16 minute read
Walter Schweitzer, President Rollie Schlepp, Vice President, Conrad Jan Tusick, Secretary/Treasuer, District Ronan
MEMBER PROFILE CONTINUED
Tammy is a member of the MFU Women’s Committee. Mark and his grandaugther on the ranch.
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They have learned about breeding techniques, soil health, branding, and the role of cover crops for fall and winter grazing. Some tasks like branding are a family affair, but Mark and Tammy are the heart and soul of the operation. They both expected their lives would change with the transition, but neither one could have imagined what would come next. Tammy has undergone mammograms for years. In 2006/2007, doctors detected a lump in her right breast. Fast forward to July 2020, and the lump had grown by two millimeters. The growth prompted doctors to schedule a biopsy. In March of this year, Tammy was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. In 2021 it is estimated 281,550 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the U.S. "When I got the diagnosis, it was a shock; it was a hit," said Tammy. "By the time I had the results, I had worked through and already processed a lot. Literally, within an hour of finding out I had breast cancer, I contacted a provider friend. I was resolute in what I was going to do. I was called back for so many ultrasounds that I told Mark if it happens, I am having a mastectomy."
Eighty-five percent of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer. This was true in Tammy’s case. She underwent genetic testing after her brother was diagnosed with cancer. Tammy’s brother would lose his battle with cancer this year, which was devastating to the family. Tammy’s process from diagnosis to treatment happened very quickly. “Once you have a diagnosis and treatment, they like to have it all occur within a six-week window.” The following weeks were met with a barrage of appointments and preparation for surgery. “I had the mindset that when my doctors told me to worry, I would worry. I didn’t lay awake at night worrying. I had faith in my providers.”
Tammy had the mastectomy in Bozeman. The recovery took about six weeks. In midSeptember, Tammy underwent a successful reconstruction and is back on the ranch recovering. To her relief, cancer has not spread to her lymph nodes. And fortunately, she is not a candidate for chemotherapy at this time. She will be on a five-year treatment of hormone blockers to prevent reoccurrence.
Mark and Tammy moved forward during the diagnosis and treatment, busy with ranch life learning by trial and error. NRCS has helped them learn about soil health and a few practices to implement to enhance the soil with rotational grazing and cover crops. They incorporated corn into the grazing rotation and learned it’s best to mix the cover crop with hay and native forage.”We are first-time, firstyear, first-generation ranchers. I recommend seeking out mentors in the industry and building a relationship with your veterinarian. Seek, listen and use their advice for herd health. Those relationships are invaluable. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.”
Mark works sun up to sun down, building the property’s infrastructure. Tammy continues to recover from surgery and manages the day-to-day administrative duties until she can be working the land with Mark. They have their sights set on passing down the ranch to their daughters.“You always want the next generation to have this, and it is our dream to make that happen.”
Tammy has chronicled both her journey with breast cancer and ranching fearlessly on the 12MT Ranch Facebook page.”The parallels of the ranch and the cancer are certainly there. I didn’t worry as much about cancer because when you build a ranch from the ground up, you have a whole lot of things to think about and do.”
Tammy has an oncologist at Sletten Cancer Institute in Havre and has been very impressed with the level of care. She says one key to her recovery was communicating with all her providers through the online patient portal. “Access to rural healthcare can be challenging, but no matter your zip code, make your health a priority. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As much as mammograms are a pain in the rear for every woman, it’s the whole reason I am here.”
Tammy has chronicled both her journey with breast cancer and ranching fearlessly on the 12MT Ranch Facebook page.
-Tammy Copenhaver
REFLECTING ON MFU HISTORY
BY JUSTIN LOCH MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR
As we draw closer to the annual convention, I think now is an excellent time to reflect on Montana Farmers Union history and the importance of active member participation. Often, we get many members who join Montana Farmers Union, but they are not aware of what we do.
Montana Farmers Union is over 106 years old and still going strong with 12,000 members statewide. Montana Farmers Union is built on three tenets: cooperation, legislation, and education.
