Montana Farmers Union Magazine
When the temperatures dropped to record lows last winter, our calves dropped too.
Along with the brutal temperatures, came brutal losses.
Somehow my rancher kept going, fueled by warm soup and a conviction he would save the next one.
It wasn’t until weeks after the -70 temps had passed that I realized the ramifications of those days went farther than us adults. On a ski lift my 9-year-old broke into tears.
She had watched the family fight through exhaustion and disappointment. She had listened to us talk about the losses, the frozen ears and bodies.
I’m an animal lover, and it’s just so hard, she said.
In this edition, mental health professionals and people working hard to make sure Montanans have access to crucial resources, share how simple actions and tools can make big impacts.
Take their insight to heart.
Because it’s a privilege to take care of animals, and it doesn’t seem right to complain.
With each animal you warm, each field you tend, you’re caring for your neighbors, making sure they’re nurtured.
But it’s also an exercise in hope that we’ll save the next one, that next year will be better weather, when sometimes we don’t and it isn’t.
So ask how your neighbors are, a lot.And then lend a kind ear – because, if we’re taking our cue from my daughter, you’re going to get an honest answer.
Let’s share our joys and our sorrows, our challenges and victories, remembering to be gentle with ourselves and others in the face of elements we can’t always control.And when something just doesn’t make sense, do what nearly a hundred of our fellow ag producers in Montana have already done and take advantage of resources like Beyond the Weather. More ag-specific resources are available too, like Togetherall through National Farmers Union, online ag stress resources through Montana State University, or immediate help by dialing 9-8-8.
You’re not in this alone, and, while not keeping going seems unthinkable, keeping going until we break is worse yet. This winter, Montana Farmers Union has varied opportunities to join together in learning and advocating for agriculture, our communities, and our neighbors.We look forward to seeing you and asking, how are you?
Message from the President
by MFU President Walter Schweitzer
The holiday season was a good time to reflect on the past year and to look toward the future. To say that 2024 was an active year for MFU would be an understatement.
The Ambassador Program had events going on almost every week of the year, with many weeks seeing multiple events. The creativity and energy from our Ambassadors is inspiring. Events like Mary had a Little Lamb, Tractor 101, Far Out and Waiting, Seed Swap, Book Club, Ladies Who Ag, Farmer’s Share, Precision Ag, Lunch and Learn, Field Days, Farm Tours – just to name of few – have been some of the educational opportunities provided by MFU for our rural communities.
We have established an Eastern Montana Women’s Conference, now in its third year, to supplement the very successful Western Montana Women’s Conference. This event showcases our women leaders and provides a networking/bonding opportunity for our members.
The meat processing co-ops have been adding value to members’ livestock and continue to expand. Glacier Processing Cooperative received an MPPEP grant and secured a USDA low-interest loan that will help them expand their storage and processing capacity. Montana Premium Processing Cooperative received USDA’s Local MCap grant and low-interest loan to build and equip a value-added room and add coolers and a permanent harvest floor. MPPC will be able to smoke meats and package for sale hams, bacons, jerky, and meat sticks. These loans and grants will secure the future for both co-ops.
Looking forward to 2025, MFU started the year with a Helena Drive-In. This event brings our members to Helena at the start of the Legislative Session to meet and educate our leaders on the issues important to family farms and our rural communities. We will also continue to expand on educational events around the state.
MFU will explore adding two new co-ops. We have started a steering committee to develop a trucking/distribution co-op. This co-op is working with direct-to-consumer producers, food banks, food hubs, and retail markets to help facilitate the movement of products from rural areas to urban markets. MFU is reaching out to sheep producers to test their interest in starting a lamb marketing cooperative. There is demand for fresh lamb in the east, and I have been discussing the opportunity with markets that are interested in purchasing fresh lamb carcasses they would break down and sell directly to the consumer.
MFU plans to continue to expand our membership by offering more support for our members. Our success is because of our members and your involvement. If you have ideas for educational events or cooperatives, please contact me or your Ambassador.
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
Erik Somerfeld, Vice President, Power
John Ferrat, DIstrict 1, Toston
Rollie Schlepp, District 2, Conrad
Jeff Bangs, At-Large Director, District 1 & 2, Inverness
Sarah Degn, District 3, Sidney
Brett Dailey, District 4, Jordan
April Martin, District 3 & 4, At Large, Busby
Trent Stoltz, District 5, Pompey’s Pillar
Mark Siderius, District 6, Kalispell
Ben Peterson, District 5 & 6, At-Large Director, Judith Gap
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 Link, 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
Julie Gagnon, Data Coordinator
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 Link & Alice Miller
Layout & Design: Heather Link
Copy Editors: Alice Miller, Jan Johnson & Heather Link
for both youth and adults, advocating member-driven policies & legislation at the state and federal level, & cooperation through producer-owned co-ops.
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
Small Footprint, Big Impact Barkley’s Home Grown
Photos & Story
By Alice Miller, Magazine Editor
While the temperatures dropped outside in November, limes and lemons ripened in Baker.
Although the outdoor growing season had long since ended, tomatoes, cucumbers, chard, garlic, and assorted other vegetables continued to ripen inside alongside the citrus fruits inside the geothermal greenhouse at Barkley’s Home Grown, where the temperature ranges from 55 to 85 degrees year-round. The warm temps mean the growing season is extended at least two months on each side of the 3a zone in which Baker sits, Molly Barkley said.
“I never realized how powerful the sun is,” she said, adding the greenhouse requires a tarp to reflect the sun during the warmest months to keep the temperatures inside from rising too high.
While November marked a slowing of the greenhouse’s fruitfulness, in February, the citrus and stone fruit trees will begin to blossom and spring will be sprung in the structure that provides a 17-foot-wide and 86-foot-long growing space, with another 16 feet of indoor space.
Inside, the greenhouse is organic, and the Barkleys utilize regenerative practices.
“It’s just so fun to watch how Mother Nature works,” Todd said.
The greenhouse is its own ecosystem, with toads, worms, and the occasional snake making their home among the trees, vegetables, and flowers.
When aphids threatened plants, the Barkleys released 4,000 lady bugs to combat them, and the outer doors are often left open in the summer to entice pollinators inside.
Worms and their castings keep the trees nourished in the “basement” of the greenhouse, which sits below the grow beds lining the walls.
Owners, Molly & Todd Barkley
“They’re like our livestock,” Todd said about the worms keeping the soil healthy.
A Family Project
While the roots in the greenhouse are young, the family’s roots in Montana agriculture are deep, with the family celebrating 100 years of farming and ranching in 2022. Their legacy includes using regenerative practices to raise cattle and hogs, along with growing wheat, barley, safflower, peas, lentils, flax, corn, millet, Sudan grass, and cover crops. Over the past few years, though, the family explored ways to sell more directly to consumers and considered purchasing a meat processing facility before settling on the greenhouse. Greenhouse in the Snow sold the kit, while family and friends provided the labor. When a drought in 2021 left the Barkleys with less than usual to do in the fields, they turned their efforts to building the greenhouse.
Since then, they’ve been busy planting, trimming, harvesting – and learning.
“It seems like it’s been a learning experience with everything,” Todd said, laughing and shrugging.
With the greenhouse, they added a long list of assorted vegetables to the list of things they grow, along with clementines,
Meyers lemons, key limes, limes, Valencia oranges, and peaches. Pear, apple, and cherry trees and assorted squash and other vegetables also grow outside.
The citrus and stone fruit trees won’t mature for roughly another decade, and every piece of fruit is like a treasure in the meantime. The vegetables and flowers that grow in the beds along the edges of the greenhouse provide produce to sell to neighbors on a regular basis, as well as to create homemade goods for sale locally and online.
Beyond producing food, the system is an example of small-footprint ag that Todd and Molly said they hope inspires growers.
“We need more producers growing more food and this is a good way,” Todd said, adding they regularly welcome youths and others to tour the facility.
Each year, the Barkleys look for new ways to expand and improve upon their work in the greenhouse.
A pollinator garden will be planted this spring near the greenhouse door to attract more pollinators, and, Molly said, she is pursuing avenues such as starter plants and overwintering outdoor planters for community members as ways to use the building to its fullest potential.
Ultimately, the greenhouse can provide more versatility if any of their children want to return to the farm. After all, it was built to be a family project, Todd said.
In the meantime, Molly and Todd have found more than a new endeavor inside the building. The project has provided time as a family and a place to recenter, Todd said. “If something’s not going right, you can come in here and find something right.”
Find Barkley’s Home Grown online at barkleyshomegrown.com or see what’s available from the greenhouse on Facebook.
Growing Up Ag
By Amiya Smith, Great Falls
Growing up in Great Falls, I am surrounded by the love of agriculture. Although I may not live on a farm or ranch, I have an interest in learning more about the importance of it. I’ve always loved animals and nature, so when I attended the Montana Farmers Union camp at Arrowpeak last summer, I began to realize what it takes to grow food or take care of animals for a living.
One of my favorite things we learned about and discussed at camp was the process of branding. I remembered that my family has their own brand, D-<> (D – Bar- Diamond). My Great-great-grandpa, Ellis Hurst, homesteaded in Northeast Montana in the early 1900’s. When I returned from camp, I was excited to bring my nana a cow that I had painted at camp. I painted the D-Bar-Diamond brand on the cow just for her. I loved having conversations with my Nana about the importance of agriculture and homesteading and what it did for my ancestors. Homesteaders contributed to the development of Montana’s agricultural economy, helping to establish the state as a major producer of wheat, cattle, and other crops. My great-great-grandpa’s efforts, whether in raising livestock or growing crops, were vital to building the agricultural industry that would become the strength of the state’s economy. I know it was not easy for him to make a successful life, but he persevered and set up a successful way of life to pass down for generations. I am proud to say that my family was successful in contributing to the agriculture of Montana.
