V O L U M E 3 3
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M O N T A N A
GRASS ROOTS A P U B L I C AT I O N B Y M O N TA N A FA R M E R S U N I O N
A CHAMPION FOR MONTANA AGRICULTURE REMEMBERED BY ALICE MILLER PRESS RELATIONS
Montana Senator Mark Sweeney was a man dedicated to Montanans who good naturedly went about his work, Montana Farmers Union members and staffers remember.
was elected to the State Legislature as a representative in 2018 and then as a senator in 2020 before entering this year’s race for Montana’s Eastern District U.S. House seat. In 2021, he carried the state senate version “He was serious in his work, and of a bill focused on giving farmers he understood how to work with and ranchers the right to repair people well,” said Rachel Prevost, their own equipment. who worked with Sweeney on a bill pertaining to right to repair Sweeney died unexpectedly in during the 2021 legislative session. May. U.S. House candidates Penny Ronning (left), Mark Sweeney (center) and Skylar Williams (right) during Montana Farmers Union’s primary debate in Havre this April.
Sweeney was born in Miles City and called Phillipsburg home. He
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PARKER FARMS BLOOMS THROUGH GENERATIONS BY AUDRA LABERT COMMUNICATIONS/MARKETING DIRECTOR
Down a dirt road half a mile off Highway 200 in the Sun River Valley, you’ll find a garden oasis. Parker Farms Greenhouse is tucked back near the Sun River and is part of a fourth generation legacy that started when Ralph and Anna “Joyce” Parker settled in Fort Shaw in 1929. The Parkers started as truck farmers, selling vegetables to people nearby. After trying other enterprises, including raising sheep for a couple of years, they eventually went into dairy farming to improve cash flow. Being from Minnesota, “it’s what they knew,” said Gary Parker, one of five children of Ralph Jr. and Ethel Parker. After taking over the farm from his parents, Gary milked three barns of dairy cows CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
Parker Farms Greenhouse grows the hanging baskets for the City of Great Falls. Photo credit Zack Kephart.
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Over a year ago Farmers Union started the Fairness for Farmers campaign. The primary purpose of this campaign is to educate consumers and our elected leaders on issues that impact farmers and our food supply. It expands on the farmers’ share of our food dollar to explain why farmers get a small portion of the food dollar, the anticompetitive practices of large corporations, the price gouging of the corporate monopolies, and what can be done to fix it. Not long after NFU started the campaign, President Biden announced his 72 executive orders addressing solutions to the anticompetitive practices and industry concentration. Since then, we have seen several announcements from over a dozen federal agencies systematically addressing anticompetitive practices and creating more competition. We also have several bills in Congress like Senator Tester’s Special Investigator and Right to Repair bills addressing Fairness for Farmers. In many of these announcements, it states the need of Fairness for Farmers, consumers and families. Farmers Union’s campaign is working. Impacting policy is nothing new for Farmers Union. Shortly after the Sherman Antitrust Act more than 100 years ago, Farmers Union began to organize farmers to advocate on behalf of farm families. One of our first successes was the Clayton Antitrust Act and the creation of the Federal Trade Commission. The Sherman Act made cartels and monopolies illegal, but the Clayton Antitrust Act made corporations’ anticompetitive practices illegal. The four major principles of the Clayton Act are price discrimination, exclusive dealings/tying, mergers/acquisitions and preventing a person from being a director of two or more competing corporations. As a result of the Clayton Act, the Federal Trade Commission was created to enforce these laws. Not long after that, Farmers Union was instrumental in getting the Packers Consent signed and the Packers and Stockyards Act passed. Much of what the Fairness for Farmers campaign is doing is discussing the current violations of the Clayton Act and the impact those violations are having on farmers and consumers. You may be asking how it is we have these current violations if there are laws on the books preventing them.The roots of these current violations go back to the 1980s and the policies of that administration and congress. Big business had gained control of the policy makers, and, as a result, they were encouraging concentration under the guise of efficiency.We now are finding out that it came at the expense of resiliency and fairness. As a result, we lost thousands of family-owned businesses and farms while the control of American destiny gravitated to the hands of a few. We lost the diversity, ingenuity and the resiliency that was our American heritage. Farmers Union’s Fairness for Farmers campaign redirects our focus back to the Clayton Antitrust Act and the Packers and Stockyards Act, which, if enforced, would hold corporations accountable. Encourage Congress to follow Biden’s lead to enforce these laws and to create more competition in the marketplace. The dedicated fight on behalf of America’s family farms against anticompetitive practices and market consolidation is why I am a proud Farmers Union member.
