SPRING 2022 THE ROMANTIC & REAL SIDE AGRICULTUREOF ABER DAY: THE KEGGER OF ALL KEGGERS A GLANCE ATMONTANAEASTERN
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contents SPRING 2022 16 3624 PUBLISHER CYD & STU HOEFLE 406-860-0292 // publisher@raisedinthewest.com COPY EDITOR KAYLA WALKER ADVERTISING CYD HOEFLE 406-860-0292 // DEVINpublisher@raisedinthewest.comMURNIN 406-696-1502 // advertising@raisedinthewest.com DESIGN MELANIE ads@raisedinthewest.comFABRIZIUS ADDRESS RAISED IN THE WEST PO Box 80267 // Billings, MT 59108 ©2020 Peaks to Prairie Media All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. www.raisedinthewest.com FOLLOW US!COVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY STU HOEFLE 10 MAKING MORE SPACE IN YOUR GARDEN By Amy Grisak 16 YELLOWSTONE PARK’S CELEBRATION OF 150 YEARS By Gayle M. Irwin 20 RED LODGE SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL 22 JEAN’S CUISINES By Jean Petersen 24 ABER DAY: THE KEGGER OF ALL KEGGERS By Stu Hoefle 30 THE ROMANTIC AND REAL SIDE OF AGRICULTURE By Cyd Hoefle 34 CATCHING UP WITH THE NATIVE COWGIRL By Cyd Hoefle 36 A GLANCE AT EASTERN MONTANA By Cyd Hoefle 38 THE ART OF SELF DEFENSE By Cyd Hoefle 42 WHERE IS THE CENTER OF MONTANA By Cathy Moser 44 THE FORT AT 49 By Stella Fong 46 SUMMER EVENTS AROUND THE REGION 4 // www.raisedinthewest.com
WE KNOW MONTANA. © Sonny Todd Real Estate | www.sonnytoddrealestate.com | info@sonnytoddrealestate.com 301 W. 1st Ave., Suite C, PO Box 828, Big Timber, MT 59011 | 406.932.1031 West White Beaver Creek Pasture & Elk Camp Boulder River Confluence 105 E. Boulder Court $5,000,000 $2,150,000 $799,000 3,908+/- Total Acres Big Timber, MT Sweet Grass County 150+/SweetMcLeod,AcresMTGrassCounty 2 City Lots Big Timber, MT Sweet Grass County • 3rd Generation in the business • 5th Generation Montanans • Locally owned and operated • Full service real estate team • Serving you for over 30 years Whether buying or selling, Sonny Todd Real Estate is here for you. Call us today!
note from the publisher
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by pray and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
That leaves us time to do what we want to do, spend time with our kids and grandkids. It also allows us time to travel across Montana and continue to grow our magazine. We have big plans, and this summer will help us launch into them. All we can promise right now is a lot more stories and for us…that’s darned exciting. Plus, we plan on fishing, floating, hiking, and lots of old fashioned adventure.
And we look at a lighter side as we ask the tough question, “Where exactly is the center of Montana?” We also head back in time to 45 years ago to the infamous Aber Day Keggers, a benefit kegger put on by the University of Montana that’s been labeled the biggest benefit kegger in the world to date. And yes, it was a firsthand experience… Among other stories, make sure you check out our schedule of “Don’t Miss” events across the region for ideas of what to do for fun with your family this summer. We hope you enjoy our spring issue. Hopefully we’ll see some of you as we’re out and about crisscrossing the state this summer.
We filled this issue with good things. Reminders that even though all is not well in our nation and world, there is still much to be grateful for and enjoy. It’s garden season, and we’ve got some great ideas about how to utilize space by planting vertically. We ventured to Yellowstone Park, celebrating its 150th year, but instead of fighting the crowd this summer, we look at ways to enjoy the off season. We visited with three agricultural advocates that promote the industry through social media, with their photography and blogs and by getting involved in ag programs that help the industry on a state and national level.
We love May. We both agree, it’s our favorite month of the year. As nature renews itself, we do too. We have more energy; winter depression has lifted and there’s more hours for being outdoors. It’s been a long winter. Hardships, weather, cold temps, and continual bad news on television has driven even the most optimistic person down. Sometimes the burdens become so heavy that it’s time for a reevaluation of life, a step back and a shuffling of priorities. And, that’s what we did. Almost three years ago, we not only bought Raised in the West, but we also started work on a café and fermentation station. To say we bit off more than we could chew might have described us, but our intentions were good, our plan spot on and the result was three growing and successful businesses. We survived covid, lack of help and difficulty getting products, and we persevered, turning it into a unique little spot in Billings that people love. The problem was, we also published ten issues of our magazine while working full time at the café and we started to feel time becoming much more precious, add to that, the ole timer had run his clock up to 65… It was the words of our five-year-old granddaughter that tugged the most at our hearts, “Grammy and Grampa, I just want to be with you more.” Ok, that was it. The last straw. We needed more freedom back. Not only for us, but for our family. Our son will take over running the kombucha brewery, and on May 1st, we sold the café to a young Montana couple that we’re sure will take what we started to the next level. They are ambitious, energized, full of ideas and a hometown family. We wish Andrew and Ashley Lauckner huge success.
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MAIL A CHECK TO: Raised In The West PO Box www.raisedinthewest.comPAYBillings,80267MT59108ONLINEAT: SCAN TO PAY VIA VENMO: $25 2022 4 QUARTERLYISSUES VISIT US ONLINE raisedinthewest.com 800.743.2125 | northwestfcs.com There’s never been a better time for country life. So if you’re looking to buy or build in the country, we’re here to help you get the financing you need. RURAL HOME LOANS BARE LAND LOANS 1 STEP CONSTRUCTION LOANS REFINANCING Love open spaces? We do too. SPRING 2022 // 7
GRAPHIC DESIGN
JEAN PETERSEN WRITER Jean is a cookbook and children’s picture book author, freelance writer and has been a weekly columnist with Western Ag Reporter for over 15 years. She and her husband live near the Beartooth Mountains in Red Lodge with their four children. Most days she can be found outdoors with her animals, on a hike, at her children’s activities, or cozying up writing and reading. You can find her at www.jeanpetersen.com.
contributors TO PLEASEADVERTISECONTACT: Cyd advertising@raisedinthewest.compublisher@raisedinthewest.com406.860.0292HoefleDevinMurnin406.696.1502
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Melanie was raised on a farm on the banks of the Clarks Fork River in Belfry. Her life-long love of art lead her to a career as a freelance graphic designer. When she’s not busy working, Melanie enjoys being with family, spending time with her dogs, camping, ATVing, collecting rocks and watching the sunset. Check out her art at www.melaniefab.com and follow her on Instagram @ melaniefabart.
