VIEWS. - Summer 2021

BIG SKY

VIEWS. Real Estate Guide

WEST YELLOWSTONE’S ‘BAD ASS’ MAMA

Why we seek the freedom of southwest Montana

Meet your local producers

Maximize your garden space COZY CANINES

Selecting the best bed for your pup On the cover: The Reserve at Willow Creek looking east toward the Crazy Mountains.

Summer 2021

08 - Introduction: A summer of emergence 10 - The fish whisperer What we can learn from badass angler and mama, Giselle Fontanazza Hansen 20 - Real estate by the numbers 32 - Keeping your canine cozy Trends and tips for picking the perfect dog bed 36 - Big Sky Sotheby’s International Realty The absolute best of Montana 44 - Reconnecting a community Jereco Studios adapts business and entertainment for Big Sky and beyond 48 - From local soils How you can make a difference by buying local food—and how local producers are f inding ways to thrive 56 - Growing up with vertical gardening Maximize your space with homegrown plants and produce 64 - Alpine Water Devoted to community, conservation and a healthier water cycle

2 | Summer 2021

VIEWS.

Located against the foothills of the Bangtail Mountain range in Southwest Montana, The Reserve at Willow Creek offers you the best of what makes Montana great. These one-ofa-kind, 157+/-acre parcels provide world-class views, end of the road privacy and wide-open spaces, only 25 minutes from Livingston, Montana.

Lots starting at $1.750M Co-Listed by: E.J. Daws ej@lkrealestate.com (406) 589-6247 Buzz Tatom buzz.tatom@evrealestate.com (406) 580-4774

PHOTO BY BAILEY MILL VIEWS.

Summer 2021 | 3

Protect what matters most At AssuredPartners, we’re here to provide best-in-class asset protection and unparalleled service when wildfire strikes. Through our powerful partnerships we are able to provide complimentary wildfire defensive services that protect your home before, during, and after a wildfire.

Contact Rob Kerdasha for a complimentary review of your current homeowners policy (406) 640-0375 | robert.kerdasha@assuredpartners.com

BIG SKY

VIEWS. Owned and published by Outlaw Partners in Big Sky, Montana

PUBLISHER Eric Ladd

COO, VP FINANCE Treston Wold

VIEWS. PRODUCTION TEAM MANAGING EDITOR Mira Brody

VP SALES E.J. Daws

HEAD OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Sam Brooks ART DIRECTOR Marisa Opheim COPYWRITER Patrick Straub OUTLAW PARTNERS TEAM EDITORIAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, VP MEDIA Joseph T. O’Connor SENIOR EDITOR Bella Butler ASSISTANT EDITOR Gabrielle Gasser CREATIVE GRAPHIC DESIGNER ME Brown SALES AND OPERATIONS CEO Megan Paulson

VP EVENTS Ennion Williams VP MARKETING Blythe Beaubien MEDIA AND EVENTS DIRECTOR Ersin Ozer VIDEO DIRECTOR, CINEMATOGRAPHER Seth Dahl EXECUTIVE COORDINATOR Tucker Harris SENIOR ACCOUNTANT Sara Sipe PROJECT MANAGER Eli Kretzmann EVENTS COORDINATOR, RETAIL MANAGER Connor Clemens DISTRIBUTION MANAGER, LOCAL SALES Patrick Mahoney

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS/EDITORS Kate Hull, Brooke White, Emily Stifler Wolfe

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS/ARTISTS Lauren Anderson, Jocelyn Baty, Rachael Hicks, Dan Lakatos, Ruthi Solari, Will Polansky, Kene Sperry, Ayla Verschueren, Kayla Wilson, Emily Stifler Wolfe VIEWS. magazine is southwest Montana’s leading print and digital real estate publication; core distribution includes Big Sky, Bozeman, West Yellowstone, contracted placement in select resorts, and subscribers in all 50 states.

To advertise in VIEWS. winter 2021, contact Sam Brooks at sam@theoutlawpartners.com.

OUTLAW PARTNERS & VIEWS. P.O. Box 160250, Big Sky, MT 59716 (406) 995-2055 • media@outlaw.partners © 2021 VIEWS. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited Follow us on Instagram: @views.montana CHECK OUT THESE OTHER OUTLAW PUBLICATIONS:

4 HIGHPOINT DRIVE Big Sky Mountain Village 4 Beds | 4.5 Baths | 3,500 ± sq. ft. $2.85M Stunning Lone Peak Views, Top Quality Construction and Materials - Your Search for the Ultimate Big Sky Resort Home is Over!

Michael Pitcairn, L&K Real Estate michael@lkrealestate.com (406) 539-6060

VIEWS.

Summer 2021 | 7

A summer of emergence Every Thursday evening during the summer months for the past 13 years, the Arts Council of Big Sky has hosted the beloved Music in the Mountains free concert series. Families and friends, visitors and locale alike gather on lawn chairs, blankets and the grassy dance floor to take in the smells of local food trucks, brews and live music under the big sky.

Last year, summer was quashed by the pandemic and the Music in the Mountains stage was left vacant, leaving a gaping hole in the community.

This year in early June, Tips Up in Big Sky Town Center was a boisterous scene, with eager fans gathered in anticipation of the Arts Council’s Music in the Mountains lineup release. The crowd was rowdy, the bar full, beer taps working at breakneck speed and Dead Sky was warming up on the new venue’s stage. For many, the return of Music in the Mountains—and live music in general—felt like the mark of the return of normalcy from a trying year.

It’s a summer of emergence. We’ll experience new growth, new lessons and possibly a better understanding of who we are and our role in the community. As we greet our friends at this summer’s gatherings—whether Music in the Mountains, the Big Sky Farmers Market, Big Sky PBR or other muchanticipated summer events around town—we’ll do so with wider smiles, louder laughs and hopefully a better appreciation for what we missed over the last year.

We hope this issue of VIEWS. highlights those values: of personal growth and nourishment; appreciation of our local businesses, producers and of our community. We’ve brought these stories, photos and experiences together in triumph, as a celebration of the dawn of the summer of emergence.

Mira Brody Managing Editor, VIEWS. Big Sky

3735 PINEWOOD DRIVE Main House 4,976 ± sq. ft.

3 Bedrooms | 3.5 baths Guest House 2,298 ± sq. ft.

1 Bedroom | 1 Full bath 7,274 total ± sq. ft.

Offered at $4,950,000.00 5.67 ± acres Over 5.5 Acres, Close Proximity to Town Center and Horses Allowed This is the Ultimate Big Sky Sanctuary L&K Real Estate Michael Pitcairn michael@lkrealestate.com (406) 539-6060 Ryan Kulesza ryan@lkrealestate.com (406) 995-2404

VIEWS.

Summer 2021 | 9

Giselle Fontanazza Hansen enjoys some family time with her kids and husband Travis.

PHOTO BY DAN LAKATOS

THE FISH

Whisperer

WH AT W E CAN LEARN FROM B A DASS ANGLER AND M AM A, G ISE LLE FONTANAZZ A HANSE N

BY EMILY STIFLER WOLFE

VIEWS.

Summer 2021 | 11

Giselle Fontanazza Hansen pulled her drift boat up onto an island near Pine Butte on the Madison River and her two clients, a couple in their 50s, got out to wade fish.

