen
Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a larger saucepan, on medium heat, melt butter. Add onions and sauté onions till soft.
Remove from heat. Gradually add milk while whisking. Put back onto burner and bring to boil. Boil for 1 minute while stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in corn.
Pour into greased 1 quart baking dish and bake till bubbly 20-30 minutes.
Great for holidays as it can be made day ahead and can easily be doubled or tripled for larger amount.
Small town BIG HEART
LEWISTOWN‘S MUSICAL RELATIONSHIP
Centerfest Music Festival guarantees that the first Saturday in August in Lewistown is a day of connection, creativity, and collective joy. Renee Rummans is the volunteer festival producer, who, in her ninth year of cancer recovery, celebrates by using her unique organizational skills to celebrate her community by adding to the quality of her neighbors’ lives through services and encouraging creativity.
Centerfest is just one of the ways she achieves her mission.
The popular festival is held at a small, intimate venue, and consists of only one 10-hour day packed full of seven different music performers or bands. Festivalgoers’ response to the new event has been definitively positive, with Centerfest selected as the best Montana music festival by Distinctly Montana Magazine despite its newness on the music festival scene.
Rummans was honored to be nominated along with festivals like Red Ants Pants and the Butte Folk Festival.When selected as the best, she theorized it is because of the festival planners’ constant desire to improve. Her team asks participants what can be better. They don’t settle for “everything is great,” and instead ask again,
“Thanks, but if you had to change one thing what would it be?”
The organizing team takes the suggestions to heart, and some are adopted. For example: a participant suggestion led to the purchase of cabanas, which rent out quickly.The white cabanas also create a unique visual against the lush green of Big Spring Creek’s riparian corridor.
Rummans goal is to add value to Lewistown and Montana. Consequently, their committee worked hard to find a date that doesn’t compete with other music festivals or fairs in the area.
The festival adds value to her community as an opportunity to gather and listen to quality musicians, but also provides a financial boost to businesses in Lewistown by attracting new customers.
The festival is no small undertaking, and hosting it requires more than 70 volunteers who each give five hours each on the day of the event, while Sarah Smith, Cathy Barta, and Jamie Hess volunteer incalculable hours of preparation.
Rummans remarked that her main volunteer team is all women who are insanely capable. She joyfully proclaimed,“We lift each other up!”
Aerial photos courtesy of Kyle Trafton
LOVe
A NEW WAY to the Land
By Maime Hertel
Jessica Jackson’s journey to Montana is a compelling example of how modern skills and traditional agriculture can merge to create something innovative and meaningful.Although she was raised on a small ranch in California where her family raised Texas longhorns, she spent most of her time in urban centers.A transformative quarter-life crisis became the catalyst for her to seek a life more aligned with her passion for nature and authenticity.
A Bold Relocation
Determined to find a more fulfilling and grounded existence, Jackson made the audacious decision to leave behind her urban comforts and relocate to Montana. She traded city life for a modest cabin outside Lewistown, embracing an off-grid lifestyle with minimal modern utilities, including using candles as the only source of light.This drastic shift from city life presented both challenges and opportunities for personal growth. Jackson’s new life in Montana was marked by its rugged beauty, which offered her solace and a renewed sense of purpose.
Jackson earned a degree from the University of Chicago in 2008, and spent a year at the University of California, Los Angeles studying architectural interior design and honing her skills in creative and structural design. But during this year, Jackson felt increasingly detached from her true passion - the land she had always cherished. Moving to Montana provided an opportunity to reconnect with her roots while applying her architectural expertise in a new and practical context.
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Jessica Jackson uses her architectural talents to diversify ranching operations with agritourism.
Photos courtesy of Jessica Jackson
Renovating a New Life
Over the course of eight years, Jackson undertook a series of renovation projects that transformed her cabin into a functional and aesthetically pleasing home. She crafted furniture from salvaged wood, repurposed windows from the historic Calvert Hotel in Lewistown, and designed custom pieces that enhanced the cabin’s charm and practicality.“Each project not only satisfied my creative instincts but also deepened my connection to this place,” Jackson noted.
In addition to her renovation work, Jackson engaged with the local community by working at a Lewistown business.This role provided valuable insights into rural life and helped her integrate into the community.The warmth and support from Lewistown’s residents made her feel welcome and solidified her commitment to her new lifestyle.A particularly memorable moment was with the first person she met in Lewistown, Mary Jenni, membership ambassador for Montana Farmers Union. Jackson recalls her first encounter with Jenni in March, when Jackson was unprepared for the snow that greeted her in what she thought was spring. Jenni took Jackson under her wing, reassuring her and offering support. “Mary could have easily dismissed me as just another out-of-state buyer,” Jackson recalled.“Instead, she was incredibly supportive, and that kind of kindness is rare. It made me feel like Lewistown was truly special.”
Jackson’s new life in Montana also included meeting her husband, Robbie, at a local church.Their shared passion for the land and commitment to sustainable practices inspired them to explore innovative ways to enhance their ranching operation.They envisioned combining modern innovations with traditional ranching practices to create a unique and forward-thinking operation.
Bridging the Gap in Generations
One of their most notable projects was the renovation of a historical cabin on the Jackson family ranch. Drawing on her architectural background, Jackson and Robbie transformed this cabin into an Airbnb, integrating agritourism into their ranching business.This initiative provided an additional revenue stream while allowing visitors to experience the ranch’s scenic beauty and tranquility.The Airbnb project has been a resounding success, reflecting Jackson’s ability to blend her modern skills with traditional ranching practices.“Our goal was to create a space where people could connect with the land while supporting our family’s operation,” Jackson explained.“It’s been rewarding to see how much people appreciate the experience.”
The success of the Airbnb project inspired the Jacksons to plan another renovation on their ranch.This upcoming project will feature sustainable elements, such as energy-efficient systems and eco-friendly materials. By incorporating these modern features, they aim to create a model of sustainability that respects the ranch’s historical significance while embracing contemporary environmental practices. Jackson sees this as an opportunity to further demonstrate how innovation can be seamlessly integrated into traditional operations.“We want to show that you can honor the past while building a sustainable future,” she said.
Jackson’s story is particularly relevant to younger generations of agriculturalists who often face challenges when returning to their family’s farms and ranches. Many feel that their new talents and skills, developed through education and modern careers, cannot be effectively utilized within traditional agricultural operations. They may struggle to find ways to apply their knowledge in a setting that seems resistant to change. Jackson’s approach offers a compelling solution to this dilemma. By integrating her architectural skills with her agricultural background, she has demonstrated how modern expertise can be effectively applied to traditional farming and ranching. Her innovative projects, such as the Airbnb renovations and sustainable ranch practices, provide a model for how younger generations can bridge the gap between their new skills and their family’s agricultural legacy.
Tradition and Innovation
In a world where change can be daunting, Jackson’s journey stands as a testament to the power of blending old and new. Jackson’s innovative approach to ranching beautifully illustrates how modern skills can harmonize with traditional practices to create something truly special. Beyond impressive cabin renovations, the Jacksons have delved into new crop rotations, embraced water conservation techniques, and explored regenerative agriculture methods. In the future, they hope to incorporate no-till planting and thoughtful chemical use but care most about finding the techniques that are best for the land long term.“I’m constantly looking for ways to make our operation more sustainable and efficient,” she shared with a smile.
Through the years, Jackson has rekindled a profound connection to the land, transforming her role from simply preserving the Jackson family’s legacy to becoming a dedicated steward of the environment.“It’s an honor to love the land in a new way,” she explained.“I hope my story inspires others to see the possibilities of blending tradition with innovation.”
The Art of Authenticity
By Alice Miller MFU Press Relations Specialist
Starting from scratch, Caroline Nelson has written her own definition of what it means to be a cowgirl.
“I’ve finally let go of the need to let other people in ag know that I’m working hard enough and feeling guilty for prioritizing myself,” said Nelson.
This summer, Nelson found herself at a dead sprint, though, and loving it, raising her infant son, opening a feed store, hosting Cowgirl Camp events, and running Little Creek Lamb & Beef that prioritizes full-animal butchery practices.
Not everyone has shared her vision. The bank didn’t see her being able to sell artisanal ranch goods at high price points, people scoffed at an East Coaster hosting Cowgirl Camp, and renovating and opening a storefront for her ranch Little Creek only a few weeks postpartum raised eyebrows.
But Nelson considers the trying exhilarating – and has found success both online with a social media following, podcast, and direct-to-consumer sales of lamb and beef, as well as in her community with the recently opened store, Little Creek Feed, and Cowgirl Camp events.
“Ag and ranching will humble you. It has humbled me. It’s been painful at times. But I’ve learned I can make mistakes and get through,” Nelson said.“So really, what is the big risk?”
The Rewards of Risk
Photos by Mady Braught
Fascinated by Western Culture and ranching, Nelson spent several summers as a teenager working on a Montana ranch.