Originating from a fifth-generation Montana ranch, Kayla Walker has a real connection to the agriculture industry and the cherished western lifestyle. After several years as editor of Western Ag Reporter, she was recently able to return to her roots when she and her husband were wed and embarked on the journey to start a ranch of their own. At the same time, Kayla launched Ranch Raised Media to compliment the work they do on the land. Whether it be through photography, writing, social media, graphic design, or web design she strives to share the story of this way of life on a day-to-day basis. Follow Ranch Raised Media on Facebook and Instagram or visit www.ranchraisedmedia.com to view her work and check out daily Montana ranch life.
MELANIE FABRIZIUS
GAYLE M. IRWIN WRITER
KAYLA WALKER
Gayle began her writing career in Montana, serving as editor and reporter for the former West Yellowstone News. She is an awardwinning Wyoming author and freelance writer, being recognized by Wyoming Writers, Inc., and the Wyoming Press Association, and a contributor to seven Chicken Soup for the Soul books. She regularly writes for Wyoming Rural Electric News (WREN) and authors inspirational pet stories for children and adults. A novelist, she sets her sweet, contemporary romance series in the Greater Yellowstone Area. Learn more about Gayle and her writing and volunteer pet rescue work at gaylemirwinauthor.com.
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DEVIN MURNIN ADVERTISING SALES
AMY GRISAK WRITER/PHOTOGRAPHER
WEBSITE DESIGN
Stella loves to discover new flavors and waters to fly fish. She is author of Flavors Under the Big Sky: Recipes and Stories from Yellowstone Public Radio and Beyond, Billings Food and Historic Restaurants of Billings. She contributes regularly to Yellowstone Valley Woman Magazine, Edible Bozeman and The Last Best Plates column for Montana Food.
CATHY MOSER WRITER Catherine Melin Moser writes about western history, lifestyles, and the outdoors from her home in central Montana’s Judith Mountains. Her decade-long research about nineteenth century Thoroughbred breeding and horse racing in Montana and its influence on American horse racing is the subject of her forthcoming book, “In the Winner’s Circle,” slated for publication by Oklahoma University Press in 2022.
Great Falls writer, Amy Grisak balances her life between the mountains and the prairie looking for stories that catch her interest. This award-winning author shares what she loves with readers, whether it’s finding gorgeous hikes in Glacier National Park or how to push the gardening envelope in our challenging Montana climate. Look for her book, “Nature Guide to Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks,” published by Falcon Guides and follow her at amygrisak.com.
STELLA FONG WRITER
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Devin grew up on a commercial cow/calf ranch outside of Miles City where his passion for the rural lifestyle and cattle and ranching began. He has worked with the USDA, Colorado Cattlemen’s Association and is currently a fieldman for the Western Livestock Journal where he assists with marketing purebred and commercial cattle throughout the west. Devin, his wife, and kids also run their own commercial cows in Montana and some of his favorite days are spent on horseback working cattle. Contact Devin at advertising@raisedinthewest.com or call him at 406.696.1502.
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ACROSS MONTANA WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMY GRISAK Space IN YOUR VERTICAL GARDENING MOREMAKING 10 // www.raisedinthewest.com
As for support for a vertical crop, almost anything sturdy enough to hold the plants is fair game. Chain-link or other metal fencing is typically very durable and sturdy. It's also possible to create your own structure utilizing metal fence posts and wire, even bending it to create a living tunnel. Supports can even be as simple as placing a couple pieces of trellis at an angle and securing them at the top or using bamboo poles to fashion a teepee shape. Another easy project is building a wooden frame and stringing lines backand-forth on which vines can grip. The support does not have to be highly technical – even garden tools such as tomato cages can support vining crops.
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As many know, there are vegetables which naturally grow vertically, such as pole bean varieties and many types of garden peas. These crops are often grown on a fence or trellis. But there are many more, and some surprising, options for gardeners seeking to grow more in their garden.
When it comes to growing vertically, most gardeners think of pole beans or peas. Pole varieties save space and tend to produce more. They will require some training on the support system, Using supports not only saves space, they are pleasingaestheticallytotheeye.
Watering is also an important consideration. Overhead sprinklers generally work fine, however there is a risk of moisture not reaching the extent of the crop. The easiest remedy for this concern is the use of a soaker hose at the base of the plants. This will ensure each crop is receiving adequate water without wetting the foliage, which can be a vector for disease.
It’s time to grow up! For those gardeners whose space is a premium, the remedy just might be growing vegetables vertically. This allows more room for other crops, makes harvesting simple, and reduces overcrowding and potential disease issues. Plus, for those with an artistic eye, the visual interest makes the garden aesthetic even more pleasing.
Wind is a major factor when positioning vertical crops. While the barrier of vertical crops can benefit the rest of the garden by slowing wind, it's important to understand summer wind direction and plan accordingly. A teepee design withstands wind from any direction, while an elongated structure holds up best if protected by a building or fence or situated with the narrow end facing the gustiest direction.
Think logistically when determining where to place vertical crops as these plants will be tall. Similar to avoiding rows of corn on the south side of a garden so as not to block sunlight to other plants, the same factor must be considered when utilizing trellises or supports. In the same respect, ensure crops grown on a fence or trellis are positioned for adequate sunlight as well.