MFU’s earliest work focused on bringing producers together to form co-ops to address the need for fair markets, access to farm supply at a reasonable price, and help establish rural electric and telephone. Many of the Co-ops started by Montana Farmers Union still operate today and are supported by many producers and consumers, bringing economic prosperity to all.
Recently MFU, with the help of other investors, formed the Montana Premium Processing Cooperative designed to give producers access to a memberowned USDA certified processing facility. This idea came from the issue of lack of processing capacity within the state of Montana. MFU staff Matt Rains can provide more information on this cooperative and how to join.
Montana Farmers Union works tirelessly to advocate for the family farm. Policy originates at the county level, bringing it to the annual convention to be considered by the membership. This policy guides the organziation’s legislative efforts for the following year. MFU typically has two lobbyists, government relations staff, board members, and MFU members that work with legislators across both sides of the aisle to pass legislation that will benefit MFU members and supporters of family farm agriculture. MFU’s work doesn’t just stop at the state level. Through our national affiliation with National Farmers Union (NFU), MFU advocates for producers with office visits on Capitol Hill during the annual NFU D.C. Fly-In.
Education is the next pillar of the organization. Whether you are a producer, consumer, or youth, MFU’s education department provides current information to support the family farm. MFU offers several educational opportunities throughout the year, including online seminars, traveling workshop series, the Producer Conference, Women’s Conference, youth day camps, MFU youth summer camps, and trade shows. MFU also sponsors a variety of rural community and youth events.
As the landscape changes with agriculture and family farms, we sometimes find we are short on leaders to help keep our mission of fighting for family farms. MFU can help you become a leader at your community, state, or national level. Whatever capacity you want to lead, MFU is here to support you. We need leaders today so that our message can be carried out tomorrow and give our children the family farm to return to and keep going for generations to come.
In closing, I hope you will join us at our annual convention October 29-30 at the Heritage Inn in Great Falls. Please come and be an active part of our organization. Find out how you can not only help MFU but your fellow producers and supporters of agriculture.
MFU FOUNDATION AUCTION
The convention will feature a live/silent auction to benefit the Montana Farmers Union Foundation and educational programming. If you have an item(s) to donate please bring the item to the convention by 10 a.m. on Friday, October 29 along with a description of the item and a value. Please contact Violet Green at vgreen@montanafarmersunion.com with questions.
ONLINE CONVENTION ACCESS
Can’t make it to convention? No problem! The event will be livestreamed on Facebook and Zoom. Please visit montanafarmersunion. com for Zoom instructions and links.
EDUCATION RAFFLE
Enter a raffle to win a half a hog processed and packaged by Bear Paw Meats, a USDA inspected facility. Each participant gets two chances to WIN! Raffle tickets are $10. Winners will be announced at the convention,.MFU membership is not required to enter the raffle. The winner (s) do not need to be present to win!
Purchase tickets from a MFU youth member, at the state office or online at montanafarmersunion.com. All proceeds will go to to the MFU Foundation for educational programs and scholarships.
ANNUAL CONVENTION IS BACK...
...AND BETTER THAN EVER!
MICHELE PAYN CAUSE MATTERS CORP.
MIKE CALLICRATE RANCH FOODS DIRECT SARAH CALHOUN RED ANTS PANTS
WYLIE GUSTAFSON AND THE WILD WEST SHOW
ALSO MARIAH GLADSTONE FROM INDIGO KITCHEN AND KATE STEPHENS OF FARM TO FASHION. PLUS—LEARN ALL ABOUT THE MONTANA PREMIUM PROCESSING CO-OP AND HOW TO JOIN. NEW THIS YEAR: MAIL-IN VOTING FOR OFFICERS. SEE NEXT PAGE FOR DETAILS.
CONVENTIONANNUAL
OCTOBER 29–30, 2021
HERITAGE INN • GREAT FALLS
THE MONTANA FARMERS UNION ANNUAL CONVENTION IS WHERE POLICIES ARE CREATED AND DEBATED, AND IT’S ALSO WHERE MEMBERS GATHER TO RECONNECT, LEARN, AND KICK UP THEIR HEELS!