I look forward to attending the Montana Farmers Union camp at Arrowpeak again so that I can continue to build my knowledge and socialize with others. I am so thankful for the opportunity to attend and encourage all to attend at least once and try it out!“
Anaconda
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
Coeur d" Alene
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Ashley Vanek: 873-2249
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Hardin
Melissa Wacker: 665-1867
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Todd Crum: 443-4630
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937-6950
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Amiya Smith is one of this years‘ Mildred Stoltz Award Winners
Beyond the Weather
How Telehealth Counseling is Helping Farmers and Rancers
By Courtney Brown Kibblewhite, Northern Broadcasting
While we are a culture of doers, not talkers, in the agriculture community, it seems that talking has provided a good amount of relief to some brave enough to make the call. Now, I don’t have any data on all the good neighbors who have called to check-in during one of the recent fires, I do have some data on the folks who were brave enough to get “Beyond the Weather” with a counselor.
As you may have heard over the last two years, the State of Montana has provided Free Counseling to 92 people in the farm and ranch community in Montana. Montana Department of Agriculture Director Christy Clark and her team did not want money to be any sort of reason why someone wasn’t asking for help who needed it.
Was this allocation from the American Rescue Plan Act worthwhile? Well, here are some of the results, and I’ll let you be the judge.
Frontier Psychiatry administered the free counseling program with 100% virtual or telemedicine sessions. Shayna Chupein, a social worker for Frontier Psychiatry, although careful not to disclose anything personal, did share that the highest age group to receive services was between 35 and 44, followed by 25-34. The oldest person to receive care was 92 years old.
Chupein said that according to her records, out of the 92 people seen, 38 percent had never received any type of treatment for mental health before now. So, why did they receive care now? Some people mentioned prohibitive drive times. Others commented that they heard it on the radio and knowing that it was under the umbrella of agriculture specifically made them give it a shot.
We hope that hearing the accounts from everyday farmers and ranchers like Walt Sales, Travis Stuber, Dave Kelsey, Jenny Stovall, Nathan Keane, and others is helping people realize that working on your mental health and learning to manage your thoughts is an important part of being a functioning human being and running a great operation too!
I thought that women would be far more likely to reach out for help than men, but interestingly enough, the number of men and women to receive care was roughly equal. As to the gender differences, Counselor Marilyn Thorn commented, “Most of the men I talked to were very hesitant at first, but when they found out I came from a ranching family in the Great Falls area, they started to let their guard down.”
Thorn went on to say that her familiarity with agriculture added to her understanding of a need for flexibility. “If someone had been up all night calving, I’d be like, ‘Hey, you now have an hour. Go sleep. And that’s better for your mental health than us talking.’”
Interesting to note that one of the misconceptions people had about counseling was that it was a lifelong commitment. Thorn says, “There is good evidence to suggest that outcomes for people doing therapy do not continue to get better the longer they are in therapy. We made a lot of progress with people in just a few sessions.”
So that’s some great news! You are not signing yourself up for yet another ongoing subscription, you get in, get what you need, and get on with life. And if your tools need sharpened, you can always come back to the whetstone.
You might be wondering like I was … what kinds of issues did counseling help people address? Thorn shared while sometimes it was specific grief or trauma, “A lot of people were coming to me with symptoms of anxiety. It came down to a lot of worry and stress and how to manage those symptoms without turning to tobacco or alcohol.”
As someone from a multi-generational family business myself, I was not a bit surprised to hear how much of the stress people talked about related to having multiple generations working and living on the same ranch.
“Older generations you could tell had burnt themselves out.” Thorn talked about how an outside perspective was valuable, “What is the worst thing that’s going to happen if you have someone else, if you allow the kid to have a little bit more freedom to be doing this, they can come and wake you up if they can’t handle it. You’re worth more when you have rested than if you’re burning yourself out.”
That element of control and thinking through how to handle letting go of some control was a conversation that frequently came up.
Then, in talking to the younger folks, younger people seem to be better at not overworking themselves. Thorn mentioned a fear that if they take a break to go hang out with friends or golf or hunt, they would be thought lazy. You know, kids don’t work like they used to. “They’ve just seen the older generations burn themselves out. And so they want the longevity in this work, and still enjoy doing it every day and not feel like, ‘Oh, great, I’ve got to wake up and do this again tomorrow.’”
Isn’t that interesting? You have both younger and older generations telling themselves that hard work is where a person’s value is. We may find value in hard work, but our worth is not defined merely by our sweat. Sure, we don’t want to let go of our values, but we don’t want them to eat us up either. And right here is where a phone call to a friend, a mentor, even a counselor who doesn’t know you from Adam, might help you sort out your thoughts, too.
If you know a farmer or rancher who is struggling to deal with the symptoms of stress and anxiety, let them know about Beyondtheweather.com where they can see other farmer and rancher stories. It’s normal to struggle with our thoughts! Help us normalize rural mental health using the hashtag #beyondtheweather.
If you know someone who could use free counseling, have them call 988 to talk to someone right away. Thanks to the Arthur M Blank Family Foundation, funding will resume for free counseling access for agriculture in January of 2025.
In the meantime, our friends at Frontier Psychiatry are happy to refer you to directly to a counselor at 406-200-8471.
Help Host a Local Day Camp
By Jodi Koterba, Education Associate
Montana Farmers Union is asking members, MFU Locals, FFA Chapters, 4-H Clubs, and other organizations to partner with us in hosting local agricultural Day Camps this spring and summer. By working directly with local community groups, we can provide food and activities targeted to local agricultural production and processing, and get the community involved.We are asking locals to pick a date, help pick a theme, find a venue, organize food, and provide “wranglers” to help with the kids.The MFU education staff and ambassadors will provide the activities, materials, and presenters for the Day Camp.The goal is to host at least one camp per county or area throughout the entire state.
Day Camps are designed to be a scaled-down version of the Arrowpeak Camp experience. Some advantages of a Day Camp for campers and families are reduced travel and costs, no overnight stays to worry about, and shorter length to fit into busy schedules. We also can accommodate a wider age range of youth at day camps.
The typical Day Camp follows a schedule that includes four to five hours of activities depending on location and demand.The campers arrive and parents register them.There are some activities like learning games, coloring, and dancing to get the campers immediately excited and involved. Interactive cooperative games are played by the campers throughout the experience and between activities.There are generally three to six agriculture-centered stations of learning activities and crafts. Lunch and snacks are provided throughout the day. Parents come to collect their campers and the materials and projects that were completed.
Helping to host a local Day Camp is an opportunity for you to get involved in the Montana Farmers Union organization and your community. Montana Farmers Union serves as a platform for individuals in agriculture to unite, share knowledge, and advocate for the needs of rural communities. Membership in such organizations is a commitment to lifelong learning, community development, and the advancement of an industry that touches every aspect of our lives.Together, we can put on an agricultural themed Day Camp in your community. Hosting a local day camp can influence the youth and their parents to be knowledgeable in and about agriculture.
Contact the education staff or your local ambassador to get the process of planning a Day Camp started today!
Circle 41 Grains Turns Alternative Crops into Healthy Tasty Products
By Nick Gevock, Contributing Writer
Rex Sikveland always knew he wanted to be a farmer, even if he didn’t grow up in a farm family.
Sikveland was surrounded by grain farmers and ranchers while growing up in Circle. His parents didn’t work in agriculture, but he spent summers with his grandparents on their farm east of Glendive. By 10, he was intrigued by tractors, seeders, and combines. By high school, he was determined to work with them for the rest of his life.
“When I got into high school, an area farmer asked if I would be willing to work with him, and I did,” Rex, 48, says.“And from then on I was hellbent – there was nothing that was going to stop me – I was going to figure out a way to get my own farm.”
He began in 2001 with a half section that he bought from an area woman – half with a federal loan aimed at helping farmers starting out, and half on contract with the owner. It was a small operation, but it was a start.
Rex remembers just getting that beginning farmer federal loan was a big task. He had to prove he knew something about farming, and since he didn’t grow up doing it, he had reams of paperwork to fill out.And, as for the owner of the property, he pleaded for patience as he worked through the loan process.
“I was turning wrenches as a mechanic, had an old ‘77 Ford pickup, and that’s what I had for collateral,” Rex says.“I told her you’ve got to be patient with me, I need some time to make this work.”
Fast forward over two decades, and today, Rex, his wife Kacie and four children are farming nearly 6,000 acres.They’re also producing food products from the alternative crops they grow, products aimed at people who need to eat gluten free and want choices that are not only healthy, but tasty.
It didn’t happen overnight.
Growing the farm
Through the years Rex leased and purchased more land, growing grain and growing the operation.The entire family is invested in the farm’s success. Rex and Kacie work the land with son Tristan, 25, from Rex’s first marriage, son Beau, 22, and daughters Chassie, 10, and Maysen, 9.
Access to land continues to be a hurdle. Circle 41 Grains added to its operation by leasing land in the area and buying land when able. Just this year they purchased the land they’ve been farming for years, after the owner came and said he wanted to sell it to them. But Rex faced another challenge nearly as daunting as getting land – acquiring farm equipment.
Photos courtesy of 41 Grains
He bought a 5020 John Deere tractor for $5,000.And then he received a break when an area farmer who was retiring called up wanting to show him a 410 Massey Ferguson combine.
“I asked how much he wanted for it, and he said how much is in your pocket,” Rex recalls. He picked up the combine for $10.
Branching out
Eventually the Sikvelands started looking at different crops to diversify their operation. Kacie says they did so for soil health.They started with yellow peas, which rotated well with grain.
“When we did our soil testing, we found that we didn’t have to put down as much fertilizer, so our inputs were lower, and we got higher yields,” she says.“It worked really well to have a rotation off of wheat, and we saw really great benefits the next year when we produced wheat.”