A teepee design holds up well with wind from any direction. Be creative with your canHeavyfencingstructuressupportusingsupplies,wireortrellises.vegetablesbesupportedbyusingahammock-slingmadeoftwine 12 // www.raisedinthewest.com
which can be done by simply weaving the plants through openings or adding strings to hold them to the structure. They are both excellent crops to grow along a fence, but if one isn’t available, a quick vertical structure can be built with a hog panel supported by t-posts on either end. These are sturdy structures which will last. For those who wish to grow smaller amounts, or even grow pole beans or peas in a container, a tomato cage works well. One crop often overlooked for vertical growing is cucumbers. Growing cucumbers vertically takes far less space than traditional planting. They grow well by utilizing a support with strings or a rough surface as the prickly tendrils grip and grow up with ease. Cucumbers also climb on any type of fence with adequate openings, although weaving the vines through initially is required. In addition to saving space,
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so Vegetables like beans require some training to begin climbing, simply weave the plants through openings or add strings to hold them to the structure. a clothing mercantile since 1947 200 McLeod406.932.5451Street Gusts of BigTimber.com 14 // www.raisedinthewest.com
growing cucumbers vertically reduces potential disease as many varieties have issues with various fungal infections. Adequate air circulation and watering at the base of the plant reduces the incidence. Growing vertically also makes cucumbers easier to find. When cucumber plants are sprawled across the ground it can be a hunt lifting leaves to find the ripe ones. When they're growing up, though, they're easier to spot.
Like cucumbers, squash and pumpkins are often overlooked as vertical crops. Both require a sturdier fence or a type of trellis. Of course, any metal fence works fine. Another good option is the hog panel system as it is strong enough to hold the heavy vines and fruit. It's also possible to create your own design using wood or trellis materials in a tent shape to support the crop.
In general, look for varieties which don’t grow extremely large. For example, a spaghetti squash may weigh four to five pounds while a Hubbard squash can tip the scale at 15 pounds. The same goes for pumpkins, although creative people can figure out ways around this issue. To face the challenge of growing large squash or pumpkin vertically, provide support for the growing fruit. A hammock-type sling crafted of yarn or baling twine woven together to cradle the squash or pumpkins would support the heavy fruit. Any tool which mitigates the weight
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YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK WRITTEN BY GAYLE M. IRWIN // CONTRIBUTED PHOTOGRAPHY 16 // www.raisedinthewest.com
Known as “Wonderland” for its geysers, geothermal features, abundant and varied wildlife species, colorful wildflowers, clear waterways, cascading falls, and so much more, Yellowstone was the first designated national park in the country. On March 1, 1872, U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Yellowstone Park Protection Act, which notes that Yellowstone is “dedicated and set apart as a public park or pleasuring-ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people…”
To enjoy less crowded overlooks, trails, boardwalks, campgrounds, roads, and wildlife observations, spring, autumn, and winter offer a quieter Yellowstone experience with far fewer visitors. From wildflowers and newborn animals in spring to majestic autumn colors and crystalline trees in winter, these ‘off-season’ months display a magnificent tapestry.
Additional sightings include young animals, such as bison, elk, and pronghorn, which are born during early to late spring. More rare observations include grizzly bears with cubs and red foxes with their kits.
Thanks to record crowds, Montana and Wyoming residents often overlook Yellowstone National Park as a recreational destination. Despite its reputation of beauty, the crowded roadways, campsites, and concession areas are reason enough to avoid the worldwide attraction. However, given its proximity, the park is the perfect place to enjoy during the off season and there’s time now before tourists swarm the sites.
In addition to nature watching and photography, other spring activities available to Yellowstone visitors include geyser gazing, star gazing, hiking, and fishing.
People travel from around the world to visit this wonderous place. For the past two decades, more than one million people have visited annually with summers often breaking tourist records.
Sounds seem more intense during autumn. Geese honk from nearby rivers. Bison snort and bellow, and the cooler temperature makes their breath generate puffs like small smoke signals. The bugles between bull elk echo across the landscape as they challenge one another for a harem of females.
By mid-September, a new atmosphere overtakes Yellowstone. Crisp air and animal instinct push wildlife toward migration and mating. Bull elk bugle as thermals steam and geysers erupt. Waterfowl and other birds gather and begin embarking on journeys to warmer, southern climates. Bison and elk begin their annual trek to lower elevations for the winter, and black and grizzly bears forage for food to sustain them during hibernation. Pine squirrels, marmots, and other small wildlife species scamper among trees and logs, seeking pinecones and plants to store for the upcoming winter.
Autumn also wakens vibrant colors. Willows and other plants darken, their ruddy and chocolate branches devoid of leaves highlighting river and stream beds. Cattails along ponds appear to melt, releasing white, feather-like fluff which drifts on the breeze to eventually release seeds that plant more cattails. The golden leaves of aspen trees shimmer in the breeze, and the yellow hues sparkle on green conifer hillsides. Wispy white haze from the geyser basins lingers over the Madison River and other bodies of water.
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Spring brings colorful wildflowers covering hillsides, plains, and forests. Although the most abundant flowers showcase in June and July as temperatures warm, a vast array of plants can be observed during earlier months. Throughout April and May, visitors may see spring beauties, often the first to show, as well as shooting stars, phlox, glacier lilies, pasqueflowers, and bitterroot, which is Montana’s state flower. Bluebells, asters, yellow violets, monkey flowers, and purple larkspur also bloom Numerousearly. types of birds can be observed, and heard, in Yellowstone in the spring. Sandhill cranes return in pairs to nest in the park, and the fortunate visitor may see these tall, lanky, red-crowned birds dance and prance in courtship prior to nesting. Flashes of iridescent blue may capture the eye as mountain bluebirds return from wintering grounds. Other species, such as the American white pelican, mountain chickadee, and the gray jay can be found in the park as well. Osprey nest near the park’s streams, rivers, and lakes, while the western meadowlark, the state bird of Wyoming and Montana, trill amid Yellowstone’s sagebrush and grassland areas.
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Fall also offers splendid nature and wildlife observation and photography opportunities. Amid the varying vivid colors, especially around waterways, and the movement of animals, avid nature watchers and photographers will experience glorious moments during autumn. Long after the crowds have gone, parts of Yellowstone remain open. The road between Gardiner and Cooke City, Montana, open during the winter, allows visitors to observe wildlife in the Lamar Valley, such as bison, elk, coyotes, and wolves.
Winter visitation through other park entrances, including the western gate at West Yellowstone, Montana, happens via snowmobile, snow coach services, cross-country skis, and snowshoes. These opportunities usually begin the week of or before Christmas, depending on snowpack.