Walter Schweitzer
Thank you Business Boosters
MONTANA FARMERS UNION PO BOX 2447 300 RIVER DRIVE NORTH GREAT FALLS MT 59403 PHONE: (406) 452-6406 1-800-234-4071 FAX: (406) 727-8216 mfu@montanafarmersunion.com www.montanafarmersunion.com Board of Directors: Walter Schweitzer, President Rollie Schlepp,Vice President, Conrad Jan Tusick, Secretary/Treasuer, District 6, Ronan Erik Somerfeld, District 2, Power Jeff Bangs, At-Large Director District 1& 2, Inverness Tom Clark, District 1, Fort Benton Brett Dailey, District 4, Jordan William Downs, District 5, Molt Ben Peterson, At-Large Director, Judith Gap Sig Rudie, Fairview, At-Large director Sarah Rachor, Sidney, District 3 State Office Staff: Walter Schweitzer, President Matt Rains, Chief of Staff Jan Johnson, Office Mgr., Assistant Secretary/Treasurer Audra Labert, Communications / Marketing Director Rachel Prevost, Government Affairs Director/ Member Svcs. Violet Green, Education Coordinator Leisha Skaggs, Event & Media Coordinator Alice Miller, Press Relations Specialist Samatha Ferrat, Membership Ambassador Eleanor Ferrone, Membership Ambassador Carissa McNamara, Membership Ambassador Gwneth Givens, Membership Ambassador Copyright © Montana Farmers Union, 2022 Montana Grassroots is the official publication of the Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union of America, Montana Division. MFU reserves the right to reject any advertisements. Third Class bulk postage paid at Great Falls MT 59401. Membership: $50.00 per year Montana Grassroots is published bi-monthly. Article submissions are requested by the 15th of every other month. Copy Editor: Alice Miller, Jan Johnson Editor/Designer: Audra Labert
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OP-ED IN THIS ISSUE: Remembering Mark Sweeney Pages 1, 4 Member Feature Pages 1, 5 Calendar of Events Page 4 Education & Camp Page 5 Membership Ambassador Updates Page 7
BY COURTNEY KIBBLEWHITE BILLINGS, MT
We got a call this week from a friend and listener who said, “Maybe you ought to be careful about getting into this mental health stuff. My Mom, used to say, ‘Buck up, Buttercup.’ ” Fair enough. There are days when we do have to buck up and go feed the cows in a foot of snow. And it just takes a little push to get us headed out the door. Sometimes we do have to “buck up” and do the hard stuff. I’ll tell you from my personal experience that some days, my mind fights negativity that’s a whole lot darker than a bout of laziness. My inner dialogue will start chirping, “I’m no good. They are better off without me. I shouldn’t be here anymore.” Now, that is hard to write because I know that’s not correct. That may be my mind talking, but I’ve realized that’s not me. I don’t know why my brain gets me headed in that direction, but I know those things are simply not true. I believe I’m here for a reason. I believe we are all connected. I believe in God’s divine plan, and I know that includes me, even if I don’t know how.
Cooperative Update Page 8
For those of us that fight with our minds now and then, it makes me wonder: Is the problem really that we need to “toughen up”?
Scholarships Page 9
I can wrestle calves with the teenagers (though it hurts more than it used to!). I can move a portable panel all on my own (though I’d rather have someone on the other side!). I can get up before the crack of dawn and do whatever needs to be done in whatever elements the day brings.
Welcome New Members Page 9 News from Capital Hill Page 10 MFU Coloring Contest winner Page 11
For those of us born with the stuff of homesteaders and pioneers, we are born with grit in our blood. Imagine the grit it took to trail those cattle thousands of miles north on horseback. Imagine the grit it took to head west in a railcar through untamed country. You don’t have to imagine the grit it took to stay in this country, you can feel it. So, are we tough enough to get into an actual conversation with our neighbors rather than just sending a text message? Tough enough to get beyond the weather to find out how they are really doing? Tough enough to share how WE are really doing? I think we are. I think we can change the story for our kids: We are not too tough to need mental health. But, we are tough enough to talk about it. Shoot, we’ve helped each other through winters, floods and wildfires. Heck yeah. We are tough enough to get “beyond the weather”! Let’s go there.