Not long after, the man had a fish on his line, so Hansen turned to grab her net. Suddenly, puncturing the otherwise serene landscape, the woman screamed.

When Hansen turned back, she saw something she’d never encountered in her 25-plus years of fly fishing: Her client was fighting an osprey for the fish.

“He has the fish hooked, and the osprey is grabbing his fish and trying to pull it away. So now, the guy has a fish and an osprey,” Hansen said, when recounting the events of that morning.

After 15 seconds or so, the line snapped, and the osprey flew off with the client’s fish.

After lunch, right when the air was beginning to warm, the group saw what they thought was trash floating downstream. Hansen rowed over to grab it, and her client reached out to retrieve instead an unopened beer in a koozie. The man, who happened to be celebrating a birthday, promptly cracked it open and took a swig.

While Hansen grew up in Argentine Patagonia, she’s lived in West Yellowstone for more than a decade.

As much as anyone, this outdoorswoman—at once a fishing guide, business owner, community volunteer and mother—represents the reasons people love living in southwest Montana, and why many are keen to move here now. The clean air, water and natural beauty of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Phenomenal outdoor recreation and safe communities. Opportunities

12 | Summer 2021

VIEWS.

PHOTOS BY LAUREN ANDERSON,

BY YOUR SIDE PHOTOGRAPHY

EVEN IF YOU DON’T SEE FISH, EVEN IF YOU NEVER CATCH FISH, SHE WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN. SHE’S LIKE THE FISH WHISPERER. – Lindsey Charlton, f riend of Giselle Fontanazza Hansen VIEWS.

for professional growth, volunteerism and philanthropy. And perhaps most importantly, the ability to live life on your own terms.

Engaging, warm and insanely competent, Hansen, 40, has been guiding fly fishing trips since she was 16. Growing up in Junín de los Andes, a town of 20,000 in northern Patagonia, she was the oldest of five children and worked alongside her dad and brothers as part of the family business, Flotadas Chimehuin. That’s where she met her husband Travis, a guide born and raised in West Yellowstone. She ski patrolled for six years in Chile, Argentina and Andorra while guiding fly fishing during the off season and then became a full time guide, working 180 days a year on the river between Montana and Argentina.

In 2012, she spent a season ski instructing at the Yellowstone Club and worked as its first fishing guide supervisor. In that role, she helped establish the club’s fishing program, exploring its 15 miles of fishable water, building trails, training new guides, designing trips and setting the club’s standard for quality fly fishing service, said Geoff Unger, who hired Hansen back in 2012 and is still the Yellowstone Club’s fishing outfitter and snowsports manager.

Summer 2021 | 13

A woman with many hats, Hansen is a volunteer firefighter with the Hebgen Basin Fire District.

PHOTO BY WILL POLANSKY

“I tell my new guys, ‘She’s going to catch more fish than all of you,’” Unger said. “I have a ton of respect for her. She did an awesome job of taking some pretty green fishing guides and whipping them into shape.

She has super high standards, and she gets the business.

She’s kind of a badass.”

Another friend, Lindsey Charlton, calls Hansen a fish whisperer. “Even if you don’t see fish, even if you never catch fish, she will make it happen. She’s like the fish whisperer.”

Although Hansen has mostly paused her guiding career to spend time with her kids, now 5 and 8, she still guides 30 days a year at the Yellowstone Club and for other outfitters in West Yellowstone, in addition to outfitting trips for North American clients for her family’s business in Argentina. On top of that, she and Travis own and operate a winterizing and homebuilding company, manage a private 700-acre ranch on Hebgen Lake, and are remodeling their own home.

This is a woman who makes her own homemade ravioli and plants tomato starts next to her boiler when there’s still four feet of snow outside, placing them beneath UV lights and wrapping them in heated

blankets. Someone who teamed up with other local moms in West Yellowstone to create a free Fridayafternoon club to empower and educate local girls, and who volunteers on both the local search and rescue team and the Hebgen Basin Fire District, where she’s helped Spanish-speaking residents with COVID-19 vaccine paperwork, bearing witness to more than 500 vaccinations in West Yellowstone.

“On every volunteer fire department, there are a handful of those firefighters who you can always count on, and Giselle is one of them,” said James Jessop, the district’s assistant fire chief.

Jessop recalls Hansen attending a training on how to operate a pump while wearing her then 3-month-old son on her back—which, he assured, was completely safe. More recently, they responded to a structure fire and Jessop assigned her to the challenging job of managing the end of a 2.5-inch attack line, which Jessop says is normally a task for two people.

“The hose is not extremely heavy, but it can feel like you’re pushing 50 pounds,” Jessop said. “It definitely takes some grit. She improvised a technique we taught her in training, [tying webbing] around the hose and

14 | Summer 2021

VIEWS.

... THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF THOSE FIREFIGHTERS WHO YOU CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON, AND GISELLE IS ONE OF THEM,” – James Jessop, assistant f ire chief, Hebgen Fire District PHOTO BY KAYLA WILSON

hooking it around her shoulder. She was able to manage and didn’t complain.”

While Hansen has found ways to quench her desire to help people and stay relevant as a guide, it wasn’t easy to put her professional life on hold to have a family.

At the height of her career, Hansen was the only female guide in all of Argentina, working in an area reminiscent of southwest Montana but with fewer people. Since 1995, her family’s business has hosted all-inclusive guide trips and has become known for its overnight camping trips, which feature multi-course asados served riverside with wine. Their customers return year after year.

“Guiding is my profession,” Hansen said. “It’s a pride thing. I knew I was giving up my professional growth to start growing somebody else. I don’t regret it, but it was hard.”

So, she took her kids fishing. Cabela’s is still posting photos of her, fish in hand, baby on her back, on its Instagram. And in one family video, Hansen is thighdeep in an eddy, 3-year-old Maila straddling her mother’s slightly bent leg, back to her chest. Arms around Maila’s waist, Hansen shows Maila how to cast VIEWS.

toward a deep pool. Their backs to the camera, both mother and daughter are quiet in their focus.

“When you teach a kid to bake a cake, most of the time your kitchen is a disaster,” Hansen said. “You lose so much time doing it, but you’re hoping in five years, this kid will be able to do something himself … When you’re teaching kids to fly fish, they are learning so much—how to return a fish in the water, how to treat a fish, and that you’re not going to fry it, so it will go and have babies and you can fish it again. If you don’t know nature, you can’t take care of it.”

As her youngest enters kindergarten, Hansen is bound to keep pouring energy and optimism into her work and passions. We can all learn a few things from her in the balance of life—even if that means there is no balance when you’re chasing your dreams.

“What I really like about having our own business and working for ourselves is that there’s no limit,” Hansen said. “You can do as much as you want.

Whatever you think you can do, it’s going to happen.

It’s all about you and how much you’re willing to sacrifice, or how much effort you’re willing to put in.

That’s limitless.”

Summer 2021 | 15

BIG SKY’S

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7 / 14-18

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MUTTO

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B I NG O 7 / 2 0

Community Partner

*All events located at the PBR Basecamp Tent in Town Center Plaza unless otherwise noted

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Presented by:

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SW MONTANA REAL ESTATE STATS - Q1 2021

Q1 Bozeman Median residential sales price:

+27%

Q1 Big Sky Median residential sales price:

+7.6%

MONTHS SUPPLY OF RESIDENTIAL INVENTORY FOR SALE

9.4 mo.