Nature and wildlife photography provide a unique look at the park during the frigid months as many waterways freeze and hoarfrost appears on the shrubs and trees. Hot thermal features such as geysers and springs keep basins void of snow and their seepage of warm water into Yellowstone rivers keep some waterways flowing amid the frigid winter temperatures. No matter the season of the year, Yellowstone National Park offers a special splendor unmatched by other places. Yet, the off-season times of spring, autumn, and winter provide a lesscrowded experience and a matchless marvel of the natural resources within this unique place, established 150 years ago. Visit Yellowstone National Park – the Wonderland of the world.
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Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are other activities for winter visitors. These more tranquil modes of transportation allow for exploration of the snow-covered, crystalline forests and provide ample opportunity for refreshment and reflection.
RED LODGE MONTANA PHOTOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTED BY RLSWF For more information or to buy tickets, go to www.redlodgesongwriterfestival.org
Red
The universal language of music binds us together, soothes our souls, and allows us to express our feelings and emotions. A good song causes an emotional reaction and feelings that we can’t even explain.
The Red Lodge Songwriter Festival will bring the kind of music to town that will guarantee to touch you in a way like never before. Hit song writers and rising stars from Montana, Nashville and around the country will congregate for three full days, in June, giving audiences a multitude of opportunities to listen to a variety of amazing music. “Until you experience the festival, you can’t even imagine,” said organizer, Mike Booth. He’s been part of the festival since its inception in 2016 and has brought hundreds of musicians to town for a weekend of music celebration.
Twenty-one songwriters from Montana, Nashville and across the country will perform in thirty shows at eight different downtown venues including Bone Daddy’s, Roman Theater, The Bird Cage at the One-Legged Magpie, Snag Bar and Cattail Bakery. Some of these songwriters have written #1 hits recorded by the likes of Eddie Rabbit, Kenny Rogers, Reba McEntire, The Chicks, Jason Aldean, Faith Hill, George Strait, Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney, and many more. Rising stars, hoping to become the next hit songwriter, perform in two to three person songwriter rounds sharing their songs and stories behind the songs. “It’s an amazing experience listening to a song writer perform one of their own songs,” Mike continued. “They put their heart and soul into it and it’s entirely different than what the hit might sound like. When one of the rising star’s songs becomes a hit, you can claim you first saw them at the Red Lodge Songwriters TheFestival!”6thAnnual Festival promises a celebration of songwriting and great music. Proceeds from the event supports music education in Red Lodge Public Schools. Mark your calendar for June 23 – 25, make the weekend a family event and come “listen to the music!”
SongwriterfestivalLodgeSongwriter 20 // www.raisedinthewest.com
JEAN’S CUISINES WRITTEN BY JEAN PETERSEN Custom Homes NewRusticCabinetsConstructionFurniture 406-425-1245 PETERSENBUILDING.COM DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 250. Combine all the ingredients and mix well. Place parchment paper on a cookie sheet and grease it. Spread the granola across the tray. Place a second sheet of parchment paper over the granola. Roll over the granola to make a firm, even layer across the entire sheet. Remove the top parchment paper once granola is flat and bake for 60-90 minutes. Remove from the oven and break into pieces and save in zipping bags. Enjoy! OPTIONAL CREAM CHEESE FROSTING • ½ brick of cream cheese-8 oz. • ½ cup butter (room temperature) • 1 tsp vanilla • 2-3 cups of powdered sugar, sifted DIRECTIONS: Mix ingredients together until spreadable to the consistency desired. Ensure cake is cool, and spread across the cake. • 1 stick butter • 1 cup water • 3 ½ Tbsp. Cocoa • ½ cup oil • Bring Mixture to boil • In another bowl: • 2 cups flour • 2 cups sugar • Pour boiled mixture over the flour and sugar • Add: • 2 eggs • 1 tsp soda • Dash of salt • ½ cup buttermilk • 1 tsp vanilla DIRECTIONS: Combine all ingredients until mixed thoroughly. Grease a 9x12 pan and cake mixture in. Bake 400 degrees for 20 minutes. On the Trail GRANOLA • ½ cup pecans, chopped • ½ cup sunflower seeds • ½ cup coconut • 1 cup almonds, chopped • ½ cup flour • ¼ cup flax meal • ¼ wheat germ • ¾ cup melted butter • ½ cup sugar • 1 tsp honey • 1 tsp cinnamon • 1 tsp vanilla • ½ tsp nutmeg • ½ tsp salt • ¼ cup water • 1 cup dried mixed fruitblueberries, blackberries,strawberries,mangos,raspberries,craisins Branding CHOCOLATE CAKE 22 // www.raisedinthewest.com
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MISSOULA MONTANA WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHY BY STU HOEFLE 24 // www.raisedinthewest.com
The Aber Day Kegger in Missoula, Montana. Keggers have been around since they figured out how to put beer in a barrel. Maybe it was a necessity or an art form, but the science of kegging beer was brilliant. What can be more perfect than being able to partake in drinking cold beer fresh out of a keg, especially when the keg has been placed in a perfect location, such as a riverbank, near a campfire, or at an outdoor concert? Whether it’s a good thing they are no longer as common as they were in my youthful years or not, there’s nostalgia for those of us who can look back and reminisce about hanging at a kegger with good friends, good beer, and good music.
Most that attended that day are now gray-haired grandparents. Many went on to do great things, raise families, have careers, and eventually retire. But for all 10,000 of them, the common denominator of the day was kick-ass music, cold beer, good friends, and a chance to kick up your heels.
No kegger, though, in the history of keggers could compare to the greatest of them all! Aber Day, which was held almost five decades ago. As a student at the University of Montana, my fellow classmates and I had heard about Aber Day long before the actual day, as it was an event which no one from U of M would miss. As May approached, not only did the anticipation of the event grow, but so did our thirst and excitement.
But back to the Aber Day Kegger… It originated in 1972 to offset budget cuts taking place at the university. Established as a benefit kegger to raise money for books, an $8 ticket got you a 32 oz. mug, plenty of beer and great music. The event organizers hoped to not only raise money, but also give students a chance to break loose from the routine of college life. It was a brilliant idea and an instant success. Attended mainly by U of M students in the inaugural years, the popularity and originated in 1972 to offset budget cuts taking place at the UNIVERSITY OF
I’m talking about the largest beer bust ever held. The home to one of the biggest parties to hit the Northwest.
