Issuu

Aug. 20 - Sept. 2, 2026 Volume 17 // Issue 18

JACK CREEK PRESERVE CELEBRATES 20 YEARS MAVERICK MOUNTAIN DAMAGED IN SAND CREEK FIRE STAYING SAFE IN SMOKY AIR

NEW STUDY SHARES INSIGHT ON BIG SKY CHILDCARE BIG SKY FIREFIGHTERS ASSIST IN WASHINGTON WILDFIRES LONE PEAK FILM FEST SHARES LINEUP

OPENING SHOT

August 20 - September 2, 2026 Volume 17 // Issue 18 Owned and published in Big Sky, Montana

PUBLISHER Eric Ladd | eric@theoutlawpartners.com

EDITORIAL VP MEDIA Mira Brody | mira@theoutlawpartners.com

Outlaw Partners' VP of Media Mira Brody stands atop Washington's Pompey Peak in the southern Cascades during the Bigfoot 200, a days-long endurance run adjacent to Mount Saint Helens and Mount Adams. Brody completed the grueling course, which climbs more than 45,000 feet in elevation, in three and a half days, and credits southwest Montana's trails and running community for her ample training. PHOTO BY JACQUELINE BRENNAN

TABLE OF CONTENTS

STAFF WRITER Jen Clancey | jen@theoutlawpartners.com LOCAL JOURNALIST Leslie Kilgore | leslie@theoutlawpartners.com DIGITAL MEDIA LEAD Fischer Genau | fischer@theoutlawpartners.com STAFF WRITER Carli Johnson | carli@theoutlawpartners.com EDITORIAL INTERN Annie O'Neill | annie@theoutlawpartners.com

CREATIVE GRAPHIC DESIGNER Luke Breum | luke@theoutlawpartners.com

SALES AND OPERATIONS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Josh Timon | josh@theoutlawpartners.com CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Megan Paulson | megan@theoutlawpartners.com VP DESIGN & PRODUCTION Hiller Higman | hiller@theoutlawpartners.com DIRECTOR OF RELATIONSHIPS Ersin Ozer | ersin@theoutlawpartners.com MARKETING MANAGER Tucker Harris | tucker@theoutlawpartners.com CONTENT MARKETING DIRECTOR Taylor Owens | taylor.owens@theoutlawpartners.com

4 BRIEFS 10 6 OBITUARY 8 LOCAL 16 REGIONAL 14 23 OP NEWS 25 ENVIRONMENT 31 A&E 20 37 BUSINESS 41 HEALTH 43 FUN 22

JACK CREEK PRESERVE CELEBRATES 20 YEARS On Aug. 11, the Jack Creek Preserve celebrated 20 years and the life of one of its founders, John Fossel, who passed away this summer. Since its start, the preserve has protected land, introduced young people to the outdoors and created conservation learning opportunities. The organization plans to stay the course and expand its outreach to more young people.

ON THE COVER:

BIG SKY FIREFIGHTERS ASSIST IN WASHINGTON WILDFIRES After witnessing the devastation of Spokane's fires firsthand, Big Sky Fire Department’s Wildland Fire Division Chief Jon Trapp was reminded that firefighters can’t do it alone. This Wildfire Wire explores what makes homes vulnerable to wildfire, why embers are such a threat, and how Big Sky residents can prepare.

LONE PEAK FILM FEST SHARES LINEUP The Lone Peak Film Festival announced this year’s slate of films, a lineup that features Montana-based stories, Indigenous films and international features. An assortment of 20 featurelength stories and short films will screen over the weekend of Sept. 17-20 at The Waypoint in Big Sky for the festival’s second year.

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT Sara Sipe | sara@theoutlawpartners.com BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT LEAD Patrick Mahoney | patrick@theoutlawpartners.com ACCOUNT COORDINATOR Ellie Boeschenstein | ellie@theoutlawpartners.com

CONTRIBUTORS Benjamin Alva Polley, Jacqueline Brennan, Jack Buban, Abby Butler, Jon Trapp, George Ortiz

As the busy summer season begins to quiet down, anglers are taking advantage of the quiet waters in Yellowstone National Park. Digital Media Lead Fischer Genau took this photo of two fishermen in the park on Tuesday, Aug. 18. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks lifted hootowl restrictions on some waterways in western and southwestern Montana on Aug. 18. Check FWP’s website for more information. PHOTO BY FISCHER GENAU

EDITORIAL POLICIES

SCAN FOR TOWN CRIER NEWSLETTER. DAILY NEWS, STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

NEW STUDY SHARES INSIGHT ON BIG SKY CHILDCARE A new market analysis, presented at a recent Big Sky Resort Area District resort tax board meeting, confirms what many parents in town already suspected: childcare in Big Sky costs far more than families can comfortably afford, and the providers trying to close that gap are stretched about as thin as they can go. MAVERICK MOUNTAIN DAMAGED IN SAND CREEK FIRE The Sand Creek Fire caused significant damage at Maverick Mountain after moving through the resort and surrounding Grasshopper Valley. Owner and operator Erik Borge told EBS on Friday, Aug. 14, that all structures in the base area, snowcats and other equipment were spared. STAYING SAFE IN SMOKY AIR The Big Sky Rotary Club scheduled an Aug. 4 DIY air cleaner workshop at the right time. Three days after the club brought their air cleaner count to 10, the state issued an air quality alert for Gallatin and neighboring counties. By the end of the weekend, the Rotary Club had distributed all of the cleaners.

EDITORIAL POLICY

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Outlaw Partners, LLC is the sole owner of Explore Big Sky. EBS reserves the right to edit all submitted material. Printed material reflects the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the opinion of Outlaw Partners or its editors. EBS will not publish anything discriminatory or in bad taste.

Letters to the editor allow EBS readers to express views and share how they would like to effect change. These are not Thank You notes. Letters should be 250 words or less, respectful, ethical, accurate, and proofread for grammar and content. We reserve the right to edit letters and will not publish individual grievances about specific businesses or letters that are abusive, malicious or potentially libelous. Include: full name, address, phone number and title. Submit to media@outlaw.partners.

EBS welcomes obituaries written by family members or from funeral homes. To place an obituary, please submit 500 words or less to media@theoutlawpartners.com.

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ADVERTISING DEADLINE For the September 3rd issue: August 26th, 2026 CORRECTIONS Please report errors to media@outlaw.partners. OUTLAW PARTNERS & EXPLORE BIG SKY P.O. Box 160250, Big Sky, MT 59716 (406) 995-2055 • media@theoutlawpartners.com ©2026 Explore Big Sky unauthorized reproduction prohibited

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Explore Big Sky

4 August 20 - September 2, 2026

BRIEFS

NEWS IN BRIEF

STOCKMAN BANK DONATES TO BEAVERHEAD COUNTY FIRE RELIEF

FWP WARNS OF BAD BERRY CROP, BEAR CONFLICTS

EBS STAFF

Stockman Bank has pledged a $20,000 challenge match to the United Way of Beaverhead County’s Fire Relief Fund, which supports those affected by the Sand Creek and Bobcat Lakes fires. The bank will match donations up to $20,000, effectively doubling community contributions to the fund.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is calling this year one of the worst on record for natural food failures as bears move into communities to forage for food.

“As a community bank, we believe it is our responsibility to stand alongside our neighbors during times of need,” said Shane Puyear, branch manager of Stockman Bank Dillon in an Aug. 13 press release. Donors can have their gifts matched by calling United Way at (406) 6834269, mailing a donation to P.O. Box 263, Dillon, MT 59725, or visiting any Stockman Bank location in Montana. Donors should note that the gift is for the Fire Relief Fund.

AGENCIES CONTAIN FIRE THAT RESULTED IN EVACUATION WARNINGS NEAR ENNIS EBS STAFF On Aug. 17, the Madison County Sheriff ’s Office issued evacuation warnings to residents south of Ennis due to a wildfire start. Evacuation zones included the Dry Creek Trail, Deerfoot Trail, Bobcat Trail and Pine Cone areas of the Shining Mountains. As of noon Aug. 18, the warning had been lifted for all areas after firefighters contained the blaze. Madison Valley Rural Fire Department responded to the reported wildfire at Dry Creek Trail Aug. 17. When they arrived, they began suppression efforts, protected nearby residences and called for assistance from county entities, Madison Valley EMS, Virginia City Fire Department, Harrison Fire Department, Big Sky Fire Department, U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Natural Resource Conservation. “Firefighters worked throughout the evening to contain the fire, establish access, protect nearby properties, and extinguish remaining hot spots,” an Aug.18 MVRFD Facebook post stated. “Several residences in the area were evacuated as a precaution while crews worked to bring the fire under control.” No injuries were reported and after crews remained in the area into the night, the fire was successfully contained. About 12.5 acres burned. “MVRFD would like to thank all of the agencies, firefighters, first responders, landowners, and community members who assisted during the incident. The cooperation between everyone involved played an important role in bringing the fire under control safely,” the post stated.

A July 29 FWP press release shared news about berry crops across the state, including long-time FWP bear conflict specialist Jamie Jonkel’s impression of the season. “This year is panning out to be one of the worst natural food failure years on record,” Jonkel stated in the release. “Our regional bear team is working around the clock, and we are asking the public to be patient and to please be diligent with containing all attractants.” The lack of crop is bringing bears closer to communities and homes. This means homeowners need to be vigilant about bear attractants around the residence. Items like garbage cans, bird feeders and pet food are typical targets for bears, FWP explained. Chicken coops and small livestock are also at risk for bear conflict, and people can learn how to secure many attractants on the FWP website. “If you have backyard livestock like chickens or goats, it is critical that you have them secured with hot-ground/multi-wire electric fence and FWP can help if you have questions,” Jonkel stated. Jonkel works in the Missoula region, where FWP staff have responded to 250 black bear-related incidents in two months. “The reality is that securing attractants is both a personal responsibility and a neighborhood and community obligation. If only one person in a neighborhood ignores unsecured attractants, that can lead to problems for everyone,” the FWP release stated. What to do about attractants, bear conflicts • • • • • • •

People dealing with bear concerns should reach out to FWP as soon as they can, as FWP staff can assist in securing attractants and assessing properties. Follow these tips from FWP to reduce bear conflicts: Store garbage and recycling in bear-resistant containers and indoors Keep pet and livestock food indoors and remove bird feeders Clean barbeque grills after use Pick your backyard fruit immediately when ripe and consider electric fencing around fruit trees, gardens and compost piles Secure vulnerable backyard livestock like chickens, goats and sheep with an electric fence

BIG SKY

Explore Big Sky

6 August 20 - September 2, 2026

OBITUARY

KATHY BURGESS SCHAUER SEPTEMBER 28, 1951—AUGUST 4, 2026 Kathy Burgess Schauer, whose life was marked by grace, warmth, and a distinct personal flair, sadly passed away on August 4, 2026 at the age of 74. Born in Charleston, WV, she was the daughter of the late Robert Burgess and Shirley Jean Bennett. Throughout her life, Kathy called Charleston, West Virginia; Chester County, Pennsylvania; and Big Sky, Montana home. Kathy was well known for her signature Southern accent, her Starbucks tea always in hand and her unmistakable fun-loving spirit. She built a successful career on Wall Street trading mortgage loans with First Boston and Credit Suisse before finishing her career as President of Univest Mortgage, an achievement that reflected her determination, intelligence and unwavering work ethic. Beyond her professional success, Kathy was

deeply committed to her community and generous with her time, always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. Whether through her career, her friendships, or her community involvement, she left a lasting impression on the many lives she touched. Kathy had a true talent for designing homes, bringing beauty and comfort to every space she touched. She took special joy in shaping homes, transforming them into warm, inviting places that reflected her keen eye and personal style. Holidays and family gatherings were among Kathy's greatest pleasures. She enjoyed curating these moments, ensuring that loved ones felt the beauty and comfort that she so deliberately fostered. Her love for travel took her on many memorable vacations, particularly to Amelia Island, Florida, and Steamboat, Colorado—places she held dear.