Originally from Pennsylvania, she toured as a singer/songwriter for several years after graduating from college.At 27, she decided to try ranching before the opportunity passed her by. If her adventures turned to misadventures, she would at least have interesting dinner stories when she returned to the East Coast. But then she reconnected with her now husband, Justin, who she first met at a Townsend gas station at 18.“And everything got very permanent,“ she said, laughingly.
The couple worked to build a busy e-commerce business, Little Creek, raising grassfed lamb and beef and selling artisanal ranch goods, alongside Justin’s farm work and Caroline’s Cowgirl Camp experiences.
On one hand, renting land to run their cattle and Icelandic sheep on has its own challenges, Nelson said.“And on the other hand, we don’t really have a lot of debt.We’ve been able to get started without really having borrowed much.”
Business growth has been slow and intentional.“We’re not playing with someone else’s money. So we’ve been really conservative about every step in the business,” Nelson said.
Caroline and Justin were comfortable bootstrapping Little Creek Feed with their own labor for renovations and to keep payroll costs down initially, purchased used equipment, and have made small orders.
“It has been exhausting, but at that end of the day, I feel really comfortable with the risk that we’ve taken,” Nelson said.
Adding to the exhaustion are the day-to-day efforts of running their online business and having given birth to her son only a few short weeks before lambing season commenced. It was a lot to take on, but when a commercial location became available in Townsend that had enough square footage, they had to move fast to secure it, Nelson said.
“And you know, the baby just came with,” she said, laughing and adding that the community and neighboring shopkeepers were supportive and happy to help with her son – and did often.
The store, which opened this June, is a feed and food store, offering quality essentials (and some luxuries) for farms, animals,
and humans. Nelson dreams of hosting community and ag events at the location and is working to expand the store’s offerings of local and regional goods. Customers are willing to buy local goods that are consistent and convenient, she said, adding Little Creek Feed can provide those things.
Since 2018, Nelson has sold the lamb and beef she and Justin raise online, sending more of it to Texas than to Townsend. Before opening the storefront, Nelson wasn’t sure what the response would be to the price of the heritage breed of lamb and dry aged beef.
“We have people trying lamb for the first time and loving it. I’m restocking every week,” Nelson said, excitedly.“I’ve been really touched and encouraged by the local response.”
Power of Honesty
In addition to her family and retail businesses, her Cowgirl Camp endeavor also is growing, with Nelson offering eight events this year after offering seven total over the first three years.
“We hope that participants get a connection to their grit, a reconnection to their inner horse girl, some tangible skills, and an understanding of what it takes to actually make your living off of agriculture,” Nelson said.
Lifelong friendships have been forged, life altering decisions have been made, and tattoos have been inked, all because people accepted an invitation to be their most authentic selves.
The camps have helped Nelson herself overcome a lingering sense of imposter syndrome.
When in college, Nelson wrote her thesis on authenticity and belonging in the Western culture, and learned from her research that many of the cowgirls and cowboys she interviewed felt like outsiders and not enough.As a cowgirl now herself, she said, she’s realized there is no benchmark or official title.
“There’s no,‘You’re officially a cowgirl.’ No one comes and tells you,” Nelson said.“So if you’re waiting to feel like one, you never will.”
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Setting Priorities, Accepting Limitations
No amount of love for ranching can make the pace Nelson keeps these days sustainable.
She thinks back to the lesson she learned when she went cold turkey off synthetic fertilizer for her pastures, which when done in a non-measured way, led to a steep decline in pasture health over time.
Like the soil she and her livestock rely on, she too needs a season of rest and demands nourishment. Some days taking care of herself is as simple as prioritizing a haircut. Other days it’s letting a ball drop to be picked up later, like putting her podcast on hiatus. Still other days, it’s hiring others to help.
When some people questioned her dedication to her flock when she hired a friend to help with lambing this spring, Nelson shrugged off the criticism.
“I really was able to let that go in a way that I hadn’t before,” she said.
It’s easy to be a workaholic at a job you love, Nelson said.“But it can not be at the expense of my wellbeing and my family’s wellbeing. I’m very aware that I am not an unlimited resource, and I want to keep loving what I do.”
Beginning in October, Nelson said, she’s trying yet another new idea – an eight-hour work week.“All we can do, if we want to stay in this for the long haul, if we want our kids to be in it, we have to find ways to keep loving this work and take care of ourselves so we can keep doing it.”
Community Support Critical for Rural Schools
By Jim Baldwin
Rural schools mean kids get a strong education here they live with school board members invested in seeing the kids and the community thrive.
I do not claim to be an expert on the matter, but it is my belief the reasons for the dwindling numbers in rural Montana schools are several.
Rural schools continue to dwindle in the state of Montana. Back when I was a senior in high school (1973 in Culbertson) until presently, schools have change a great deal, with the biggest glaring factor being the number of students in each school, specifically in Class C Schools. Many reasons are to blame, and now with Charter Schools on the horizon, and open enrollment just recently passed by the Legislature in 2023, my belief is numbers will continue to diminish for small rural schools.
When I was a student in Culbertson from 1960-73 a majority of my classmates had four or more siblings in their families. Now that number has dwindled to two in several families. Several of my classmates lived on a farm where their parents made a comfortable living. Now, in 2024, you no longer see the small farms but much larger farms. In addition, siblings do not return to help with the farm and thus less kids are in rural areas.
Currently Montana has 181 schools. Class AA has 16, Class A 24, and Class B 46 for a total of 81 schools. Class C has a total of 96 schools, with 76 of the 96 having to form co-ops to have a team or school because of the lack of numbers. Co-ops have been the lifeblood to keep small schools going and allowing students to compete in activities.
During the Legislative Session a bill was passed to allow open enrollment. Open enrollment hurts the small communities as well in my opinion. For example, if a student lives in North Star District and applies to go to Havre School System, Havre will then be allowed to count the student on their enrollment for the year, and at the end of the year, will send North Star a partial bill.
Another action by the most recent Legislature was making charter schools legal across our state. Using the same scenario, a student in North Star goes to a charter school in Havre.That charter school gets the enrollment money, and the same student is allowed to compete in activities in North Star, because he or she is a resident of North Star.
I was told several years ago rural communities have three stable buildings in their towns.Those three are: the post office, school and local tavern.
As I write this article, I am 68 and the future of rural schools and towns lands totally on the residents of each and every town. Everyone has a choice:You can get involved and support your school district in many ways. If everyone gets involved and supports rural schools, rural schools will remain open.
With so many variables at play, none of us can predict the future; only time will tell how Montanans will choose to educate their kids.
Doris Bishop Leaves Legacy of Fortitude, Love
By Alice Miller, MFU Press Relations Specialist
Summing up 98 years of life is no small task, however, the threads of care Doris Bishop stitched through the lives of all she met clearly tell of her fortitude and love for others.
“Mom was a compassionate person. She knew everybody, but she also cared about everybody,” Doris’ oldest daughter Trudi Peterson said shortly after her mother passed away earlier this summer.
In her life, “The Queen of the Prairie” never met a stranger.
“Her education through Farmers Union and her field work gave her the confidence that, whoever she met, they always felt like they knew her or she knew them,” Trudi said.
Whether it was traveling, during a church event, or visiting with friends, Doris loved to talk with people about her background and her family, including her 11 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren of whom she was unabashedly proud. Often, the hundreds of Christmas cards sent by her each year showcased the latest photos
Life on the Farm
Having grown up on a farm north of Havre with Norwegian homesteaders for parents, Doris understood the fortitude required for farm life. After marrying her husband Argyle Bishop in 1947 she remained contentedly on his family’s homestead in Pondera County most of her life, raising five children.
“She loved the place, she loved the ag way of life, and she loved where she lived. She and my dad had a really special relationship. They just made it work,” Trudi remembered.
A recycler and conserver, Doris let nothing go to waste.
“She and my dad did not have a huge place. So she was a good partner with my dad being very thrifty,” Trudi said, remembering the milk cow as an example.
“She would have the cream off the top of the milk on fresh peaches or something, and she would make cottage cheese, and then she’d use the whey to make bread.”
Doris and Argyle were involved in the community through church, Montana Farmers Union, and other community boards and activities. In addition to her civic and church involvement, Doris also spent time sewing, repurposing many clothes into treasured creations for family members and making hundreds of quilts, ever being thrifty to meet the needs of others.
Photos courtesy of Bishop Family
While she invested in her family and community, she also was a lifelong learner and traveler.
“Even when she was older, she tried new things and enjoyed them,” Trudi said, adding her mom taught her final yoga class at the age of 90 and loved to travel and explore, making several trips to Norway to meet relatives.
MFU’s Strong Influence
While Doris was a titan of influence in others’ lives, Montana Farmers Union was a titan of influence in hers, with her being employed at one time by MFU doing fieldwork and remaining a lifelong active member.
“When I was young, there were two places we went: One was church activities and one was MFU activities, and mom was always teaching classes,” Trudi remembered.
From an early age, Doris was aware of her family’s involvement in the organization that advocated for the family farm when it felt like farmers’ profits were at the mercy of large companies.
Doris attended camp and educational programming through MFU, even meeting Eleanor Roosevelt in Washington, D.C., at one point.