THEMONTANAABERDAY•KEggER• SPRING 2022 // 25
Amazingly, the drinking age in the early 70s was 18, which looking back was probably one of the most foolish laws Montana could have ever passed. In 1979, they raised it to 19 – as if that would help. It was raised to 21 again in 1987, which probably coincides with the decline of many of the oldfashioned keggers.
The kegger OF ALL KEggERS ABER DAY 45 YEARS AGO 1977
MISSION MOUNTAIN WOOD BAND THE HOMETOWN BOYS STOLE THE SHOW 26 // www.raisedinthewest.com
notoriety of the event eventually drew young people from multiple states, generated over $400,000 in its eight-year run and outgrew two venues before being held at the K-O Rodeo grounds west of InMissoula.1979,the Guinness Book of World Records dubbed it the largest non-profit benefit kegger ever held with over 10,000 people attending and more than 1,000, 16-gallon kegs of beer refreshingly being consumed. When I attended for the first time on May 18, 1977, my introduction to the day dawned with anticipation. It had been overcast, rainy and cool, typical of Missoula’s dismal skies. But by the time we met in the parking lot at 10 a.m., the sun was breaking through and the promise of a spectacular day grew brighter. As we hit the entrance of Miller Creek and parked, I grabbed my camera and my pre-purchased Aber Day mug, then we made our way to the gate and joined countless other parched youths who were chanting “Ready, Set, Flow,” while awaiting the opening of the Oncegates. opened, the crowd moved with controlled excitement through the cattle chutes, excitedly hoping to fill from one of dozens of taps mounted along the sides of the cattle chutes. As the dull roar of the crowd rose above the rodeo grounds, we moved as one, patient yet anxious, ready to receive a mug full of Abrew.lineup of incredible bands guaranteed a full day of upbeat music. At the edge of the arena, a large, temporary stage with a tarp cover had been built facing the rodeo grounds, projecting toward a giant hillside where thousands had found spots to relax in the grass. The sun rose warm and high, as did the sounds of the day. In the arena, in front of the stage, several thousand more
ROB QUIST OF MMWB GETTING COMFORTABLE WITH THE CROWD THE STYLE OF THE DAY! SPRING 2022 // 27
• in 1979 • ★★★★★★★★★ dubbed it the ★★★★★★★★★★★ largestbenefitnon-profitkeggereverheld! THE gUINnESs BOoK OF RECORDSWORLD 28 // www.raisedinthewest.com
danced and sang with the bands as the music echoed up the hill. Bonnie Raitt was fresh on the scene with her slide guitar and teasing vocals. She brought a sound which rocked the crowd and lasted for decades. Doug Kershaw, always high strung with his fiddle, energized the crowd and got the dancing going strong... but it was the hometown boys, Mission Mountain Wood Band, who stole the show. Their Montana bluegrass, energy, and unique comfort in front of the crowd was contagious. When they launched into their well-known hit, “Mountain Standard Time,” the tone changed, and everyone was on their feet – they couldn’t stop moving if they tried; it was like dancing on lava. I called it “Montana Music Magic” and I’ve never heard anything like it again, nor have I danced as hard. By the time they played “Take a Whiff on Me,” we were moving so fast in the arena a dust storm had gathered coating our bodies in a fine layer, but we didn’t care, our smiles held fast. The combined energy and harmony from the groups singing and their playing of the banjo, mandolin, guitar and bass held our attention and our energy until the last notes from the band drifted away. As the music wound down, the beer ran short, and the day fell to dusk, we packed it into a memory and started the migration home. Tired, sunburned with music echoing in our hearts we had been exposed to something like never before.
SPRING 2022 // 29
lived in a different day back then. It might not sound innocent, but somehow it was. Thousands of people – initially strangers brought together with good music and beer – were friends by the end of the day and all left with a “kegger story” to tell and a lifetime memory. There were no fights, brawls or violence. We were all there simply to have fun, laugh, and enjoy being young and carefree. The memories were either caught with 35mm film or simply etched in our minds and hearts. As I thumb through my 35mm slides and reminisce about that day 45 years ago, I can’t help but sit back, grin and be thankful that I got to be a part of that. What a blast!
ARomanticgriculturEandrealsideof HOEFLE
HAVRE MONTANA WRITTEN BY CYD
// PHOTOGRAPHY BY RICHELLE BARRETT 30 // www.raisedinthewest.com
We profiled three Montana ranch women that have taken to social media to try and help educate consumers about what it takes to provide food for their families while giving them an inside look at the lives of every day farmers and ranchers.
“It just kind of evolved,” Richelle said. “Writing is always therapeutic for me – a way to get my feelings out and reflect back on my parents’ and grandmother’s way of life.”
THE BARRETT FAMILY’S EVERY DAY LIFE SPRING 2022 // 31
Richelle Barrett would be the first to say she had no idea when she began sharing her thoughts on social media that today she would be a well-known agriculture advocate. For her, it started nearly eight years ago simply as an avenue to relieve the stress of working full time, being a mom and wife, and helping on her family’s ranch.
Part of that reflection comes from living in the same house her grandmother dwelled in, on land that has been in the family, outside of Havre, for the past seventy years. As the third generation to live on the property, Richelle has insight to all the facets of ranch life but often writes from what she perceives would be the way her grandmother, a single mother, may think.
Back then, she shared thoughts on motherhood, both humorous and sometimes difficult. But as her kids, audience and ability grew, she became more focused on sharing the life of a ranch woman. Her posts about ranching day-to-day resonate not only with fellow ranchers but they’ve also helped bridge the gap between producers of food and consumers of food.
Farmers and ranchers are always battling things outside of their control when it comes to their livelihood. Weather, the rising cost of doing business, market price for their goods, and consumer buying habits are just a few of the variables that affect their bottom line. Add to that list radical groups raising disinformed environmental concerns about ag and animal welfare and the battle seems uphill all the way.
On three very different levels, these women are each making a difference for the industry.