Kathy is survived by her son, Jon Schauer, and his wife, Bryn Schauer; her daughter, Meghan; her sisters, Beverly Sheehy and Dara Ray; and her cherished granddaughter, Noa Schauer. She also leaves behind many loving nieces and nephews who will miss her dearly. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert Burgess and Shirley Jean Bennett, and her brother and sister, Scott and Karen Burgess. A visitation in honor of Kathy was held at the United Methodist Church of West Chester, located at 129 S. High Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, on Friday, August 14, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., followed by a funeral service at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Kathy's honor to the American Cancer Society.

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Explore Big Sky

8 August 20 - September 2, 2026

LOCAL

NEW MEDICAID REQUIREMENTS HIT HOME IN GALLATIN COUNTY, BIG SKY

The Big Sky Community Food Bank served 1,941 customers between July 2025 through June 2026. PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY

BY JEN CLANCEY Six months ahead of the deadline, Montana adopted new federal rules about the Medicaid expansion program on July 1. The result could lead to 31,000 Montanans losing Medicaid coverage, according to an analysis by Montana Healthcare Foundation. The Medicaid expansion program was adopted by Montana to cover individuals earning low incomes up to 133% of the federal poverty level. After being the second state to adhere to the requirements in the July 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill, Montanans on the expansion program are now required to document and submit volunteer, education and work hours, and will eventually need to redetermine their coverage every six months. Bozeman’s Human Resource Development Council worries that the complicated paperwork associated with the change will further strain struggling customers, potentially leading to lost coverage. “Housing is vulnerable. All your things are vulnerable, and you get that last lifeline cut off, it can be really scary,” Heather Grenier, HRDC CEO said. Sarah Gaither, the executive director of the Big Sky Community Food Bank, noted Medicaid cases are so complex that she can only help five people file at a time.

“I can’t stress enough how difficult and timeconsuming the actual paperwork is,” Gaither said.

mail regularly, meeting filing deadlines and building a record of the required hours.

An insurance coverage organization called Cover Montana used to visit the BSCFB to assist in Medicaid applications, but in 2025, they lost all but two of their staff to federal funding cuts. Now HRDC is trying to fill the gaps through partnerships with other organizations.

HRDC is organizing with partners to help people stay up to date on their paperwork. Some of that includes planning how an individual without a P.O. Box can get mail about their Medicaid status, and educating people on the best ways to get in touch with the Montana Office of Public Assistance for questions and concerns—often the most effective way is to email. To solve for physical mail, the BSCFB has been accepting mail on behalf of some of their customers.

“The challenge and the increasing need for that family, if they lose those benefits, significantly outweighs the work that we could do on the prevention side,” Grenier said. To remain on Medicaid expansion, customers need to record 80 hours of allowable volunteer work or education each month and prove it’s been done. This can be done by submitting signed volunteer logs, pay stubs or official letters from a school. The redetermination process, which decides whether a person stays covered, will start running on a six-month cycle beginning in 2027. Hope Finch, a community worker for Big Sky’s Wellness In Action, described how clients could be impacted by Medicaid cuts and new regulations. “It’s kind of, unfortunately, a perfect storm of some really challenging dynamics,” Finch said. The new rules regarding Medicaid expansion present hurdles for people without homes, or who live in more rural places. Montanans on the program need to make sure they’re checking their

Both Grenier and Gaither are concerned about the mental health of their customers due to the amount of collaborative work it will take to stay on Medicaid. “They don’t want to feel … that they’re a burden,” Grenier said. “It just reinforces a really negative mindset, that they haven’t earned this benefit or they don’t have a right to these things.” Gaither described what she has seen as “despair.” The Montana Legislature could address some of the problems residents on Medicaid face when it convenes in 2027. For now, organizations are looking for ways to support people adjusting to federal-state healthcare changes.

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L O CA L

10 August 20 - September 2, 2026

Explore Big Sky

LOOKING BACK, MOVING FORWARD

CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF ONE OF ITS FOUNDERS, JACK CREEK PRESERVE HONORS ITS PAST AND LOOKS TOWARD THE FUTURE. BY LESLIE KILGORE For more than two decades, Jack Creek Preserve has protected land, introduced young people to the outdoors and created opportunities for people to learn about conservation. This summer, those efforts took on a broader meaning as the organization’s Night at the Preserve reflected on the past, present and future to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary. Held Aug. 11 at the preserve’s Outdoor Education Center, the evening brought together supporters of the 4,500-acre preserve to consider how far Jack Creek has come, the conservation work happening today and what it will take to protect the land for generations to come. The evening also offered an opportunity to remember Jon Fossel, who, alongside Dottie Fossel, was instrumental in creating the preserve and establishing its mission. With Jon’s recent passing, the gathering became an especially meaningful reflection on the work he helped begin and the vision that continues through his family, the preserve’s board and staff, and the community it serves.

sit between two sections of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness, creating an important connection for wildlife habitat in a landscape that has changed considerably since the family first arrived. Fossel said hunting and fishing were part of what attracted the family to the area, but they wanted those activities to happen responsibly. “We both liked to hunt, but we didn’t want to be surrounded by hundreds of cars as we had seen,” she said. “Hunting and fishing were a priority too, but in a managed way.” That balance became central to Jack Creek’s identity: protect the land while allowing people to experience it, learn from it and develop a deeper understanding of conservation. The preserve’s first programming focused on children, eventually expanding into school visits, lectures and adult programming. More than 20 years later, camps remain an important part of the organization’s work. For Fossel, that history is inseparable from the reason her family protected the land. “Conservation education is very important to keep the land for future generations,” she said.

The past

The present

Jack Creek Preserve began with a family looking for a place to spend time outdoors.

Today, Jack Creek Preserve operates as both a protected landscape and an outdoor classroom. Abi King, executive director of the Jack Creek Preserve Foundation, said Jon’s vision centered on protecting the property for wildlife and future generations while using it to teach people about conservation.

The Fossels came to Montana from the East Coast and initially wanted a Western property where their family could recreate. They looked at land in Colorado, Wyoming and Montana before finding the property that would eventually become Jack Creek Preserve. But the more time they spent there, the more they realized the land was too important to keep only for themselves. “We had come from the east, and at that time we hadn’t really been out west very much,” Fossel said. “We wanted a family place to recreate. But the more we hiked on the property, the more we found that the wildlife and the waterways and the woodlands, the meadows, the herds of elk, it was too special to just keep for ourselves, and we wanted to be able to share it for conservation and education.” The Fossels ultimately established the preserve as a nonprofit and placed the property under conservation protection. Today, its 4,500 acres

“I think protecting the land for wildlife and future generations, having this land for conservation education and as a classroom to teach the role that hunting plays, those would continue to be Jon’s main priorities, and that will always be our goal,” King said. That mission is reflected in the preserve’s programming, which gives children hands-on opportunities to learn about the outdoors rather than simply hearing about conservation in a classroom. The preserve also continues to actively manage and restore the land, which includes aspen and sagebrush restoration as well as ongoing riparian work along Jack Creek. A 2023 riparian restoration project was particularly meaningful to Jon. The project included beaver

John Fossel. PHOTO COURTESY OF JACK CREEK PRESERVE dam analogs and habitat structures and was largely funded by him. King said Jon’s wishes were for his ashes to be spread at Jack Creek in the area where that restoration project took place. “Jack Creek was just a special place on the preserve for him,” King said. “The whole 4,500 acres was special for him, but I think that particular place, and then the whole restoration project that we did, and that we hope to do more of, that was his dream.” Fossel said Jon also left a “significant amount of money” to continue restoration work on the stream. That work reflects a broader reality of conservation: protecting land is not a one-time accomplishment. It requires ongoing stewardship. The preserve’s current priorities also include keeping programming affordable, maintaining and improving its facilities, building a durable financial foundation and continuing active restoration and land management. “It was inspiring to see so many people come together in support of Jack Creek Preserve and this remarkable place,” said Chad Klinkenborg, Conservation Director for the Montana Land Reliance and also presented at the preserve’s annual event. “Southwest Montana is facing intense development pressure, making the protection of sensitive places like the Jack Creek watershed more important now than ever.” “We are blessed with an abundance of public lands here in Montana, but private lands provide the connective tissue between them,” Klinkenberg explained. “Maintining wildlife corridors, supporting working landscapes and preserving the open spaces that define Montana. The turnout at Jack Creek was a great reminder of just how many people care deeply about keeping these landscapes intact for future generations.” Klinkenborg’s presentation connected the organization’s current work to the evening’s larger theme, emphasizing the role that privately protected land can play in creating wildlife corridors and connecting larger areas of public land. Jack Creek’s location between two sections of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness makes that connection especially significant.

Jack Creek Preserve holds hiking and camping trips. PHOTO COURTESY OF JACK CREEK PRESERVE

King said the Fossels’ foresight in protecting the property is even more apparent as development has increased around it.

L O CA L

11 August 20 - September 2, 2026 “For both Jon and Dottie to have had the foresight to set that particular land aside that linked the two sections of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness, it’s just huge. Especially after not knowing how much development would happen around us, however many years later,” King said. The preserve’s present work also includes carrying forward Jon’s interest in making Jack Creek accessible to young people from urban areas, in Montana and beyond, who might never otherwise have the opportunity to experience the Rocky Mountain outdoors. Looking ahead The third part of the evening’s theme, the future, both King and Fossel said, may be the most important to Jack Creek. The preserve was created to last beyond the people who established it, and the current work focuses on ensuring that the land and its educational mission continue well into the future. That includes continuing Jon’s interest in reaching children from different backgrounds and demographics. King said one of Jon’s particular goals was to bring children from outside the region, potentially from major urban areas, to Jack Creek for summer programming. “He really wanted to reach out-of-state children for some of our programming, and bring in kids that would never normally have the opportunity to come to our summer camps,” King said. The preserve has previously hosted groups from

outside Montana, including a group from Ohio. Fossel recalled the impact the experience had on those students. “Some of the young people there shared that the experience changed their lives,” she said. “They had no idea what was out here and what was available.” The preserve hopes to create more of those experiences, but doing so requires funding for travel, scholarships and programming. “Our vision goes beyond what we’re doing now, because we would like to have more urban kids come out for camp,” Fossel said. “So if we can raise more funds, then we have more opportunity to help more people.” For King, that goal is one of the most important pieces of Jon’s legacy. She said the preserve’s bylaws were established by Jon, Dottie and the original board. Several members of the family remain on the board, creating a direct connection between the preserve’s beginnings and its future.

Explore Big Sky “One of our philosophies has always been, everybody should do something more for the community they live in than just their job or school or families,” she said. “I don’t care what. Just something else.” That philosophy was reflected in the Fossels’ approach to Jack Creek—not only protecting the land, but volunteering, raising money, building relationships and personally engaging with the children and adults who come to experience it. Now, with Jon’s passing, King said the most meaningful way to honor him is to keep that work moving forward. “I appreciate the privilege of serving as the executive director for Jack Creek Preserve Foundation and to be tasked with implementing Jon and Dottie’s vision,” King said. “I feel very lucky to be in this role.” As Jack Creek looks toward the next 250 years, Jon’s legacy is not simply the land he helped protect. It is the generations of people who will experience it, learn from it and become its future stewards.