STAY CONNECTED, AND FIND US ON:
*If you know someone who is feeling constantly down and unable to enjoy the things they used to, send them to Beyondtheweather.com to sign up for free, virtual, Counseling Access for Montana Agriculture program. Or have them call 406-200-8471 and press 7. Courtney Kibblewhite is the Vice President of Northern Ag Network and her family has run cattle in Eastern Montana for five generations.
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS JULY 2022 07/20/22 – Chamber of Commerce- Future of Ag Tour Great Falls Area 07/20/22 – 6pm- Flathead Community Local Meeting deYong Farm, Kalispell
SEPTEMBER 2022 9/11/22-9/14/22 – NFU Fall Fly-In Washington, D.C. The late Senator Mark Sweeney (left) and MFU Government Affairs Director Rachel Prevost stand together with masks on in the Capital Building during the 2021 Legislative session. MFU worked closely with Sweeney on right to repair legislation. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
“I think it’s really rare that people are so genuine like Mark was,” Prevost said, adding that he always had a smile and kind word outside of the session as well.
repair bill. Degn had crossed paths with Sweeney several times, but it wasn’t until she testified during the legislative session that the two worked together.
Like Prevost, MFU President Walter Schweitzer worked with Sweeney on the right to repair bill, and Schweitzer said Sweeney was a quick study who talked with those impacted and did his own research.
“I hope that we’re all lucky enough to have someone like Mark Sweeney on our side, to really take the time to understand the issues facing agriculture and really help to educate everyone around him,” she said.
“He got farmers and ranchers and our rural communities and was a great advocate for us.” - Walter Schweitzer “He did what I would call a spectacular job of recruiting people to testify from around the state on his right to repair bill,” Schweitzer said. Ultimately the bill was unsuccessful. Nonetheless, Sweeney advocated for it until the end. “He kept pushing hard and kept his colleagues’ feet to the fire,” Schweitzer said.
The bill’s passage out of committee was due in no small part to Sweeney’s willingness to listen and learn, but also because of how well he was respected on both sides of the aisle, Degn said. “I have a lot of faith that because of the work that he did with Montana Farmers Union we’ll be able to try again in the future and maybe have more success,” she said. Although Sweeney’s legislative efforts weren’t limited to agriculture, he remained a friend to family farmers and ranchers. “His heart and soul was Montana, and he was clearly an Eastern Montana guy. He got farmers and ranchers and our rural communities and was a great advocate for us.
“It was just no nonsense and let’s get this Montana is better off because of Mark done,” remembered Sarah Degn, an MFU Sweeney,” Schweitzer said. “We lost a board member who testified on the right to champion for rural Montana.”
OCTOBER 2022 10/14/22-10/15/22 107th MFU Annual Convention Helena Registration opens August 15!
NOVEMBER 2022 11/6/22-11/8/22 – NFU Women’s Conference Nashville, Tennessee
FEBRUARY 2023
02/10/23- 02/12/23 – MFU - 2023 Women’sConference Fairmont Hot Springs More information in “Events” at montanafarmersunion.com.
ARROWPEAK CAMP MEMORIALS Dedicated in memory of Art & Diana Adamson, from the Teton County-wide Farmers Union Local. If you would like to honor someone with a timeless stone engraving at Arrowpeak, please contact the Office at 406-452-6406.
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CAMP UPDATES Camp staff hiking the Alan Merrill Trail at Arrowpeak during training.
Summer camp at Arrowpeak is in full swing, and we are excited for the season ahead! Staff training went very well, and this is an amazing group of young leaders serving as Counselors and Junior Deans. We also appreciate our support staffcooks, caretakers and nurses- for keeping camp safe, clean and running smoothly! Thanks again to our generous supporters this year: CHS, Mountain View Co-op and Farmers Union Insurance for helping to make camp accessible for so many youth. It’s going to be a great summer at camp!