“I’ve had a couple of posts shared that a few publishers have seen, and some writings have come out of that for me and that’s been exciting.” She’s now writing once a month for The Cattle Business Weekly and her posts are showing on “Her View from Home,” a Facebook page about marriage and family life. “I’m truly an introvert,” Richelle said, “so this has been really good for me.” Her Facebook page has created online friendships with readers from neighboring states and as far away as Florida and Canada.
“Writing is always therapeutic for me – a way to get my feelings out and reflect back on my parents’ and grandmother’s way of life.
“It helps me to think deeper when I think about what her perspective would be on things,” she said. Her posts are thought provoking, gentle and poetic and encourage readers to look for the good, enjoy the simple, and to be kind and Today,content.she has a following of 14,000 on Facebook and has impacted ranch women and beyond with her quiet words of reflection and wisdom. Now much beyond a stress reliever, her writings have opened doors Richelle never dreamt possible.
/theprairiecrocus FOLLOW THE PRAIRIE CROCUS BLOg AND PHOTOgRAPHY AT
—RICHELLE BARRETT
32 // www.raisedinthewest.com
“It’s been amazing to me the relationships I have gained from posting,” she said. “It’s fun to hear from those that grew up on a farm and are no longer living the agricultural lifestyle, but they get it, and they support it. “ Down the road, Richelle hopes to transition from writing as a hobby to writing for income and, one day, write a book. In the meantime, as she refines her writing and continues her daily posts, she’s proud to be a voice for ranchers and the ag industry.
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Cheyenne prides herself on platforming the romantic, but necessary side of ranching and hopes to help consumers better understand where their food comes from and how it’s raised.
Her most favorite subject to photograph are horses because as she says, “horses are the romantic side of the west!”
She offers a firsthand perspective on being a ranch woman in modern times.
“I try to keep my posts positive and inspiring,” she said, “truthful but fun.” Her Facebook page and Instagram are filled with photos of horses, cattle and the workings of things going on at the ranch. She often adds trivia about agriculture or a short video of ranch life, feeding horses, checking cows, roping calves.
Incredibly busy not only helping on her family’s ranch and working with other women to build their businesses, Cheyenne also homeschools her 13 year old son, handles the social media content for Art of the Cowgirl and has a successful networking “I’mbusiness.nota perfectionist,” she said, “I’m a realist. I’ve figured out how to prioritize. My husband and son are first in my life and everything else fits into place.”
REED POINT MONTANA WRITTEN BY CYD HOEFLE // PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHEYENNE WILSON NNcowgirlativEcowgirlativEcatchingupwiththe CHEYENNE WILSON /thenativecowgirl FOLLOW CHEYENnE ON /thenativecowgirl 34 // www.raisedinthewest.com
She’s also learned to give herself grace. “I don’t feel too busy,” she said. “I have a saying, ‘Whatever you do in life, do it to please the 8-year-old you were and the 80-year-old you will be.’ Everything we do matters, some things just matter more than others. Take the time to figure out what matters the most and do it.”
on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota and the other south of Reed Point, that has been in her husband’s family for decades. A fifth generation Montanan, she grew up on her parent’s ranch in southeast Montana outside of Terry, where her love of cattle and horses was fostered. She and her husband, Shane Wilson, raise half draft horses, a cross between Quarter horses and draft horses, and black angus cattle. But if operating two ranches isn’t enough, Cheyenne also is a writer and photographer specializing in social media marketing and the promotion of agriculture.
“What I’ve done has worked,” Cheyenne said. “Now I’d like to help other women succeed too.”
And it’s working. She has over 100,000 followers from across the country and has since become a rural business coach specializing in helping women in agriculture build their businesses.
“I started blogging in 2013 about ranch life and living on an Indian reservation hoping that I might bring in another stream of income for our ranch,” she started. “I dabbled in photography and did some social media and things just started working.”
“I try to keep my posts positive and inspiring, truthful but fun. —CHEYENNE WILSON SPRING 2022 // 35
LAMBERT MONTANA WRITTEN BY CYD HOEFLE // PHOTOGRAPHY BY WHITNEY KLASNA
She’s an influential young woman in her various roles in promoting the ag industry, but her Instagram and Facebook page depict her as a woman who enjoys spending the days with her husband, Dylan, playing with their Corgis, working cattle, and tending to their farm and ranch.
a glance at MontanAeastern
Whitney Klasna and her husband, Dylan are fourth generation Montana farmers and ranchers. They farm and ranch alongside Dylan’s parents, Tim and Kim Klasna, raising Hereford and Black Baldy cattle, farming wheat, triticale, barley, oats, cover crops, and hay. The Klasna family farm and ranch is located between Wolf Point and Sidney, in rural Richland County, near the community of Lambert. “We’re centrally located in the middle of nowhere,” Whitney Butlaughed.being in the middle of nowhere hasn’t stopped this young farm and ranch woman from making an impact in the agriculture community in the state of Montana and, in fact, in the nation.
“I want to tell through my photos what living and farming and ranching in rural Montana looks like,” she said.
Whitney is tremendously busy helping agriculturists to be heard at a legislative level, both statewide and nationwide. She’s spent the past nearly two decades working to help farmers, ranchers, and Rural America. From being on the Montana Livestock Loss Board, providing financial reimbursements to producers due to losses caused by predators, to becoming the National Secretary of the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association. She’s been involved in Women Involved in Farm Economics and served as the State President. She is a graduate of Class I and is currently on the Advisory Board of REAL Montana, a comprehensive two year leadership program offering in-depth education and training in the agriculture and natural resource industries. REAL Montana is a unique public-private partnership between Montana State University Extension and private industry She’ssupporters.currently involved in the planning of the Women Stepping Forward for Agriculture Conference which will be held in Billings October 3-5. Their mission is to empower women involved in all sectors of agriculture through education, collaboration, and networking, to ensure the success of farms and ranches across the “Weregion.covereverything from personal development in business to technical skills like pesticide application and calving,” Whitney said. “There’s something for every woman involved in agriculture to any degree, if they are interested.”
Whitney posts photos that she’s spontaneously taken of typical farm and ranch scenes and often short videos of the livestock
36 // www.raisedinthewest.com
“I just happened to catch that one on my phone,” Whitney smiled. “I said something about how California cows do yoga to get healthy, but Montana cows do Crossfit. That one wentViewedviral!”millions of times on Facebook and other platforms, she licensed her video with a viral media company and it has actually provided some income for her.