Jon’s influence also continues through the land itself. His commitment to stream restoration, conservation education and hands-on outdoor experiences remains part of the work the preserve plans to carry forward.

The work Jon and Dottie Fossel began continues on the 4,500 acres of Jack Creek Preserve, in the classrooms and camps, along the restored waterways and in the young people who leave the preserve with a deeper connection to the outdoors.

For Dottie, the vision has always extended beyond simply protecting land. She said both she and Jon believed everyone should contribute something to the communities where they live.

For Jon, the future of conservation was always about making sure there was something left to care about. At Jack Creek, that future is already underway.

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Monthly Member Meetup | Gravity Haus & Backcountry Safaris August 27th | 4 P.M - 6 P.M | Gravity Haus Big Sky Connect with fellow business professionals at this month's casual networking event, hosted by Gravity Haus Big Sky. Enjoy light refreshments, great conversation, and the opportunity to build relationships within Big Sky's business community. Bring your bike and join us after the meet-up for a Mountain 2 Meadow group ride! More information

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525 Fourpoint Road MLS # 406119 | 0.39 +/- ACRES | $650,000

S PAN I S H PEAK S M OU NTAI N CLU B

M OU NTAI N VI LLAG E

Wheatgrass Meadows 2 HOMESITES | 9.48-19.07 +/- ACRES | FROM: $3,950,000

45 Turkey Leg Road #1049 MLS # 411328 | 1 BED + 1 BATH | 688 +/- SQ. FT. | $605,000

MOONLIGHT BASIN

` M EAD OW VI LLAG E

` S PAN I S H PEAK S M OU NTAI N CLU B

44 Gray Owl Lane MLS # 413676 | 3 BED + 3.5 BATH | 3,048 +/- SQ. FT. | $3,300,000

406 Outlook Trail #33 MLS # 413671 | 5 BED + 5 BATH | 4,210 +/- SQ. FT. | $5,950,000

Mia Lennon Broker mia@bigsky.com 406.641.0051

Derek Lennon Sales Associate derek@bigsky.com 406.641.0835

` M OU NTAI N VI LLAG E 19 White Grass MLS # 408632 | 5 BED + 5.5 BATH | 4,808 +/- SQ. FT. | $6,400,000

` M EAD OW VI LLAG E

View all my listings at bigskyrealestate.com/team/mia-lennon/

3560 Sprucewood Drive MLS # 410593 | 3 BED + 3 BATH | 3,563 +/- SQ. FT. | $2,697,000

` S PAN I S H PEAK S M OU NTAI N CLU B

` B LACK B U LL COTTAG E S I N B OZ E MAN

824 Settlement Trail #11-A MLS # 410589 | 3 BED + 3 BATH | 2,068 +/- SQ. FT. | $2,200,000 1/4 SHARE

43B Highnoon Way MLS # 412176 | 1 BED + 1 BATH | 793 +/- SQ. FT. | $435,000

` N OW PE N D I N G

` M EAD OW VI LLAG E

M OU NTAI N VI LLAG E

21 Spotted Fawn MLS # 412341 | 3 BED + 3 BATH | 2,327 +/- SQ. FT. | $1,197,000

13 Heavy Runner Road #1703 MLS # 407770 | 1 BED + 1 BATH | 803 +/- SQ. FT. | $669,500

OR DEPICTED HEREIN. THIS MATERIAL SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL IN ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE PRIOR REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED OR WHERE SUCH AN OFFER WOULD BE PROHIBITED, AND THIS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION IF YOU ARE WORKING WITH ANOTHER REAL ESTATE AGENT. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL, TAX, ACCOUNTING, OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. SPANISH PEAKS MOUNTAIN CLUB

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ONE&ONLY MOONLIGHT BASIN

14 August 20 - September 2, 2026

L O CA L

Explore Big Sky

WHAT A NEW REPORT REVEALS ABOUT BIG SKY’S CHILDCARE CRUNCH BY ANNIE O’NEILL BIG SKY—A new market analysis, presented at a recent Big Sky Resort Area District board meeting, confirms what many parents in town already suspected: childcare in Big Sky costs far more than families can comfortably afford, and the providers trying to close that gap are stretched about as thin as they can go. The Big Sky Child Care Market Analysis: Costs, Capacity, and Workforce Impacts, prepared by the Northern Rocky Mountain Economic Development District and released in June 2026, updates a 2023 study with new survey data, provider information and cost modeling. It draws on 426 household responses to a 2026 regional survey, along with Census Bureau data, state licensing records and local provider operations. To understand what that means on the ground, Explore Big Sky spoke with Mariel Butan, the executive director at Morningstar Learning Center, one of the community’s longest-running child care providers. Fewer residents, more jobs Since the 2023 report, Big Sky’s resident population has declined and gotten older, even as the number of jobs in town has grown by 88%. Nearly 23% of people employed in Big Sky actually live here, and the report says childcare demand can no longer be treated as just a local problem: providers are serving a workforce commuting in from Bozeman, the Gallatin Canyon and beyond. Morningstar was built around an assumption of a growing local population. “That was the idea,” Butan said. “And then our population kind of stopped growing and started shrinking in the last couple of years.” What care actually costs The regional median out-of-pocket cost for childcare is $1,350 a month, nearly double the monthly benchmark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services considers affordable. The strain shows up in the workforce data: 35% of households with children say care issues have directly affected someone’s ability to work, 22% report a parent temporarily leaving a job over care gaps and 63% of non-working caregivers say they’d return to work immediately if care were available. On average, an affected household loses about $7,500 a year in labor value. Morningstar’s own numbers tell a more hopeful, albeit more complicated version of that story. Its need-based tuition assistance program, TAP, has run for five years, capping what families pay at 7% to 10% of gross household income. Last academic year, families paid an average of just $863 a month, well under the regional median. That balance shifted last year when Gallatin River Child Care opened, backed by a subsidy from Lone Mountain Land Company that caps tuition at or under $1,350 a month for every family, regardless of income. For higher earners, that flat rate often beats Morningstar’s sliding scale. “That theory of families who can pay more paying more has kind of backfired,” Butan said, “because they don’t enroll at Morningstar anymore.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF MORNINGSTAR LEARNING CENTER The share of Morningstar families qualifying for assistance jumped to 85%, and the center lowered its own tuition to stay realistic for the community.

both,” Butan said. “Families can’t afford to pay more. Teachers can’t afford to get paid less. So that gap has to get filled somehow.”

Capacity isn’t the constraint, sustainability is

Where the report goes from here

Licensed childcare capacity has actually expanded in Big Sky since 2023, and more providers have entered the market. The report argues the real constraint is provider sustainability: staffing shortages, operational hurdles like housing and regulation and waitlists that persist even when licensed slots sit empty.

Butan has testified in Helena during past legislative sessions in support of bills aimed at strengthening childcare funding across Montana, not just in Big Sky. She also helped convene a local group of educators and providers who meet regularly to coordinate on gaps in the system. Morningstar collects testimonials from families each year as part of its tuition assistance applications, which the center also uses in grant reporting.

Morningstar hasn’t had a waitlist in over a year and now has more capacity than demand. What’s harder to solve are structural issues like sick-child policies and nontraditional hours that simply aren’t financially viable in a town this small. “It’s like we just can’t afford to provide services if we don’t have a critical mass of people enrolled in them,” Butan said. “That’s a huge money loser in a system that’s already notorious for being a money loser.” The true cost of running a licensed program, personnel, facilities, administration, materials, reserves, routinely outpaces what tuition, subsidies and grants can cover. Many Morningstar teachers still work second jobs to close that gap. “For every person who says teachers are heroes, there’s someone else who asks why our costs are so high, and frequently it’s the same person saying

“We simply couldn’t afford to live and work here if one of us had to stop working to cover childcare,” one family wrote. Another said tuition assistance had been “essential for our family, allowing us to live and work in Big Sky,” and that without it, they would have faced decisions that could have limited the care and opportunities available to their kids. “There are a lot of people who tell us straight up that without Morningstar, without tuition assistance, they would have to leave their job, which is synonymous with having to leave Big Sky,” Butan said. Butan described childcare funding as a cycle that can move in either direction depending on investment. “It’s a broken financial model,” she said. “But if you just invest in it, you can turn this vicious cycle into a virtuous one.”

15 August 20 - September 2, 2026

L O CA L

Explore Big Sky

AI CAMERAS GIVES BIG SKY FIRE A SHARPER EYE THIS FIRE SEASON BY ANNIE O’NEILL Big Sky Fire Department now has three AIpowered wildfire detection cameras watching over the area, and officials say the addition gives crews a meaningful edge as fire season continues. The department's panel cameras sit on Lone Mountain, Pioneer Mountain and, as of this year, Cinnamon Mountain. Interim Fire Chief Jeff Bolton said that while one AI-powered camera can point fire crews in the general direction of a fire, three can pinpoint its location. "Now we can triangulate that specific location, and we can plug it into our GPS and have, within several feet, an idea of where it's at," Bolton said during last week’s Big Sky Resort Area District meeting. That precision matters in the canyon where minutes determine whether a fire stays small or spreads. Bolton said the expanded system has already helped crews catch at least one fire early in recent weeks. Two of the three units were funded by BSRAD, according to Bolton. Getting the Cinnamon camera online wasn't easy. The remote site made power a persistent problem, and the camera went down within 48 hours of installation. Because the location also hosts radio infrastructure used countywide and by the

Fire danger sign overlooking Lone Peak. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY U.S. Forest Service, the outage briefly disrupted canyon communications. Gallatin County and the Yellowstone Club flew in batteries by helicopter, and Big Sky Fire's own fuel crew helped haul equipment to get it back online. The department expects to keep refining the site's solar and battery setup through the winter.

The technology isn't foolproof. Cameras can mistake a large dust plume for smoke, and firefighters still have to make the final call. But Bolton said the payoff is worth it. "It is super impactful for us," Bolton said, thanking BSRAD for funding the camera program.

In Montana, some things still matter—a handshake, keeping your word, caring for your neighbors, and planning for the future. The strongest things aren't built overnight. Whether it's a family ranch, a small business, or simply a life well lived, the things that matter most are built with patience, commitment, and care. At Stone Leaf Financial, we're honored to be part of those conversations. Since the 1980s, we've had the privilege of walking alongside families, business owners, and retirees through life's opportunities, challenges, and transitions helping instill confidence and support along the way. Over the years, we've not only helped families prepare future generations, we've experienced our own generational transition within the firm, carrying forward the relationships, trust, and values that have guided us for decades. As a locally owned, independent financial planning office in Bozeman, we help families prepare for retirement, protect what they've built, and create a legacy for those they love. We take the time to know your family, understand your goals, and help you navigate life's journey. Rooted in Montana values and backed by professional expertise, we’re proud to help our community build a future that reflects what matters most.

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Stone Leaf Financial is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Ramond James Financial Services Investment advisory services offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Securities through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC.