“Mildred (Stoltz) gave country kids an appreciation about who they are, gave them an identity to be proud of, and mom felt that. She mentioned and wrote a couple times that one of the women who really influenced her is Mildred Stoltz,” Trudi said.
Guiding Light
Doris nearly always attended MFU’s Annual State Convention.
“Doris is a fixture in my life. I really don’t remember the first time I met Doris because I would’ve been just a little kid,” MFU President Walter Schweitzer said.
In addition to her educational fieldwork with MFU, she also mentored members and was an avid participant in policy debate. Her consistent, engaged voice became a guiding light for MFU.
“What she provided for Montana Farmers Union over the last 80 years is irreplaceable. Her focus on education and membership and Farmers Union philosophy meant she shaped it. There’s no question about it: Her fingerprints are all over what Montana Farmers Union is today,” Schweitzer said.
“Sharla and I mourn of a true giant in family farm agriculture, Doris Bishop. I know we can all agree that Doris was a trailblazer and an inspiration to us all, but for me Doris’ path to the Farmers Union is especially close to home,” U.S. Senator and MFU member Jon Tester said. “Like me, she was born on a farm near Havre. Her parents, like my grandparents, were farmers
who came over from Scandinavia and homesteaded in North Central Montana. Doris was a Montana farmer through and through, and by the time I met her, she had already made a name for herself in the Montana Farmers Union. Doris and her late husband Argyle will be absolutely missed as a foundational couple in Montana Farmers Union.”
Practicing Ideals
Outside of MFU, Doris also was a guiding light to many and led by example in love, harmony, and peace.
“When we sat around the table as kids, we never discussed people in the community. We usually discussed politics and what was happening in the world,” Trudi said.
Community members looked up to and trusted Doris as children and later as adults, Trudi said, adding that her mom routinely sent cards and made phone calls to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to make sure they knew they were loved and blessings.
Schweitzer, and he assumes other MFU presidents, also received letters from Doris.
“She was Farmers Union’s matriarch, and anyone who grew up on a family farm with a strong matriarch knows what it’s like to have somebody looking over your shoulder and advising you when you do something right and telling you when you do something wrong. That was Doris Bishop for Farmers Union,” Schweitzer said. “When she spoke, I listened.”
Artful Connection
Although Doris protested she didn’t have an artistic bone in her body, her gifts to make much from little and leave others uplifted through her words and deeds weave a vibrant tapestry of contributions to her community and the people who she met.
“She had a genuine care about everybody,” Trudi said. “She wanted to try to help however she could.”
Field Notes
GOLDEN TRIANGLE (1)
As members, you’ve heard it 100 times before, but it’s critical, especially today, to reiterate that Montana Farmers Union is a grassroots organization. As ambassadors, we must listen to the members of our communities, cover their needs, and put programming in place to educate our members. During events and local meetings, I love hearing from our members about what they want to see next. Sometimes, I get a ton of new ideas, and sometimes, I listen to crickets and go to other ambassadors about what they are doing to see if that might work or be interesting to members in my area.
Sometimes, those ideas don’t come from a Montana Farmers Union event, but rather a simple question at dinner.
Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the farm-to-table event at the Cutbank Creek Brewery in Cutbank. There, I got to interact with all kinds of people, those directly involved in agriculture and some just members of the community. The main thing I got from this dinner was community, which is something the Montana Farmers Union knows well. I sat at a table with incredible ladies, one from Kentucky and one from Colorado. Both worked in rural medicine and traveled to Cutbank from Browning, Olivia Fitzgerald with Abundant Montana, and Erynn Eveland with the Quinn Institute. After the general introductions, the conversation quickly turned into how unique these types of meals were as you sat with random people you may not know and enjoyed delicious Montana-made and raised foods.
Josh Poole, also with the Quinn Institute, spoke about the importance of getting local foods into local mouths, and how you can change and improve a community. After this conversation, one of the ladies at my table raised a vital question: How do you guys cope with the isolation up here? The question took me a second to comprehend, not because I haven’t felt that way – because I have – but because of the guts it took her to ask that question. It is so relevant but something that can seem scary or embarrassing. I promise you it is not. Every single lady at my table said I know exactly how you feel, and here is what I do. The recurring theme was community.
The conversations during the dinner have inspired me to focus on community in the coming months, with community events that bring people together. There will be learning, as well, but the events are mostly meant to help people build connections with others they see multiple times throughout the winter. We can combine education and community and get the best of both worlds while continuing to promote Montana foods for Montana’s mouths.
Ambassador Jeri Copenhaver - Golden Triangle
MISSOURI HEADWATERS (2)
I’ve continued pondering the question I posed in the Summer Edition of whether efficiency is the best thing for our landscapes, livestock, and operations. Recently, I’ve been mulling over how we can efficiently improve soil health to provide more nutrient-dense forage for our cattle. Where does one begin to work on soil health? My curiosity and drive to understand what healthy soils mean began with two books – “For the Love of Soil” by Nicole Masters followed by “Dirt to Soil” by Gabe Brown. I have read them both twice, and it won’t be the last time either! I am captivated by the how and why soil health improvement can be more effective and efficient for an operation, and I drank up Masters’ and Brown’s expertise in soil health.
At my ranch, and I imagine others’, testing your soil is well worth the effort, time, and money – but only if someone can interpret results in a way which we can understand so we can make necessary changes. In May we took soil samples to our local extension office to have soil analysis completed. The analysis gave a report on organic matter, nitrates, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium, soil pH, copper, and sulfur. We then experimented with Vermicast biological fertilizer prior to irrigation. Now that the hay has been baled and the field has been irrigated again, we’ll take another soil sample to see how it compares. We hope to see a more favorable nutrient balance for healthier forages as a result of using Vermicast.
There are experts close to home within MSU Extension and MSU Faculty who are willing and wanting to help producers improve and be more efficient on their farm or ranch. There are soil health focused clubs, councils, organizations, conservation districts, and others who are also great resource outlets for producers.
The more one knows about their soil, the more one can understand about growing healthy plants for feeding livestock. It seems simple – and I’d argue, involved and complicated all at the same time. Don’t let that deter you from pursuing improvement of soil health. Doing something is better than doing nothing or the same thing over and over without reaching desired results.
I would love to hear members’ thoughts on this topic – let’s get together over lunch or coffee or at your farm/ranch to continue the pursuit of efficiency!
Ambassador Samantha Ferrat - Missouri Headwaters
CENTRAL MONTANA (3)
As the summer sun casts its golden rays across the vast, rolling plains of Montana, the state’s counties come alive with the vibrant energy of their annual fairs. These events are more than just a gathering of local communities; they are a celebration of Montana’s rich agricultural heritage, a showcase of rural craftsmanship, and a hub of entertainment that draws visitors from near and far. Whether you’re a seasoned fairgoer or a curious traveler, attending a Montana county fair is an experience that offers a unique glimpse into the heart and soul of the Big Sky State.
Walking through the gates of a Montana county fair is like stepping into a time capsule. The smell of cotton candy, the sound of children’s laughter, and the sight of neon lights from the carnival rides evoke a sense of nostalgia that transports you to a simpler time. These fairs have been a staple of Montana’s cultural fabric for decades, preserving the traditions and values that define the state’s rural communities.
The 4-H and Future Farmers of America exhibits are particularly important, showcasing the talents and hard work of the state’s youth. I attended nine country fairs this summer and had the opportunity to see the amazing artistic talent, time, and dedication put into the 4-H and FFA projects. Walking through the barns and the indoor exhibit halls is a chance to see the next generation of Montanans carry on the agricultural traditions that have sustained their families for generations.
No fair experience is complete without indulging in the array of culinary delights that await, from the hearty comfort of burgers to the sweet satisfaction of cotton candy. Montana Farmers Union partnered with Roosevelt, Valley, and Choteau counties 4-H food booths at three fairs for Farmer’s Share Day events. Cheeseburgers were featured at each fair, and hundreds of folks learned about the Farmer’s Share. After the live informercial from me, a delicious 75-cent cheeseburger was their reward.
Attending a county fair is also a chance to support the 4-H and FFA members who are our future in agriculture. Supporting the annual livestock sales is so important to the youth. Each county handles their sales a little differently, but I must give a shout out to Daniels County because their “buyers gift” is very thoughtful. I received a plate of homemade cookies after buying the Reserve Grand Champion Lamb. (Mary has a little lamb everywhere she goes.)
So, whether you find yourself in Culbertson, Glasgow, Dodson, Scobey, Plentywood, Lewistown, Harlowton, Stanford, Roundup, or any of the other charming towns that dot the Montana landscape, be sure to check out the local county fair. It’s an experience that will leave you with a deeper appreciation for the Big Sky State and its people. After all, there’s nothing quite like the simple pleasure of a summer day spent at a Montana county fair.
Ambassador Mary Jenni - Central MT
Continued from previous page
EASTERN MONTANA (4)
Lots of people say that autumn is their favorite season. There are beautiful colors outside, traditional and cozy recipes to make, and an abundant harvest, that has been months of exhausting labor in the making, to be gathered. All this and more creates a romantic autumn perception in our minds.