Several of her posts have gone viral including her “Cross Fit Cow,” first posted in January of 2016 of one of their cows head butting a round bale of straw across the snow covered field in their winter pasture.
She’s had others go viral too including a recent photo she took of Dylan on the back of their feed pickup on a -40 degree day in January. He was holding a MSU Bobcat flag in support of the Bobcats in the FCS championship game in Texas between MSU and North Dakota State. That photo was then photoshopped into dozens of famous scenes across social media and showed Dylan on mountain tops, conquering battles, and leading teams to “Itvictory.was fun,” Whitney said. “We didn’t know it would go that far.” Whitney typically posts things going on in the life of Eastern Montana farmers and ranchers, battling the elements and taking care of livestock and raising crops in extreme weather. “Whatever I post I think about how it will look to an outsider. I do my best to explain how and why we are doing what we are doing in the caption. But if the photo can’t be explained just by looking at it or there’s a possibility that it could be misinterpreted, I don’t take the chance.” Her posts are real. They show the young couple out feeding cattle in below zero weather, harvesting wheat in the blistering heat, fighting wildfires, Big Sky sunsets, and their beloved corgis. It’s easy to see she loves her life, and she wants to share it. “We all have beautiful stories,” she said. “And when the common thread we all share is stitched together, it’s a beautiful thing.”
/whitney.klasna/whitneyklasna FOLLOW WHITNEY ON 201 Sugar Avenue Billings MT 59101 (406) 248-3631 or nutralix@nutralix.comwww.nutralix.com(800)568-6952 800.568.6952 CallToday! MAXIMIZE Profits MAXIMIZE Herd Health Economic losses from inadequate supplementation can cost you more than you bargained for. Invest in a whole herd health program with Nutra-Lix to realize profits! WHITNEY KLAUS GO BOBCATS! SPRING 2022 // 37
that live on the ranch.
BILLINGS MONTANA DEFENSE DEFENSE SELF SELF THE ART OFTHE ART OF WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHY BY CYD HOEFLE 38 // www.raisedinthewest.com
Kelsey recounted a much-dreaded flat tire on her pickup not long ago on a two-lane highway, miles from home without cell service. She counted over 30 passing vehicles as she changed the tire “Iherself.thought about how times have changed. Not too long ago, someone would have pulled over and offered me help. Now days, they don’t,” she said. “At the same time, I was also nervous about someone actually pulling over when I had a disabled vehicle. I have to know how to protect myself.”
“We live in such crazy times,” she said. “I feel like I need to be able to protect myself, whether its walking to my car from the gym or the grocery store or being stuck out in the middle of nowhere.”
“I’m often asked as a defense instructor, ‘how do I win the fight?’ Andrew said, “My answer is always the same. ‘Don’t be present for one.’” In other words, remain aware of surroundings, lock vehicles and homes, don’t open the door without knowing who’s on the other side, and be constantly on the “Cellalert. phones can be startoutsaid.distracting,”incrediblyhe“Don’twalkofastoreandtexting.Take “I feel like I need to be able to protect myself, whether its walking to my car from the gym or the grocery store or being stuck out in the middle of nowhere. FRASER TAKES AIM WITH A SIRT LASER PISTOL
She’s had a concealed weapon permit for years and said she’s comfortable handling a pistol, carries one in her car, and has one in her home. She took the class, though, to learn how to be more proficient with her pistol and to protect herself physically.
Andrew Lauckner owns and operates Fire Dragon Tactical Shooting and has been handling guns his entire life, not only hunting, but also shooting competitively. In fact, he qualified for the Junior Olympic team when he was 14. He is a United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) instructor and offers classes on handling guns and self-defense. When Martha gathered a group of friends to take a class, Andrew was happy to Oneaccommodate.attendee, Kelsey Fraser, was raised on a ranch near Miles City, and learned to shoot for both recreation and hunting.
After practicing gun safety and studying scenarios which may necessitate self-defense with a firearm, Andrew demonstrated multiple ways to physically defend one’s self from an attack. The women all took turns doing simulated shooting using laser guns to augment reality. Used instead of real guns at a real range, the laser guns depict the physical act of shooting, the auditory response, and the visual feedback. It’s become a popular way to teach students since it’s far less expensive than using real guns and ammunition and the training can be done anywhere.
—KELSEY FRASER KELSEY
For many rural Montana women, guns, whether they be shotguns, rifles, or pistols, are part of their lives. But in today’s changing world, a dozen Sweet Grass County women decided brushing up on gun safety and selfdefense may be a good idea.
SPRING 2022 // 39
Martha Sargent lives on a ranch 40 miles from Big Timber and strong self-defense knowledge was a concern she’d been thinking about, not only for herself, but for her daughter and daughter-in-law along with their friends.
“The world is changing,” Martha said. “There was a time when no one locked their homes or vehicles, but that’s not the case anymore. I worry about these young women and young moms driving across rural Montana where cell phones only work about half the time. They need to know how to defend themselves.”
Another potential conflict avoidance tool is that of communication – protection doesn’t always come from weapons.
“You can sometimes disarm a stalker by demanding he step back, or by telling him you will call the cops,” Andrew said. “Don’t be afraid to speak loudly and firmly.” He demonstrated the role barriers and obstacles play in creating distance from a potential attacker.
In an escalating situation, if communication or avoidance fail, Andrew boiled down the decision to respond to an attacker with one “Whatquestion.wouldyou be willing to jump into a shark tank to save? Your home? Your belongings? Probably not. Your kids? Your family? Remember, possessions are not worth dying over. Let them go.” That resonated with Dava Stenberg, a ranch woman from Big “ITimber.could separate myself from everything but my kids, my family and myself,” she said. “That makes it an easy decision.”
—ANDREW LAUCKNER WITH AN INSTRUCTOR, MARTHA SARGENT AND HER DAUGHTER, KAYLA WALKER WORK ON AIMING ANDREW LAUCKNER SHOWS SELF-DEFENSE TACTICS TO KELSEY FRASER 40 // www.raisedinthewest.com
“To gain crucial seconds, put as much space and objects as possible between you and your subject of attack. Whether it be lateral movement off the line of attack, or physical objects impeding their direct pursuit, give yourself the advantage in every situation,” he said.