2.8 mo.

2 mo.

0.5 mo.

MARCH

2020

BOZEMAN

2021

-82%

BIG SKY 2020

2021

-79%

BOZEMAN

BIG SKY

Median % of Last List Price

Median % of Last List Price

Q1 2021

Q1 2021

100%

Stats brought to you by:

98.8%

LKRealEstate.com

RESIDENTIAL & LAND SALES PERFORMANCE - Q1 2021 MEDIAN RESIDENTIAL SALES PRICE Bozeman

$1.4M $1.2M

$1,085,000

$1.0M

$0.4M

Big Sky

January-March 2021

$0.8M $0.6M

$1,168,000

$620,000 $436,000

$400,500

Bozeman $555,000 | +38.6%

$555,000

Big Sky $1,168,000 | +88.3%

$0.2M $0

2019

2020

2021

MEDIAN LAND SALES PRICE $800K

$667,500 $600K

$497,500

$457,000 $400K

$200K

Bozeman $350,000 | +157.6%

$176,000

Big Sky $667,500 | +46.1%

$0

2019

Big Sky

January-March 2021 $350,000

$135,885

Bozeman

2020

2021

DOLLAR VOLUME OF CLOSED SALES - RESIDENTIAL $1.073B

$1B

Bozeman $800M

$765M

$730M

Big Sky

$620.9M

$600M

January-March 2021

$400M

$276.6M

Bozeman $1,072,564,274 | +46.9%

$310.1M

$200M

Big Sky $620,924,067 | +124.5%

$0

2019

2020

2021

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 should not be relied upon as such. These offerings are subject to errors, omissions, and changes including price or withdrawal without notice. Statistical information obtained through MLS, information considered reliable but we cannot guarantee its accuracy. 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. ©2019 LK REAL ESTATE lkrealestate.com * Private Club membership by invitation or upon approval **Per MLS as of date of publishing

GO TIME

5

REASONS TO CELEBRATE SUMMER IN YELLOWSTONE

Yellowstone is a magical place – especially in summer. With convenient lodging and popular tours, Yellowstone Vacations makes it easy to take in the best of the region. Here are 5 things to experience in Yellowstone this summer.

1 2 3 4 5 BOOK YOUR YELLOWSTONE ADVENTURE. 877-600-4308 YellowstoneVacations.com

GRAND PRISMATIC

Stunning in every season, Grand Prismatic’s rainbow colors deepen in the summer months.

HIKE TROUT LAKE

A great hike for kids, here you can observe waterfalls and possibly even playful otters.

GRAY WOLVES

See the largest member of the dog family up close at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center.

FISHING ON YELLOWSTONE LAKE

If you want to fish for cutthroat trout or lake trout, you’ll be in heaven on Yellowstone Lake.

GRAND CANYON OF THE YELLOWSTONE

Pack a lunch and get ready to take plenty of photos at this awe-inspiring natural destination.

Big Sky Medical Center now offers general, OB/GYN, vascular, and basic fetal ultrasounds.

Call 406-995-6995 to schedule an appointment for your ultrasound needs.

334 Town Center Avenue, Big Sky, MT BigSkyMedicalCenter.com

Fine Art, Furniture & Jewelry

JULY 14-18, 2021 Online Auction & Live Event PBR Basecamp Tent | Big Sky, MT

bigskyartauction.com

A selection of works for this year’s auction; all items subject to prior sale or removal

Robyn Thayer - Feather Triptych

Acrylic, Crayon, Graphite, and Collage on wooden panel, 24” x 12” x 3mm.

Tim Lozier - Molesworth Armchair

By Western Hands exclusive

Made from Douglas fir poles, top quality black leather with custom-made red, black and oatmeal chimayos.

Jake Mosher, Worship the Night Framed Photograph, 26x46

Jackson Hole Jewelry Co. Rainbow Sapphire Coil Bracelet

Over 12 carats of high quality multicolored rainbow sapphires set in 18 karat gold. With a full spectrum of natural color this jewel is the ultimate fashion accessory.

Karey Dodge Blue Agate Pine Needle Basket

Using the ancient art of pine needle basketry, this one-of-a-kind basket uses blue agate stone resembling beautiful Lake Tahoe, the artist’s hometown.

+ An unforgettable auction item you won't want to miss

FROM PANOR AMIC RECREATIONAL PROPER TIES I N T H E B I G S K Y C O U N T R Y. . .

Currently Offered: WILLOW CREEK ROAD RANCHES 1-4 157 Acres per Ranch Buzz Tatom 406.580.4774 buzz.taom@evrealestate.com www.buzztatom.evrealestate.com

ENNIS

BIG SKY

Ennis.evrealestate.com

BigSky.evrealestate.com

406.924.7050

406.924.7050

BILLINGS

Billings.evrealestate.com 406.206.0192

©2020 Engel & Völkers. All rights reserved. Each brokerage 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. Engel & Völkers and its independent License Partners are Equal Opportunity Employers and fully support the principles of the Fair Housing Act.

...TO CREEKSIDE FARMSTEADS AGAINST THE BRIDGERS.

Currently Offered: 1260 FOSTER CREEK ROAD

6 Beds 4 Baths 5,720 SQFT 8.21 Acres

PollyAnna Snyder 406.600.2477 pollyanna.snyder@evrealestate.com www.pollyannasnyder.evrealestate.com

BOZEMAN

LIVINGSTON

406.404.1960

406.946.0097

Bozeman.evrealestate.com

Livingston.evrealestate.com

WE SET THE STANDARD FOR RECORD-SETTING SALES IN MONTANA $1.6 BILLION IN SALES 2,802 TRANSACTIONS

Tune in Fridays at 6PM MST on Explore Big Sky Facebook Live or watch live at various locations in Big Sky’s Town Center.

Featuring some of the best regional musicians. Grab some friends, a drink and get ready to have some fun!

88 Ousel Falls Road, Suite B | Big Sky, MT 59716 406.995.4009 | www.BigSkyPureWest.com

BIGSKYBUILD.COM | 406.995.3670 | BIG SKY, MT USA

Keeping your canine cozy Trends and tips for picking the perfect dog bed

BY KATE HULL

A bed is our oasis. It’s where we unwind, relax and hit snooze on the busyness of the day. For our furry companions—whose sleep schedule can average nearly 12 hours a day—having a cozy space to rest their weary paws is just as essential. While your dogs may opt to curl up on the foot of your bed, providing them with their own space is an important way to offer security and comfort and regain control of your mattress.

Cue the dog bed. Gone are the days of bland colors and mediocre fabrics.

Dog beds come in all shapes and sizes with plush materials that might even put your own thread count and memory foam to shame. And, while it’s all about your dog’s relaxation, an added bonus is the onset of stylish fabrics that make adding a bed or two a way to compliment your space and tastes. >>

32 | Summer 2021

VIEWS.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANIMALS MATTER VIEWS.

Summer 2021 | 33

KNOW YOUR DOG

Before you dive into picking a bed, make sure to gather a bit of intel about your dog’s sleeping habits.

Jane Mittelsteadt, a former veterinarian who owns both franchised Dee-O-Gee locations in Bozeman along with her husband, Eric, recommends starting with your dog’s preferred sleeping position.