Through the years they’ve added chickpeas and mustard. But in addition to different crops, the Sikvelands expanded their operation into milling the chickpeas, and producing ready-made food products at a facility in Circle.
Kacie’s strong interest in nutrition and in expanding into the value-added market for their farm spurred them to start producing products in a mill that use their chickpea flour. Cookie doughs, brownie mixes, banana bread, and other pre-made food products are produced in their facility.They ship them all over the country.
Chickpeas are the perfect substitute for wheat flour. Kacie says when cooking it’s a straight one-to-one use of chickpea flour for wheat. And it doesn’t require other adjustments. Plus, it just tastes good.
They picked an excellent time to offer these gluten-free products.With more people aware of gluten intolerance, and celiac disease, demand is high. More and more companies are offering gluten-free options in their products, but Circle 41 grains offers it in a farm-tomarket product.And Kacie says because they mill no wheat within their facility, it’s guaranteed to be free of cross contamination and therefore offers assurances for people with gluten allergy.
“I wanted to give something back that’s healthier than the other options out there,” Kacie says.“That’s what everybody’s looking for these days, which is a fast way for people to get convenient packages, the brownies cookies, etc. It’s farm to table, healthy, and gluten free, and there are not a lot of options for gluten free things that are quick and convenient.”
Ensuring their products aren’t cross contaminated with wheat is a big undertaking. Rex says when they change harvest, every combine gets a thorough deep cleaning to ensure there’s no grain on them.They bought a large air compressor to blow grain out of the combine, and Rex says they get “every nook and cranny” while cleaning their equipment.
For Kacie, the different products are what she always wanted to do.And she says it compliments their family farm perfectly, because she runs the retail side while Rex farms.
Running the retail side of the business means more than working the store in Circle. Kacie handles all aspects of the retail operation, including travel throughout the state, and the country, to food shows to market their products and build the Circle 41 Grains brand.
It’s worked out well, Kacie says. Down the road, they may expand the milling operation and need more space. In the meantime, they’re continuing to market Circle 41 Grains and grow their customer base.
Rex says it’s essential, because, like so much in agriculture, producers are getting a small share of the profit when they’re producing commodities.While he has no desire to run the retail side, he sees it as essential to their farming operation.
“I told Kacie, there has got to be a way for us to market our products, and cut out the middleman, because that’s what’s killing farmers,” he says.
It’s a perfect match, Kacie says, with both of them focusing on the part of the business they know best.
“I love what I’m doing, and my husband loves to farm.”
FARM TABLE
I often reminisce about growing up in a world where everyone was not connected to a device and spent true family time together. Many of those times involved my mom and grandma’s amazing cooking. They taught me so much about food and how to make it taste delicious. Their meals were not just about filling our bellies, they were about bringing us together and sharing love. I now have the privilege of continuing this tradition with my own children.
In our fast-paced world, I think cooking is becoming less important. We often just grab something quick and easy, instead of taking the time to make something special. But recipes are more than just instructions, they’re a way to connect with our past, family, and friends.
This winter edition, we’re celebrating the cookbooks and handwritten cards that hold the essence of our family’s culinary connections. They remind us of the love and stories that have been passed down through generations. So, let’s take a moment to appreciate the power of food and the importance of family traditions.
Heirloom Recipes
By Heather Link, Magazine
Editor
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works to strengthen healthcare for rural areas Montana Farmers Union
By Isabel Hicks, Contributing Writer
In a state as big and rural as Montana, accessing healthcare can be a time-consuming challenge. Especially for farmers and ranchers who work busy schedules in isolated areas, driving to see the closest medical provider can sometimes be an all-day trip.
Despite the state’s growing population, healthcare in some rural areas is becoming more sparse.A recent study from Montana State University found that while none of the state’s 55 rural hospitals have closed since 2005, 64% have sustained loss of services, and 25% are at risk of closing or converting in the next two years. Several rural counties have also lost ambulance services, now relying on a dwindling network of volunteers to respond to people in crisis.
In the 2024 Montana Farmers Union Policy Book, healthcare access is highlighted as one of the group‘s main priorities. MFU leaders and members emphasize that healthcare is a human right and key to the resilience of rural farming communities.To support access, MFU is focused on increasing telehealth opportunities, access to mental healthcare, emergency care and insurance coverage, and incentivizing medical providers to live and work in rural areas. MFU will keep its eye on bills related to these priorities throughout the 2025 Montana Legislative Session.
Walter Schweitzer, President of the Montana Farmers Union, said access to healthcare is of crucial importance to farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. One big way to increase that access is expanding telehealth services, he said.
Agriculture is both a physically and mentally isolating profession, Schweitzer said. For many rural residents, urgent care and
emergency services can be hours away. It also can be tough to schedule routine check-ups on a farmer’s schedule. Many providers schedule months in advance – and because farming is so weather-dependent, it’s hard to predict if you can make an appointment that far ahead of time, Schweitzer said.
Telehealth is also essential for mental health and substance abuse care.Tragically, agriculture has the highest suicide rate of any profession in the U.S., Schweitzer said – even higher than military veterans.The financial stress and isolation of agriculture can take a huge toll on people.
“Every year, most farmers are ‘all in,’ if you use the poker analogy. We put all of the capital we have on the table, and we’re at risk of losing it all or there’s the chance of getting it back,” Schweitzer said.“That’s pretty stressful.”
There is a stigma associated with mental health care that needs to change, Schweitzer said. Some may choose to not see a provider in-person because people in their small town may recognize their truck parked outside, for example.There are also not enough in-person providers in rural communities. Increasing opportunities for telehealth psychiatric care would address those barriers.
“There aren’t enough providers to go around, and if they can provide some of their services virtually, this is important for people getting immediate access to a mental health advocate.You know, it’s life and death,” Schweitzer said.
Rachel Prevost, Member Services and Government Affairs
Director for MFU, said in order to expand telehealth options more investments need to be made in broadband internet. She commended the Montana investments made through the Inflation Reduction Act, but said for communities that still don’t have high-speed internet, accessing healthcare online isn’t possible.
Prevost also said it’s important farmers know there are free resources. She highlighted the National Farmer’s Union peer-topeer therapy network and library of mental health resources called “Togetherall.” The state of Montana has also funded the Beyond the Weather Campaign, which provides free initial therapy and counseling appointments for Montana agricultural producers. More information is available online at agr.mt.gov/ FRSAN.
Preparing for healthcare policy in 2025 Montana Legislative Session
Prevost is also tasked with working on specific bills related to MFU’s healthcare policy goals.With the 2025 Montana Legislative Session already underway, MFU is prepared to review all bills related to its policy priorities.That includes healthcare, and each relevant bill MFU compares with its policy book to either support, oppose, or stay neutral.
Last session, there was a slate of bills related to mental healthcare funding, telehealth, and telemedicine that MFU testified in favor of, Prevost said.
This session, Prevost is closely watching any bills related to Montana’s Medicaid Expansion program, which is scheduled to expire in June 2025 unless renewed by lawmakers.There
will likely be a handful of bills, alongside the General Fund bill, impacting the program renewal, she said.
The program expansion is important to ensure that people don’t lose access to their public health insurance, a crucial option for lower-income brackets and self-employed people like farmers and ranchers. Renewing the program is also important for securing funding for rural hospitals that may be at risk of closure, Prevost said.
Prevost will also be watching for bills related to strengthening rural economies and ensuring rural areas have access to healthcare providers and resources.
Ultimately, Prevost said, incentivizing providers to work in rural areas means making them attractive places to live.
“We look at our rural communities, and I think the big picture to all of this is we see them kind of starting to hollow out.And I think a lot of that has to do with loss of basic services.That can either come from corporate consolidation, or communities getting older and the next generation not returning,” Prevost said. “So it’s kind of a cyclical thing.”
Prevost highlighted state-supported resources like the multi-state WWAMI program. Housed in the University of Washington School of Medicine, the public medical program provides education for residents of Wyoming,Washington,Alaska, Montana and Idaho, and encourages graduates to practice in non-urban or under-resourced areas in northwestern U.S.
Rural-focused programs like WWAMI are key for rural areas.To
Continued from previous page
have a thriving community, there needs to be a swath of resources for residents, Prevost said.
“To actually create a community people are returning to, that includes having good rural public schools,” Prevost said.“That includes having comprehensive care for generations, whether it’s nursing homes or being able to have a baby at the hospital … and increasing local food system infrastructure and small businesses in rural communities.Those all make better places for not only physicians, but for other community members as well.”
Montana Farmers Union members talk healthcare challenges and solutions
MFU members have also taken it upon themselves to address the challenges they see in their communities.
The shortage of rural emergency responders is what inspired Eleanor Dutton, an MFU ambassador for eastern Montana, to start the “Far Out and Waiting Program.”
Dutton, who lives in Forsyth, explained her husband is the deputy sheriff and is often the first responder to emergencies. Dutton learned the response time for ambulances can sometimes be upwards of 1.5 to two hours – a concerning statistic given the amount of dangerous agriculture work common in the area.
“The people we’re trying to support as Farmers Union, they’re already doing dangerous work with livestock, with machinery, with being in isolated areas, and then that danger just quadruples when you have to be by yourself and waiting for assistance to arrive,” Dutton said.
So, Dutton coordinated a program to educate farmers and ranchers on what to do while they are waiting for first responders in the event of an emergency.
Dutton worked with local EMS providers to lead the free “Far Out and Waiting” events. Participants learn how to respond in the event of a heart attack, broken bones, or internal and external bleeding, for example.The first meeting was held December 2023 in Miles City, and sessions have been held across the state. Interest has grown, Dutton said, recalling how 35 people showed up to the event earlier this year in Jordan – some 10% of the community’s population of 350.