Congratulations Junior Camp One Co-op Board! During each camp, campers elect members to the camp co-op store board as part of our cooperative lesson/curriculum at camp. The campers who are elected serve on the board for the week and run the co-op store for the other campers! Campers can visit the store throughout the week and purchase extra goodies. Pictured here are the campers elected to the board for the Junior One camp inside the co-op store at Arrowpeak Camp.
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over the years until 1990 and backgrounded The buildings help tell the story of how dairy heifers for another 20 years after that. Parker Farms has changed over the years. The biggest of the outbuildings, standing in the Growing plants has always been Marilyn’s center of the yard started as potato storage passion. She began the greenhouse business in during the truck-gardening years and was filled in to create storage for farm vehicles. 1997 with a plant sale to friends and neighbors. The business gradually grew from there, and they added improvements like heat, “You just evolve,” Marilyn said as she and Gary electricity and two more buildings for the recounted the farm’s history. greenhouse enterprise. “The greenhouses started as a hobby,” Marilyn shared, and it was also a way to add value to the water resources on the farm and provide income. She added, “We had a hired man, whose wife needed a job, so we expanded into more of a commercial operation to provide them an opportunity for more income.” Their customers are mostly locals, but loyal customers come from as far as Idaho. “We’re small, uncrowded, and it’s comfortable,” Marilyn said, adding that once in a while an elderly couple will just drive up and Ralph Jr. and Bonnie Parker, circa 1946. order plants from their vehicle. “We bring it to their car, tell them how much, Both Marilyn and Gary speak to how the farm and they never even have to come into the has changed over time and to a continued building,” Marilyn said chuckling. legacy. Both of their daughters have stayed
involved in agriculture. Kyle Parker Metzger now farms in Alberta, B.C. with her husband. Anna Parker has moved back to the farm now that her job is permanently remote. She recently joined the newly formed Montana Premium Processing Co-op, a Havre-based facility that MFU launched to provide more market options for livestock producers. The Parker family’s purchase of a Co-op share is a pledge of support in getting the idea off the ground, having already experienced the need for more processing in the area. With many meat cutters being booked a year or more out, they are eager for the MPPC to begin operations. The Parker Family’s involvement in Farmers Union spans the generations, from Ralph Jr. serving as President to Gary pulling pranks on staff as a camper. Although the farm looks much different from when it first began, it’s hard to imagine one that doesn’t. Find Parker Farms Greenhouse on Facebook or at 50 Parker Rd. in Fort Shaw.
Scan for more photos!
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October 14 & 15 Marriott Helena Colonial in Helena Connect to your community, learn something new, and a have great time...
Join us for the Montana Farmers Union Annual Convention! Convention is where we gather to guide policy, programs and elect leaders to cultivate our rural and agricultural communities. Speakers, workshops and events offer opportunites to: • Discover new markets and learn marketing skills. • Hear from experts on soil health, drought resilience & regenerative agriculture. • Learn hands on growing techniques and how to bring Ag into the classroom.
Convention information is at your fingertips: montanafarmersunion.com.
Plus, we’ll kick up our heels to a live performance by The Lucky Valentines and SO much more! Registration opens August 15!
Youth luncheon & awards!
Education Fund Contributor:
Youth Leadership Development Program Contributors: Bryan Jones FU Insurance, Hamilton Tom McKenna FU Insurance, Lewistown Charles Monroe FU Insurance, Kalispell
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MFU AMBASSADOR UPDATES Southeast Montana Eleanor Ferrone With almost a full month under my belt of working in the Southeast area, I am eager to keep up the positive momentum that I have gained in such a short time. I have been reaching out to members via calls and written notes, and am so thankful for the helpful and positive responses that I have received in return. Please, feel free to connect with me either over the phone or via email. I would love to hear about the different ways I can help serve the MFU members in the area.