“If your dog is a curler, the circle bed or the donut beds with edges or a trim piece will be best,” Mittelsteadt says. “If they like to sprawl out, they will like the flat beds better. Knowing this will help each dog find their happy space.”

PUPPY-FRIENDLY

While Bozeman-based West Paw dog beds are a favorite both locally and nationally, no matter your pooch’s age, Mittelsteadt recommends the West Paw Heyday Bed or the West Paw Big Sky Nap Mat as a goto for people with puppies. These beds are handcrafted right in Bozeman with eco-friendly materials and minimal waste, a win for comfort and conservation. The beds are celebrated for their soft texture and high-quality materials.

“People are not only excited to support a local company, but West Paw also offers a lifetime guarantee on their beds,” Mittelsteadt says. “They will replace it one time for free.”

People with puppies that are working on crate training migrate to the HeyDay or Big Sky Nap. The nap mat fits nicely in a crate and adds a cozy touch.

The Ruby Puff in ivory is perfect for the circle sleeper, offering soft walls that contour to your pup’s body. PHOTO COURTESY OF ANIMALS MATTER

CONSIDER A CRATE

Instinctually, some canines prefer an enclosed space that mimics a den. A crate to many dogs is a safe and comfortable place where they feel secure, explains Kara Pollard, executive director of Dog Is My Copilot, a Jackson, Wyoming-based nonprofit that transports atrisk dogs from overcrowded shelters to regions where potential adopters are in ample supply.

“Instinctively dogs like to den,” Pollard says. “So, introducing a crate into your home for your dog is usually a great idea! It all depends on perspective, but a crate to my dogs has always been a cozy retreat!” Create extra comfort with a snuggly pad or plush bed.

The Ruffwear rectangle bed is soft and compact for travel. PHOTO COURTESY OF RUFFWEAR

STYLE MEETS FUNCTION

While dog beds in simple neutrals and basic colors are easy to come by, a rise in bold, bright and stylish patterns are cornering the pet comfort market. Known for their stunning blankets and clothing, few things say Western style more than vibrant textiles from Pendleton.

The luxury woolen mills company hasn’t left out the dogs

If your dog is skittish, sometimes a crate is the best comfort you can offer them. Be sure to include a pad or their favorite blanket. PHOTO BY AYLA VERSCHUEREN VIA UNSPLASH

34 | Summer 2021

VIEWS.

in pinks and blues. “People are wanting colors that pop and might be a little unusual, going back to that midcentury modern style,” she said.

SENIOR CARE

Pendleton’s National Park series dog beds, including this Grand Canyon inspired one, will bring color and style to your home. PHOTO COURTESY OF PENDLETON

and has created a popular line of beds that are equally as luxurious for your dog as they are stylish for the home.

Ideal for a dog that loves to sprawl out, the Petnapper series from Pendleton is high-loft, polyester filled and comes with a removable cover for easy cleaning.

FOR THE PAMPERED POOCH

Some pups just love a little extra pampering.

Animals Matter, a direct-to-consumer luxury dog bed company, creates beds with an impressive thread count and philanthropic message. Animals Matter has been manufacturing in the U.S. since 2003 and is known for vegan and cruelty-free designs.

“We have this design that is kind of magical for dogs,” says Nancy Kline, founder of Palm Springs, California-based company. The Puff Bed is the most popular, featuring a patented design and array of fabrics to pick from—this year, Nancy has seen an uptick in bed hunters looking for more color, like her jewel tones

At both the beginning and end of their lives, dogs need additional attention to specific needs. For a senior dog, Dog Is My Copilot’s Pollard recommends finding a bed with support that’s easier to get in and out of.

“Given the extra time a senior dog may spend lounging around and sleeping, it is important to choose a bed that is comfortable,” she says. “Some older dogs might even benefit from extra padding and support.”

The Bowser Beds, the most popular go-to at DeeO-Gee, offer a super cushiony donut bed that’s perfect for a little extra snugness for an older, smaller dog. For a bigger dog, or one with joint issues, opt for a stiff, more mat-like bed like the Bowser Isotonic Memory Foam Mattress.

BACKCOUNTRY COMPANION

When you’re a dog of the Northwest, life isn’t always naps-by-the-fireplace and cozy days spent indoors. With summer in full swing, bringing your dog along for the adventure is always a plus. Ruffwear is known for their performance dog gear from harnesses to life jackets. For your backcountry companion, the Highlands Pad is portable, lightweight and compact.

The Highland Series also offers a lightweight, synthetic sleeping bag—slip the pad inside for extra insulation.

It’s easy to throw in your pack or the backseat of the car and the pad ensures your dog feels secure, a little more at home and warm on your next adventure.

The Highlands Cloud Puff is portable, lightweight and will make your friend feel at home on your next outdoor adventure.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RUFFWEAR

VIEWS.

Summer 2021 | 35

Big Sky Sotheby’s International Realty The absolute best of Montana 1320 Old Toby Rd. Never has a property as unique and rare as this 491acre private estate been offered in Big Sky. The estate is located just a few minutes from Big Sky Ski Resort, “The Biggest Skiing in America.” The over 8,000-square-foot main house is dwarfed by views of Lone Mountain and the Spanish Peaks that dominate to the north and west. Huge Canadian Red Cedar and native Montana Chief Joseph rock were used extensively throughout the beautiful 5+ bedroom, 4.5 bath home.

The guest/caretaker home is adjacent. If peace and privacy is what you need, this is it. The property consists of three separate parcels that border Gallatin National Forest, the Lee Metcalf Wilderness and a 320-acre conservation easement. The grounds, consisting of heavy timber, are home to a resident elk herd. Moose, bear, mountain lions, deer and coyote are also seen on the property. Hunt, cross- country ski, hike, bike, horseback ride, bicycle, four-wheel or snowmobile on the numerous turn-of-the-century logging roads that bisect the property. Two of the three parcels that make up this amazing offering are candidates for conservation easements that preserve the land in perpetuity and offer tax benefits to the landowner. Big Sky is a very special part of Montana. This offering, in the heart of it all, is a jewel ready to welcome its owners home.

Listed by Cathy Gorman 406-580-2318 cathy@bigskysir.com

Tim Cyr 406-580-6316 tim.cyr@sothebysrealty.com

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BIG SKY SOTHEBY'S INTERNATIONAL REALTY 36 | Summer 2021

VIEWS.

ARROW RANCH | WISDOM, MONTANA | $38,514,500 | 14,982± acres DOME MOUNTAIN RANCH EMIGRANT, MONTANA $45,000,000 | 5,329± acres

ASPEN CANYON RANCH BOZEMAN, MONTANA $10,000,000 | 934± acres

HYALITE VIEW RANCH BOZEMAN, MONTANA $7,950,000 | 137± acres

To view details on over $850m worth of exclusive listings and for a complimentary subscription to Land Investor magazine, visit us at: FAYRANCHES.COM | INFO@FAYRANCHES.COM | 800.238.8616

Photo by Whitney Kamman General Contractor: Journey & Sons Interior Design: Kathy Koelzers | Montana Expressions Smart Home Technologies: SAV Digital Environments

WELCOME HOME Blending leading edge smart home technology with design, SAV Digital Environments will bring your home to life.

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DISCOVER A BETTER WAY TO VACATION.