MFU helps financially support the program, paying for the event space rental, food and beverages, and training materials, Dutton said. For example, MFU recently purchased 100 tourniquets for demonstration and take-home purposes for a session in Circle.
Dutton said she’s now networking with Farmers Union chapters in other states, with the goal of replicating the program outside Montana.
Other MFU members recognized the barriers facing rural healthcare, but also commended the healthcare landscape in their communities.
Tammy Copenhaver, an MFU member and rancher, lives in North Central Montana between Chester and Havre. Both towns have hospitals and nursing homes, Copenhaver said. Still, it can be difficult as a rancher to schedule things like a dentist appointment, because there is only one local provider who books far in advance.
Copenhaver worked on medical policy for her more than 20-year career at the Montana Medical Association, then Mountain Pacific Quality Health, and now Montana Farmers Union through the grassroots organizations Resolutions Committee.
Key priorities for her are making sure rural areas have quality providers and emergency medical services.That includes psychiatric care and access to telehealth for areas far away from hospitals.
“I really can’t stress how fortunate we are to have the healthcare that we do,” Copenhaver said.“Could it be better? Always. Could there be more staff, more providers? Sure, I think everybody has a shortage of providers … It’s a nationwide deal. It’s not just in Montana.We just feel it more, I think, because we are so rural.”
Others say the rural healthcare setting can be more personal, however, because doctors know the specialist they are referring patients to much better.
Kylee Bakker, another MFU member and pediatric healthcare provider, lives on a family ranch and farm in Brady. She works two days at a clinic in Cut Bank and the other two in Conrad. The clinics, now a part of the Logan Health System, are merging into Billings Health, which is a big change but will ultimately bring more resources, Bakker said.
Bakker received her nursing degree from Carroll College in Helena and her doctorate at University of Washington and has worked for an array of providers including Seattle Children’s Hospital.
Bakker noted some of the differences between working in Seattle healthcare compared to rural Montana. In Seattle, patients can pick from a long list of specialists to see, Bakker said – but in rural Montana, there is often only one or two options.
“If you’re talking specialist or family practice, you know that your options are much fewer.And so I think some people feel like we maybe don’t have the best access, or the options are limited,” Bakker said.“But I would say it’s a positive thing in that when I have a concern or I need to escalate something, I know the people that I‘m calling.”
To Bakker, telehealth is also key to referrals for specialist care. For example, in her area there is a low supply of pediatric specialists for speech therapy. Families won’t have to travel hours for appointments if it can take place remotely.
Bakker, who is involved in helping craft MFU healthcare policy, said MFU is not required to have these policies, but the fact that they do shows they understand how agriculture, healthcare, and rural communities are all integrated.
“I think as (rural) healthcare producers, we’re always working to kind of justify our need,” Bakker said. She believes approaching healthcare as a human right is key for policy.“The other thing I tell families every once in a while is, maybe you don’t ever feel like you need healthcare, but at some point you’re going to need it.And so supporting our small clinics and making sure that we have experienced providers and competent organizations, all of that is super important.”
Overall, Bakker said it’s meaningful to work on healthcare issues with other MFU members.A group of like-minded people can accomplish much more than individual action, she said.
“I think Montana Famers Union is a perfect example of having a really strong membership base, getting people involved, and then translating that into policy and advocacy,” Bakker said.“Montana is a huge state, and we all have different needs and wants. So how do we come together and collectively make that into a concise policy and actually do something about it?”
Tool Library Helps Farmers Address Equipment Costs
By Alice Miller, Magazine Editor
of Farm Connect
In a business where time is money, Sean McCoy needed a tractor fast to catch up on cultivating work at Frank’s Little Farm.
Thanks to the Farm Connect Farmer Tool Library, McCoy knew where to get one. He rented the library’s Kubota L4060 4WD tractor and made up time. Because of the low rental cost, he was able to rent the tractor again in the fall, and, over both rentals, he quickly accomplished other – previously labor intensive – farm projects, like flipping compost, pulling up old weed mat, and leveling ground.
“It translates into increase in profit and labor,” McCoy said, calling the low-cost rental’s impact to his workload significant. Roughly an acre on his urban farm is cultivated.
“So when you bring in a tractor, you can make a significant dent.”
The Tool Library has broad applications for farms in the Missoula area in both terms of what tasks they are able to tackle and in terms of helping farmers overcome the hurdle of purchasing equipment they might only need a handful of times each year.The program serves historically underserved and beginning farmers and ranchers within a 60-mile radius of the library’s home base in Missoula.
“The reception we get is,‘Oh, thank God this exists,’” said Gillian Thornton Andrews, who serves as the library’s coordinator.
“If you’re just getting started and you have limited resources to get started or this is just your starting year, that’s a big risk to just go ahead and drop that much money on a tractor,” she added.
For a small annual membership fee, members gain access to the library’s tools, including a 42 HP Kubota L4060 4WD Tractor and 13 HP Grillo G110 Walk-Behind Tractor. Implements can be rented separately from the tractors and vice versa. Members enjoy a discounted rental rate.
“If we’re actually trying to serve the folks that we set out to serve, we’re not going at this in the way where we’re trying to make a profit,” Thornton Andrews said.
The discounted rental also makes it possible for producers to experiment with new equipment and practices.
“It also allows for farmers and ranchers to test and utilize equipment that could be used in their operation or that could be used to improve soil health,” Thornton Andrews said.
2024 marked the library’s pilot year serving roughly 10 farmers, with a discounted membership remaining available to entice farmers to join.
Because many of the library’s members are new to agriculture or to the equipment, the library also offers educational workshops, which are open to anyone in the community.
“We’re not just renting tools.We’re trying to help farmers wholistically, and that includes helping them build the confidence and skill set to be able to do that work,” Thornton Andrews said.
With its comprehensive approach, the library is strengthening the regional food supply chain while creating opportunities for producers.
“Food is essential.At Farm Connect, we are working food system wide, helping support producers, land owners, folks who want to work on farms, all the way down to the consumer and people buying and selling food,” Thornton Andrews said. “By helping them access these resources, we make it more possible for people to choose this as their career path or to dedicate themselves to farming.”
For McCoy, renting the tractor meant he was able harvest corn in record time and he’s already thinking of other projects he can tackle, like using the library’s power harrow for cover cropping.
“It opens up opportunities to do things either better or to try to do them at all,” he said, adding he’s been recommending the library to his neighbors. “The equipment is really good, and it’s beyond affordable.And it’s easy.”
To learn more about the Farmer Tool Library available through Farm Connect, visit farmconnectmontana.org or email toollibrary@farmconnectmontana.org.
Photos Courtesy
Marion Hertel
A Farm & Ranch Wife Life
By Mamie Hertel, contributing writer
Marion Marguarette Hertel, 87, of Moore, passed away peacefully on Oct. 4, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Harlowton, to Elias and Dorothy Hereim, Marion was the eldest of four children, growing up on the family ranch in Martinsdale. Her journey began with early morning walks to a one-room schoolhouse, balancing the demands of school and ranch life with a resilience that would define her for decades.
Marion‘s dedication to her family and community was evident in everything she did. From a young age, she was a natural with cattle, working alongside her father and later her husband, Karl, on the ranch. Her talent for knowing the livestock was unmatched – she could identify which calf belonged to which cow with a single glance, and during calving season, she had an uncanny ability to predict births.This practical knowledge blossomed into a lifelong love story when Karl, captivated by her spirit and expertise, fell for the young woman who knew cattle better than anyone he had ever met.Together, they built a life full of love, partnership, and hard work.
Marion and Karl’s commitment extended beyond their own operation to the broader agricultural community. Karl served on numerous committees and spent 12 years on the Montana Farmers Union board, while Marion found her own connection with the organization as a counselor at Montana Farmers Union camp.There, she mentored young people, sharing her love of agriculture and her dedication to rural life. Farmers Union was part of their community and way of life.
While Marion’s work on the ranch was invaluable, her warmth, kindness, and culinary talents made her home the heart of the community. She had an extraordinary ability to whip up a meal for 10 in just 20 minutes, filling her kitchen with the comforting scents of fresh-baked pies, cakes, and cookies. Her open-door policy extended to neighbors and friends, who would often gather around her table to share stories, laughter, and a good meal.
Marion was more than the cornerstone of her family; she was a pillar of the Moore community.Whether it was a fundraiser, a community event, or simply someone in need, Marion was the first to step in, offering her time, talents, and endless generosity. Her service wasn’t about recognition but a genuine love for others. She believed in doing what she could to make life a little brighter, baking for fundraisers, organizing events, and always being there for those who needed a hand.
Her devotion to service extended to her faith, particularly through the Moore Methodist Church, where she played the organ, piano, and accordion for over 60 years. She rarely missed a Sunday, led the church school program, and helped fundraise for a new ramp.As the grand organist for Montana‘s Eastern Star, Marion‘s musical talents and dedication reached far beyond Moore, touching lives across the state.
Marion’s passions were many, but sports held a special place in her heart. She never missed a game, from local high school matches to watching professional teams on TV. Her enthusiasm for sports was quiet yet fierce; she kept stats better than any official bookkeeper and cheered on her grandchildren with unmatched vigor.Though her team loyalties might have shifted over the years – most notably when she declared herself a Warriors fan after their championship wins – her love for the game was steadfast.
The qualities that truly defined Marion were her boundless love and selflessness. She was always there, no matter the circumstance – preparing breakfast before dawn, checking on the cattle, baking a cake for a community gathering, or sending a thoughtful card. She never missed a birthday or a celebration, ensuring each occasion was special and full of joy. Her countless acts of kindness, like delivering meals to the fields during harvest, were the quiet but profound gestures that left an indelible mark on those around her.