MFU AMBASSADOR NETWORK GROWS Gwyneth Givens spent her formative years in the heart of Montana’s Golden Triangle wheat country. Her family’s diverse business enterprises of finishing hogs, raising AQHA performance horses and operating a seed cleaning plant in the small community of Big Sandy taught her about the agricultural world. Gwyneth was active in 4-H her entire school career, excelling in horse, hog and sewing projects. Eventually she discovered her love of growing and preparing food and attended culinary school in Denver, Colorado. After becoming a pastry chef and working in fine dining across the country, she decided to move back to Montana, where she married John Wicks. The couple now operates his family farm near Tiber Dam. Gwyn has become an avid gardener and beekeeper after capturing a swarm in 2019. Her heart is truly devoted to locally grown food that is accessible to all, sustainable farming practices, supporting local food processing, and keeping farms and ranches in the family. As an ambassador for MFU, Gwyn is excited to support ag education and programs for Montana’s next generation of farmers and ranchers. If you are in the Hi-line/Golden Triangle Area and want to get more involved, contact Gwyneth at ggivens@montanafarmersunion.com
I am working towards planning a membership meeting for the Southeast area in the near future and am hopeful for strong attendance despite people’s packed schedules. It is my goal to represent MFU at the Garfield, Rosebud/Treasure, and Prairie County fairs – it will be wonderful to meet members there in person!
Headwaters Area Samantha Ferrat
Happy Summer! Things have been movin’ and groovin’ the last couple of months around here – in addition to farm and ranch work even! Our first local membership gathering was held June 22nd in Bozeman. I am so thankful for everyone who was able to attend and really looking forward to our next Headwaters membership gathering! (The next local gathering will be happening soon, most likely in Helena.) In May I had the opportunity to help present the MFU pollinator lesson with Rachel Prevost, as well as taught “The Perfect Cheeseburger” lesson. We presented these lessons at the Townsend Schools annual Ag Day event for kindergarteners to fifth graders. I also attended our staff camp training and Junior Camps at Arrowpeak. I had a grand time, and they were entertaining and productive experiences! These experiences give me great hope and excitement for future generations! Hope y’all have a great haying season, and I look forward to seeing you down the road!
Flathead Local Carissa McNamara
As MFU Ambassadors we have the privilege to not only talk to others about their farms, ranches, and unique niche operations, but also visit. Cultivating Connections in Hamilton is a busy place in spring while their Kinder-Gardeners Program is in action. This three-part series (one fall visit and two spring visits) had us holding hands with children while talking about food systems, livestock stewardship, and organically cultivating the ground. The kids remembered specific lessons from the previous years and had amazing questions. Mid-May found us in Kalispell for a membership meeting at Spirit Works Trilogy. We enjoyed great food, great member conversations, and then a tour of the farm. After receiving a warm welcome from the farm's owner, it was easy to be caught up in the herbs, trails, and overall beauty of this private retreat, making it absolutely worth the visit. The end of May found us in Great Falls at Arrowpeak Lodge getting prepared for summer camp! I am new to the camp experience and can honestly say I was unprepared and deeply moved by the tradition, legacy and care that goes into planning camps. I walked away wishing I was 8 years old again and grateful our son will be attending camp this year.
Reach out to the nearest MFU Ambassador to find out how to get involved in your community: Carissa McNamara- Flathead Area cmcnamara@montanafarmersunion.com Samantha Ferrat- Missouri Headwaters Area
sferrat@montanafarmersunion.com
Gwyneth Givens, Golden Triangle Area
ggivens@montanafarmersunion.com
Eleanor Ferrone- Souheast Montana eferrone@montanafarmersunion.com Rachel Prevost- State Office Membership Director rprevost@montanafarmersunion.com
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COOPERATIVE UPDATE HAVRE CO-OP WELCOMES GENERAL MANAGER Bill Jones has been hired to take the helm of the Montana Premium Processing Cooperative.
In front of the new MT Premium Processing Co-op facility in Havre: MFU board member Erik Somerfeld, MFU President Walter Schweitzer, and MPPC board members Ben Peterson, Paul
Montana needs more butchers – and more skilled workers in other trades – to further increase meat processing capacity in the state, and Montana State UniversityNorthern is key to making that happen, Montana Farmers Union President Walter Schweitzer told state leaders and educators during an Ag Showcase event in Havre in May. Currently MFU is in the process of opening Montana Premium Processing Cooperative (MPPC), a member-owned, USDA- inspected meat processing facility in Havre. Northern is proposing a meat processing curriculum and is in the process of determining what implementing the curriculum would entail. Schweitzer high- lighted that the Montana Premium Processing Cooperative would serve as a training ground to Northern to provide students with hands-on experience. As part of the showcase event, MFU sponsored a Montana-grown meal Tuesday night, which featured products from IND Hemp, Strick’s Ag, Debruycker Charolais Meats, High Horizon Gardens and Pasta Montana. “Montana Farmers Union appreciates the effort and work that Senator Russ Tempel did to put together this event. We were honored to help Senator Tempel organize the Montana food that was served at the event and for the opportunity to show the leaders of our state the programs that MSU-Northern provides that are creating a stronger, more resilient Montana,” Schweitzer said. Event attendees toured the MPPC facility,
which is set to begin processing livestock this summer and will support a hoof-toplate business model for area ranchers. A potential partnership between the school and facility would provide hands-on experience for students.