And yet, autumn is possibly one of the most stressful times of the year, especially as we draw closer to elections and the 2025 Legislative Session.
Legislation, one of the key principles of Montana Farmers Union, is often overlooked in the flash and gaudiness of election campaigns. For MFU members, there is a direct opportunity to influence and change state and federal legislation. Voting on policy during our annual convention and determining the 2025 MFU legislative priorities are two ways that MFU members can influence legislative outcomes.
The MFU policy guides the work of our government affairs team and membership advocacy on state and federal legislative issues. From the State Legislature to the D.C. Fly-In, the policy book guides our members in having the critical conversations with our elected officials and decision makers.
Political affiliation is irrelevant – Montana Farmers Union is non-partisan. MFU has only ever worked to support family farms, ranches, and rural communities, regardless of which side of the aisle legislation originates from. Ranging from rural healthcare to housing issues to country of origin labeling to right to repair, the things that impact our membership base are never ending. The conversations surrounding these issues might be charged with emotion or linked to Federal politicians, but that does not mean we can shy away from them. Family owned operations and rural communities are worth fighting for, and we as MFU members have the resources, as well as the responsibility, to advocate for them.
Learn more about MFU policy and legislative action, including the legislative scorecards, on the MFU website: https:// montanafarmersunion.com/legislation.
Political and legislative success can be years in the making – oftentimes it is a long-term game with high stakes. That is why you need to become involved now, and you cannot afford to be passive in the discussion. This autumn, don’t let the stress of legislative action dissuade you from becoming an advocate.
Ambassador Eleanor Dutton - Eastern MT
FLATHEAD (5)
How can you as members help us grow our membership?
Simple. When we are attending Montana Farmers Union events together (or any events for that matter) share with others at those events why you are there and why it’s important to be an MFU member. Share with them the legacy of what has been accomplished before us, and why we gather still. Share the success stories of our recent cooperative projects, our youth camps, our scholarships, our sponsorships, and our dedication to rural communities and small family farms. Then ask them personally to join a legacy and tradition that has served small family farms and rural communities for more than one hundred years.
This has been an incredible year, and there are very few places in the state where MFU hasn’t made an impact.
But what makes the most impact? When MFU members become engaged, then share that engagement, to current and future members as a testimony of trust and accountability to an incredible organization that remains dedicated to our voices in agriculture.
For all members who continue to do this: Thank you. And thank you again. Your words and experiences as members not only help us as ambassadors grow and further engage the membership, but create a platform for more good work to be done.
At three of my events this year, members shared what being a Montana Farmers Union member meant to them, and why others should join. When this message comes directly from the membership – from our neighbors, from our friends – it validates not only our own agricultural experiences, but also reinforces that there is an incredible organization at our feet willing to take on the mileage and burden of the never-ending battle of making sure the little guy is treated as fairly as the big guy, and none of us stand alone.
Montana Farmers Union is a relevant, vital, and invaluable tool for moving the needle for both its members, and its policy, which is directed by its members.
Why is your MFU membership important?
Because it’s a relationship. We hear your voice and work toward making a measurable difference; history is still being written. The work of our grandparents and those who came before is why we have meaning today, and MFU is committed to preserving small family farms and rural communities. And as always, the ranch and farm, when shared, is important beyond measure.
Ambassador Carissa McNamara - Flathead
YELLOWSTONE BIGHORN (6)
Happy Fall, folks!
Fairs, farmers markets, and hot weather cooling down, almost time for pumpkin in everything again!
Fairs in Big Horn and Yellowstone were in full swing, and Montana Farmers Union was there both in person and in banners all around the youth exhibitions. We know how hard these kiddos work on their shows, and we love to make that process just a bit easier and a lot more rewarding.
Farmers Markets all around the state are also getting their fair share of traffic, and I feel that a lot of people tend to go after the Local Food Guide from Abundant MT a lot more, with an increasing amount of folks spreading the word about local food procurement and getting to know local producers.
Weather in Montana has, and always will, do what is wants, but make sure you’re staying hydrated in the warmer days but always keep a jacket handy.
Yellowstone County has just gotten its agriculture extension agent this summer! His name is Francisco Gamboa Herrera and while he’s new to the spot of Yellowstone Ag Extension Agent, he is not at all “new” to the job having quite a bit of experience in the agriculture side of Montana. One of these days I’m sure we can have him as a guest at a future membership gathering, and we can see what great things he plans to have in store for us!
Big Horn County is seeing a bit of construction on the highways fixing up some of the highways, and I hear the Crow and Northern Chyenne tribal leaders are discussing their own projects for rural growers and producers, and we’ll have more updates in future meetings. The Crow Fair earlier this summer was quite an event, and there was an amazing amount of people from all over, not just Montana but the globe, just to see the teepee capital of the world!
I’m looking forward to seeing you folks at meetings, youth day camps, and all events in between. Please reach out to me if you have any questions or want to know more about what’s happening in our areas!
Ambassador Skylar Williams - Yellowstone Bighorn
TETON/CASCADE (7)
I have been blessed to have a rich, full agricultural life. I come from a long line of farmers, loggers, and ranchers.
It has been an amazing whirlwind of information as I joined the Montana Farmers Union team. As the Education Associate, I have had the opportunity to work with youth around the state in our Day Camps and summer camps at Arrowpeak. Day Camps are a great way to support the future producers and consumers of the agricultural industry. Please check out information on hosting a Day Camp in your area or contact your ambassador.
I think the biggest eye opener for me has been my involvement in field tours, open houses, Montana State University Field Days, soil crawls, and visits for publications and publicity for our members and grant recipients. The comradery and sharing of information, both successes and failures, in agriculture is the cornerstone of keeping the industry going. I have seen the truth in the saying “If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten.” There are so many producers, researchers, and industry professionals who are pushing the boundaries of agricultural practices to reach more profitable and sustainable food production.
Nonetheless, the knowledge exchanged between neighbors and close friends is not broad enough to keep up with the speed of change and innovation of today. To keep progressing in agriculture, you must belong to groups of like-minded individuals who freely share their knowledge. As I travel my geographic area, I keep interacting with some of the same people over and over again. I am building relationships, learning information, and sharing ideas each and every time I see them. True professional relationships take time and effort to establish. Membership in organizations like Montana Farmers Union does not provide benefits if you don’t attend the functions and events. Agriculture is hard and important work, but deepening your knowledge and expanding your understanding of practices is critical to the continuation of the industry. Local meetings, state-wide educational events, field days, and social functions provide a space for conversation and sharing of practices and ideas. You might find a program, product, practice, or passion that will move your operation to the next level.
Join Montana Farmers Union and other professional organizations – AND get involved. Read the publications and newsletters. Follow the organizations on social media. Attend and participate in the functions and events these organizations provide. The upcoming Montana Farmers Union Annual Convention Oct. 18-19 in Whitefish is a prime place to dive in. However you choose to become more engaged, I look forward to seeing you out there!
Ambassador Jodi Koterba- Teton-Cascade
At some point in their lives, parents and adult children will face the challenge of talking about estate planning issues associated with a potential chronic illness, a disability, mental incapacity, or death. Perhaps the conversation is triggered by the death of a relative or neighbor. Or possibly a serious illness of a parent who requires hospitalization and then care in a nursing home will be the event that makes adult children confront the need “for action.” In our family it was people from my hometown expressing concern about my mother’s driving after her diagnosis of Alzheimer’s that finally “motivated” the three daughters to take action.
Most of us do not like to think of the day when we or our parents may not be able to manage physically or mentally. We also don’t want to think about the death of our parents, much less our own. In fact, truth be known, almost all of us at one time or another have thought what if we “got” Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. What if we lost what we have worked a lifetime to accumulate as a legacy for our families because of long-term health care costs? Even when we seem to be overwhelmed with day-to-day living, there is a needling thought at the back of our minds, what if ...? As anyone who has been there knows, we don’t always make the best decisions during the time of a family crisis.
While we may believe the best way to minimize feelings of helplessness and stress resulting from a crisis is to plan ahead, emotionally we often find it difficult to talk about incapacity and death. The situation can be more complicated if there
have been years of underlying tensions or misunderstandings among our parents and siblings. Or, if one of the “kids” feels animosity towards another sibling because the “favored child” has already received more than a “fair” share of the farm or ranch from Mom and Dad, disagreements can arise.
Planning ahead requires predicting these negative situations – family disagreements, dependency, disability, incapacity, and death – and exploring your family’s solutions to these uncertain, hard-to-face problems. While a discussion about the need for legal documents could make everyone feel uncomfortable or uneasy, it’s vital to start the conversation.
One method adult children can use to begin conversation about estate planning with parents is to share their preferences and plans if they have a serious illness or die. This may open the door to further discussion. Understandably parents may question the motives of adult children who express concern about estate planning but have not taken the time and effort to have their legal documents prepared.
Because families are unique, methods to communicate with family members about the estate planning process may vary, but some there are basic decisions to consider.