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! PLEASE VISIT MONTANAFARMERSUNION.COM TO REGISTER AND FOR MORE DETAILS.
Friday, October 29, 2021
7:30 am MFU Board Meeting 9:00 General Session: Welcome; MFU Business (MFU Audit & Beef Council Report) 10:00 -Break- Snacks and Refreshments! 10:15 Off-site Tour of Ag Processing Solutions Montana Farmers Union Insurance Meeting(Britain Rm) Noon Luncheon: Keynote Note Address: Stress Management &Resiliency in Agriculture; Michele Payn, Cause Matters 1:00 General Session: Candidate Speeches, bylaws & policy 2:40 Training the Next Generation of Farmers: Kathy Rothe, Missoula Agricultural Center 3:10 -BREAK- Snacks & refreshments 3:30 Building a Resilient Food System: Mike Callicrate, Ranch Foods Direct(Canadian/Britain Rm) 4:00 -MFU Policy- 6:00 Evening Reception sponsored by Farmers Union
Insurance Keynote Address: Cultivating a Community of Success:
The Story of the Red Ants Pants brand, Sarah Calhoun 7:00 Entertainment: Wylie and the Wild West Band
Saturday, October 30, 2021
7:30 am Breakfast- Dan Hildebrandt, President & CEO of Farmers Union Industries, Rob Larew, National Farmers Union 8:40 – 10:00 General Session: Credentials, Resolutions & Policy (Voting open 8:40-10:30) (Canadian/Britain Rm) 10:00 - BREAK- Snacks and refreshments. Please visit our
vendors!
10:30 Overview of the Montana Premium Processing Co-op; Matt Rains(Canadian/Britain Rm) 11:10 BREAKOUT SESSIONS: Please choose one: 1. Direct Marketing for Livestock; Michael Peter, Director of Food and Agriculture Development for Bearpaw Development(Canadian/Britain Rm) 2. Cooking with Mariah Gladstone( American Rm) Noon Youth Luncheon: Keynote: Launch of Farm to Fashion,
Kate Stephens; Dr. Sreekala Bajwa, MSU Department of
Agriculture (Mildred Stoltz Awards) 1:30 Resilience and Food Sovereignty; Mariah Gladstone of Indigikitchen(Canadian/Britain Rm) 2:00 BREAKOUT SESSION: Please choose one: 1. Soil Health Study, Cole Mannix & Linda Poole(Canadian/ Britain Rm) 2. National Farmers Union Organization Livestock and Grain Programs, Bruce Shultz( American Rm) 2:30 Cooperatives in Montana, Tracy McIntyre, Montana Cooperative Development Center(Canadian/Britain Rm) Farm Food Safety, Jan Tusick; Mission Mountain Food Enterprise Center(Canadian/Britain Rm) 3:20 - BREAK- Snacks and refreshments 3:35 Using the Ag Weather Tool Box, Dennis Hull, Agro Weather Media -The afternoon will feature one-on-one appointments: Curbside Consulting with Michael Peter. Please sign up at registration table. 4:00 Policy 5:00 Happy Hour 6:00 Members Banquet: -Centenntial Farm Family Presentation -MFU President Walter Schweitzer
CONVENTION DAY CAMP/CHILDCARE
MFU is offering childcare for the convention for ages 0-12. We will have games and educational activities for the kids! If you are interested in please contact Violet Green at 406.452.6406 or at vgreen@montanafarmersunion.com or sign in at registartion.
REGISTRATION FOR THE 106TH MONTANA FARMERS UNION CONVENTION HERITAGE INN - GREAT FALLS OCTOBER 29-30, 2021
NAME_____________________________________________ CHECK IF APPLICABLE: SPOUSE___________________________________________ MEMBER ________
YOUTH (NAMES & AGES): VISITOR ________
REGISTRATION FEE INCLUDES ALL MEALS ON PROGRAM, ALL BREAKS, THE MFU INSURANCE RECEPTION AND ENTERTAINMENT.
COST X #REGISTERING = TOTAL
PER ADULT
$85.00 X ___________ __________ PER YOUTH (12 YRS & UNDER) $45.00 X ___________ + __________ TOTAL REGISTRATION __________ DAILY REGISTRATION WILL BE $20.00.MEAL TICKETS SOLD SEPARATELY.