Jones will serve as general manager at the member-owned, USDA-inspected meat processing facility in Havre. The Gallatin County native comes to the facility after working on farms and a dairy, followed by a long career in the meat processing industry. He learned the ropes of meat cutting at a custom meat processor before working in a grocery store meat department. Most recently, he has been with Amsterdam Meat Shop and Feddes Family Meats, where he has led the business through a period of rapid growth to meet increasing demand for local product. The opportunity to partner with Montana State University-Northern to provide hands on experience for students was a big draw for Jones to take the Havre job.
Board members tour the newly renovated MPPC space set to begin processing animals midsummer.
Northern’s programs would not only train butchers but also give them the business skills they need to open their own processing facilities, as well as continuing to train electricians, plumbers and others to build the infrastructure necessary. To learn more about the Montana Premium Processing Cooperative, visit mtpremiumprocessing.com.
“I think knowledge has to be shared so that people can take care of themselves and take care of future generations,” Jones said, adding he intends to run a facility that attracts skilled employees who give producers more quality cuts. The mindset is: “Let’s attract the best possible employees we can, maximize efficiency and turn out a very good product,” he said. For Jones, reputation and integrity are crucial to a successful operation. “I’ve really strove to make sure that integrity of the product that we turn out down here is super high,” he said, adding that it’s important for ranchers to know that their meat will come back to them how they want it.
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SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS Congratulations to this year’s scholarship recipients!
Cory Kelly: John Korsbeck Memorial Scholarships
Education is part of the foundation of Montana Farmers Union and the MFU Foundation. Members and leadership are proud to offer continued support for youth.
Phillip Prewett: Montana Farmers Union Scholarship
Abby Clark: Montana Farmers Union Scholarship, John Korsbeck Memorial Scholarships, Bud Daniels Memorial Scholarship, and the Chouteau County Scholarship.
Welcome New Members! Referred by:
Linda DeVries, Malta Shane Anderson David & Laurel Hines, Malta Shane Anderson MDH Ranch Inc, Malta Shane Anderson Frank Nies, Ekalaka Tayler Kennedy Douglas Dean Singleton, Mildred Tayler Kennedy Deborah & Sidney Junek, Canyon Lake TX Ron & Blayne Watts Kalan & Breiann Pluhar, Broadus Ron & Blayne Watts Marc McCormick, Laurel Lorna Olson Bruce & Shelly Riggin, Glasgow Brady Burgess Denim Irish, Ashland Jesse Fleming Cusker Inc, Wolf Point Jesse Fleming Ken & Eva Erstad, Peerless Jesse Fleming Viertel Samuel Ranch LLC, Santa Barbara CA Tom McKenna Peter & Margaret Smith, Lewistown Tom McKenna Joseph Mironack, Columbus Steve Plaggemeyer Joe & Jeralee Heiken, Broadview K J Fauth Joseph & Shenna Monroe,Valier Dirk Elings Steven Boutilier, Park City Mathew Triplett Susan Caldwell, Livingston Daryl Hansen Austin Pitsch, Hardin Melissa Wacker Faith Cattle Company LLC, Lodge Grass Melissa Wacker
David Shane: Montana Farmers Union Scholarship & Cascade County Scholarship
John Shaw, Worden Melissa Wacker Ardie Stops, Crow Agency Melissa Wacker EKS Ins, Chester Megan Hedges Charles Nate Fairbanks, Great Falls Shawn Erickson Shannon & Jen Carr, Hot Springs Lisa French Ted & Lorraine Sokalowski, Kalispell Charles Monroe Hughes Family Revocable Trust, Whitefish Bryan Jones Wendell Griffin, Darby Bryan Jones Margaret Bauer, Ronan Andrew Luedtke Carlton Grimm, Big Sky Andrew Luedtke Jeff Smyth, St. Ignatius Andrew Luedtke Steve & Deb Gilstrap, Dillon Sara Nye Blaine & Rachel Huntley, Dillon Sara Nye Marilou & Grant Stelling, Great Falls MFU Office Megan & Daney Beach, Geraldine MFU Office Sarina & Reece Sterner, Hingham MFU Office Brady Burgess, Glasgow MFU Office Stephanie Larweck, Great Falls MFU Office Greta Moser, Bozeman MFU Office Ben & Michelle Meyer, Stevensville MFU Office Robin Paone, Whitefish MFU Office Verna Billadeaux & Book St. Goddard, Browning MFU Office Erica Stanley, Fort Benton Cari Green Duane & Kathleen Herigon, Great Falls MFU Office Cheree Wilson, White Sulphur Springs MFU Office
In Memoriam
Recognizing recently passed MFU family: Dale Bauman, Power; Jack Nickels, Fort Peck; Daniel Kidd, Bigfork.