Who to involve: Who do you trust (or not), and how would you like each family member or others to be involved in the conversation? Do you involve “in-laws” in the discussions? Do you include grandchildren who have reached adulthood? What
Fall Farm and Ranch Family Business Meetings 2024 Your
opportunity to discuss intergenerational estate plans and finances
By Marsha Goetting, MSU Extension Family Economics Specialist, PhD. CFP, CFCS
professionals do you want to consult beforehand: attorney, certified public accountant, insurance agent, and/or certified financial planner?
What to discuss: What are the topics to be discussed as part of the estate planning process? Legal tools to explore include wills, living wills (called declarations in Montana), trusts, financial power of attorney, and health care power of attorney. Non-legal tools could include written directions for funeral arrangements or a memorial service and a letter of last instruction.
When and where to meet: When and where should family members meet to discuss issues? Your Fall 2024 business meetings are an opportunity. Can the meeting be done via phone, or should it be face-to-face? When and where discussions are held can have a tremendous impact on outcome. The experts say to avoid discussion of estate planning during such emotionally demanding events as holiday celebrations or family reunions.Yet, these may be the only occasions when all family members are together. Explore modern alternatives. With advancements in technology meetings could be held online with computers or cell phones.
How information is shared: Plan how key information will be shared before the meeting. Having all family members with background information about topics is also important. One source of information is MSU Extension. We have over 50 different MontGuides in the estate planning area. www.
montana.edu/estateplanning/eppublications.htm. Another possibility is to send family members books or articles about estate planning from the variety of farm and ranch magazines in the state. Send web links to specific articles of interest.
Remember, it’s difficult for many people to talk about finances and estate planning, especially when including a discussion about incapacity and inability to manage. Talking about potential loss of control can be even more difficult if your parents are already experiencing health changes. Grief, frustration, uncertainty, and anger may be expressed. Feelings are likely to be particularly strong if your parents fear they are giving up control. Even if these feelings are not verbalized, be aware that your parents may have them. Be sensitive to and acknowledge your parents’ feelings and preferences. Recognize their need to be independent and in control. Do all you can to keep your parents’ dignity throughout the estate planning process. After all, it is their estate!
Although facing the possibility of dependency, disability, or incapacity – not only of our aging parents, but also of ourselves – is challenging, planning ahead is wise. Planning ahead can help families avoid disagreements over long-term care and finances. Planning ahead can help alleviate the stress of making difficult choices in crisis situations. Understanding the financial and legal issues involved in planning for incapacity and death may help to protect parents’ assets from mismanagement, fraud, or exploitation by family members, caregivers, guardians, or conservators.
Election about
More than Headliners
By Mike Dennison
The 2024 election in Montana is one unlike any other, with a record $200 million being spent on a single contest that could determine control of the U.S. Senate: Our incumbent senator, Democrat and farmer Jon Tester, vs. Republican challenger Tim Sheehy, a wealthy Bozeman businessman.
But for all the attention and money showered on this crucial race, I believe two other items on the Nov. 5 ballot may have far greater long-term influence on Montana’s political future and the state we live in:Two open seats on Montana’s Supreme Court and a pair of ballot measures (CI-126 and CI-127) that would overhaul how we elect scores of state officials, from U.S. senator to governor to local legislators.
First, let’s talk about the two Supreme Court races.
Vocal critics of the court – almost entirely Republicans – say a majority of the seven-member court has been overstepping its bounds in recent years, as it strikes down some high-profile laws passed by the Legislature’s Republican majority or actions by Republican officeholders.
Defenders of the court say its majority is merely enforcing the Montana Constitution’s strong slate of individual rights, which include the right to vote, to a clean and healthful environment, to a free and quality public education, and to privacy, which has been the cornerstone of access to abortion in Montana for 25 years.
This year, two members of that majority – Chief Justice
Mike McGrath and Associate Justice Dirk Sandefur – are retiring, leaving two open seats. Depending on who wins those seats, the nature of the court majority could dramatically change.
Running to replace McGrath as chief justice are Cory Swanson, the Republican Broadwater County attorney from Townsend, and Jeremiah Lynch, a retired U.S. magistrate from Missoula.
Running to replace Sandefur are two state district judges: Katherine Bidegaray of Sidney and Dan Wilson of Kalispell.
Elections for state Supreme Court justices are ostensibly nonpartisan, with candidates declaring no allegiance to any political party. But in these two races, some partisans are definitely taking sides.
The Montana Republican State Central Committee is campaigning for Swanson and Wilson and attacking Lynch and/or Bidegaray as “extreme liberals” or “pro-abortion activists.” Many prominent Republicans have donated to Swanson and Wilson as well.
On the other side, many Democrats and broad swaths of the legal community are backing Lynch and Bidegaray, saying they will defend the constitution.
In the final weeks of the campaign, you’ll likely see big spending by outside political groups – both liberal and conservative – trying to influence these races. Montana voters should choose carefully, on what type of court they’d prefer.
Next, let’s look at two ballot measures flying under the political radar: CI-126 and CI-127.
CI-126 would replace our current Democratic and Republican primary elections and create a single “open” primary for all state offices (except judges), including the U.S. Senate and U.S. House.
If CI-126 passes, the top four vote-getters in this single primary in June would advance to the general election, regardless of party. Then, if CI-127 passes, to win the general election, a candidate must get a majority of the overall vote. Supporters of these two measures say under Montana’s current
system, too many races are decided in the Democratic or Republican primary, which means only a small – and very partisan – segment of the district’s voters choose its representative.
Under the new system, the winner must appeal to more than 50 percent of the voters, theoretically leading to a more moderate representative.
Here’s a real-time example of how the new system could change the landscape:
This year, in Montana’s heavily Republican eastern congressional district, the GOP primary in June essentially decided who the district’s next congressman will be.
Nine candidates competed in this primary and state Auditor Troy Downing prevailed, spending $1 million of his own money to win with 36 percent of the primary vote. He’s a shoo-in to win the general election against Democrat John Driscoll.
But Downing was supported by only 36,300 voters – a mere 10 percent of registered voters in the district.
Under CI-126/127, Downing and the three other top votegetters in the county – two other Republicans and Driscoll –would have all advanced to the general election ballot, where the winner would have to get more than 50 percent.
A bipartisan group of moderate Republicans and Democrats are behind these measures, which also are supported by a national coalition of progressive groups, who say the new system will moderate our divisive politics and ensure that winners are supported by a broader range of citizens.
The Montana Republican Party is opposed, saying the proposals are a stealth attempt to undermine conservative governance. But on Nov. 5, the voters will decide which direction to take.
They’ll also decide a raft of other big races, including the U.S. Senate contest, two U.S. House races, governor, attorney general, and many other state and local races. So, learn what you can about the candidates and get out and vote – registration is open right up to and including Election Day.
THANK YOU BUSINESS BOOSTERS
On the following four pages, meet Montana Farmers Union board and staff members, who work throughout the year to support out grassroots members through strong education programs for both youth and adults, by advocating member-driven policies and legislation at the state and federal level, and cooperation through producer-owned co-ops.
Learn more about the board and staff and why they’re passionate about MFU by matching numbered bios and headshots. We’re looking forward to meeting you in person at MFU Annual State Convention Oct. 17-19 at Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish!
Montana Farmers Union Board
1. Walter Schweitzer is a third-generation Montana farmer as well as third-generation MFU member. He was elected as MFU’s President 2019 and currently serves as chair of the NFU legislative committee and Secretary of Farmers Union Enterprises. He started his own farming operation while attending MSU as an Agronomy major. Because of the Reagan farm crisis of the 1980s he was forced to work as an international agriculture consultant to pay down his farm debt. In 1990 he came back to Montana and started a foundation seed potato farm on Tiber. He sold this successful seed business, purchased the family farm, and now raises registered Black Angus, selling bulls and replacement heifers.
2. Rollie Schlepp, from Conrad/Brady, is a fourthgeneration Montana farmer/rancher and owner of Montana Seeds. He and his wife, Jennifer (also fourth-generation), have three married children and are enjoying six grandkids. They produce wheat, barley, cattle, and clean and sell sainfoin throughout the USA.They have been involved in MFU since 1992. Schlepp graduated MSU with an accounting degree and earned a CPA license. He has prepared taxes for many businesses and individuals over the years.As well as Vice President of MFU, he has served on Farmers Union Enterprises, Inc., then served Farmers Union Marketing and Processing Association boards beginning in 2001.While on the FUMPA board, he was elected and served as chairman. He is currently serving on the Farmers Union Industries LLC board as a governor representing Montana. He is also a director on the Mountain View Cooperative board.
3. Jeff Bangs has served on the MFU board since 2017. He operates his family's dryland farm and cattle ranch north of Inverness, the same farm his great grandmother homesteaded in 1910. He has two children, Genevieve (7) and Thomas (5) and believes that MFU stands for both policies and values that will help to provide an opportunity for his children to farm the same land someday if they choose. Montana Farmers Union understands the role that family farm agriculture needs to play in the modern world, from a safe and diverse food supply to re-energized rural communities, and Bangs is proud to play a small part in shaping the organization's future.