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Connecting a community Jereco Studios adapts business and entertainment for Big Sky and beyond

BY PATRICK STRAUB

When Jereco Studios founder Jeremiah Slovarp accepted his first Emmy Award in 2011, he never imagined his passion for event production would create an essential service. Fast forward 10 years and the production company he built from the ground up is one of Montana’s leading providers of essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic—producing and broadcasting live events and business conferences.

Prior to the pandemic Jereco Studios’ reputation for quality live event production was well-known in the entertainment industry. Slovarp had crews from Missoula, Montana to Jackson, Wyoming at venues both large and small. When the pandemic crippled the entertainment industry in early 2020, like picking up in a jazz ensemble, Slovarp came in and improvised.

“COVID has really changed the event production industry,” Slovarp says as he takes a break from the

mixing board. “Now, more than ever, people need to connect. But they’ve got ‘Zoom fatigue,’ grandma can’t travel to the wedding, or employees aren’t able to travel.

People and businesses still need to meet and connect, just not in person like they used to.”

Slovarp and Jereco Studios created a broadcast service out of demand for local businesses and organizations needing to reinvent how their audiences engage with performers. With groups like the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center, the Bozeman Symphony and the Yellowstone Club, Jereco Studios picked up the boom and mic and began to provide event broadcasting services.

“From event planning to technical expertise, to problem solving and sourcing in our rural destination, Jereco provides the finest technical support in our area,” said John Zirkle, executive director of WMPAC.

44 | Summer 2021

VIEWS.

“Even to ship a drum kit from Los Angeles to put on a concert, Jereco is up to the task, no matter what. It’s no wonder they are Emmy winners.”

In bringing these formally in-person events to anyone with an internet connection, Slovarp saw an even bigger demand to provide high quality business conference services so employees could still interact locally and globally.

“The boardroom has changed,” Slovarp says. “In fact, the way businesses and organizations conduct in-person events has changed dramatically. They must broadcast meetings and conferences on a well-done platform. Sales and marketing can’t stop just because face-to-face stops.”

Jereco Studios’ experience with live event broadcasting has proven invaluable for businesses looking to adapt to a post-pandemic world. Drawing from their excellent reputation broadcasting concerts, weddings and live streaming a myriad of other events, Jereco’s success with business services is quickly becoming in high demand.

“Our business conference services are booking up quickly,” Slovarp says. “Our video and audio quality is so high and our experience in event broadcasting means we can broadcast a business event or conference without hiccups, which means the business or group can focus on the conference or event and not worry if people can access it and see and hear it.”

With a dedicated team of full-time employees and a large inventory of technical equipment, Jereco Studios provides the area’s largest and most in-depth event broadcast service for indoor or outdoor events and conferences. From set-up to take-down, Slovarp’s team can provide everything from large format TVs and displays to streaming and digital access channels, and make it all appear seamless for in-person and remote participants.

“Hybrid meetings are becoming more and more popular,” says Dana Ocher, director of catering and events at the new Kimpton Armory Hotel in downtown Bozeman. “This meeting style is not going away anytime soon. Working with Jereco is great. Jeremiah and his team are always there for me when I need assistance for an existing or potential client.”

Prior to the pandemic, less than 10 percent of the country’s workforce worked remotely or had access to a flexible workspace or the ability to telecommute.

One year later, over 50 percent of these positions are remote, making it clear that remote conferencing can serve a crucial purpose in the new world of business communications.

VIEWS.

TOP: When the pandemic hit, Jereco Studios created a broadcast service out of demand for local businesses and organizations needing to reinvent how their audiences engage with performers. PHOTO COURTESY OF JERECO STUDIOS BOTTOM: Jereco Studios has been a strong partner with local event centers such as the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center, the Bozeman Symphony and the Yellowstone Club. PHOTO COURTESY OF JERECO STUDIOS

“Remote work is here to stay,” says Slovarp. “We’ve seen many of our business services customers so excited about our work, they say it was like a well-produced television show.”

And he should know, because since 2011 Slovarp has earned eight more Emmys and could win three more this year. But he didn’t do it alone—he intentionally created a team at Jereco Studios who share his passion.

Not even a global pandemic can stop this enterprising business from improvising and keeping the show going.

Summer 2021 | 45

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4681 SPRINGHILL COMMUNITY ROAD BELGRADE, MT 59714 3 beds | 2 baths | 3,930 sqft | $1,250,000 Nestled at the base of the Bridger Mt Range. This 5 acre Estate captivates you with “VIEWS” in every direction. Enjoy the abundant wildlife including Elk, Deer, Bald Eagle and so much more. The Exterior and Interior of the home have been completely remodeled, which provides a striking and timeless appearance. The Lower Level is framed and ready to customize to your liking. This Estate also has a 40x60 workshop with two electric 14ft Roll up doors and the perimeter of the property is completely fenced in for horses, dogs and animals alike. Enjoy the ranching lifestyle that is conveniently located 10-15 minutes from Downtown Bozeman.

UNDER CONTRACT

1234 THEISEN RANCH BELGRADE, MT 59714 4 beds | 3 baths | 3,026 sqft | $1,275,000 Welcome to the previous historic Theisen Ranch. Few properties in the greater Bozeman area provide this type of end-of-the-road privacy coupled with 360 degrees of Gallatin Valley’s quintessential mountain and agricultural landscapes. At just under 10 acres, you and your horses will have room to ride and roam. The overall personality of this property is enhanced by all the surrounding Ag land and small coulee draws instilling all the feelings of a much larger ranch...minus all the work. This is the heart of Montana.

No known covenants exist on this property. The interior of this 3000+/- sqft 4 bed/2.5 bath home elegantly pairs the classic Montana farmhouse with modern, rustic accents throughout. Strategically placed large windows ensure you’ll never miss the elk moving down in elevation from the nearby Bridger Range. Enjoy your morning cup on the farm porch as the sun blankets the valley floor rising over the peaks to the East. This is the one you’ve been waiting for.

UNDER CONTRACT

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LO Growing

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PHOTO BY ZEN CHUNG VIA PEXELS 48 | Summer 2021

How you can make a difference by buying local food—and how local producers are finding ways to thrive

BY EMILY STIFLER WOLFE

L

Throw a tomato during a southwest Montana summer and you’ll probably hit a food producer.

Whether a vegetable grower, a grain or lentil farmer, or a rancher, they’re the reason much of Montana still looks how it did a century ago.

With a national spotlight shining on small-scale farming and responsibly produced food, organic has become the fastest growing sector of the food industry.

And as evidenced by the bare grocery shelves of the early pandemic, local producers are key to a resilient food system, especially in the face of a crisis.

“No matter what’s happening in the world, if you support local agro economy and business, there will always be food and goods available that were made within the community,” said Christina Angell, owner of Root Cellar Foods, an online market delivering local and regional fare to the Gallatin Valley, Big Sky and Livingston.

In southwest Montana, the local food scene is evolving quickly, with interest in regenerative practices—which improve soil health, support biodiversity and sequester carbon—growing among both growers and consumers.

Progressive farmers and ranchers like these are the future of food—and perhaps, the future of the planet as we know it. Here, we’ve highlighted a few of our favorite up-and-coming producers. >> Summer 2021 | 49

Nate Powell-Palm checks for germination in a field of mixed barley and clover in a field he leases on the west side of the Bridger Mountains. PHOTO BY EMILY STIFLER WOLFE

Cold Springs Ranch

Nate Powell-Palm was 9 when he raised his first cow and sold it at the fair as part of a 4-H program in Belgrade.