Explore Big Sky

16 August 20 - September 2, 2026

REGIONAL

FADER MAGAVIN & THE RISKY LIVERS GIVE BACK

BEFORE THE HEADLINERS GAVE A DIME, THIS OPENING ACT ALREADY HAD BY ANNIE O’NEILL Fader Magavin & the Risky Livers opened for LeAnn Rimes and headliner Riley Green on Friday, July 31, 2026, at the Wildlands Festival at the Big Sky Events Arena. But when it came to giving back, frontman Willie McMillon's band didn't wait to see what the bigger acts on the bill would do. They were the first to put money down, donating $30,000. McMillon brings an underground strain of country out of Jackson, Wyoming. Yet it's McMillon's group, not the headliners, that keeps writing checks to a festival they already lose money to play. "We would do it whether other people wanted to jump on board or not. We do it no matter what," McMillon said. "But it is kind of a bonus if it encourages other acts to kick money down, because we're just the opening act. These guys have way more money than we do. Maybe it helps, maybe it doesn't. We'd do it regardless." This marks the second year in a row McMillon and the Risky Livers have donated to conservation efforts through Wildlands, which celebrates outdoor recreation and conservation nonprofits at work in the Big Sky area. This year's $30,000 gift went to PERC. For McMillon, the decision to return wasn't complicated. "I think our band is full of good energy, and everywhere we go together, it's about leaving places better than you found them and being a good houseguest," he said. "It was just a no-brainer for us." A cause with roots McMillon's connection to conservation isn't new. Before music, he spent most of his life as a professional snowboarder, much of it in the backcountry around his home state of Wyoming. "People who know the biological and psychological effects nature has on us, and how crucial it is for our peace and happiness, understand this is the most valuable thing to protect," he said. "Nature provides everything we need, and there are a lot of people who aren't connected to it and don't see it that way." He credits much of that outlook to his late stepfather, who devoted his life to conservation work before he passed away. "All this stuff is really in alignment with my stepdad and myself," McMillon said. "There's no better way to honor him." He also pointed to Wildlands founder Eric Ladd as part of why he keeps coming back. "I feel like all these organizations around here get it, and I want to support them," he said. "I really back what Eric's doing." From the backcountry to the stage McMillon's move from snowboarding to music wasn't planned. His desire to "put my life on the line every day" wore off, and he found himself in

Fader MaGavin & the Risky Livers were gifted a painting by local photographer Kevin Noble after their donation. PHOTO BY MICHAEL RUEBUSCH what he described as a dark, purposeless stretch. He started writing songs as a way through it. "It was just therapy, a way to turn sadness into something better," he said. A chance connection with bassist Sheena, whom he'd known for roughly a decade, turned into a band almost by accident. "I played her some songs, and she basically said, 'We're starting a band,'" McMillon said. Several original members remain, including drummer and guitarist Sean, a fellow former professional snowboarder, and Jeff, founder of Baldface, whom McMillon also met through the snowboarding world. The rest of the lineup is largely classically trained musicians, a mix McMillon said keeps the band grounded. "We've got three snowboarders and a bunch of real musicians. It's a good balance." Music, he added, also carries forward something his own parents never got to finish. "Both my parents were songwriters, but they never really got to pursue it once my brother and I came along," he said. "Part of me feels like I'm fulfilling that for them." Big Sky, through a Jackson Hole lens Based in Jackson Hole, McMillon said he's always thought of Montana as "Wyoming's cousin," similar in a lot of ways but with its own pull. This past trip, he said, is what really sold him on Big Sky. "The first time we went up there to play, there was a lot going on and it was the first time we'd played on a stage that big," he said. "This time, we actually got to appreciate it. Hiking up to the waterfall, eating barbecue on the river, it was basically like a Disney movie right outside the deck. Everybody was just at peace the whole trip." He said the band has made close friends in Big Sky and keeps finding reasons to come back. "I love the people, I love the vibe, I love how pretty it is up there. I want to spend more time up there." Still, he doesn't think Big Sky and Jackson are on

quite the same trajectory, at least not yet. "To people who've lived there a long time, it probably feels pretty blown out already," McMillon said. "But compared to Jackson, it's not even close. Big Sky's still got some years left in it." He's watched Jackson go from sleepy to crowded firsthand, and said it's changed how he sees growth in mountain towns generally. "Even 20 years ago I thought Jackson was blown out. If I'd known it was going to get this crowded, I would've appreciated it more back then when it wasn't even a fraction of what it is now. It's all perspective." Part of that, he added, is that a place isn't really "yours" to be frustrated with unless you watched it grow. "When I go somewhere else, it's not my town. I don't have the same stake in it. It's different watching a place change when you grew up there." The dream cause By McMillon's own account, the band loses money playing Wildlands, and donates on top of that. "I just feel like that's how the universe works," he said. "If I stay on the path I'm supposed to be on and spread the light the way I'm supposed to, everything works out. The money part doesn't matter. It's such a good experience that it doesn't even factor in." McMillon didn't hesitate when asked what he'd fund if he could pick any conservation cause outright: land protection, the kind that keeps ground out of development for good. "I really support people who buy up land and shut it down. No development, put it in easements," he said, noting his stepfather was deeply involved in that kind of work. "When you're blessed with abundance, it's your duty to give back. You're sitting there with a magic wand that could make the world brighter. If you don't use it, you're a chump."

BIG SKY LISTINGS PRICE REDUCTION

13 5 S UMMIT VI E W D R — LOT 8 3.8± Acres Listed at $2,495,000 Listed with Carrie Bryan

LOT 113 - CROW POINT RD Spanish Peaks Mountain Club Homesite 2.39± Acres Listed at $1,725,000 Listed with Eric Ladd PRICE REDUCTION

1491 WE ST B E AVE R C RE E K RD 5 Bed | 5.5 Bath | 4,513 sqft Now Listed at $4,250,000 Listed with Michael Pitcairn

274 B I G B U C K RD 4 Bed | 4.5 Bath | 3,979 sqft Listed at $3,495,000 Listed with Michael Pitcairn

39 6 LOWE R PROMO NTO RY 5 Bed | 7.5 Bath | 7,458 sqft Listed at $4,995,000 Listed with Michael Pitcairn

PRICE REDUCTION

11 0 C R AI L R AN C H D R 4 Bed | 3.5 Bath | 2,728 sqft Listed at $2,295,000 Listed with Michael Pitcairn

30 WHITEFISH DRIVE 3 Bed | 2.5 Bath | 2,274 sqft Listed at $2,149,000 Listed with Michael Pitcairn

155 AUROR A LIGHTS RD UNIT B-18 2 Bed | 2 Bath | 1,092 sqft Now Listed at $700,000 Listed with EJ Daws & Chris Eastlund

BIG SKY COMMERCIAL LISTINGS

4 8 M ARKE T PL AC E Meadow Village Mixed-Use Building 3 Res. Units | 3 Comm. Units | 8,167± sqft Now Listed at $5,100,000 Listed with Michael Pitcairn

5 0 O U S E L FALLS RD Town Center Cornerstone Big Sky Building 3 Units | 9,164± sqft of Commercial Listed at $7,500,000 Listed with Michael Pitcairn

E LKH O RN C RE E K LO D G E S Mountain Village Development Opportunity Developable Land: 3.34± Acres Zoning: RMF-2 | 57.5 SFEs Listed with Eric Ladd

WWW.OUTLAW.REALTY | 406.995.2404 LEGACY, T HROUGH LIFE STY L E A ND CO NNE CTI O N

BOZEMAN LISTINGS RECENTLY SOLD

PRICE REDUCTION

RECENTLY SOLD

WI LD L AN D RE S I D E N C E 3 0 6 2 Bed | 2.5 Bath | 2,088 sqft Listed at $1,950,000 Listed with EJ Daws & Ethan Stokes

91 5 ARN O LD STRE E T 4 Bed | 2 Full Bath | 2 Half Bath | 2,507 sqft Listed at $999,000 Listed with Ashley Keller & Graham Miles

302 5 M AC NAB STRE E T 3 Bed | 2.5 Bath | 1,727 sqft Listed at $850,000 Listed with Ashley Keller & Graham Miles

ALLI S O N N E I G H B O RH O O D 3-4 Bedroom Floor Plans Starting at $799,000 Listed with Ashley Keller & Graham Miles

19 4 0 W D I C KE RS O N # 102 6 Private Offices | 2,959 sqft Listed at $1,195,000 Listed with Graham Miles

476 E NTE RPRI S E B LVD U N IT 117 1 Bed | 1 Bath | 648 sqft Listed at $320,000 Listed with George Vincent & Graham Miles

VIE

BOZEMAN COMMERCIAL LISTINGS

O U T AW L L

T IS

TBD VAQUERO PARKWAY Fully Entitled Development Opportunity 7± Acres | 44 Approved Townhomes Listed at $6,500,000 Listed with Ethan Stokes

U RBAN + FAR M - PA- 8 Mixed-Use Development Opportunity Listed at $7,900,000 Listed with EJ Daws

All information given is considered reliable, but because it has been supplied by third parties, we cannot represent that it is accurate or complete, and it should not be relied upon as such. These offerings are subject to errors, omissions, and changes including price or withdrawal without notice. All rights reserved. Equal Housing Opportunity. If you currently have a listing agreement or buyer broker agreement with another agent, this is not a solicitation to change. ©2026 Outlaw Realty www.outlaw.realty

W W W.O U TL AW. R E A LT Y | 4 0 6.9 9 5. 24 0 4

R E GI O NA L

20 August 20 - September 2, 2026

Explore Big Sky

MAVERICK MOUNTAIN SUSTAINS EXTENSIVE FIRE DAMAGE CHAIR LIFT BURNS, BASE STRUCTURES SAFE

reconnaissance at Elkhorn Hot Springs found minimal damage.

EBS STAFF The Sand Creek Fire caused significant damage at Maverick Mountain ski area after moving through the resort and surrounding Grasshopper Valley. Owner and operator Erik Borge said Friday, Aug. 14 in a Facebook post that all structures in the base area, snowcats and other equipment were spared. The mountain’s only chairlift sustained extensive damage and will likely be out of operation for the upcoming ski season. The structures with the most damage were the bull wheel shack and ski patrol shack, according to JC Knaub, owner Kristi Borge’s father stated in an interview. “It was a miracle that anything survived,” Knaub said. “The terrain will not be quite the same but we will embrace new turns,” Borge wrote on Facebook, adding that the owners are committed to rebuilding. The damage came as the Sand Creek Fire ripped through the area. Firefighters had worked to protect Maverick Mountain and Elkhorn Hot Springs, using water, retardant and overnight crews. Initial

The fire was estimated Thursday, Aug. 13 at 27,576 acres and 0% contained, with 527 personnel assigned to the Sand Creek and Bobcat Lakes fires. “They’re still working, no one’s going home yet,” Knaub said of the firefighting personnel on the scene. The nearby Elk Horn Hot Springs, also owned by the Borge’s, was protected thanks to fire proofing methods of saturating the grounds and maintaining a wet atmosphere around the buildings with sprinklers. The Beaverhead County Sheriff ’s Office said Friday that residents only in the area immediately below Maverick Mountain could return between 9:30 a.m. and noon to retrieve essential belongings and check their property. The limited access did not lift evacuation orders for the broader Grasshopper Valley area. Community support has also grown, with the United Way of Beaverhead county establishing a fire relief fund for those affected by the blaze.

A massive plume of smoke rising from the Sandcreek fire shared by the Beaverhead County Sheriff's Office.

BROKER/OWNER Becky H Pape 406.580.5243 www.triplecreek.com

SCAN ME!

PRICE REDUCED 2555 LITTLE COYOTE RD - MEADOW VILL AGE, BIG SKY - 2,866+/- sf furnished Nantucket-style home on 2 lots - 4 bedrooms, 4 baths including a private guest suite - Across from the golf course & sold with 2 golf carts $1,800,000 | MLS 406096

TBD FIRST LEFT DRIVE - MID MOUNTAIN, BIG SKY - Stunning 11.29+/- acres, just minutes from the base of the resort - Secluded acreage with a creek and Lone Mountain views - Sale includes full architectural plans for an impressive mountain modern home $2,499,000 | MLS 403144

PRICE REDUCED

SOLD

135 T WIN ANTLER DR - BIG SKY

646 HULBERT RD W - BOZEMAN

78 MEADOW VILL AGE, UNIT E - BIG SKY

TBD SKYWOOD ROAD - BIG SKY

- 3.5+/- acres just south of Big Sky near the school

- Modern 5BR/5B farmhouse on 3.3 acres

- LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!