MAIL THIS FORM IN WITH YOUR PAYMENT TO THE MFU OFFICE, PO BOX 2447, GREAT FALLS MT 59403 OR REGISTER ONLINE AT MONTANAFARMERSUNION.COM. GROUP RATES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE HOLIDAY INN GREAT FALLS. CONTACT THE HOTEL TO MAKE A RESERVATION.
A MESSAGE FROM SENATOR JON TESTER
N BILLINGS, TESTER HIGHLIGHTS BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION ENSURING ONLY AMERICAN BEEF IS LABELED “PRODUCT OF THE USA”
Senator’s legislation brings back Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (MCOOL)
As a part of his continued effort to level the playing field for Montana’s beef producers, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today unveiled his bipartisan American Beef Labeling Act in Billings with community leaders and ranchers from Yellowstone County.
Tester was joined by Operations Director of R-CALF USA Candace Bullard, Columbus Rancher and Member of the United States Cattlemen’s Association Leo McDonnell, and Corine Thatcher Day of the of the Yellowstone Valley Citizen Council’s Community Food Campaign.
“Montana producers raise the best beef in the world, and it’s time that folks know for certain when they’re buying American beef at the supermarket,” said Tester. “Beef raised in the U-S-A faces the strictest standards to ensure the highest quality of meat. My bipartisan legislation will level the playing field for Montana’s family farmers and ranchers and guarantee American families the choice of the highest quality beef by making sure they know where their food is coming from.”
The American Beef Labeling Act is also sponsored by Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.). Tester has fought to reinstate MCOOL since its 2015 repeal, and in 2020 introduced a bipartisan resolution urging the U.S. to enter into necessary trade negotiations to allow the United States to re-implement it in a manner that is compliant with WTO regulations.
As the only working farmer in the U.S. Senate, Tester has long been an advocate for increased market transparency and more competitive practices for Montana producers. He recently introduced his bipartisan Meatpacking Special Investigator Act which will create a new dedicated office within the Department of Agriculture’s Packers and Stockyards Division, addressing anticompetitive practices in the meat and poultry industries. He also recently introduced his bipartisan Livestock Disaster Relief Act with Senator Hoeven (R-N.D.) to ensure that Montana’s ranchers receive necessary relief to recover from future disasters. In response to this year’s extreme weather he has also secured USDA relief for Montana producers through the authorization of haying and grazing on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres, LFP funding, and ELAP funding.
A MESSAGE FROM SENATOR STEVE DAINES
As conflicts with grizzly bears continue to rise, Montana farmers and ranchers must remain vigilant. Sadly, we’ve already seen several fatal attacks on hikers and substantial loss of livestock by grizzlies. The mismanagement of grizzly bear populations are now threatening Montana ranchers’ livelihoods, our agriculture economy and public safety, which is one of the many reasons I’m working to return grizzly bear management back to the Montana.
Under the Endangered Species Act, once an endangered or threatened species has recovered, the Fish and Wildlife Service is supposed to delist it and return management to the state. Earlier this year the Fish and Wildlife Service determined once again what all of us in Montana already know, the grizzly bear has recovered in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) and the North Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE). I am proud to have introduced legislation that would re-issue the original rule that delisted the grizzly bear in the GYE. At a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources hearing, I urged Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to listen to the science of her own agency officials and delist the grizzly bear in both Montana populations, and return management back to the state for the sake our communities, ranchers, other wildlife and the bear itself. I also led a letter with my colleagues in Idaho and Wyoming urging the Department of the Interior to explain why they have yet to move forward on this important issue.
Grizzly bears are important to our Montana way of life, but when they are not managed correctly they endanger our communities and our livestock. No one cares more about Montana grizzlies than Montanans, and it’s time to let our great state manage the bear once again. As your voice in the United States Senate, I will continue to fight for commonsense legislation that follows the best available science and reduces the threat of grizzly bear conflicts for our farmers and ranchers.
Since 1915