He earned organic certification during high school, and began farming crops while studying soil health at Montana State University.

In addition to cows, Powell-Palm, now 29, grows flax, spelt, yellow peas, lentils and durum wheat on the 975 acres he leases in Belgrade and Sheridan, Wyoming. He serves on the National Organics Standards Board and works as an independent organic inspector. Annie’s Mac & Cheese is one of his customers, and soon Powell-Palm aims to enter the direct market for whole grains, lentils, peas and flour.

Powell-Palm envisions a future where farms and ranches are integrated into the Gallatin Valley as it develops, helping to mitigate climate change and solving food insecurity.

“I think the point of farming is to ultimately feed my community.”

50 | Summer 2021 PHOTO BY EMILY STIFLER WOLFE

VIEWS.

Three Hearts Farm

Every Friday in the summer, Rachael Hicks greets her regulars by name as they fill baskets with the seasonal vegetables, greens, herbs and eggs her family grows at Three Hearts Farm and sells through their onsite farm stand.

Originally from the Mission Valley north of Missoula, Hicks and her husband, Josh, 47 and 40, respectively, bought Three Hearts in 2016 with help from family, and three generations now work together on the 20 acres just west of Bozeman.

“We’re trying to find a scale that still allows us to enjoy it,” Hicks said. “I don’t want to continue to project an idea of farming that’s only attainable if you just work and never have time for family or community, because those are really valuable parts of our society.”

That means while they sell to restaurants and through Root Cellar Foods and their own market, they’re stepping back from their CSA to teach their four sons about gardening and business. In turn, it has allowed them to lease land to young farmers like gourmet mushroom grower SporeAttic and Foxglove Flower Farm, supporting the next generation.

Caroline Nelson shows a livestock guardian puppy a new lamb. PHOTO BY JOCELYN BATY

Beautiful veggies and happy farmers at Three Hearts Farm.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RACHAEL HICKS

Little Creek Lamb & Beef

Part of the growing trend of direct-to-consumer meat, Caroline Nelson pasture-raises Icelandic lambs on her husband’s family farm near Townsend, and runs a herd of Black Angus and Hereford steers on a friend’s ranch outside of Ringling. No stranger to the importance of a strong local food chain, when the pandemic hit she had enough lamb and dry-aged beef to last a few normal months. Instead, she sold out in two weeks.

Originally from Pennsylvania, Nelson, 31, began grazing sheep in 2018 on 3 acres between her father-in-law’s irrigation pivots.

Now up to 20 acres, she moves the animals regularly to improve her pasture, and finishes the cows on both grass and barley, which she says improves richness and flavor.

“I’m trying to do this the right way from the beginning,” Nelson said. “Our goal is that the only inputs on that pasture are the [animals] fertilizing it themselves.”

By tracking the soil quality and reducing fertilizer during the transition away from conventional practices, every year they’re planting more diversified grasses, increasing soil productivity and raising healthier sheep.

VIEWS.

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YES Compost owner and founder Karl Johnson churns a pile of nutritious compost. Compost is good for both the environment and the food system. PHOTO COURTESY OF KARL JOHNSON

YES Compost

Karl Johnson has a noble goal: divert all food waste from the landfill and instead redirect it into compost.

As food waste breaks down in a landfill, Johnson explains, it creates methane, a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide. When composted, however, it becomes a natural fertilizer that feeds plants and gardens.

The former alpine ski racing coach started Belgrade-based YES Compost in 2018, gathering residential and business food scraps from Big Sky and the Gallatin Valley. After mixing them with wood chips, he adds “red wiggler” worms to break everything down quickly, a process called vermiculture.

In addition to clean buckets every week, his customers receive a spring delivery of either worm castings or finished compost.

“We’re catering to the person that wants to participate in composting but doesn’t necessarily have the space, time or desire to be digging in a compost pile,” Johnson said. “We take the ick factor out of it.”

PHOTO BY RUTHI SOLARI

PHOTO COURTESY OF KARL JOHNSON 52 | Summer 2021

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RegenMarket

Cattle grazing at B Bar Ranch, Big Timber, Montana

Jody Manuel, Owner Prairie Grass Ranch, Havre, Montana

With the launch of RegenMarket in February, Big Sky locals Ryan and Monica Kulesza along with Steve and Amy DiTullio set out to solve the two main problems they saw in the regenerative agriculture industry: educating people about what it is and providing a market space for producers to easily sell and ship their products direct to consumers.

RegenMarket is a membership-based online marketplace featuring products made in Montana using regenerative agriculture practices. The store currently represents over 100 products including beef, pork, lamb, honey, lentils and plant-based proteins from six of Montana’s top regenerative producers: Prairie Grass Ranch, Olive Branch Pork, B Bar Ranch, Montana Natural Lamb, Timeless Natural Food, and Olivarez Honey Bees.

“By focusing on soil health, our producers’ regenerative agriculture practices truly provide the highest quality and naturally healthy food we can consume,” Ryan says.

“There’s always an ‘aha’ moment when people just get it; when they understand that what’s in the soil translates to the plants, translates to what animals feed on, translates to the quality of what we’re eating.”

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ANIMALS AND PLANTS THAT ARE SAVING THE PLANET, AND YOU!

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GROWING UP WITH VERTICAL GARDENING Maximize your space with homegrown plants and produce

BY BROOKE CONSTANCE WHITE

VIEWS.

Summer 2021 | 57

PLANTS AND GARDENING

are not a cure-all for the twists and turns and the bumps in the road of life, but they can help make the journey a bit easier. That’s not just anecdotal— research in peer-reviewed psychology journals show that living and working amongst plants and getting your hands in the soil decreases stress, increases productivity, helps keep you grounded and improves your mood!

Andy Blanchford, CEO of Bozeman’s Blanchford Landscape Group, says he’s seen the effects firsthand and that having a daily connection with nature is more important than ever with so many people working from home.

“The research is really showing that being around plants makes people happier and feel better,” Blanchford said. “Not only that, but they filter the air and improve our overall health and wellbeing.”

And while all the research is there to back this up, sometimes access and space is the struggle— finding a plot of land to call your own. Although we generally think of traditional green space like a lawn as the main means to garden, it’s time to challenge that line of thinking. If you’re living in an apartment or condo with just a courtyard, patio, balcony or no outdoor space whatsoever to call your own, vertical growing may just be the perfect solution.

Vertical growing is a gamechanger in small spaces because it utilizes your vertical space. Growing up versus out means you don’t need any green space. In fact, some methods don’t even require soil! All you need is a very small footprint—about 2 feet by 2 feet—that could either fit a vertical growing tower kit or a more DIY approach, such as stacked flower pots or other vessels that could hold soil or another growing medium.

Jeff Pernell, the owner of Missoula’s Galactic Farms, is all about gardening in small spaces. He likes the challenge. And although there are great kits that you can purchase that have everything in them to create a vertical growing system, Pernell says there are plenty of ways to utilize items you already have in your home.

One of the systems he put together uses dresser drawers filled with dirt and stacked on a patio.