- 1.853 ac homesite just above Big Sky’s Meadow Village

- Unfinished interior, customize & complete to your liking

- Large shop ideal for home business & hobbies

- 5,804+/- sf with approved septic for 4BR/5B

- Minimal covenants with privacy & views

- 2,115+/- sf of office space in the heart of Big Sky

- Craft your legacy retreat in this coveted setting

$1,240,000 | MLS 398676

$2,650,000 | MLS 410627

$1,580,000 | MLS 405004

$850,000 | MLS 405677

- Commercial condo in the Meadow Village Center - Private setting with mature trees & mountain vistas

STOP IN AND VISIT US AT THE ARROWHEAD MALL OFFICE IN THE CHRISTY SPORTS BUILDING - FIRST FLOOR

SCHOOL SUPPLY PUREWEST CHRISTIE’S REAL ESTATE

Our school supply shelves are full, but the need continues. Gift cards to Walmart, Target, grocery stores, and gas stations help local students and families throughout the school year. Gift cards can be dropped off

PUREWEST CHRISTIE’S REAL ESTATE

PRICE IMPROVEMENT!

TBD Cicely Drive ExclusiveLot inMoonlightBasin +/- 0.87 Acres | $3,950,000| MLS# 403165 Kevin Butler | 406-924-7050 | kevin.butler@evrealestate.com

HannahBratterud | 406-580-9121 | hannah.bratterud@engelvoelkers.com

114 OUSEL FALLS ROAD BIG SKY, MT 406.995.4009

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© 2020 Engel & Völkers. All rights reserved. Engel & Völkers and its independent franchisees are Equal Opportunity Employers and fully support the principles of the Fair Housing Act. Each property shop is independently owned and operated. All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. If your property is currently represented by a real estate broker, this is not an attempt to solicit your listing.

22 August 20 - September 2, 2026

R E GI O NA L

Explore Big Sky

KNOWING HEALTH EFFECTS OF WILDFIRE SMOKE EXPOSURE, ONE GROUP TAKES MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS

BIG SKY ROTARY CLUB LEARNED TO BUILD AIR CLEANERS FROM FILTERS, BOX FANS AND HANDED THEM OUT TO COMMUNITY AS AQI CLIMBED

Smoke shrouded Lone Mountain in Big Sky on Aug. 12. PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY

BY JEN CLANCEY BIG SKY—It only takes a box fan, air filter— MERV13-grade—and a few pieces of duct tape to do the same work as a small commercial air cleaner in reducing harmful particles from wildfire smoke, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Big Sky Rotary Club members learned this, and how to make their own air cleaner at an Aug. 4 workshop with Montana Health and Climate’s Program Manager Julia Ryder. At the end, the Rotary had 10 DIY units set aside for community members who needed one in Big Sky. It was good timing—by Aug. 7, the state issued an air quality alert for Gallatin and neighboring counties and the 10 cleaners were distributed over the weekend. In hot, smoky weather, solutions like DIY fans are helping residents reduce health impacts, especially in a state where an estimated 20% or more homes don’t have air conditioning. Big Sky resident and Rotary Club member Marian Kummer organized the Big Sky training with MHC. As a pediatrician for 36 years in Billings, she’s seen how air quality impacts kids’ health, especially if they have conditions like asthma. She’s also followed how Montana wildfires impacted community health. “It can affect you not only short-term, but longterm,” Kummer said, reflecting on a study of sustained lung problems for people living near the 2017 Seeley Lake Fire northwest of Helena. She doesn’t remember the smoke being as bad as it is now. A study in Nature Ecology and Evolution found that between 2003 and 2023, wildfires have become more extreme, intense and larger globally. That’s because patterns overhead have favored hotter temps as the planet warms due to climate change. In dry, hot and windy conditions, communities need to be careful about fire hazards. In Big Sky, fire stations and emergency responders are on

watch to manage any flames nearby, aided by advanced technology. When smoke does come, whether from a nearby burn or a blaze hundreds of miles away, there are ways to adapt to changing conditions. Taking air quality seriously Some of the particles in wildfire smoke are coughed out and others are small enough to stay in the lungs and enter the bloodstream. Those checking their local AQI may see a note about particulate matter 2.5 or lower—these tiny particles have the ability to stay in the body, and as PM 2.5 increases, so does the AQI, alerting people when to mask up and find clean air. Lori and Rob Byron, respectively chair and treasurer of the MHC, explained what exposure to AQIs higher than 150 means for health. “It really isn’t safe for anybody, and if somebody has an underlying condition, you know, like asthma or heart disease, or if they are a child or young adult or an older person, they are at higher risk to have problems,” Rob said. He noted that PM 2.5 particles have been found on the fetal side of the placenta in pregnant women, inside the blood-brain barrier in others, and have been associated with worsening lung conditions, heart attacks, stroke, dementia and impacts on unborn children and pregnancy outcomes. When people are exposed to wildfire smoke, they should wear a N95 mask only—not the cloth masks or blue surgical masks often seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Limiting exercise on red and purple days when the AQI is higher than 150, and using air purifiers at home is also helpful. They noted that DIY air cleaners work well too, and the organization is holding 25 instructional workshops across the state to spread the word.

“People have been really excited to have access to it because a lot of people live in homes that are leaky and … don’t have HVAC systems—which that goes for most of us—and can’t afford to buy an air purifier,” Lori said. Cleaning air at home has its limits though. If air quality is very bad, Lori Byron noted that pregnant people should do their best to get away from wildfire smoke if they have the means to do so. As part of a statewide organization, the Byrons have seen examples of towns and cities coordinating clean air centers that they can open to the public when air quality is harmful. “Having those places identified and then letting people know that they’re there by advertising is a good thing,” Lori said. To recap, for people without air conditioning, they can first check that their house isn’t “leaking”—think windows and doors that might let air seep into the home. Then, they can run an air purifier or cleaner, and check in with local organizations if there are any clean air centers near them. When tracking AQI, check the airnow.gov’s Fire and Smoke Map for more specific air quality readings. Lastly, Rob noted people should use N95 masks, though he acknowledged the discomfort of the mask in 90F weather. Kummer hopes that Big Sky stays aware of the impact wildfire smoke has on the lungs, and that residents assure they have a clean air room in their home if air quality worsens in the future. “People have to be aware of it, that it is a health risk,” Kummer said. Additional air filter units are available to the community through Fire Adapted Big Sky. Text FILTER to 317-691-7736 to arrange to pick up a filter through the Gallatin County Sheriff ’s Office. If unable to travel, delivery can be arranged.

Explore Big Sky

23 August 20 - September 2, 2026

OP NEWS

OUTLAW FOUNDATION DONATES $230K TO EPILEPSY FOUNDATION BY CARLI JOHNSON After Outlaw Partners CEO Eric Ladd and his wife, Kaley Burns, watched their 3-year-old son struggle with seizures and eventually get diagnosed with epilepsy, they were motivated to find the best doctors and care to support their family. That personal experience has since grown into a broader effort to support the nearly 3.4 million Americans who live with epilepsy. Outlaw Partners chose the Epilepsy Foundation as the first-night beneficiary of Big Sky PBR, beginning a partnership focused on bringing greater awareness to epilepsy and supporting people and families affected by the disorder. The Epilepsy Foundation of America was established in 1968 and today operates approximately 59 chapters across the country. The organization’s mission centers on four core pillars: advocacy, research, support and awareness. On Aug. 17, Epilepsy Foundation CEO Bernice “Bee” Martin Lee, Chief Research and Innovation Officer Caitlin Grzeskowiak and Executive Director for Nevada, Utah and Montana Jessica

Veach visited the Outlaw Partners office in Bozeman to meet with Ladd and the Outlaw team and discuss the foundation’s work and plans for the future.

The organization also discussed the needs of Montana families living with epilepsy, and touched on research and the importance of patient data in improving epilepsy treatment and care.

The meeting came as Outlaw Foundation announced a $230,000 donation to the Epilepsy Foundation.

“There is no standard of care for epilepsy,” Lee said during the meeting, describing differences patients can encounter in diagnosis and treatment.

“This is the starting line, not the finish line,” Ladd said after handing a check to Lee. “We are incredibly grateful to everyone in our community who stepped up and helped make this first phase possible. Epilepsy is a devastating disease affecting millions of people and their families, and there is still so much work to be done. Our commitment is to keep pushing—to help advance research, improve care, connect families with the best resources available, and ultimately help drive toward better treatments and cures. This is just the beginning.” The group discussed epilepsy research, education, advocacy and patient support, including efforts to improve seizure safety in Montana schools. The Epilepsy Foundation has advocated for seizure firstaid training for school personnel, which teaches educators how to recognize and respond to seizures, a potentially life-saving practice.

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The Outlaw Partners team presents a check for $230K to the Epilepsy Foundation to support further research and care for those struggling with epilepsy. PHOTO BY MICHAEL RUEBUSCH

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25 August 20 - September 2, 2026

ENVIRONMENT

DISPATCHES FROM THE WILD: KILLING A THIRD OF MONTANA’S WOLVES ISN’T MANAGEMENT; IT’S EXTERMINATION. BY BENJAMIN ALVA POLLEY EBS COLUMNIST

By any reasonable standard, this should have been a turning point. This week, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks quietly acknowledged what scientists and advocates have been warning for years: the state’s model for counting wolves has been overestimating their numbers. The new estimate puts Montana’s wolf population near 725 animals—almost 400 fewer wolves than the agency claimed just last year. If you thought that revelation would spur caution and humility, think again. In the same breath, FWP proposed a kill quota of 250 wolves for the 2026–27 hunting and trapping season. That’s at least 35% of the entire population in a single year. FWP “finally admitted what we’ve been saying for years: the state’s wolf counts were wrong and they’ve been misleading the public,” said Lizzy Pennock, carnivore coexistence attorney at WildEarth Guardians in a letter. “Yet FWP is still proposing to kill a third of Montana’s wolves in one season. The agency remains more interested in managing wolves for the bare minimum instead of treating this beloved species with respect.” The numbers alone should alarm anyone who cares about responsible wildlife management. But the story gets worse when you look at how Montana is willing to kill these animals. The state allows methods that would be unthinkable for other managed species: baited traps and snares, artificial lights, night vision, thermal and infrared imaging. These tactics don’t just stretch the notion of fair chase—they shred it. On top of that, bounties of up to $1,500 per dead wolf are legal under Montana law, paid out by the Foundation for Wildlife Management. This is not conservation. It is incentivized extermination. FWP’s own science should be sounding the alarm. The population model at the center of this debate, known as iPOM, has been controversial since the agency started using it in 2021. Independent, peer-reviewed research has concluded that iPOM is an inappropriate method for counting wolves and likely inflates population estimates. For years, the model suggested a stable population even as wolves were being killed at high rates. Now, in its 2025 Annual Wolf Report, FWP offers two very different numbers: 1,094 wolves under the original iPOM, and just 725 under an updated version of the same model. That is not a minor statistical adjustment; it is a drastic revision with life-and-death implications for a species that has already endured a century of persecution.