4. Tom Clark is a skip-generation farmer, who returned to his wife’s family farm near Fort Benton in 2010. He participated in the FUEL program, later serving in leadership at the MFU Local level for several years before joining the MFU Board of Directors.While current responsibilities have drawn him away from the farm, he has his sights set on returning in the near future.
5. Brett Dailey is a generational farmer and rancher from near Jordan. He has served on the MFU board nearly 20 years because MFU is truly a grassroots organization and has been since its beginning as an organization of producers with common interest and goals who came together for one voice and future visions. MFU facilitated co-ops were the baseline for Montana agriculture being successful. Some other organizations call themselves grassroots, but if you look closely, you might find it’s more of a top-down than bottomup organization. Many of us in the state can trace our roots back to agriculture, and as members you will always have a voice at MFU.
6. Sarah Degn is a fourth-generation farmer in Sidney.A former sugar beet farmer who has pivoted to a corn, soybean, and wheat rotation, Sarah also dabbles in hops, sweet corn, and other value-added crops. She farms with the support of her parents, daughter, friends, and anyone else willing to help with her crazy ideas. In addition to the MFU board, she has participated in the NFU Beginning Farmer Institute and served on NFU’s policy committee, as well as being selected as a Next Generation Advisory Representative to the NFU board. She found MFU through a friend who was helping plan the Women’s Conference and has since grown to love advocating for family farmers and ranchers, both in Helena and D.C., as well as working on important issues like right to repair and rural health care.
7. April Martin chooses to be on the MFU board because it aligns with what she wants to see for Montana farmers and ranchers. She was fortunate enough to go through the leadership program, and loved hearing the five presidents of the allied states speak about what they were working towards, the programs and ideas they have implemented and is excited to be part of the future of MFU. It is a building of community that is so relevant in today’s society where there is room for all of the varied voices of Montana agriculture! She loves that she gets to represent southeastern Montana, an area that sometimes gets overlooked in the beautiful vastness of Montana. Martin lives on a ranch in southeastern Montana on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, where she raises fat, happy cows and puts up hay for their feed. Occasionally they plant in a grain crop. She is always looking for the best way to care for the land and animals that are under their stewardship. Their family prides themselves on selling direct to consumer when possible and believe this lifestyle is beneficial to their children. Her family comes from a long line of cowboys, educators, health care professionals and ranchers. She hopes to leave her children with a place that is well loved and cared for.
8. Ben Peterson operates a third-generation farm/ranch near Judith Gap, raising cattle, sheep, small grains, and running a small feedlot. He serves at large for Region 5-6 on the MFU Board of Directors, as well as serving on the Beef Board.
9. Aeric Reilly was born and raised on the foothills of the Little Belt Mountains in Stanford.There, he gained valuable insights into hard work and perseverance working on the cow/calf ranch. He pursued his education at Montana State University in Bozeman, earning a degree in Political Science. Currently residing in Great Falls with his wife, Maren, and their three children, Reilly is active in the community. Maren serves as Captain at the Great Falls Fire Department, while Aeric manages both Reilly Insurance Agency and Montana Mini Trucks. Beyond their professional endeavors, the Reilly family enjoys lending a hand on the ranch, tending to cattle, and fixing fences. Reilly currently serves as an associate board member MFU. His ultimate ambition is to acquire his own ranch in Montana.An avid outdoorsman, Reilly believes that the connection to the land and nature is something that not only enriches one’s life but also fosters a sense of responsibility and stewardship.
10. Carah Ronan grew up in conventional ag and moved home to Montana in 2021 to reimagine the family farm into a vibrant cut flower operation.Together, with her husband and grandmother, she grows and sells to Whole Foods,Town & Country Foods, and florists from Huntley to Belgrade, as retail and directly to consumers. She serves on the MFU policy committee and as an associate MFU board member, has served as a Delegate in 2024 at National Farmers Union Convention, and was selected in 2024 as the Next Generation Advisory Representative to the National Farmers Union board through 2027. She is excited to serve on the NFU Board to continue her growth and knowledge under amazing mentors to serve and highlight farming in her community and state, as well as nationally.
11. Sigrud Rudie grew up on and today lives on land that was homesteaded by his family in 1905.After working with the Army Corps of Engineers, he worked at Bonneville Power in Portland while earning a degree in engineering before returning to Montana to take over the farm in 1979. He continued to work as an engineer while farming and ranching, retiring from engineering in 1998 and only fully retiring from ranching at the age of 85. Rudie has served as an MFU board member roughly 30 years, filling the roles of Vice President and Secretary/ Treasurer for several of those years. Being active in an organization is important to enact positive change for family farmers and ranchers, and he is thankful to have been a part of MFU’s efforts on behalf of family farms and ranches in education, legislation, and cooperation – especially the organization’s recent work to establish meat processing cooperatives and to expand MFU’s summer camps at Arrowpeak.
12. Erik Somerfeld is a farmer and rancher on a third-generation farm and ranch raising wheat, malt barley, pulses, and hay, as well as having enough cows to cause trouble. Somerfeld is involved in his community and church and has served as Chief of the Power Volunteer Fire Department for 13 years and as past president of the Power Volunteer Fire Association for five years, with 31 years of service in total. Professionally he has served as Director for Montana Farmers Union for 23 years with eight as secretary/treasurer, director of the Montana Beef Council, past president of the Montana Cattlemen's Association, past board member of the Montana Board of Research Commercialization and Technology, past board member for the Montana Milk Control Board, and one year as chairman for the National Farmers Union Policy Committee and another on the committee.Additionally, Somerfeld has numerous times served as chair of Montana Farmers Union Policy Committee and as a committee member.
13. Tent Stoltz has long been involved with community, serving on the Valier School Board for six years, and as chairman for two of those years. He has also coached youth league basketball, assisted in Little Guy Wrestling, and helped with the local 4-H club. In 2023, he was elected to the Montana Farmers Union Board of Directors.As a father of two young men who want to farm and ranch, Stoltz wants to have a part in ensuring producers succeed and affect positive change now and for future generations.
14. Jan Tusick is the founder and Director of Lake County Community Development Corporation’s Mission Mountain Food Enterprise Center, a food, agriculture, and cooperative development center. During the last 25 years,Tusick has effectively assisted emerging cooperatives, food businesses, and value-added agricultural ventures. She is a founding member of Grow Montana, a coalition of organizations that are focused on strengthening Montana’s regional food economy. Tusick holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Science, from California Polytechnic State University. She lives on an 80-acre sheep farm with her husband,Will, and their main production is natural lamb, which they direct market. She joined MFU in 2007 because of the support and proactive role MFU plays in state and federal policies that address the needs of our rural communities.Tusick has actively served as a board member for more than three terms. She truly enjoys the MFU community and all the great programs MFU delivers.
Montana Farmers Union Staff
1. Eleanor Dutton grew up in Nebraska, surrounded by corn and cows. She moved up to Helena for college.After graduating with a degree in Political Science and History, she and her husband, Logan, moved to Forsyth.While in Forsyth, Eleanor is the assistant speech and drama coach for the Forsyth Dogies, sings with the community and church choirs, and attempts to keep a tidy garden.An avid reader and knitter, she is also a board member for the Rosebud Foundation. Eleanor was most drawn to the Education and Legislative aspects of Montana Farmers Union, and has used her background and knowledge base to plan membership gatherings, Ladies Who Ag events, day camps, and represent MFU at other events around South East Montana.
2. Samantha Ferrat is a fourth-generation Montana native and agricultural producer. Her husband and she own and operate his family‘s century old ranch outside of Toston, where they raise registered and commercial Limousin cattle and grass hay. Ferrat is a former public school teacher and still has great passion for education, especially history and agriculture. She is a volunteer 4-H leader, an FFA alumni and supporter, and Region VI Director of U.S. Cattlemen‘s Association, in addition to being a part of the MFU Membership Ambassador team.Working with MFU members and staff is rewarding and fulfilling because, together, they make amazing things happen for family farmers and ranchers. Ferrat is grateful to work with the MFU team, fellow producer members, youth members, partner organizations, and many other groups and individuals who are just as passionate as she is about supporting and advocating for the family farms and ranches across Montana.
3. Julie Gagnon lives on a farm south of Chester, where she assists her son.After Gagnon’s husband’s passing in 2019, she recognized the crucial need to play a more active role in securing her farm‘s legacy for future generations.Attending the MFU Women’s Conferences for several years has been a great inspiration to her and led her to join the Montana Farmers Union team as a data coordinator in December 2023.Additionally, Gagnon works at the MSU Liberty County Extension office, supporting farmers and helping youth in the 4-H program. During her free time, she enjoys reading, tending her garden, and visiting her other three sons and their families who live out of state.
4. Matthew Hauk is Education Director for Montana Farmers Union.This position includes presenting to both young students and adults on the importance of agriculture and the safety skills needed to avoid injuries. He formerly worked as a high school science teacher and administrator for several schools in Montana. He also worked at Dawson Community College and the University of Providence as a member of their TRIO Departments, including teaching classes as an adjunct faculty member.