Another creative approach would be a ladder with planting boxes attached to each rung, or a stack of pots arranged at different angles held up by a stake.

When you have limited space—indoors or out—you can get creative with stacked plant features, making room for a means to grown fresh produce or colorful flowers. PHOTO BY ALTIFARM VIA UNSPLASH

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"IF YOU’RE LIVING I N A N A PA R T M E N T OR CONDO WITH J U S T A C O U R T YA R D , PAT I O , B A L C O N Y O R N O O U T D O O R S PA C E W H AT S O E V E R TO CALL YOUR OWN, VERTICAL GROWING M AY J U S T B E T H E P E R F E C T S O L U T I O N ."

You could even use an over-the-door cloth shoe organizer if you wanted! If you’re going the DIY route, use your imagination! What can you stack or attach to the wall or ceiling that could hold some plants or seedlings?

If you prefer to start with a kit, Pernell recommends the Garden Tower Project, a small barrel-shaped tower with a virtually maintenance-free continuous vermicompost column. The tower utilizes worm composting to break down kitchen scraps and distribute the castings throughout the tower to nourish the plants. The soil around the column provides steady moisture and temperature for a resilient worm habitat. The best part? It can grow up to 50 plants in 4 square feet nearly anywhere.

O T H E R G R E AT O P T I O N S

include a hydroponic self-watering, self-fertilizing growing tower called the Farmstand from Lettuce Grow. Another company, Tower Garden, also offers a grow tower that utilizes aeroponics, which is a form of hydroponics, but the plants are grown in an air or mist environment instead of soil. All of these grow towers grow much more in minimal space and can be used both outdoors in natural light, or indoors using artificial grow lights. >>

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While you can grow pretty much anything vertically, Pernell recommends starting with leafy greens like lettuce and then moving on to basil and other leafy herbs. Once you’ve mastered those, move on to tomatoes and strawberries.

If you don’t have any ground space to spare or have your vision set more on houseplants versus produce, a living wall might be a good option, Blanchford says. A living wall consists of a frame with cubes in which to fit small pots. This creates a vertical mass of plant material and also a fun design element—you can swap the pots in and out or move them as desired. They’re easy to manage and can be as large or as small as you’d like and there are plenty of tutorials available—Blanchford Landscape Group also designs and builds them for clients.

Walls or windows can be used to hang plants as well— whether it’s a window box or a deep frame with wire for a succulent garden. There are also a variety of plants that love to hang and grow climbing vines that you can drape or support on a wall or decorative trellis. For those who enjoy indoor trees, an espalier is another possibility. An espalier is a tree that is trained to grow flat against a wall and out horizontally. Although it takes a little pruning maintenance, you have a tree that looks two-dimensional and takes up very little space in your home!

Once you set aside the traditional garden mindset of a spacious backyard and endless sunny days, the possibilities of gardening in the space you have are endless. Your homegrown veggies are waiting—go vertical and use your imagination!

YOUR INDOOR GROW-CABULARY V E R T I C A L G R O W I N G —Vertical growing is when you plant something, whether it’s fruit, vegetables, flowers or houseplants, in vertically stacked layers to make smaller spaces more productive. This is often done indoors, using artificial sunlight. Soil can be used, but it often utilizes soilless growing methods like hydroponics or aquaponics.

AQ UA P O N I C S —Aquaponics is a method of growing that combines raising fish in tanks with soilless plants. In aquaponics, the nutrient-rich water, fish and their waste offer a natural fertilizer for the plants and in turn, the plants help clean the water for the fish.

H Y D R O P O N I C S —Hydroponics is a soilless method of growing plants in an inert medium like coco coir, clay pellets, small rocks or perlite. The plant is fed a solution of micro-nutrients similar to what it would find if planted in soil. Just about any kind of plant can be grown hydroponically, including veggies, herbs, fruits and flowers.

A E R O P O N I C S —Aeroponics is an advanced form of hydroponics in which plants are grown in an air or mist environment instead of soil. Aeroponic systems use water, liquid nutrients and a soilless growing medium to efficiently grow produce.

A living wall consists of a frame with cubes in which to fit small pots, creating a mass of plant material as well as a unique design element in your home. PHOTO COURTESY OF BLANCHFORD DESIGN GROUP 60 | Summer 2021

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Peter Manka, owner of Alpine Water, with Big Sky’s state of the art, chemicalfree, ultraviolet water treatment system.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PETER MANKA

ALPINE WATER

BY PATRICK STRAUB AND MIRA BRODY

Devoted to Community, Conservation and Healthy Water In Big Sky, water is as much a part of our needs, as it is our lifestyle. From the powder white snowpack on Lone Mountain that we float on, to the churning Gallatin River providing endless rapids for adrenaline-charged summer days, it’s the element that most defines the community and what makes us love living here.

For over a decade, Peter Manka, owner of Alpine Water, has been appreciating the joys of immersing himself in every form of water, all the while implementing the latest science and technology to enrich its benefits for local homeowners and businesses. With a master’s degree in water resources and a dedication to health and well-being, he carefully considers the constantly progressing science necessary to design systems that provide clean, healthy water in our homes and businesses as well as ensures its preservation in our unique ecosystem.

Peter, his wife Ellie and their three daughters, were thrilled at the opportunity to finally settle in Big Sky in 2008. Attracted by the small town community and the pace of life embraced by its inhabitants, he also observed something unique about Big Sky. “We don’t dump our wastewater in the river, we treat it and recycle it,” Manka says. “Water systems like ours are rare in this country and on this planet. We make every effort to complete the water cycle right here in Big Sky to avoid passing our waste to the next downstream user like most towns do.”

Conscious of the knowledge and experience he could bring to the table, he soon became involved with the Big Sky County Water and Sewer District by studying Big Sky’s water system and attending BSWSD board meetings.

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At the time, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality was mandating that Big Sky Water and Sewer disinfect Big Sky’s high quality drinking water wells with chlorine. Manka was impressed by the thoughtfulness and consideration of the BSWSD staff and board members in their willingness to embrace his suggestions for cleaner, healthier and more efficient technologies than what are typically employed by most municipalities. The Water and Sewer District was ultimately able to permit and install the first municipal ultraviolet Water is a precious resource, more so in Big Sky, which is on a unique closed loop water treatment system in the state of Montana. system. PHOTO COURTESY OF PETER MANKA This system has the potential to save the Manka took inspiration from the UV treatment equivalent of over 20,000 gallons of chlorine bleach project and continued to explore advancements from being injected into the homes and watered onto in water treatment technology through his water the lawns and golf courses of Big Sky every year, engineering company, Alpine Water. His continual keeping Big Sky’s water clean and free of toxins. research and investigation put him at the forefront “UV isn’t the solution all the time,” says Manka. of technologies that promoted efficient use of “For each water system’s issues, there’s not just one this precious resource while maintaining or even solution. Every system and every treatment project improving the extremely high quality, healthy must be custom tailored to the needs of the user. Every drinking water that Big Sky is so fortunate to have. water quality solution that you craft has numerous “Big Sky’s water was voted the best tap water in possible approaches, that’s why it’s so important to America,” says Manka. “My goal is to improve that carefully consider all of the factors involved to arrive at water quality rather than degrade it by introducing the most efficient and effective solution.” toxins or foreign substances into the water. Ultimately, how good is clean looking water, if it’s not healthy to drink?”