ADOBE STOCK PHOTO “Science, common sense, and a sense of morality are still missing in wolf management decisions made by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks,” said Clint Nagel, president of the Gallatin Wildlife Association. “The state really needs to listen to the science and the good citizens of Montana.” Nowhere is the human cost of these policies more visible than along the border of Yellowstone National Park. FWP has proposed three wolf quotas for each of two wolf management units, 313 and 316, just north of the park. On paper, that may sound cautious. In practice, it has been anything but. In the 2024–25 season, five wolves were killed in WMU 313 despite that three wolf quota, meaning two were effectively poached. Evidence shows all five were shot in a single day. One of the victims last season was a female from Yellowstone’s famous Junction Butte Pack, killed on Christmas day in a unit that was supposedly closed to hunting weeks earlier. “When a beloved Yellowstone wolf can be killed on Christmas day in a unit that was supposedly closed weeks earlier, it’s clear these regulations aren’t protecting wildlife, but providing cover to kill as many wolves as possible,” said Josh Schott, Rocky Mountain Coordinator for Team Wolf. “A quota means nothing without enforcement.” If all of this sounds out of step with what most Montanans want, that’s because it is. Recent research from the University of Montana shows that 74% of residents are tolerant or very tolerant of wolves on the landscape—a figure that has risen significantly since 2012. Over the same period, tolerance for wolf hunting and trapping has dropped, and only 36 percent of Montanans say they tolerate trapping at all.

“A strong majority of Montana residents have positive attitudes toward wolves and tolerate them on the landscape,” the study concludes. It also warns that a small minority with “exceedingly negative attitudes” toward wolves nonetheless “represent a significant and influential segment of the population.” In other words, Montana’s wolf policy is being driven by a loud fringe, not the mainstream. “Montana officials have abandoned all respect for wildlife,” said Anja Heister, executive director of Footloose Montana. “What’s happening to large carnivores such as wolves, bears and mountain lions, along with ‘fur bearing’ animals has nothing to do with science and compassion. Instead, it is slaughter dictated by the trapping and trophy hunting industry, including outfitters, for recreation and profit.” On August 19, 2026, the seven member Montana Fish & Wildlife Commission will vote on the new hunting and trapping regulations. The commission includes livestock ranchers, outfitters, and hunters. Not one member has a background in wildlife science or management. Montanans now face a choice. We can allow a small group of special interests to push an iconic species back toward the brink, armed with flawed science and extreme methods. Or we can demand a modern, science-based and humane approach to wolf management that reflects who we really are. If you believe wolves belong on this landscape— and that public wildlife should not be managed for private profit—now is the time to speak up. Benjamin Alva Polley is a place-based storyteller. His words have been published in Rolling Stone, Esquire, Field & Stream, The Guardian, Men’s Journal, Outside, Popular Science, Sierra, and WWF, among other notable outlets, and are available on his website.

26 August 20 - September 2, 2026

ENVIRONMENT

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EVERY DROP COUNTS: WHAT THE GALLATIN’S SMALLEST INHABITANTS TELL US ABOUT ITS FUTURE BY JACK BUBAN EBS GUEST COLUMNIST

If you want to understand the true health of a living river, look past the sweeping mountain vistas and the rising trout on the surface. Look underneath the riverbed rocks. There, clinging to gravel and submerged wood, live the aquatic macroinvertebrates—mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies and midges—that form the foundation of the Gallatin’s ecosystem. These tiny creatures are ecological storytellers. Because different aquatic insects have varying sensitivities to water temperature, flow rates, fine sediment and dissolved oxygen, their presence serves as an immediate barometer for water quality and overall river integrity. Without a healthy and diverse insect population, the fish and wildlife that depend on the river simply cannot thrive. The Gallatin River Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Program completed its second full year of field sampling in 2025, tracking these aquatic insects to better evaluate ecosystem health, water quality and the future of the river’s trout population. The program's core objectives focus on tracking insect abundance over time, evaluating environmental influences like dewatering and sediment and engaging local volunteers through hands-on stream monitoring. Building upon the initial baseline report established in 2024, the latest findings provide a valuable snapshot of the current ecological health of the Gallatin. The 2025 dataset revealed several encouraging signs, and a healthy bug population indicating benefits both for local anglers and the overall ecosystem. At most monitoring sites, densities of "good bugs"—specifically mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies—exceeded an impressive 1,000 individual insects per square foot. In total, insect abundance measured nearly 3,000 insects per square foot, almost three times those on the Madison River and comparable to levels on the Henry’s Fork River in Idaho.

Volunteers collect aquatic insect data on the Gallatin. PHOTO COURTESY OF SALMONFLY PROJECT This abundant food base confirms that the river continues to support many of the hatches that make the Gallatin a renowned blue-ribbon fishery. Furthermore, a basic visual comparison between 2024 and 2025 shows a slight increase in the relative abundance of these key trout foods, paired with a noticeable decline in midge abundance. Sensitive indicator species like salmonflies and golden stoneflies continue to hold strong in key reaches, signaling pockets of well-oxygenated, high quality water where trout can thrive. Despite these positive numbers, the latest report also highlighted ongoing signs of ecological stress that warrant close attention. Aquatic insect communities still contain relatively high proportions of pollution-tolerant organisms and non-insect species, which are frequently associated with excessive algae growth and reduced oxygen levels. Most surprisingly, the upper reaches of the Gallatin—including sections just downstream of Yellowstone National Park and above the confluence of Taylor Creek—exhibited lower ecological integrity than the lower sections of the river. Because there is minimal human development in the upper watershed, this unexpected finding

An adult salmonfly crawls through willows on the June banks of the Gallatin River. PHOTO COURTESY OF GRTF underscores the need for continued monitoring to isolate the underlying environmental drivers behind this stress. Ultimately, drawing firm conclusions from a twoyear dataset is challenging, as multi-year monitoring is essential to distinguish brief natural fluctuations from long-term ecological trends. Ongoing data collection will be critical to answering the core question on everyone's mind: are the river's insects declining or thriving, and what does that mean for the Gallatin as a whole? Protecting a gem with such immense socioeconomic and environmental value requires collective, community-driven stewardship. The Gallatin River Task Force, The Salmonfly Project and Gallatin River Guides are hosting an educational Entomology Clinic on Aug. 25, where participants can get up close with the river's insects. Volunteers are also needed for the broader 2026 field sampling season taking place from Aug. 24 through Aug. 28. These opportunities are offered to help build this crucial long-term dataset, and to give community members hands-on experience during the upcoming 2026 monitoring season. Further details and registration information are available on the GRTFwebsite.

Kristin Gardner, chief executive and science officer of the Gallatin River Task Force, collects aquatic insect data on the Gallatin River. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SALMONFLY PROJECT

Jack Buban is the Community Engagement Manager at the Gallatin River Task Force.

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29 August 20 - September 2, 2026

ENVIRONMENT

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THRIVING LANDSCAPES: FROM A BAG OF SEED TO A WILDFLOWER MEADOW

Montana native wildflowers at Crail Gardens. PHOTO COURTESY OF GROW WILD

BY ABBY BUTLER EBS COLUMNIST

With the end of summer in sight, you might be itching to scatter that bag of wildflower seed you have stowed away in your garage. But we’re here to tell you that a successful wildflower meadow takes a bit more than a flick of the wrist and has a greater impact on the ecosystem around you than you think. Check your seed mix Before we start thinking about planting, take a peek at the contents of your seed mix. It’s all too common to find that some of your “native Montana wildflowers” mix actually contains noxious weeds or species with competitive tendencies. Common invasive plants we find in mixes are noxious oxeye daisies, spotted knapweed and cornflower, also known as bachelor’s button, which is native to Europe and spreads aggressively.

guide from the Piedmont Master Gardeners explains in-depth the role stratification plays in a seed’s life cycle. Site preparation is key Preparing your site is essential to seeing successful growth. In fact, it may take months before your ground is ready to plant. To give these native seedlings a chance you need to eliminate all vegetation where you plan to plant seeds. If that seems excessive, think about how competitive plants like smooth brome, Kentucky bluegrass, and especially noxious weeds, are. Trying to grow wildflowers in a field of established vegetation is unlikely to succeed. To eliminate vegetation, you could repeatedly till the soil. Keep tilling shallow, as deep tilling often brings weed seeds to the surface, spray a nonresidual herbicide or look into “sheet mulching”. Check out the Gallatin Conservation District’s Pollinator Garden Planting Guide for more instructions on planting.

Check before you plant to make sure your wildflower mix won’t do more harm than good. A great place to start for native plant seed is your local conservation district. Both Madison and Gallatin County have Pollinator Initiatives, offering free native seed mixes to residents.

Preserve as much topsoil as you can by limiting your disturbance footprint. Topsoil is the uppermost layer of soil that contains dormant seeds. Weed seeds are adapted to disturbance, so disrupting this layer of topsoil offers ample opportunity for weeds to take advantage and grow. Take a look at the land around your new build and see what’s growing. Some sites are naturally drier than others, or have high water tables allowing moisture-loving plants to thrive. Get curious and take note of what’s already flourishing as this will inform what plants will work around your home. What to expect Now that you’ve planted, it’s time to brush the dirt off your gloves and relax—let nature fend for itself, right? Unfortunately that’s not the case. While native plants are resilient, they require care as they first establish. Expect to do some hand weeding the first few years as unwanted plants attempt to grow. The team at Grow Wild knows how hard it is to tell whether an immature sprout is a wildflower or a new weed, which is why we’re here to help. Send the Grow Wild team a picture and we’ll do our best to help you identify what’s growing. It’s all connected

Timing

While planting from seed requires intention and care, the payoff is well worth it. In Big Sky, our proximity to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem means the plants we surround ourselves with at home not only impact your neighbors down the road, or the public land past your property line, but also the larger ecosystem as a whole. So, settle in for an exciting new gardening journey—one filled with mistakes, learning opportunities and ultimately lots of joy when you see your first wildflower bloom.

If you’re choosing native seeds, these plants are adapted to a temperate climate meaning they require stratification to break dormancy and germinate into successful seedlings. Stratification uses periods of cold temperatures followed by warm temperatures and moisture to allow seeds to germinate in the spring. This keeps them from coming up too early when they might be killed by a freeze or too late where they won’t live long enough to produce seeds. The easiest technique is to time your seed planting in the fall, right after the first hard frost but before heavy snowfall. For more information, this helpful

Advice for new builds

Cornflower or Bachelor’s button (Centaurea cyanus). PHOTO BY THAYNE TUASON

Abby Butler is the conservation program coordinator at Grow Wild.

30 August 20 - September 2, 2026

ENVIRONMENT

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WILDFIRE WIRE: WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED ABOUT WILDFIRES THIS SUMMER? BY JON TRAPP EBS COLUMNIST

Last month I deployed to help with the Kaiser Canyon Fire, northwest of Spokane. As I arrived at the incident, which is over 138,000 acres, I saw firefighters working hard and people frantically trying to save their homes. Some private citizens with bulldozers were scraping out lines around homes, hoping that would stop the approaching fire. Still, 23 homes burned. Shortly after I returned to Big Sky, the Old Trails Fire started near Spokane. We all watched the news and social media as the devastation unfolded. Over 1,300 structures were destroyed, with 527 of them being residences. I saw one report where a woman spoke through tears, wondering how her neighborhood became engulfed in flames. At the end of June, we hosted the first Wildfire Film Festival in Big Sky. The free event nearly filled The Waypoint theater. There were many short films on preparedness and wildfire. One of the films featured the fire chief from Spokane, speaking about preparing for wildfire. I know Spokane had a very robust wildfire education program. Yet as wildfires continue to burn through communities in the West, there are still so many people who do not understand the risk. Many of the homes that burned down in the fires that devastated Spokane, Paradise and Lahaina could have been saved. Not by firefighters, but by the homeowners. What can we do to help those who have not yet lost their homes? How do we reach those who don’t think wildfire preparedness applies to them? Wildfire is a series of ignitions that are driven by fuels, weather and topography. We know that most homes burn down because airborne embers find a receptive spot to take hold and smolder. Because of this, we know that putting a dozer line around your home isn’t enough to save the structure. Another way a home burns is through direct contact with flames from vegetation or combustible materials

IMAGE COURTESY OF BSFD

The Big Sky Fire Department at the Kaiser Canyon Fire. PHOTO BY JON TRAPP next to the structure. And the last way homes catch on fire is due to radiant heat from fires burning within 30 feet of the home.

distributed at places like the farmers market and the fire department. Online versions can be found on the fire department’s website and FABS’ webpage.