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NEWS FROM THE HILL Steve Daines, U.S. Senator
Montana farmers and ranchers are longstanding stewards of our lands and waters—they shouldn’t be burdened with more bureaucratic red tape like those that would allow the federal government to regulate every pond, puddle, or ditch.
waters. This radical escalation gave federal agencies’ nearly unlimited authority to regulate any pond, puddle, ditch, stream, or creek and threatened the very way of life of our Montana farmers and ranchers. The federal government must maintain a partnership with states and local communities to provide clear, common sense guidance defining what waters are subject to federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act, not put up new roadblocks for hardworking Montana farmers and ranchers.
To prevent this, I’ve championed efforts to maintain President Trump’s Navigable Waters Protection Rule and avoid a return to burdensome regulations like those imposed by the Obama-Biden Waters of the U.S. Rule (WOTUS), which threatened the independence of Montana farmers and ranIf dealing with burdensome regulations wasn’t chers. enough, Montana farmers and ranchers were WOTUS was a massive land and water grab also hit hard last year by extreme drought that sought to give unprecedented power to conditions. As your voice in the United Staunelected bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. tes Senate, I’ve continued my work to ensure at the expense of Montana farmers and ran- Montana ag operations receive the drought chers. The WOTUS rule asserted categorical relief they need to continue feeding our state, jurisdiction over typically-dry channels and a nation and the entire world. variety of intrastate, non-navigable, isolated
Jon Tester, U.S. Senator
The impacts of this bill cannot be understated. The fact is more than 60,000 veterans War after war, generation after generation— in Montana may have been put in harm’s way Montana’s bravest have returned home only and exposed to toxic substances during their to face a different kind of battle: cobbling to- service. And right now—they’re the ones gether their earned care and benefits from the paying the price. Department of Veterans Affairs. This legislation will expand eligibility for VA For decades, our country has let these heroes health care to more than 3.5 million Post-9/11 combat veterans exposed to burn pits, and down. Until now. benefits to Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Over the years, my office has been flooded Orange. It would also remove the burden of with calls, emails, and visits from hundreds of proof for 23 presumptive conditions caused by veterans, and from Veterans Service Organi- military toxic exposures, from cancers to lung zations, advocates, and survivors sharing the disease, and establish a framework to create painful and harrowing effects of toxic exposu- future presumptions of service connection. res on our fighting men and women. The bottom line is there is always a cost to As Chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs war—and that cost is never fully paid when Committee, I’m determined to right this that war ends. wrong. That’s why I’m leading the fight in the Farmers and ranchers know better than most Senate to pass my bipartisan Sergeant First Our country has not lived up to its promises to veterans with toxic exposure. But we can just how difficult it can be to access high qua- Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our lity, affordable health care in rural America. Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics start by supporting veterans and families in need by passing the Sergeant First Class Heath Our health care system often leaves behind (PACT) Act—a historic bill that addresses Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act. the folks that serve our nation, and whether decades of inaction and delays by our you’re feeding it or fighting for it, you know government. that Montanans deserve better.
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Photos (right) from a recent dinner at Serrano’s in East Glacier to benefit FAST Blackfeet. Mariah Gladstone of Indigikitchen, who has presented at several MFU events, catered the event. Photos submitted by Tammy Copenhaver.