As he continued to work with the water in Big Sky, Manka observed that the salt-based water softening systems that were commonly used in the area wasted large quantities of water while removing the healthy minerals, replacing them with sodium and creating slimy feeling, salty water in the process. Again, he researched the latest advancements in water science and discovered that there were new technologies that treated water hardness without wasting water or degrading water quality.

He began implementing these systems in residential homes in Big Sky and it soon became evident that the benefits to the homeowner and the local environment were impressive. He then partnered with larger commercial systems such as Lone Mountain Ranch, River Rock Lodge, Rainbow Manka says that, “Conducting routine water quality sampling at Big Sky Ranch and Lone Mountain Land Company’s Resort is necessary to maintain a complete understanding of the water commercial developments in the Town Center and cycle.” PHOTO BY KENE SPERRY the benefits were even more staggering. >> VIEWS.

Summer 2021 | 65

“People live here because they want clean air and clean water… It’s a privilege to be a part of the crucial phases of the development of this amazing community and help create an environment in which residents and families can thrive.”

The innovative water softening system that he implemented at the Residence Inn by Marriott Big Sky, Wilson Hotel, for example, saves millions of gallons of water and prevents hundreds of thousands of pounds of imported salt from ending up in Big Sky’s water treatment ponds and ultimately being watered onto Big Sky’s golf courses every few years.

In Big Sky’s closed loop system, where the water that is consumed ultimately has to be reused or dispersed in some fashion, the least impactful system is critical.

In addition to saving water and protecting the environment, project developers have realized large savings in upfront as well as operations and maintenance expenses by implementing these efficient systems. Residential users can save over 10,000 gallons of water and 1,000 pounds of salt every year, which results in annual cost savings of $500 or more. These are truly impressive numbers when you multiply them by the number of water users in Big Sky. “We call this a win-win-win. It saves money, while maintaining healthy water and benefiting the water resources that are so vital to the Big Sky community,” Manka says.

Water disinfection and softening aren’t the only water quality issues that Big Sky residents can potentially face. Arsenic, iron, fine sediments and the often-prevalent rotten-egg smell are all water quality problems that are common to the water wells outside of the Big Sky Water District. Manka uses his background in science and extensive experience to design innovative, efficient, clean and healthy systems to treat all of these issues.

Other local businesses Alpine Water has worked with include Moonlight Basin, the Spanish Peaks Club, the Yellowstone Club, workforce housing, as well as ranches, homesteads, apartments and residential

homes. Manka and his team pride themselves on being accessible to the community and harnessing the ability to tailor their skills to all needs—no matter how big or small the project.

Alpine Water’s success in Big Sky isn’t a mystery.

Manka is active in the local community and understands the area and its environment intimately. With his targeted, analytical approach to designing water quality systems, each system can enhance a homeowner’s health while mitigating environmental impacts and with the confidence of committed service and long-term viability available locally. Alpine Water’s systems aim to be maintenance and chemical free, eliminating the need for costly service calls from the Gallatin Valley and with no toxic chemicals being used, the resultant water optimizes the health of its consumer.

“People live here because they want clean air and clean water … It’s rewarding,” Manka says of his work.

“There is a sense in this community that you can be involved and help guide development in a conscious direction. It’s a privilege to be a part of the crucial phases of the development of this amazing community and help create an environment in which residents and families can thrive.”

SERVICES OFFERED BY ALPINE WATER • Salt-free Water Softening • High-Efficiency Arsenic, Iron, Sulphur and Sediment Removal • Chlorine-free Disinfection and Bacteria Removal • Detergent-free Laundry Systems • Enhanced Drinking Water and Water Activator Systems • Residential, Commercial and Public Water System Design, Implementation and Montana State Certified Water System Operation

66 | Summer 2021

VIEWS.

Acreage & Privacy Await You

419 Great Gray Hollow | Offered At $2,200,000 3288 +/-SQ. FEET | 20 +/-ACRES 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths Lovely home on expansive acreage, close proximity to Big Sky and all amenities.

Partnering to preserve beauty.

Meandering along in the Madison River Valley runs the newly restored O’Dell Creek. It’s an award-winning preservation project of area ranchers and statewide resource agencies. With the financial support of NorthWestern Energy, this essential waterway now delivers cleaner, colder water into the Madison River and ensures a brighter future for its habitat and beloved wildlife.

Ryan Kulesza & Carrie Bryan LKRealEstate.com | 406.995.2404 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 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. ©2016 LK REAL ESTATE, llc. lkrealestate.com

View more of the story at NorthWesternEnergy.com/BrightFuture

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Wants: A place far from everything Needs: To bring everyone closer together There’s a reason more people choose our agents to buy and sell real estate. As part of the legendary Berkshire Hathaway family of companies, we have the resources and local expertise to help you buy or sell any Montana property. Call us today.

55 LONE PEAK DRIVE, SUITE 3 BIG SKY TOWN CENTER BHHSMT.COM/BIGSKY 406.995.4060

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©2021 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. Equal Housing Opportunity.

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2100 NORTH FORK ROAD Triple Triangle Ranch | Big Sky, MT

Legacy Compound with 5 Structures | $12,000,000 • Main House: 4 Bed | 3.5 Bath | +/- 9,000 sq ft • Guest House sleeps 4 • Caretaker Residence • Equipment Storage/ Building • 12,000 sqft Ancillary Building/ Garage • 1,000-gallon Sunoco working gas pump • 150 kW Generator & 15,000-gallon Cistern • 360-degree panoramic views • 20 Acres end of road privacy Property Video on MLS# 355835 Stacy Ossorio - Engel & Völkers Big Sky, Montana

4 8 0 4 2 G A L L AT I N R O A D Moose Landing | Big Sky, MT

Legacy Fishing on the Gallatin | $2,795,000 • 300 ft of river frontage • On stretch of river called ‘Hog Alley’ • 5 Br | 2.5 Ba | +/- 3,692 sq ft • 3.6 Acres • Additional detached 3 car garage • Easily accessible to Big Sky amenties • Fully furnished sleeps 10 • Excellent rental property MLS# 355878

S TA C Y O S S O R I O | B R O K E R | P R I VAT E O F F I C E A D V I S O R 406-539-8553 | stacy.ossorio@evrealestate.com | stacyossorio.evrealestate.com

©2020 Engel & Völkers. All rights reserved. Each brokerage 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. Engel & Völkers and its independent License Partners are Equal Opportunity Employers and fully support the principles of the Fair Housing Act.

Whether you choose to hunt, hike, fish, horseback ride, ATV or just simply enjoy the privacy and take in the views, The Reserve at Willow Creek is exclusively the quintessential location to build your Montana dream.

Located against the foothills of the Bangtail Mountain range in Southwest Montana, The Reserve at Willow Creek offers you the best of what makes Montana great. These one-of-a-kind, 157+/acre parcels provide world-class views, end of the road privacy and wide-open spaces, only 25 minutes from Livingston, Montana.

Lots starting at $1.750M

thereserveatwillowcreek.com Co-Listed By

E.J. Daws

ej@lkrealestate.com (406) 589-6247

Buzz Tatom

buzz.tatom@evrealestate.com (406) 580-4774

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 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. ©2016 LK REAL ESTATE, llc. lkrealestate.com * Membership upon approval