Fire Adapted Big Sky is a local group of Big Sky Fire Department, Gallatin County Sheriff ’s Office, private, county, state and federal partners who recently updated the Big Sky Wildfire Action Guide. Hard copy versions of the guide are being

The guide also describes the “Ready, Set Go!” Program and how to sign up for alerts. With all the fires burning around the region, everyone should be ready. For more information visit the Big Sky Fire Department and FABS websites.

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31 August 20 - September 2, 2026

A&E

LONE PEAK FILM FESTIVAL RELEASES 2026 LINEUP BY FISCHER GENAU The Lone Peak Film Festival announced this year’s slate of films on Friday morning, a lineup that features Montana-based stories, Indigenous films and international features. An assortment of 20 feature-length stories and short films will screen over the weekend of Sept. 17-20 at The Waypoint in Big Sky for the festival’s second year. The festival’s selections fit into four main categories: Montana stories, Indigenous stories, conservation stories and stories of human resilience. LPFF cofounder and Emmy-winning filmmaker Daniel Glick said the selection committee also looked for films that are “ultimately uplifting, focusing on the good in humanity.” Lucia Ortega Calelo, LPFF’s director of programming, led the selection committee; she, Glick and a group of volunteers reviewed hundreds of films. “We wanted to find a good balance of those four pillars of storytelling, and also just present the best films we could find, and we have a pretty outstanding group of films this year,” Glick told EBS. A filmmaker from almost every film featured

The Lone Peak Film Festival sold out in September 2025. PHOTO COURTESY OF LONE PEAK FILM FESTIVAL will be at the festival to answer questions after each screening. After the welcome ceremony at Len Hill Park, led by Indigenous people, the festival will begin with a screening of Daughters of the Forest. The documentary centers on two Indigenous mycologists foraging for mushrooms in the mountains of Mexico, and it’s already won several

awards including the Visions Audience Award at the South by Southwest Film and TV Festival in Austin, Texas. LPFF’s website describes it as “immersive sci-fi.” “Daughters of the Forest is pretty astounding,” Glick said. “It’s a conservation story, an Indigenous story, a story of resilience, and it’s just absolutely gorgeous.”

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32 August 20 - September 2, 2026

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BEHIND THE STAGE: HOW TWO ROCK CLIMBERS BUILD CONCERTS BY ANNIE O’NEILL By the time the first band hits the stage at Wildlands, most of the crowd has no idea how it got there. The stage, the sound system, the video walls flying overhead, it all just appears. Nobody in the audience is thinking about the semitrucks that rolled in two days earlier, or the crew that spent the night building the rig. That invisible work belongs to Cole Yarbrough and Jeremiah Slovarp, two Montana locals who have spent the better part of two decades building the infrastructure behind the region’s biggest shows. Yarbrough’s company, Rocky Mountain Rigging, gets the stage up and running. Slovarp’s company, Jereco, makes sure it sounds right once it’s up. Both got their start the same way: as young rock climbers who wandered into concert rigging almost by accident, and never really left. Rock climbers first Yarbrough was a student at the University of Montana, deep in the climbing scene, when he saw an ad looking for people to work rigging—”Do you like music? Do you like climbing? You want to get into rigging?” the ad read. It wasn’t a hard sell. Before long, Yarbrough was installing the cables, trusses and equipment that suspend lights and speakers high above concert stages. Slovarp’s way in came through Yarbrough himself, a few years later at Montana State University. They already knew each other from the climbing world, so when the MSU Fieldhouse needed more hands to rig, Yarbrough knew exactly who to ask. The job meant working 50 or 60 feet in the air. “Super dangerous work,” Slovarp said, “but we were rock climbers, and we were like, oh yeah, let’s do that.” Neither of them owned a company yet, nor did they have much sense that this could become one.

Jeremiah Slovarp of Jereco tests his audio equipment at Wildlands. PHOTO BY GEORGE ORTIZ They were hired labor, showing up when a bigger production outfit needed extra hands.

Company. Recording itself, he said, is now just a fraction of what Jereco does.

But the names on those early gigs were massive for two guys just starting. Yarbrough’s first real show was Pearl Jam. Slovarp’s was Van Halen or Mötley Crüe, he isn’t entirely sure which, sometime around 2000 or 2001. Neither treated it as a big deal at the time.

How a show actually gets built

“We were a couple of rock climbers trying to use our skills to make money,” Yarbrough said. Two companies, two paths Yarbrough started Rocky Mountain Rigging with a college friend in 2002, supplying labor and stagehands before the company bought its first mobile stage in 2006. The early concept was an annual festival in Missoula that booked Poison. It was Yarbrough’s first time running a full stage crew, where, “we had no idea what that entailed,” he said. Despite the uncertainty, their work held up for the band and its fans. Today, Rocky Mountain Rigging covers Montana, Arizona, Idaho, Washington and Oregon. A core crew of 10 to 15 people scales up to as many as 200 riggers for a stadium show like Mumford & Sons at Bobcat Stadium or Post Malone and Jelly Roll in Missoula. Despite a buyout offer from a larger labor company a few years ago, Rocky Mountain Rigging has remained independent and family-run; Yarbrough’s wife, Jennifer, runs labor management.

Cole Yarbrough assembles the Wildlands stage. PHOTO BY GEORGE ORTIZ

Slovarp’s path started in Bozeman bar bands. He and his bandmates, Orion and Luke, kept buying gear for themselves until, as he put it, “we didn’t really have anywhere to put it.” While finishing an economics degree at Montana State, Slovarp had been quietly taking sound classes at the film school under a professor who eventually nudged him toward starting his own business. Jereco Studios followed, founded by Slovarp, Orion and Luke. The name is an acronym: Jeremiah’s Recording

A single show comes together over months. Slovarp starts coordinating with promoters and bands as early as nine months out. “It’s nine months before the concert, and we are on the phone and emails … determining their needs, their desires; what do they absolutely need to critically execute the show,” Slovarp said. Everything gets sorted into needs versus wants, and sometimes the wants pose a challenge. At Wildlands this year, a band’s request for a bigger video wall turned into an engineering problem once Yarbrough had to account for the added weight on the roof. And, even at a single venue, each musical act’s stage setup can look different. Dave Matthews needs comparatively little. A band like Foo Fighters requires one of the largest mobile stages in the world, without which, Slovarp said, “we couldn’t have had Foo Fighters.” Yarbrough and Slovarp coordinate through all of it, “Cole has to be on the whole time. It’s his stage. If the band doesn’t fit on the stage, we’ve got a problem,” Slovarp said. When the weather turns Montana doesn’t make it easy to put on a show. Weather can turn on a stage crew without warning, and both men have their own version of the night nearly everything went wrong. For Yarbrough, it was a winter event called Powabunga in Vail, Colorado, when a snowstorm dumped roughly two inches an hour for two or three days straight. Mobile stages aren’t built to carry that kind of weight; the rigging, the video walls and the lighting rig are engineered for a fixed load, not accumulating snow.

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33 August 20 - September 2, 2026

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All night long, Yarbrough climbed back up the structures to clear it, continued through the concert, and when the storm finally broke, the temperature dropped to well below zero. Slovarp’s closest call came with Foo Fighters at Wildlands in 2023, when audio equipment failed after a severe thunderstorm. Torrential rain forced the crew to shut the stage down mid-show, and when the band’s own touring sound system rebooted afterward, it played out of sequence and crashed a few minutes into the set. “That could have been catastrophic instead of just a temporary hiccup,” Slovarp said. After solving the technical issue, the show went on. Foo fighters performance in 2023. PHOTO BY GEORGE ORTIZ

Why stay independent Over the past few years, private equity has moved steadily into live event production across the country, buying up sound, lighting and labor companies and folding them into larger corporate structures. After receiving a buyout offer from a large labor company, Yarbrough chose to stay independent. What’s kept both companies standing on their own, Yarbrough and Slovarp say, isn’t scale. It’s trust. “This business is all about relationships, reputation and reliability,,” Yarbrough said. Slovarp’s version of the same idea lives on a sticker plastered across a lot of Jereco’s equipment cases: “Never trust the promoter.” It’s a joke, mostly. But it comes from real experience at shows that fell apart because a promoter

withheld information or simply didn’t have things under control. Slovarp keeps Jereco close to Bozeman, occasionally traveling for the right client to Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Cody, Wyoming; or Red Lodge, with some rental partners in Butte. Yarbrough sees something specific in the crews who do this work in Montana, a level of effort he says stands out even against other production hubs in the West. “Montana work ethic, it’s different. It’s not the same,” he said. Slovarp calls Big Sky and Bozeman “an island” in terms of production resources. If a show needs equipment the region doesn’t have, it either goes without or gets trucked in at a real expense. That isolation is arguably why companies like Rocky

Mountain Rigging and Jereco exist in the form they do. Without a deep bench of regional competitors to lean on, local companies have had to become the entire supply chain themselves, from stage to sound to crew. Twenty-plus years later, Slovarp still finds it remarkable that it all began with a college climbing partnership. “Two different walks of life and two different businesses altogether,” Yarbrough said. That’s easy to miss from the crowd. Rocky Mountain Rigging and Jereco are separate companies, built by different people who met climbing and kept working together. And while the audience never sees that work—just the lights come up and the music start on time–that’s exactly how Slovarp and Yarbrough like it.

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35 August 20 - September 2, 2026

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COMMUNITY YOGA AT LEN HILL PARK WEDNESDAY, AUG. 26 LEN HILL PARK, 12 P.M. On Wednesday, Aug. 26, Santosha Wellness Center, Big Sky Community Organization and Gourmet Gals will host a community yoga session. Any proceeds from the community yoga series will benefit Alpensapes, and donations can be made with cash and Venmo.

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2 BEDS, 2 BATHS | 1,152 SF

• Remodeled from studs out; enhanced floor plan • Designer curated materials & furnishing package

• Ski-in/ski-out homesite • Coveted Cascade neighborhood

• Comfort, efficiency, and recent updates • Prime Meadow Village location

MLS# 411437 | $2,195,000 Jackie Miller 406.539.5003

MLS# 413602 | $1,550,000 Sandy Revisky de Leon 406.539.6316

MLS# 413499 | $695,000 Joshua Stevens 406.600.7641

PUREWESTREALESTATE.COM | 114 Ousel Falls Road, Big Sky | 406.995.4009

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Residents of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming can save 25% on select rooms and lodges. *Promotional offers are subject to restrictions and can change without notice. Visit our website for complete offer details.

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Yellowstone’s Secret Season is Calling.

Autumn transforms Yellowstone into a masterpiece of color, quiet, and discovery. Watch elk bugle beneath amber hillsides, breathe in cool mountain air, and return each evening to the timeless comfort and warmth of our lodges.

Discover why those who know the park best return for its secret season. YellowstoneNationalParkLodges.com Operated by Xanterra Parks & Resorts®. Xanterra Parks & Resorts is an authorized concessioner of the National Park Service.