Marion‘s legacy is found not only in the memories of those who knew her but in the way she shaped her family and community. Her ability to make everyone feel valued, her unwavering faith, and her dedication to service are the values she leaves behind.To know her was to be cared for, and that was her greatest gift.
Marion Hertel’s passing leaves a deep void, but her spirit will forever resonate in the hymns sung at church, the laughter around family gatherings, and the warm meals shared at the ranch. Her life was a testament to love, faith, and a lifelong commitment to agriculture and community.
Photos courtesy of the Hertel Family
Midwinter Mental Wellness Tips and Resources
Alison Brennan, PhD, MSU Extension Mental Health Specialist
Michelle Grocke-Dewey, PhD, MSU Extension Health & Wellness Specialist
The holiday season has passed. The days are short, the nights are long, and the bitter cold continues. If you are feeling a midwinter “slump”, physically and/or mentally, you are not alone! This time of year can be challenging for many people. At this latitude - far from the equator - Vitamin D deficiency is common in the winter due to lack of sunlight. Vitamin D is important for mood and sleep regulation, and Vitamin D deficiency can contribute to symptoms of depression. In fact, winter is a common time of year to experience symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder, a diagnosable type of depression experienced by about 1 in 20 U.S. adults each year1 (see Box 1 for risk factors, signs and symptoms, and indicators that it may be time to seek professional help). It is important to note that this prevalence estimate is national, and SAD is more common among Montanans than the general U.S. population.
During this potentially difficult time of year, we aim to provide you with an array of strategies and resources you can use to support your mental wellness. Agriculture can be stressful, regardless of the season. Exploring effective coping strategies and stress management tools can help you promote the health of the most valuable asset on your farm or ranch: you. If you have never visited MSU Extension Montana Farm and Ranch Stress Resources Clearinghouse, there is no time like the present. We established this online stress management resource in 2020 so that farmers and ranchers could anonymously access helpful information on demand to assist them in managing their stress in positive, health supportive ways. The website provides information on the impacts of stress, specific stressors, and stress management strategies, as well as vital resources for getting support for yourself, a family member, or a friend who may be experiencing difficulties.
We update the clearinghouse frequently with new information, resources, and events that may be of interest. New for 2025 will be a series of brief videos highlighting specific mental wellness strategies. Beginning in January, we will use the themes of our Mental Wellness Conversation Curriculum to explore strategies for improving mental health. Like the online clearinghouse, we developed the MWCC to be a resource for farmers and ranchers to use for managing stress and supporting mental wellness. The MWCC features a customized standard deck of playing cards, in which each card rank is a wellness theme, and each suit provides a specific type of information or prompt related to that theme. If you are interested in learning more about the cards, visit our project webpage. To give you an idea of the wellness themes and strategies we will explore in our upcoming videos, we have included some notes on a few of our personal favorites (see Box 2).
If you are looking for strategies you can start implementing right now, here are some suggestions:
•Drink enough water that you feel sufficiently hydrated. If you do not carry a water bottle with you, start carrying one and refilling it constantly throughout the day.
•When farming/ranching permits, aim for seven hours of sleep (the amount most adults need each night). If you do not have a “winding down” routine, or have strayed from your typical nightly routine, work towards a calming routine that begins at least 30 minutes before bedtime.
•If you do not take a daily Vitamin D supplement, consider taking one.
For more strategies, tools, and resources, we encourage you to visit the clearinghouse. Additionally, we hope you will tune in to our forthcoming weekly videos, which will be posted to the clearinghouse.
Resources:
MSU Extension: Montana Farm and Ranch Stress Resources Clearinghouse https://www.montana.edu/extension/wellness/stress-management/mt_farm_stress_clearing_house/
MSU Extension: Mental Wellness Conversation Curriculum https://www.montana.edu/extension/wellness/stress-management/mt_farm_stress_clearing_house/mwcc.html
References
1. Torres, F. (2024, March). Seasonal Affective Disorder. American Psychiatric Association. https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/seasonal-affective-disorder
2. Sparks, D. (2019). Mayo Mindfulness: Try the 4 A's for Stress Relief. Mayo Clinic News Network. https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ mayo-mindfulness-try-the-4-as-for-stress-relief/
3. United States Department of Health and Human Services. (2018). Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. https://odphp.health.gov/our-work/ nutrition-physical-activity/physical-activity-guidelines
4. United States Department of Agriculture. (n.d.). What is MyPlate? https://www.myplate.gov/eat-healthy/what-is-myplate
Field Notes
GOLDEN TRIANGLE (1)
Montana Farmers Union is more than just a powerful force for education, legislation, and cooperation. It’s a family, a community, and a driving force for rural Montana.
At our recent State Convention, we witnessed the incredible energy and passion of our members.They’re eager to engage, to learn, and to contribute to the future of our organization and our communities.
But how do we keep this momentum going after members leave the Convention and return to their communities?
• Reach out to your local ambassador. If your ambassador hasn’t put on an event that you think your community needs, let us know.We can organize local gatherings and workshops to keep members connected and informed.
• Share Montana Farmers Union posts on your social media pages! If there’s an event in your area, please hit that share button! There might be someone out there who would love to go to an event that we are putting on who just hasn’t heard about it!
• Join our book club. Our book club is a great way to stay in touch with others you may not get to see and talk to on a regular basis.
• Officially join Montana Farmers Union or renew your membership. MFU offers so much more than just fun educational events.
MFU is a powerful voice for rural Montana advocating for policies that support farmers and ranchers such as mandatory Country of Origin Labeling, Right to Repair, Date Harvesting, and other issues that impact farmers and ranchers. Go to our Legislation tab on our website to learn more!
As an MFU member, you have opportunities to connect with likeminded individuals and build valuable relationships with industry leaders.We have a vast number of partners we work with to benefit our membership and work together on important issues such as Farm to School, Farm Link, economic development centers, and so much more.
Montana Farmers Union is a community. By joining MFU, you’re not just becoming a member; you’re becoming part of a movement.You’re investing in the future of rural Montana, supporting sustainable agriculture, and strengthening your community. Together, we can shape the future of agriculture and ensure a thriving rural America. Let’s keep the momentum going and make 2025 the best year yet for Montana Farmers Union!
MISSOURI HEADWATERS
(2)
What fills your cup?
For me, it’s building a better tomorrow with what I do today. Advocating for agriculture is one way I fill my cup while building a better tomorrow. Ag advocacy and ag education have been a passionate focus of mine for many years. Recently, my husband and I took a big leap and welcomed a prospective new agrarian to our home and ranch for a weeklong working vacation.
This young lady, a recent high school graduate from Washington State, reached out to me because she wanted to know more about the agricultural way of life in Montana. She decided to take a gap year instead of attending college as she explores pathways and opportunities of a future life she wants to lead. I applaud this young person for her self-awareness and for being brave in pursuit of a career path.
During her week stay on our ranch, she experienced breeding soundness exams on our herd bulls, sorting cows and calves, vaccinating calves, hand feeding small square bales, moving electric fence for grazing, learned how to operate a 4-wheeler, and long days of work – both physical and mental.We engaged in many conversations about farming and ranching, ranging from history of our families’ farms/ranches to irrigation systems, ruminant nutrition, record keeping, ranch finances, beef processing, local food systems, and many other topics in between.We made time to take her on a tour of our county to show our rich production agriculture and stories of family farms surrounding us.We introduced her to other farmers and ranchers, which gave her the opportunity to ask probing questions about their lives and operations.
This experience was rewarding, fun, and fulfilling for this young lady, my husband, and me. Since this visit, I talk to her every week to check in, as well as share opportunities for agriculture-based internships and connect her with others who can also support her in the journey into the agriculture industry. I have so much hope and excitement for my new young friend. I hope this opportunity arises again soon to provide similar opportunities to those who seek experience and education on a working ranch. If you as a member producer encounter a similar situation or want to pursue hosting young or new or beginning farmer and rancher, let’s visit and make it happen! I am happy and willing to help, guide, and encourage others in this pursuit to educate the next generation.
Stay warm and best wishes in the New Year!
Ambassador Samantha Ferrat - Missouri Headwaters
CENTRAL MONTANA (3)
Montana producers know that growing crops or raising livestock in the state’s unique climate and terrain requires more than just hard work – it demands community support, resources, and advocacy. Montana Farmers Union understands this better than anyone and has built a network that provides members with far more than enjoyable educational events. By joining MFU, producers access a broad range of resources, economic opportunities, and powerful advocacy, helping them thrive in ways that individual effort alone simply can’t achieve.
An MFU membership is one of the best investments a Montanan can make.
One of the major draws for MFU membership is the range of financial benefits that farmers can access, including hotel discounts in Great Falls, Billings, Bozeman, and Helena, and two rental car companies that offer 10-25% off. At Boot Barn locations nationwide, there is a 15% discount for in-store purchases. For many members, these savings alone can cover the cost of membership. MFU also supports cooperative ventures, offering advice and assistance to those who are interested in forming or joining co-ops.Whether it’s reduced insurance premiums through Farmers Union Insurance, summer camp discounts, or free training opportunities, MFU’s partnerships can make a tangible difference to your bottom line.
Montana farmers need someone on their side when it comes to policies that impact their livelihoods, and MFU is a relentless advocate for agricultural policy that benefits its members.Through lobbying, public outreach, and grassroots campaigns, MFU works to influence legislation that addresses agricultural issues like crop insurance, sustainable farming practices, rural development, and market fairness. By aligning with MFU, farmers gain a voice that reaches local and national policymakers. Farming in Montana can be an isolating experience, but the Ambassador Team offers a powerful way to connect with fellow producers and rural residents by providing numerous opportunities for members to network, share experiences, and offer education programming.The camaraderie fostered through MFU goes beyond individual gain; it strengthens the entire agricultural community.With everything from Ladies Who Ag programs, to Far Out and Waiting seminars, to social gatherings where members can unwind and share their stories, MFU helps members build a support network that extends well beyond their own fences.