5. Mary Jenni is Montana Farmers Union Membership Ambassador for Central and Northeastern Montana. Her second hat for MFU is planning events. She resides on the Jenni family’s homestead from the late 1800s in Fergus County, where she grew up raising livestock. Jenni returned to her roots seven years ago, raising Belted Galloways for her direct-to-consumer business, Montana Lamb and Beef. Jenni’s professional background is in IT, hospitality, transportation, and human resources, with a Business degree from MSU-Northern. She serves on the steering committee for a local food hub and the Harlowton Rodeo Committee, as well as the Secretary for the Eagles Club in Lewistown.When she’s not working, you will find her and her dogs,Tico and Teddee, on an adventure.Traveling is Jenni’s passion; food is her love language, and she enjoys being creative in the kitchen. Jenni is a strong advocate for supporting local producers and knowing where your food comes from.
6. Jan Johnson was raised on a farm and ranch near Cascade, where she lives today. Johnson is a long-time employee of Montana Farmers Union, and currently is office manager and secretary/treasurer.
7. Kari Kester grew up in a small farming community in Nebraska and has wonderful memories of all the time spent on the family farm. Jobs and life have taken her from Nebraska to Colorado then Kauai and now Montana. Kester worked in Real Estate information in Colorado for many years after college before moving to Kauai. On Kauai she worked for an ag company for more than 13 years. In 2016, her family moved to Great Falls, and in January of 2023 she started working for Montana Farmers Union as Administrative Assistant. Kester also has a small business growing microgreens that she sells to local restaurants, food trucks, and grocery stores. She and her family love camping, fishing, snow skiing, hiking, snow shoeing, boating, floating, paddling, water skiing, and watching all our daughters’ sports and activities.
8. Jodi Koterba is an Education Associate and an Ambassador for Montana Farmers Union, developing curriculum, workshops, articles, and the Lunch & Learn Podcast to educate the public in and about agriculture. Koterba retired after 29 years of teaching high school agriculture and advising FFA chapters, with two agriculture curriculums that are currently sold nationwide. She has been a 4-H member, leader, and volunteer all her life.As an active member in her church, she works in ministries for youth, women, and marriage/divorce. She is a mom to three young women and a Boarder Collie, Lizzy, and enjoys back-country hiking, side-by-side trail riding, and camping with her husband of 19 years. Joining the staff at Montana Farmers Union allowed Koterba to continue providing valuable and necessary educational experiences for people in and about agriculture and continue to advocate for agriculture and rural life.
9. Carissa McNamara received her bachelor’s in both psychology and anthropology, then moved to Washington, D.C., earning her master’s degree in public administration with an emphasis in non-profit management from George Washington University. During her seven years away from home, her longing to return to the farm continued to call. She and her family operate Wild Horse Lavendar in Plains, offering lavender products, u-pick, and agritourism opportunities.After becoming a lifetime member of Montana Farmers Union, she and her family’s life is now devoted to ensuring the next generation, and this generation, knows the importance of preserving small family farms, ranches, and rural communities. It is beyond a privilege to work alongside Montana Farmers Union, making sure farmers, ranchers, and rural communities have a voice, and no one stands alone.
10. Alice Miller combines her love of journalism with her love of farming and ranching as a press relations specialist for MFU. Miller is originally from a rural community in Virginia and now lives on the Hi-Line, helping on the family’s fourth-generation farm and ranch, where they grow small grains, pulses, hay, and oilseeds, as well as raise registered Simmental cattle. Before working for MFU, she participated in the Policy and the Women’s Conference planning committees.As someone raising a family in a rural community, she believes MFU’s comprehensive approach and longstanding commitment to supporting The Family Farm is the best way to ensure her neighbors thrive while feeding themselves and the world.
11. Rachel Prevost grew up on her family’s farm ranch in Eastern Montana, where cattle, hay, and grains are raised. Prevost was a 10-year member of Montana 4-H, as well as longtime Montana FFA member, and Montana Business Professionals of America member. Prevost earned bachelor’s degrees in political science, communication studies, and public relations from Carroll College. Prevost joined MFU as a lobbyist and also assisted with MFU Summer Camps at Arrowpeak before moving into her Membership Services Director and Government Affairs Director roles. She also oversees the Membership Ambassador Program, which provides boots-on-the-ground support for members. Prevost cares deeply about the future sustainability and vitality of our rural communities for future generations and believes deeply in advocating and fighting for the future of family farming and ranching in Montana.
12. Heather (Wendell) Link grew up spending a lot of time on her grandparents farm north of Rudyard and Joplin, that has been in her family for110 years. She was born and raised in Great Falls, and has a bachelor‘s degree in graphic design and has worked in Communications & Marketing for 18 years at multiple places, including University of Providence, Special Olympics, and Montana ExpoPark. She now enjoys her job as MFU‘s Communications Director and loves marketing the best our state has to offer, supporting Montana family farms and ranches. She is married with two kids and loves the outdoors and photography.
13. Matt Rains is fourth generation on the Birdtail Ranch in Simms, raising Quarter Horses. He is a graduate of West Point and served seven years active duty as an aviation officer in the Army. Following the military, he was an international humanitarian photographer and then programs engineer for a power producing company in St. Louis. He now serves as MFU’s Chief of Staff, working to keep MFU active and engaged with project management, grant writing, and more.
14. Andrea Rutledge grew up on her family‘s fifth-generation farm and ranch in Big Sandy, which instilled in her a deep passion for agriculture. Since high school, she has been actively involved in 4-H and FFA, organizations that played a crucial role in shaping her leadership and advocacy skills.Today, Rutledge continues to give back by volunteering as a coach for local FFA students.Working for Montana Farmers Union allows her to advocate for the farming community and help share the impactful work of the MFU organization.Through her role, she aims to support and strengthen the agricultural industry that has been a significant part of her life for generations.
15. Skylar Williams serves as the MFU Ambassador for Bighorn and Yellowstone Counties. Born in Havre,Williams moved to Billings around age 5. He is currently a student at Montana State University-Billings and joined the MFU Ambassador team in October 2022.Williams is passionate about helping youth learn about agriculture and is working hard to bring Farm to School programs and opportunities to schools in his area. Hosting membership gatherings, Ladies Who Ag, and supporting local 4-H clubs and projects, are just some of the ways Williams looks forward to connecting with members and learning more about how MFU can serve them.
16. Jeri Copenhaver is MFU Ambassador for the Golden Triangle area. As a camper, she began her journey with Montana Farmers Union and eventually became a counselor. She was active on the Policy Committee and was a delegate to national convention. She appreciates the support that MFU provides to individuals who are eager to be involved. She loves to help at her family‘s farm and ranch on the Hi-Line, and has a passion for rodeo photography.
News From the Hill
Jon Tester, U.S. Senator
Before I talk about what’s been going on in farm policy, I want to acknowledge the passing of a true giant in family farm agriculture, and that’s Doris Bishop. I know we can all agree that Doris was a trailblazer and an inspiration to us all, but for me Doris’ path to Farmers Union is especially close to home.
Like me, she was born on a farm near Havre. Her parents, like my grandparents, were farmers who came over from Scandinavia and homesteaded in North Central Montana. Doris was a Montana farmer through and through, and by the time I met her, she had already made a name for herself in Montana Farmers Union.
Doris’ passing, and before her, her husband Argyle’s passing, is a sign that the generation that was raised during the Depression is all but gone. Doris and Argyle lived through an era where agriculture saw good times and bad. These folks persevered through extremes in weather and markets, so they understood better than anybody the importance of a good Farm Bill and of the federal government having your back in production agriculture. Doris and Archie will be absolutely missed as a foundational couple in Montana Farmers Union.
Now let’s get down to business because that’s what they would have wanted. It’s been six years since we passed a Farm Bill. I don’t have to tell you that it’s time for un update.
Last year, I hit the Hi-Line and Eastern Montana with folks from MFU and other leading agriculture organizations across the state to hear from producers about what’s working from the last Farm Bill and what isn’t.
One thing I heard loud and clear is that consolidation is killing family farm agriculture. I’ve seen it myself, and I heard it time and time again from producers like you. That’s why I fought so hard, with your help, to get my Meat Packing Special Investigator Act into the Farm Bill. This was a big win for Montana ranchers and a signal to the big meat packers that we mean business.
Unfortunately, Congress wasn’t able to get its act together to get this new Farm Bill passed, and that’s because too many folks in Washington don’t understand the importance of this bill for rural America. But we aren’t giving up. I’m going to keep working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this done, and in the meantime, I won’t stop fighting to break up consolidation in the agriculture industry, because when there’s competition in the marketplace, everybody wins.
And we won’t stop looking for other avenues to provide certainty for producers across the Treasure State. This summer, thanks to my bipartisan infrastructure law, we broke ground on the St. Mary Diversion Dam – a project that’s been a long time coming for irrigators across the Hi-Line – and we secured additional federal funding to replace the siphons on the St. Mary Canal that failed back in June. Water is life, and without it, Montana farmers can’t grow the food that feeds the world. That’s why I’ll continue investing in Montana’s critical water infrastructure, especially in our rural communities.