MFU AFOOT & AFIELD Out and about? Have news? Send us your photos to be featured in this member news section! Submit your photo and caption to office@montanafarmersunion.com. Day Camp in Chester teaches about Ag & natural resources.
Above: Matt Strauch from Pheasants Forever leads a water and sand table activity at the MFU Day Camp (table from Montana Association of Conservation Districts).
MFU COLORING CONTEST WINNER First of all, a hearty thank you to all of the entries during the 2022 Montana Farmers entrees for the MFU coloring contest. All of Union Annual Convention this October. them were colorful, orginal and creative! The winner from the People’s Choice contest After MUCH deliberation, a winner has will win a $100 prize! emerged: Thanks again to the contest participants, the women of the 2022 MFU Women’s Carah Ronan of Laurel! Conference and our artisit Bonnie Griffis of WAIT, there’s more! There will be a People’s Choteau for helping bring this image to life! Choice winner chosen from the Top 5 student
MFU Member Phillip Prewett (above) received the Hubert K. & JoAnn Seymour Scholarship through National Farmers Union, worth $2,000. Phillip was also recently elected as second vice president of Montana State FFA.
Measuring hail by the handful in Fort Shaw. Photo submitted by Eric Bergman.
2022 Volume 33
Montana Grassroots
PAGE 12
-MONTANA FARMERS UNION-
OUR AGENTS ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS. fumico.net
Anaconda Stefanie Thompson 563-5991 Belgrade Craig Parker 388-6774 Belt Matt Triplett 952-0451 Billings Steve Plaggemeyer 294-9491 Billings Judd Long 252-9391 Billings KJ Fauth 969-2282 Bozeman Dean Derby 556-0893 Bozeman Trent Leintz 551-2163 Bozeman Art Hoffart 586-6230 Bridger Wesley Schwend 662-3930 Broadus Jesse Fleming 436-2115 Butte Matthew Luedtke 270-5304 Chester Megan Hedges 759-5150 Choteau Scott Allaire 466-5146 Circle Kaylen Lehner 485-3303 Conrad Dirk Elings 271-7047 Cut Bank Ashley Vanek 873-2249 Dillon Judy Siring 683-2365 Dillon Sara Nye 683-1250 Fairfield Matt Luedtke 467-3444 Froid Austin O’ Dea 766-2205 Forsyth Watts Agency 346-1196 Glasgow Brady Burgess 228-8282 Great Falls Eric Hinebauch 437-2053 Great Falls Aeric Reilly 570-5853 Great Falls Jeff Thill 452-7283 Great Falls Kyle Tschetter 836-7261 Hamilton Bryan Jones 363-6583 Hardin Melissa Wacker 665-1867 Havre Meagan Kinsella 265-2693 Havre Alex Thornton 879-2028 Helena Todd Crum 443-4630
Hingham Alissa McClendon 397-3146 Hingham Ray Lipp 397-3146 Hobson Shawn“Tater”Erickson 366-1287 Kalispell Randy Bloom 257-1252 Kalispell Flathead Insurance 752-8000 Kalispell Charles Monroe 756-7720 Laurel Lorna Olson 628-6649 Lewistown Tom McKenna 538-8736 Lewistown Raleigh Heitzman 538-8736 Lewistown Bruce Marshall 538-2331 Libby Colleen Wood 293-6228 Livingston Daryl Hansen 222-7151 Malta Shane Anderson 654-1589 Miles City Tayler Kennedy 874-2560 Miles City Watts Agency 874-1804 Missoula Brad Bowman 721-2540 Missoula Pam Jacobsen 721-0599 Missoula Andre Marcure 543-7184 Missoula Josh Rollins 830-3073 Plains Lisa French 826-4633 Polson Andrew Luedtke 837-1395 Ronan Andrew Luedtke 676-0173 Ryegate Audrey Stoican 568-2336 Scobey Matt Stentoft 487-2629 Shelby KW Insurance 424-8480 Shelby Russ Seubert 434-5211 Sidney Cathy Hintz 488-8326 Sunburst KW Insurance 937-6950 Terry Watts Agency 635-5782 Thompson Falls Lisa French 827-3221 Whitefish Rial Gunlikson 862-4700 Wolf Point Jesse Fleming 653-2200