By joining MFU, farmers and ranchers tap into a network of like-minded individuals working towards common goals: economic stability, sustainable practices, and a fair and thriving agricultural sector in Montana.
Joining MFU means investing in the future of Montana agriculture, the well-being of one’s own farm, and the strength of an industry that keeps Montana fed and thriving. Consider joining MFU – it’s a choice that pays off in countless ways, season after season.
Ambassador Jeri Copenhaver - Golden Triangle
Ambassador Mary Jenni - Central Momtana
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EASTERN MONTANA (4)
Eastern Montana may be less populated than the Western side, but as producers and community members, we still need to be present during the Legislative Session.
How does this translate to representation and constituents testifying this coming session?
Distance is a huge inhibiting factor that cannot be ignored. It takes me five and a half hours to get to Helena, the capitol, and that is with good weather and light traffic. I even get to drive most of the way on the interstate between Forsyth and Three Forks! What about someone living in Richey or Broadus?
How can producers and community members in Eastern Montana (or in any of the far corners of the state) be present and heard in Helena, in a way that impacts the legislative process? While in-person testimony is powerful, there are now more expedient opportunities to participate in government.Testifying to a committee on Zoom, pre-recording a video, or mailing letters are all ways to be involved without having to travel. Montana Farmers Union is one of the best resources for producers and community members to utilize.We want our members to be comfortable giving their testimony and will help you navigate that process. Our lobbying team tracks bills coming to the floor or being debated in committee, and will keep our membership informed of the changes and impacts. Guided by MFU policy, they will also speak for or against bills that impact family farms, ranches, and rural communities.Your personal testimony goes further than all of that, because it gives the legislators a person to empathize with and understand.
Technology has helped to bridge the physical gap created by the nature of our state.We, in Eastern Montana, need to take advantage of it and make our voices and stories heard in Helena. Being passive or disengaged has very negative impacts, and we do no one any favors by staying silent. Our MFU members have knowledge and stories that are worth sharing, and our representatives in Helena need to hear about our real-life experiences, hopes, and fears.
There might be fewer producers in Eastern Montana, but we are affected by the same things and problems as everyone else. Don’t let the legislators forget about us!
To learn more about how to testify during the legislative session, please reach out to me (edutton@montanafarmersunion.com) or any of the MFU staff. We are here to help.
Ambassador Eleanor Dutton - Eastern MT
FLATHEAD (5)
How about State Convention 2024?!
Several times throughout convention, I looked around the room and was speechless with gratitude.Thank you, all, for your feedback, commitment, and presence.The speakers, the food, the policy, the education, and the networking were next level. I cannot wait to see you all again this fall.
On the first day of Convention, we hosted our Ambassador Roundtable. I looked around at the folks who gathered and was overcome. Overcome because without our members it would be just us sitting alone with blank notepads.There is not enough that can be said about the member leadership and the importance of their service.We had the President and Vice President of both the Western Local and Flathead Local.The Chair of Glacier Processing Cooperative.The Executive Director of Mission West Community Development Partners.The Specialty Crop Program Manager of Ravalli County Economic Development Authority, MSU extension, a few PhDs, and more. It truly takes all of us at the table to move the needle.The best part … we can always add more tables; we can always add more chairs. Let 2025 be the year we widen the circle, bring in more and new members, and support this backbone organization that truly supports our grassroots values.
Why should we encourage other folks to join us as members of Montana Farmers Union, or encourage current members to become engaged?
Because the future of agriculture needs our care. Because the future of agriculture needs our service. Because we matter. And most importantly, we matter together.
The ground and soil has been locked solid now for several months.These winter months find our family frequently talking over coffee, hoping we invested enough into the soil last fall for the crops planned this spring. In many ways, this idea is like the cycles of membership to Montana Farmers Union.What we as members harvest in programming, education, legislation, and cooperation are only as rich as what we as members invest back into Montana Farmers Union with our grassroots ideas, hosting day camps, hosting farm tours, giving testimony, attending State Convention and Women’s Conferences, participating in our FUEL leadership programming, and encouraging others to join and become engaged.
The real value of Montana Farmers Union is its commitment to grassroots, to you, our members, to our future members, and most importantly to agriculture and rural communities.
Cheers to 2025!
YELLOWSTONE BIGHORN (6)
Hey, hey, everyone! Skylar here with an update for our very own Yellowstone/Bighorn regions. First off, however, I want to thank everyone who came to our 109th Convention and sat with all of our office staff, regional ambassadors, and guest speakers to brainstorm how we can push our goal of greater cooperation, education, and legislation forward in the coming months.With the Legislative Session this year, Convention was a great time to look over the candidates running for local, state, and federal offices and speak about what we are hopeful for in both our state and the upcoming Farm Bill being worked on in Congress.
Yellowstone County:The local school contract with the food service operator Sodexo is expiring, so I have formed the Montana Farmers Union Yellowstone County Farm to School Initiative with the aim to get more local meats and produce into our K-12 schools and colleges. I know there are folks who want to engage in this process but feel there is a wall between the school board or it conflicts with the local Sodexo contract with the schools, but this initiative was formed to try and help change that with both local meats and produce as well as composting options being negotiated to be allowed into schools once again. I remember when I was back in school there was only one single time we got to speak to a farmer. When he visited us at Ponderosa Elementary School, he brought all kinds of produce that he grew with the goal of educating us on what it takes to *make* food and where it comes from. I want to rebuild those programs so kids can not only have fresher, local foods but also grow something themselves one day.
Bighorn County: I am working on getting an Agriculture Committee started up in Hardin and eventually surrounding areas and would like all interested parties to let me know if that is something you’d be interested in participating in. Meetings would be once a month just to discuss the happenings in the area, events, and opportunities for locals to grow yours and your neighbors’ farms and ranches. I’d also like to revive the Bighorn County Local!
If you need me or just need someone to chat to, I am merely a phone call or email away!
TETON/CASCADE (7)
We launched a new educational tool for engaging students in and about agriculture, Elementary Ag Pages. Montana Farmers Union would like to increase the visibility of agriculture throughout the state of Montana. Agriculture is the No. 1 economic industry in Montana and our communities. It is important that our students understand the scope and scale of the industry.To help achieve this, we are creating monthly Ag Pages.These activity pages will feature agriculture commodities that are prevalent in the month and focus on a theme.We will touch on many curricular areas such as math, science, social studies, language arts, Indian Education for All, and specialty areas.There are two difficulty levels of pages: pre-K through second grade and third through sixth grade. Please encourage elementary principals and teachers to use this resource in your community.
We have modified the Ag Pages documents to be a placemat that can be used in local restaurants. Getting out the facts and information about the agricultural industry takes engaging all ages in multiple venues. If you know of a place where placemats should be provided, please let your local ambassador know.
The fall of 2024 gave me the opportunity to meet and interact with many of our members. I have been impressed by the engagement of the individuals at the events I have hosted and attended, especially the adults. I know that youth can be engaged through a variety of interactive methods but getting adults to get involved can be a challenge. However, I have found that the dedication and passion of the MFU members is a different blend of people.The willingness to share successes and failures and help each other become successful is truly uplifting.
I have been able to host a variety of events in my area for all age ranges and interests.We had a great Cascade County Ladies Who Ag Value-Added Spa Night. Four vendors shared their sourcing, processing, and marketing of agriculturally based spa products with our group. I was also able to meet with elementary students and build a worm compost bin in Cascade.
I also met with members during MFU’s Annual Convention. I was truly impressed by the policy discussions and decisions made at the committee and convention levels.These grassroots documents will guide the support for and against bills during the 2025 Montana Legislative Session.
I look forward to seeing more of you in the coming year and working together on education, legislation, and cooperation!
Ambassador Jodi Koterba- Teton-Cascade
Ambassador Skylar Williams - Yellowstone Bighorn
Ambassador Carissa McNamara - Flathead
What to Know about Estate Taxes
By Marsha Goetting, MSU Extension Family Economics Specialist, PhD. CFP, CFCS
An important goal for most Montana farm/ranch family enterprises is transferring the land and business to the next generation. The process is challenging because it includes a complex web of economic, legal, and family decisions. For some just the idea of getting started seems so overwhelming that the family does nothing. Without realizing it, they are leaving it up to Montana to decide who receives property upon the owner’s death. That distribution may not be in the best interests of the farm or ranch family and business enterprise.
In past years when the value of a modest estate was subject to taxation at the state and federal levels, estate, inheritance, and death tax decisions were often the focus of attention. This resulted in the family’s attention to decisions about planning for heirs being ignored.
Now the Montana inheritance tax is no longer an issue because the 2001 Montana legislature ended it. With the federal estate tax exemption during 2024 at $13,610,000 for a single individual and $27,220,000 for couples, most families can focus their attention on how best to pass on the farm or ranch to the next generation. They don’t need to worry about whether the property they have worked a lifetime to accumulate would have to be sold to pay state and federal estate taxes.
During October when I was presenting an estate planning program, a rancher asked why his accountant told him not to gift ownership in the ranch to his son. Right away I knew why the accountant said what he did. He and others face the same decision, should I gift ownership while I am alive or wait until I am gone. There is no right reason for every agricultural enterprise. But there are income tax consequences to be considered.
When deciding whether to make a gift before death or wait to transfer it after death, an understanding of the difference between a “stepped-up” basis and a “carry-over basis” on the property is vital.
Let’s say Mom is trying to decide if she should gift the ranch to her son while she is alive or leave it to him after her death. Mom and her late husband bought the ranch 50 years ago for $90,000, consisting of $50,000 for the land and $40,000 for the buildings. Unfortunately, the husband died a year after the purchase.