The truth is, I take my cues from you, and I’m working every day to make sure our family farmers and ranchers have what they need to protect their bottom line today and for decades to come.
So thank you for all that you do to keep Montana’s agricultural economy strong. Enjoy your annual convention, and know that my door is always open.
As a proud advocate for Montana’s farmers and ranchers, I know how critical it is for Congress to stay out of the way when it comes to unnecessary interference in ag producers’ day-to-day operations. I don’t have to tell you that Washington bureaucrats have no place inserting themselves into your workday. However, there are critical moments when the government should step up to the plate to ensure you have the support and stability you need, especially when it comes to crafting essential legislation like the Farm Bill. The role of government is about offering a hand-up, not a hand-out, by providing support and reducing burdensome regulations. Rural America doesn’t have time to navigate erroneous rules being forced on them by Washington.
As we look at the state of the next Farm Bill, it is a work in progress as the likely timeframe to vote on its passage gets pushed back farther. With the current Farm Bill set to expire at the end of September, another extension will be necessary, so government programs should expect to continue operations as normal until a new bill is passed. While the bill advanced out of the House Agriculture Committee with bipartisan support, the process in the Senate has not been as smooth, as Senate Democrats continue to prioritize their climate agenda and other partisan issues having nothing to do with our farmers and ranchers. It is time for lawmakers to do their jobs and pass a comprehensive package that keeps more farm in the Farm Bill and supports our partners across Montana and the country.
Earlier this summer, on June 17, the St. Mary siphons out of Babb suffered a catastrophic failure, underscoring the importance of the Fort Belknap Water Compact and the need for clean and reliable water sources along the
Hi-Line. These two siphons provide a majority of the project’s water supply, and after the short growing season on the Hi-Line, irrigators are taking a serious look at possibly losing their entire growing season. This is why the siphons need to be replaced as quickly as possible, and the current date of projected completion in August 2025 is not going to cut it for our producers.
I recently wrote a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture urging them to assist with recovery efforts along Montana’s Hi-Line in the wake of the siphons’ breach. I was also proud to see the “Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Act” pass through the Senate and move one step closer to becoming law. This legislation will provide $1.3 billion dollars to improve infrastructure and economic development for the Fort Belknap Indian Community and improve the efficiency of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Milk River Project, which helps irrigate approximately 121,000 acres of Tribal and non-Tribal land. The bill is supported by Governor Gianforte, the Fort Belknap Community, local counties and ag producers. In short, this bill is a win-win for Montana.
I was also proud to see the passage of my forestry amendment in the “Energy Permitting Reform Act” by the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. It helps bolster hydropower and ensures that forestry projects under the “Healthy Forests Restoration Act” are given expedited review and not held up by frivolous lawsuits.
Montanans have always known what’s best for them. Our farmers’ and ranchers’ determination and independence have led to widespread success for the Treasure State, so know that I’m committed to keeping Congress out of the way so you can keep doing what you do best. I’ll always support you and give you the space you need to get the job done.
Steve Daines, U.S. Senator
Convention Impact Lasts throughout the Year
By Rachel Prevost, Membership Services and Government Affairs Director
So, you are coming to our Convention! We can’t wait to welcome you. I encourage you to check out our Convention Roadmap to build your plan to get what you need from our gathering while we are in Whitefish.
Sometimes the most challenging part of Convention happens after Convention, when you put all the energy and great ideas/motivation that is generated at our Convention into action. Whether it’s your first Convention or your 10th, it’s how you follow up from Convention and utilize all that you have learned that can have the most impact on your operation, your family, and your community. But when you are taking in high volumes of information, meeting new connections, and thinking through the challenges and opportunities that family farm agriculture faces, it feels like you’re drinking from a fire hose.
The good news is, our membership and education team at Montana Farmers Union are here to help you stay up to speed with all things Convention –even after it has all wrapped up. When you are at Convention, I highly encourage you to meet and chat with your regional Ambassador during the Meet your Ambassador Roundtable, but also to sit with them at a meal and let them know how MFU can support you and serve your community. Getting to know your Ambassador is the best way to get in the loop with all the opportunities, projects, and updates. Most importantly, they will help keep you connected to members and resources.
When you leave Convention, here are a few things that you may need in follow-up that our team can help with:
• Want to follow up with a speaker or technical support specialist that you met or heard at Convention? Get connected to the speakers by reaching out to your Ambassador.
• Want to reconnect with a member you met at Convention, but misplaced a business card? Let your Ambassador know, and we can support you in making the connection.
• Want to get involved with our policy development process and/or stay in the loop for the 2025 Legislature? Join our policy committee and our weekly live policy report out on Zoom during the Legislature.
• Want to source local food? Or are you a local producer that markets food? Get ahold of your Ambassador. We can assist in connecting you to opportunities.
• Want to get involved in leadership trainings or make your voice heard in a leadership role your community? Get ahold of Membership Services Director, Rachel Prevost (me) at rprevost@ montanafarmersunion.com for more opportunities and to learn the support we can provide.
• Looking for grant, loan, or capital information for your farm or a value-added project you are working on? Your local Ambassador can connect you to the helpful teams at USDA FSA, CFAC, or AgWest Farm Credit, who will be presenters at our convention on the Beginning Farmer Rancher Panel.
• Did you hear about a new project that you want to join? Get ahold of your local Ambassador to learn more about how we can get you tied in.
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Convention is a lot of information in a short amount of time. A postconvention meeting with local members or a coffee with your local Ambassador is a great way to get your feet back on the ground.
Our website is an incredible resource as well. If you hear about a resource that is posted to our website, but would like some assistance in learning to utilize it, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me for assistance.
While Convention is fast-paced and a ton of great information, I hope you take the time to check-in with your Roadmap throughout the Convention and remember that your local Ambassador is your greatest resource anytime of year!
Magazine Contributors Fall 2024
Mamie Hertel grew up on a farm and ranch in Moore, where she is the fifth generation of her family‘s operation. She served as the National FFA Central Region Vice President in 2019-2020 and graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Agricultural Communications and Journalism in 2023. Currently, she works for Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications.
Marsha Goetting, Ph.D., is a Professor and Extension Family Economics Specialist at Montana State University in Bozeman. During the COVID years 2020 through 2022 her virtual seminars reached more than 13,450 Montanans and another 7,140 during 2023. She received the Iowa State University Alumni Achievement Award in 2020 and the AARP Community Partner Award in 2021. In 2023 she received the Distinguished Service Ruby Award from Epsilon Sigma Phi, an Extension Honorary. Dr. Goetting is a member of the Montana Alzheimer’s and Related Dementia’s Coalition and has been appointed to the Montana Supreme Court Commission on Continuing Legal Education.
Lance Rutledge is a fifth generation on his family’s farm and ranch in North Central Montana. He grew up raising his own herd of Red Angus livestock among his family’s angus cattle herd on the rolling hills and peaks of the Bear’s Paw Mountains. His high school career was filled with numerous activities, many of which deepened his passion for agriculture.
Jim Baldwin has spent 48 years in education across Montana, with 30 years serving as a superintendent in several rural schools. When he fully retires, he is looking forward to more time cheering on the Griz and with his wife of more than 48 years, Carol.
Jasmine Krotkov is a Master Gardener with decades of experience designing and installing chinook zone gardens. She grows fruits and vegetables at elevation, where the growing season is short and the deer are hungry. She has taken time out from gardening to work as an advocate publicly for peace and a clean and healthful environment.
Tracy McIntyre is a Eureka native who understands the importance of economic development in Montana’s communities. She is currently executive director of the Montana Cooperative Development Center.
Jodi Koterba is an Education Associate and an Ambassador for Montana Farmers Union, developing curriculum, workshops, articles, and the Lunch & Learn Podcast to educate the public in and about agriculture. Koterba retired after 29 years of teaching high school agriculture and advising FFA chapters.Two agriculture curriculums written by her are currently sold nationwide.
Melissa Wacker is a Farmers Union Insurance Agent located in Hardin, who is also involved in farming and ranching.Wacker Insurance Agency is a second-generation family operated insurance agency with 50-plus years of experience and is located at 315 W Railway St.
Alice Miller is a press relations specialist with Montana Farmers Union. Originally from the East Coast, she roamed The West as a newspaper reporter before settling down on her husband’s Hi-Line family farm and ranch.
Rachel Prevost is the Membership Services and Government Affairs Director at Montana Farmers Union. Prevost grew up on her family’s farm and ranch in Northeastern Montana and was a 10-year member of 4-H and 5-year member of Montana FFA. Prevost studied Political Science, Communication Studies, and Public Relations for her undergraduate degrees and cares deeply about the vitality of our rural communities and the sustainability of family farms for generations to come.
Mike Dennison has covered Montana politics for the last four decades, including 20 election cycles, as a reporter for television, the state’s major newspapers, and The Associated Press. He is currently a political analyst for Montana’s NonStop Local TV news network.