EXPLORE OUR AUTUMN EVENTS

Up next: Christmas in August at the Old Faithful Inn on Aug. 25th. Scan the QR code for more details on Oktoberfest, Halloween, and Holiday Celebrations.

37 August 20 - September 2, 2026

BUSINESS

Explore Big Sky

MAKING IT IN BIG SKY:

MONICA HARGIS, OWNER OF LAUNDRY LIBERATOR BY LESLIE KILGORE For Monica Hargis, the road to owning a successful laundry business started with a $5 delivery fee. More than 11 years ago, Hargis launched Laundry Liberator after noticing a need among customers at the Bozeman laundromat where she worked. What began as an after-hours laundry delivery service has since grown into a 10-person operation serving families, small businesses, medical offices and property managers throughout Bozeman, Belgrade and Big Sky. Today, Laundry Liberator handles everything from everyday clothing and comforters to horse blankets, tack, vacation rental turnovers and even the occasional boxing ring. Hargis has built the business around a simple idea: giving people something they can never get more of—time. When she’s not building her business, she spends as much time as possible adventuring with her husband and their dog, Odin. Explore Big Sky spoke with Hargis about leaping into entrepreneurship, adapting to her customers’ needs and why sometimes the best thing a business owner can do is simply take the next step. Explore Big Sky: When did you first come to Montana, and what initially brought you here? Monica Hargis: I moved out to Montana about 16 years ago. I had a best friend who moved out here, and I came to visit her for a little trip. I fell in love with it and thought, “I’m going to move here.” It took me about six months to actually do it. EBS: What motivated you to move so quickly after your initial visit? MH: I was coming from Cookeville, Tennessee, so it was very different. What really sold me was that I was here for two weeks. One week had beautiful weather, and the second week dumped snow in October. Everyone was still outside, and I thought, "That’s what I want." I came to Bozeman first, and I actually just bought my first home about 10 months ago in Belgrade, but our business services Big Sky at different times of the year. Depending on the season, we’re there three to six days a week. EBS: You’ve owned Laundry Liberator for more than 11 years. What prompted you to start the business? MH: I used to work at a laundromat in Bozeman, and I kept seeing different scenarios where people needed a delivery service. I approached the owner about starting delivery, and he wasn't interested. So I asked if I could do it, still work for him and just deliver when I got off work. He said, “Okay, do it.” I started my business under its own name, so that it wasn’t associated with his business, but he paid me. I think I charged $5 back in the day just to deliver laundry to people’s houses. EBS: How did that small delivery service eventually become a full business?

MH: After the first year, I started running my numbers and thought I could do it by myself. I went to my manager and told him that I was going out on my own and would do this full time, but I would work with him for six more months until he got a really good replacement. A month later, he had found my replacement and didn’t need me anymore. We contracted the use of his laundromat in Bozeman while he was closed so I could run my business. That was actually his idea. Laundry Liberator did people’s laundry overnight and delivered it during the day. We used that rental system in different areas around Bozeman for eight years before we built our own facility, which we’ve now been in for more than three years. EBS: It sounds like that first business owner was almost a mentor to you. MH: He was super supportive. When I split from him, I told him I wasn’t going to take any customers unless they called me. I wasn’t going to call them and tell them I was leaving. We’re still good friends to this day. He doesn’t own the laundromat anymore, but he’s still like a second dad to me. EBS: What helped you learn how to become a better business owner? MH: I think getting into different organizations as soon as I went out on my own helped me more. I learned from other people who had been in my shoes. I don’t know that I was open and willing enough to be told what to do when I started my own business; I was probably a little too stubborn in the beginning. But then, meeting other business owners through the years, networking, going to a lot of women’s events and organizations, I started coming into my own. I’m a better person and business owner today than I was a year ago, and next year I’ll be a better person than I am right now. That’s always the goal. EBS: What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned over the past 11 years? MH: Don’t wait for perfection before starting, because you’re never going to get everything perfect. Every time we try to expand or add a new service here, we put it out there and see if anyone bites. Some things work, and some don’t. Change is hard for anyone. I make failures every day, but I also win every day. EBS: How has Laundry Liberator evolved over the years? MH: I started the business with the idea of helping families or individuals with their normal laundry. Then it grew into small businesses that needed help, like dental offices, chiropractors and massage therapists. Then I was approached by a horse barn asking if we could wash horse blankets. I said, “Let me try.” Now we wash horse blankets and horse tack, and we actually have a huge client base for that. EBS: What does washing horse tack and blankets involve? MH: The biggest thing is that it’s something

MAKING IT IN BIG SKY BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE

OUR COMMUNITY. OUR BUSINESS.

covering an animal that lives outside, so it gets really dirty. We have big commercial washers that can handle the weight of those items when they get wet because everything gets heavier. There are also a lot of buckles, metal objects, strings, ropes and leg straps, so you need equipment that can handle all of those things moving around. We buy special waterproofing designed for horse blankets and has been tested to be safe with animals. We buy it in bulk. Then, we hang everything up to dry. EBS: You’ve really found a niche by adapting to what your customers need. MH: We have. I feel like the older we get as a business, the more we’re fine-tuning and know what we are good at. We have gotten past the point of saying yes to everything. EBS: Where does Laundry Liberator fit between a traditional laundromat and a commercial linen service? MH: We’re kind of in the middle. We do everyday normal laundry, but we also have property managers who manage more than 50 properties in Big Sky, and we do all their turnovers. We’re also paired with Bozeman Health and do the Big Sky division, including the medical center and urgent cares. So we have those bigger clients, but we’re still servicing anyone who can walk in our door or schedule a pickup and delivery in Big Sky, Bozeman or Belgrade. EBS: What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever washed? MH: A boxing ring usually takes the cake. We do it twice a year for a nonprofit. I’ve also done a teepee because it comes apart into fabric sections. I’ve done tents and boat covers too. I always tell people, “I’m going to put it in a washer just like you would. My washer is just commercial.” If it isn’t designed for a washer, it might not work. EBS: Tell me about your team and how you make all of this possible. MH: We currently have a team of 10, and everyone plays a specific role. We have people who sort all the laundry coming in and get it into the washers. Then people transition it into the dryers. Depending on the item, we lay it out, and then we have a whole section that is just folding. We call it “the flow.” The flow has to keep moving. If sorting is backed up, someone needs to leave where they are and go help, because if stuff isn’t going into the washing machine, it’s definitely not coming out. EBS: What has been the best part of working with the Big Sky community? MH: Big Sky is amazing. It’s its own world. It’s so beautiful. Whenever I can, I take our routes up to Big Sky. If one of my drivers needs a sick day or a vacation day, I say, “I’ll drive. Let me go to Big Sky.” When people reach out to us and see that we service Big Sky—whether they need their family’s clothing done, a vacation rental turned over or whatever it is—they’re just so nice and happy that someone is willing to come all the way out to Big Sky.

Interested in learning more about how we can help your business?

REACH OUT TODAY! BIGSKYCHAMBER.COM 406.995.3000

IT’S TIME TO PROTECT THE ELK AND DEER HERDS OF GALLATIN GATEWAY AND BIG SKY

3,562 Deer and Elk were killed by vehicles in Gallatin County since 2008.

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Explore Big Sky

41 August 20 - September 2, 2026

HEALTH

WELLNESS IN ACTION’S BUCK THE STIGMA CAMPAIGN

WIA’S GOLF TOURNAMENT TAKES SWING SEPTEMBER 10 AT BIG SKY RESORT GOLF COURSE Sponsored content Before the aspens turn and Big Sky settles into a quiet before winter's rush, Wellness in Action is celebrating over 20 years of showing up for the people who live and work here. This year, that milestone comes with a bold change to a Fall tradition. For years, WIA's annual golf fundraiser was known as Par the Peaks. This year Par the Peaks has rebranded as Buck the Stigma Charitable Golf Tournament, a campaign with a sharper focus on WIA’s mission, explained Dana Wikan, president of the WIA board of directors: normalizing mental health struggles and making sure no one in Big Sky faces them alone.

A golf team at a previous WIA tournament. PHOTO COURTESY OF WIA

“This isn’t just a new name for a fundraiser. It’s a long‑term commitment to changing how our community talks about and accesses mental health care,” Wikan said. “When people show up for this event, they’re helping us support the community every single day.” This year's tournament takes place on Thursday, Sept. 10, just one day before the 25th anniversary of 9/11. The event timing is intentional, honoring first responders, post-9/11 veterans, and active military personnel, whose service so often comes with an invisible toll on mental health. Big Sky Bravery, an organization dedicated entirely to the mental wellness of the veterans and service members, will join as a special guest for the tournament, offering a Hero Sponsorship, with the goal of increasing awareness of the unique experiences of our veterans and first responders and encourage open conversations so people get the support they need. “Big Sky Bravery exists to give active-duty Special Operations Forces a place to decompress from the weight of continuous deployment, but that work doesn't stop when our recipients head home,” said Neil Harris, BSB’s CFO. “WIA is doing important work for the community that surrounds and supports our mission, year-round. Although our organizations serve different recipients, both BSB and WIA provide support and community to those who need

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIA

it most, and supporting them is one of the clearest ways we can show up as a good neighbor.” Harris also noted that with the BSB Ranch, the organization’s home base currently under construction in Big Sky, they will soon be a neighbor to the community WIA serves. “Partnering with an organization like WIA, whose entire mission is normalizing that conversation and making care accessible, reinforces the core belief behind everything we do: the earlier someone gets support, the better the outcome,” added Harris. Several participants have stepped up to purchase Heroes sponsorships, including Shelly Bermont and Blue Moon Bakery, covering all or part of the cost of a team so local hospital personnel, ski patrol and members of the Big Sky Fire Department and Sheriff 's Office may play as guests of the tournament.

The Big Sky Build team. PHOTO COURTESY OF WIA

WIA is also using this year's tournament to extend its mission beyond the golf course. A number of local businesses like Yeti Dogs have secured sponsorships on a sliding scale fee structure, a deliberate mirror of the sliding scale WIA already uses to keep counseling services affordable and accessible. The goal is to provide businesses of all sizes with the opportunity to support WIA’s work in the community.

On a day-to-day basis, WIA exists to meet those challenges head-on, year-round, offering lowcost counseling in-person, via telehealth, or in Spanish; specialized counseling for ski patrol, first responders, and educators; two Community Health Workers who provide individualized care and referrals at no cost; suicide prevention trainings; and youth scholarships that keep the cost of living from becoming a barrier to a child's wellbeing. “Mental health challenges touch every corner of our community, and the demand for support and utilization of resources continues to increase,” said says Kiernan Volden, executive director of WIA. “As WIA’s counseling platform has expanded, we’ve seen counseling hours grow by 228% from 2020 to 2025 and counseling clients served by 199%. The tournament support makes it possible for us to offer counseling subsidies, care coordination, and outreach and prevention programming that directly touch the lives of individuals and families in Big Sky.” There are still opportunities to sponsor a group or get involved with Buck the Stigma Charitable Golf Tournament—those interested can learn more on their website. “Every contribution helps ensure we can continue providing services that increase access to mental health support and improve community wellbeing,” Volden said.

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43 August 20 - September 2, 2026

Explore Big Sky

American Bison // Bison bison

DID YOU KNOW?

500 years ago, at least 30 million bison roamed the plains. That number is now less than 30,000. The depletion of free range bison has been attributed to: • Decades of over-exploitation • Decline in genetic diversity • Habitat loss • Human Interaction

Yellowstone National Park boasts the nation's largest free range buffalo herd, but only two others remain - the Henry’s Mountains and Book Cliffs herds, both in southern Utah.

Respect. Protect. Cherish. Paid for by the animals in your backyard.

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