During the ensuing years the buildings were depreciated out leaving a basis of $50,000. In 2024 the fair market value of the property is $5,000,000. Understanding the difference between a stepped-up and carry-over basis may influence Mom’s decision.
When Mom dies, her son inherits the ranch. His basis in the ranch “steps up” from $50,000 she and her husband paid for it, to the fair market value upon her death of $5,000,000. This ends the son’s income tax liability on appreciation in the ranch’s value occurring during his mother’s lifetime.
In other words, if the son sells the ranch a year after her mother’s death for $5,000,000, he does not have a state or federal income tax liability. If he sells the ranch a year later for $5,050,000, the son will only pay income taxes only on the $50,000 capital gain after his mom’s death, not $5,050,000.
Property transferred as a gift before death has a “carry-over basis,” meaning the original cost basis of the ranch, less any depreciation, carries over to the son. If the son sells the ranch for $5,050,000, he will pay state and federal taxes on the appreciation, called capital gain for the increase in the property’s value during the mother’s lifetime. If the son is in the highest income tax bracket, he could pay federal taxes close to $991,000 and state taxes close to $207,000 during 2024. In almost all cases there are other factors present in the tax return that would cause some variation from the exact mathematical calculation.
In summary when an individual sells property, not all the proceeds are taxable. When income is calculated, a person is only taxed on the difference between their “basis” in the property and its sale price. Generally, basis is the amount paid to buy an asset, like a house, car, equipment, or stocks or the “stepped up” value of those items inherited after the owner’s
death. The basis of some assets, such as equipment in a business, can depreciate. When this type of an asset sells, the tax liability is calculated based on the sale price received minus the depreciated basis.
Montanans have worked hard for their property and should look at all the possibilities before making a final decision on whether to make a gift before death or at the time of death to take advantage of the current tax rules. If you are contemplating a significant gift, consult your accountant and/or attorney for an analysis of the tax or other legal consequences to consider.
More information can be found in the MSU Extension MontGuide “Income Tax Impact When Selling, Gifting, or Leaving Property as an Inheritance” at: https://store.msuextension.org/Publications/FamilyFinancialManagement/MT202202HR.pdf.
Helping Grow FFA Chapters
Nashua FFA members are taking agriculture out of this world, experimenting to learn what vegetables grow best in space to provide astronauts with healthy diets.
A hurdle to forming or reforming chapters is the cost of creating modern learning environments, and MFU’s sponsorship funding goes a long way in purchasing materials and other program needs.
Since 2016, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden has worked with scientists at Kennedy Space Center to advance research on growing plants in space to supplement astronauts’ diets for optimal nutrition, and Nashua’s FFA students are now helping too.
“Nashua has joined this exciting research journey to identify food crops and optimal growing conditions for long-duration space travel,” said Tracy Cumber, FFA Advisor for the school.
To perform the work, Nashua FFA purchased a growing chamber to collect data on various protocols for NASA, which was made possible with a $2,500 New Chapter Sponsorship from Montana Farmers Union.
Since January 1, 2022, MFU has offered $2,500 New Chapter Sponsorships to help with startup costs. Florence, Frenchtown, Harrison, Havre,Augusta, Belt Valley, Scobey, Nashua,Whitehall, Drummond,Winnett, Lavina, and Jordan FFA chapters have received sponsorships so far.
The ongoing sponsorship program is a natural extension of MFU’s longstanding support of FFA, including as a lead sponsor during convention, providing both financial support and leadership opportunities for members, and filling financial needs for special projects.
“This program emerged from our annual grant program where we give out over $30,000 through the MFU Foundation to rural community projects. Our Board of Directors recognized how many FFA programs were applying for funds to help them get up and going or achieve some amazing projects.They decided to split those out and start this new opportunity to both help those new chapters that don’t have the fundraising mechanisms in place yet and inspire other schools to consider starting their own by reducing the initial hurdle by $2,500,” MFU Chief of Staff Matt Rains said.“The success has been felt across the state, and it’s wonderful to see so many of the recipient chapters engaged and strengthening Montana’s agricultural future.”
Overall, Montana FFA boasts 111 chapters with roughly 7,000 members, with interest in the program that provides skills in agriculture and the trades increasing, said Curt Robbins, Montana FFA Foundation’s Executive Director.
“People are just surprised at how much diversity and how much we have to offer students,” Robbins said.
“The teachers can really use it to their benefit wherever they see it’s most beneficial,” Robbins said.
Chapters have used the funding for everything from jackets for members to covering the costs of traveling to competitions to helping fund projects like greenhouses.
“I am very grateful for Montana Farmers Union’s support,” said David Kennedy, a Nashua student and FFA officer.“We have expanded our hydroponics plants to our raised garden beds and continue to expand our farm-to-school opportunities.”
The Nashua Chapter formed in 2023 after roughly 70 years of agriculture not being included in the school’s curriculum.As part of the chapter’s work, they implemented a farm-to-school program. Because of harsh weather variables in the area, several vegetables are grown with hydroponics.
The classroom hydroponics system allows students to apply theory to real world context, learning about sustainable growing practices and gaining a deeper appreciation of plants’ nutritional value.
Cumber said she wants students to develop knowledge, skills, attitudes, and experiences about agriculture they can use once they graduate.“They will need to understand the science behind agriculture and how to apply those concepts to ensure continued growth and prosperity for everyone.”
Already, Kennedy has gained a sense of belonging and leadership skills from the FFA program.
“I hope to extend my knowledge about agriculture and the animals I take care of and watch over. I will use this information when I take over my family ranch to help better the operation for future generations,” he said.
Montana Farmers Union will continue its support of new chapters.
“This sponsorship opportunity is perpetual with no-stringsattached funding available to any new FFA Chapter,” Rains said.“If they do the hard work of getting a new chapter chartered and up and going, Montana Farmers Union has their back and will help them hit the ground running.”
By Alice Miller, MFU Magazine Editor Photos courtesy of Nashua FFA
How the “Marinara Model”
By Charlie Michel, Co-op Development Center Director, Mission West Community Development Partners
Partners
It’s a crisp October morning and a pallet piled high with locally grown butternut squash has just arrived at Mission Mountain Food Enterprise Center in Ronan. The 13,000 square foot food processing, copacking, and product innovation hub is owned and operated by Mission West Community Development Partners, a local non-profit with deep roots in Montana agriculture. From packing food boxes to feed families on the Flathead Reservation to forming farmer-owned food hub networks, Mission West has long been a leader in promoting local food access for the communities it serves – and this particular pallet of produce is bound for a destination which represents the latest milestone in the organization’s legacy.
“Montana Marinara is a product made specifically for local schools,” says Mission West’s Local Food Promotion Program Manager, Anne Harney. “We work with the Montana Office of Public Instruction to procure USDA commodity tomatoes and combine them with Montana-grown butternut squash, carrots, onions, and safflower oil to create a nutritious and delicious sauce for schools.” The commodity ingredient content, she explains, keeps the product price-conscious and has made it possible to ship cases at no cost to schools through the USDA Foods distribution network. Beginning in 2019, Anne led a process that started with distributing product samples for taste-testing by every district in the state before commencing the first full-scale production run of Montana Marinara in the fall of 2022.
The sauce was an instant success, garnering requests by more than 125 districts during each of the last three school years through the USDA Foods program, which enables foodservice directors to access the product without spending down their discretionary funds. Shipments go out to schools each spring, punctuated by Marinara Madness, a recurring annual celebration of Montana agriculture first launched by Mission West in 2023 to engage students, kitchen staff, educators, and farmers through locally sourced meals and learning activities in the cafeteria, classroom, and beyond.
The homegrown ingredients that give Montana
Marinara its signature flavor and impressive nutritional profile are sourced through Western Montana Growers Cooperative, a producer-owned cooperative food hub that supplies consumers across the region with fresh, quality products from independently owned ranches, farms, and food processing operations.
“Montana Marinara has been a great project to be a part of,” says Ian Barry of Lowdown Farm, a WMGC member-owner which provided close to 4,000 pounds of squash and onions to make this year’s production run possible.
Lowdown is located less than 20 miles from MMFEC headquarters in Ronan, reflecting a core commitment of the sourcing partnership to minimize environmental impact while keeping purchasing dollars local. “Not only do we love delivering delicious local food to our schools, but reliable markets give us the security of a guaranteed sale and an outlet for produce that might not meet aesthetic standards,” Barry explains.
Crops like butternut squash that tend to grow too large for the grocery store or take a beating in the field when inclement weather strikes may never even make it to market. But value-added food processors like MMFEC can often work with crops of all shapes and sizes, offering a promising pathway for reducing product loss and creating a new revenue stream for farmers.
The success of the “Marinara Model” has captured the imagination of Farm to School advocates from as far away as New England, Indiana, and California, and as close to home as Eastern Washington, where Mission West is involved in a partnership to replicate the project just across state lines. Meanwhile, the food processing team at MMFEC is poised to expand its product line.
Tasks on the horizon for 2025 include recipe development and production runs of a cherry granola bar and “veggie tot” recipe that, like Montana Marinara, will blend commodity goods with locally grown produce to provide schools with a healthy, cost-effective alternative that brings students closer to their local farms – one forkful at a time.
is Transforming the Future of Farm to School
Photos Courtesy of Mission West Community Development
Make Your Voice Heard
By Rachel Prevost, Member Services & Government Affairs Director
The 2025 Legislative session is fast approaching. There will be many laws proposed that will directly impact family farmers and ranchers. Engagement is essential so that we can provide information to our legislators about the impact these potential laws will have on our communities, farms/ranches, schools, local healthcare services, and more. And trust me –they want to hear from you!
Here is your checklist to help you be a strong advocate on Farmers Union priorities in this upcoming session.
1. Be sure that your email is up to date with MFU so you receive our legislative call to actions and weekly bill report outs (if you get the Weekly MFU Boot up, you are good to go).
2. Join us on Zoom for our weekly bill video report out.
3. Send an introductory note to your legislator before the session begins and let them know the issues you are watching most closely this session, and establish that you can be a resource for them as these issues arise.
a. Find your legislator here: https://archive.legmt.gov/legislator-information/
b. Email me for assistance in finding who your legislator is and their contact info.
4. Read our weekly legislative updates with the status of bills and legislative priorities that Montana Farmers Union is tracking.
a. We provide the status, impact analysis, and any necessary talking points to help you understand the legislation and to communicate with your legislator.
5. When you see a bill action alert from us either via email, text or phone, we encourage you to reach out to your legislator and let them know how you want them to vote on the bill.
6. MFU encourages you to testify on legislation when bills are up for hearings. You can testify remotely from your home on Zoom. Constituent testimony carries a lot of impact in the Capitol.
a. Not sure the right way to craft your testimony? See the helpful tips below to craft your concise and effective testimony.
7. Practice navigating and routinely check the legislative website – legmt.gov.
a. MFU will be providing a “How to Navigate the MT Legislative Website 101” webinar that will help you know the most efficient way to find information about proposed laws and how to sign up or submit testimony. You can find it on the Legislative tab of our website.
8. Montana Farmers Union’s foundation is our grassroots membership. Our member written policy directs and drives our work at the Legislature. If you are interested in being involved in our policy committee or receiving MFU Call to Action updates directly from the lobby team on our main priority bills, email me at rprevost@montanafarmersunion.com.
Helpful tips and structure to craft your testimony:
Legislators appreciate concise and prepared testimony. A little preparation goes a long way when it comes to crafting your testimony. Below is a format you can follow to help you feel prepared, professional, and follow the standard procedure expected for public record testimony. Remember, you will be reading this aloud, so write your testimony in a way that flows easily for your speaking cadence. And don’t worry, if the nerves set in, you can read your testimony directly from what you have written. And if you testify on Zoom, it will be audio only.
1. You’ll start your testimony with a greeting.
2. Address the chair of the committee, followed by recognizing the committee’s other members.
3. For the record, you must spell your last name and if you are authorized/or speaking on behalf of an organization or company, state the name of the org or company you represent. If you are just testifying as yourself, state the county and city or town you reside in.
4. Next, you’ll want to note which bill you are testifying on and state your position on it, asking the committee to take that action.
a. Position will be either support or oppose the bill.
b. In the committee hearing structure, all proponents speak first, then all opponents speak second.
5. Next, and most importantly, you need to share the story of how this bill impacts and connects to you and/or your community. Include facts about the issue and establish your point with trusted sources. Your story will have the most impact with legislators. Lobbyists and legislative staff are there to help legislators dig into the policy language. Your why is what they need to hear. You don’t need to be an expert on the policy itself – just be the expert of your own experience.
a. If you want help crafting your story, utilize our worksheet to build your advocacy pitch. Find by selecting the Legeslativion Tab - Policy & Positions page on montanafarmersunion.com
b. When crafting your why, state it clearly and avoid acronyms and industry jargon that legislators may not be familiar with. Do not assume that the committee members know the detailed ins and outs of agricultural operations or family farms.
c. While listening to people testify before you, if they have stated points that you agree with or were planning to also state, do not be repetitive to those points in deep detail. Just state that you agree with those points, and move to the next part of your testimony/story.
d. In some situations, the Chair of the committee may limit the length of testimony to 1-3 minutes per person. Having a shortened version of your testimony that hits the bones of the issue is helpful.
6. Conclude your testimony. Restate your position on the bill and thank the committee for their time and consideration of the issue .
Example of testimony following the above structure:
Good morning Mr. Chair and members of the House Agriculture Committee. My name is Rachel Prevost, spelled P-RE-V-O-S-T, and I reside in Cascade County. I am a member of Montana Farmers Union. Today I urge you to support SB 537. Incentivizing retail shelf space for Montana products through this tax incentive will be a great opportunity for family farmers and ranchers. Currently, there is very little market access due to large corporations controlling the shelf space in Montana grocery stores. It’s important that Montana producers can compete in the market and that Montana consumers have more choice in what they spend their food dollar on. As a beef producer, having more local market opportunities creates more opportunity for me in return to keep dollars in our local economy. I strongly urge you to support SB 537 so Montana family farmers and ranchers have more market access. Thank you for your consideration and time, Mr. Chair and members of the committee.
Check out this example hearing from last session to see it all in action:
Want to dive even deeper into Advocacy 101?
Watch for MFU Webinar and helpful tips!
Feel free to check out this Grow MT toolkit as well:
Small Town, Big Heart Montana‘s Got Talent
During her musical performance at MFU’s convention in Whitefish, Halladay Quist shared her goal of providing music education to rural Montana children through playful, interactive online classes. To help fundraise for her endeavor she held the 1st Annual Montana’s Got Talent show in October in Kalispell. Musicians competed for $5,000, a new demo tape, opportunities to perform, and more.
The event was a success! More than 550 people attended, and enough money was raised to launch her online music education site called Starlight Academy. The site will attempt to do two things: It will provide professional training for serious artists, and it will create music curriculum for rural schools. Quist used to be an elementary teacher and there were many unfilled teaching positions. She saw a need to make music accessible. While she hopes to be able to reach all ages eventually, she will start with lessons targeted to elementary ages.
Quist says the internet currently offers music theory and music lessons but lacks a fun musical site with educational music games. Children learn best when in a state of play. Quist says, “I grew up believing in the power and magic of music because I saw music change people’s lives, taking people away from their challenges to a place of joy and laughter and dance. Music and dance connect us in ways that nothing else does. I look forward to the opportunity to take music and music education to new levels with a professional platform to make music education and promotion universal.”
More than 80 artists applied to participate in Montana’s Got Talent and 15 were chosen. The 15 finalists were Mandy May Blest from Anaconda, Beau Akimbo from Missoula, Benny Weag from Polson, Desiree Robertson from Kalispell, Cash Muretta from Great Falls, Drew Landry from Browning, Max Brayley from Whitefish, Mindy Cochran and Mariah Gladstone from Kalispell and Babb, Emma Zeider from Bigfork, Cash Dean from Lakeside, Amanda Stewart from Bozeman, Fusion by Dance Elements from Kalispell, Wyatt Johnson from Helena, Off in the Woods from Polson, and Joe Martinez from Wood Bay.
The winner of the show was Joe Martinez from Wood Bay, but the real winners are rural elementary students across the state who will get music education.
To learn more, donate, or participate, go to Starlightacademy.org.
Montana's Got Talent Photos courtesy of Jill Bridgeman
News From the
Hill In order to make legislative updates from our national leaders more timely, you can now find them online. Use the QR code to view
news
U.S. Senators. Scan the QR code to learn more about what is going on at the National level in policy and procedure!
Magazine Contributors Winter 2025
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.
Amiya Smith is a 2024 Mildred Stoltz Award winner who lives in Great Falls. Although her family doesn’t farm or ranch, she has an appreciation for agriculture thanks to her family’s agricultural legacy and from attending MFU Summer Camp at Arrowpeak. Her favorite thing to do is play soccer. She also runs cross country, races in track, plays basketball, and plays the violin. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, making Legos, drawing, and crafting. When she is older she hopes to be like her mom and work with children.
Alison Brennan is an Assistant Professor and Extension Mental Health Specialist in the Department of Human Development and Community Health at Montana State University. She started working in the topic area of farm and ranch stress during her postdoc fellowship with the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development (2017 - 2019). She is an instructor of Mental Health First Aid,Youth Mental Health First Aid, and Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR), and she worked with a team led by Dr. Michelle GrockeDewey to develop the MSU Extension Mental Wellness Conversation Curriculum. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening and raising angora rabbits and Icelandic sheep for fiber and meat, and knitting using yarn made from her animals‘ fiber.
Charlie Michel is Cooperative Development Center Director at Mission West, a non-profit community and economic development based in Ronan on the Flathead Reservation. Charlie provides technical assistance to cooperative businesses through feasibility, market analysis, incorporation, and operational launch. Over the past three years, he has led the successful development of the Northwest Food Hub Network to create efficiencies, address resource barriers, and expand markets for farmer-owned cooperative food hubs across the region.
Isabel Hicks is a freelance writer based in Bozeman. She reported hundreds of agriculture stories for the Bozeman Daily Chronicle through the Report for America service program. Her writing has also been featured in Montana Free Press, Mountain Journal and the Montana Quarterly Magazine.
Heather Link the Communications Director at Montana Farmers Union, is also an editor and responsible for the layout and design of MFU Magazine. She holds a bachelor’s degree and over 15 years of marketing experience. Growing up, she visited her family’s farm on the Hi-Line, which is 110 years old and still operates today. She is married with two children and resides in Great Falls.
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.
Michelle Grocke-Dewey holds a PhD in Medical Anthropology and currently serves as both an Associate Professor in the Department of Health and Human Development as well as the Extension Health and Wellness Specialist for MSU. She has been actively conducting research on farm stress since 2019 and utilizes this research to provide education and outreach opportunities to mitigate the negative impacts of stress.
Alice Miller, a press relations specialist with Montana Farmers Union., who also serves as an MFU Magazine Editor. 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, where the raise small grains, pulses, oil seeds, and Simmental Cattle.
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.
Courtney Brown Kibblewhite owns and operates Northern Ag Network with her family out of Billings. She is on a mission to eliminate mental health stigma in rural Montana and Wyoming and has helped develop an award-winning multimedia campaign to encourage people to talk about the hard stuff called “Beyond the Weather”. She lives in Huntley, with her husband Jonny from Wales, and their two children.