“You can sometimes disarm a stalker by demanding he step back, or by telling him you will call the cops. Don’t be afraid to speak loudly and firmly.
note of where you are and who’s around you. Have your keys in your hand, don’t dig in your purse for your keys while you’re trying to balance a kid or a bag of groceries.”
Eat! Drink! Play! 406-348-2400 ★ 139 NORTHERN AVE ★ HUNTLEY, MT ★ BREAKFAST Served 8am-1am ★ PRIME RIB Fri & Sat Night ★ BROASTED CHICKEN ★ PIZZAS Made from scratch! ON FACEBOOK! Menu www.bluecatbarandgrill.com DINE-IN ★ CARRY-OUT SCAN TO CHECK OUT OUR After attending the full day class, the women qualified to receive a concealed carry training certificate; though most agreed the most valuable lessons were the hand-to-hand combat and a better understanding of how to respond if they were indeed attacked. “I hope I don’t ever have to defend my family or myself, but rest assured, the attacker would be up against a grizzly bear of a woman,” Martha concluded. This lead perfectly into Andrew’s final advice, a quote from President Teddy Roosevelt: “Speak softly and carry a big stick and you will go far!” /FireDragonTacticalShooting406.690.9660 FOLLOW ANDREW AT FIRE DRAgON TACTICAL SHOoTINg OR CALL HIM AT DAVA STENBERG CHECKS TO ENSURE A PISTOL IS SAFE SPRING 2022 // 41
As legend has it, in 1912, a group of prestigious men approached the back door stoop of the Akins family home on Main Street. They knocked, Grandma Cresap answered, and they introduced themselves as federal Coast and Geodetic surveyors who had exciting news to share – Montana’s geographical center was under her kitchen sink.
On November 8, 1889, Montana was admitted to the union as the forty-first state, and pioneering townsfolk in Lewistown were happy to finally call their centralized hamlet, “The Heart of the State of Montana.”
The story circulated through town and soon every Lewistown resident knew looking down the drain of Akins’ kitchen sink would reveal the center of Montana. The townsfolk bragged about housing the center of Montana in their city limits; a claim which has been unabashedly celebrated, debated, and disputed.
LEWISTOWN MONTANA WRITTEN BY CATHY MOSER // PHOTOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTED 42 // www.raisedinthewest.com
Bohnda, and her husband, Ray Dockery Sr., the Akins house became the Dockery house. Visitors of Lewistown were often shown the Dockery house and told of Montana’s geographical center under Mrs. Dockery’s kitchen sink. The sink and its remarkable placement warranted write ups in “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” and Reader’s Digest.
In 1927, when Mr. and Mrs. Akins gave the house to their daughter,
Around 1959, Ray Dockery Sr., passed the house down to his son, Ray Dockery, Jr. Young Dockery immediately hung a copper plaque above the sink defining the point as the center of the state. This plaque would remain in its place for more than sixty years.
In 1982, things took a twist about a mile east of the parsonage when ground was broken on Main Street for the expansion of
In 1974, the First Christian Church congregation purchased the Dockery house and it soon had new life as a parsonage. Visitors of Lewistown were now shown the parsonage and told of the town’s little tale.
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the Yogo Inn to include a convention center and swimming pool. Chunks of earth were no sooner turned over when a workman swung his pickaxe and struck a boulder. To the surprise of many, a distressed gold mining pan rested on top of the rock and even more incredulous, the stone had been chiseled. A crude carving clearly illustrated an outline of Montana with an ‘x’ in the center. Further, next to the rock lay a buffalo horn fashioned into a time capsule. Inside the hollow horn was a surveyor’s compass, a coin, and a message dated February 12, 1912: “Good Friend Forbear To Disturb the Stone entombed in here. Blessed are they Who accept the Center Mark And to Hell with those Who would move this Rock.” W.S. Questions began to abound among the townsfolk who wondered who W.S. was and if his “mark” was more accurate than the surveyors. Coffee shop old timers pondered if the initials were those of Will Stafford, a surveyor for the Jawbone Railroad which reached Lewistown in 1903. Meanwhile, Yogo Inn owners and prominent businessmen rallied around W.S. and his mark. “What an incredible discovery,” they claimed. The old timers grumbled that the bruhaha had been staged and poorly so, for that matter. In the words of Mary Jean Golden, “One day a group of guys building an addition to the community motel were sitting around drinking coffee. The next day they found a buffalo horn with what was almost a note from Lewis and Clark saying, ‘When Montana becomes a state, this is the center.’” Mary Jean and the old guard stuck by the story of the Dockery sink. Yet, the people at the Yogo Inn were undeterred and wishing to commemorate W.S.’s center mark adjacent to the brand-new swimming pool, they commissioned a tile mosaic with the words, “Montana’s Center – Lewistown.”
Then, in 1987 for reasons unknown, elders at the First Christian Church decided the center of Montana wasn’t under the parsonage sink after all. They placed Ray Dockery’s copper plaque in storage before scuttling the sink and razing the Dockery Eventually,house. the twenty-first century arrived, and with it, Montana State geographers in Lewistown. They roved around with their devices in hand and crunched numbers. In 2006, they revealed their data and upsetting news for Lewistown. Alas, the center mark wasn’t on First Christian Church ground; nor was it at the Yogo Inn. In fact, it wasn’t anywhere in Lewistown. Montana’s center had shifted yet again. The new site was determined to be in a pasture nine miles west of town. Mary Jean Golden had an explanation. She called the peculiar phenomenon, “state tectonics,” or Montana’s center mark stretching, sliding, or burping its way from under the Dockery house to the Yogo Inn to a spot of grass under the Big Sky. To this day, the Yogo Inn sticks by the W.S. version of the tale.
FOrTFOrT
“My sister Carla bought this place in 2017 as an investment when it was a bar, and needed someone to run it,” Dave Erlanson, the current manager and chef at The Fort at 49, said. At the time, he was working at the Four Seasons Resort and Residences in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and decided to make the “Mymove.goalwas to come up here and relax,” he explained. He reached out to his friend, Becky Moore, who had previously worked with him in Jackson. Moore quickly decided to leave Texas behind, and, in a matter of months, the team had spruced up the old bar. On April 15, 2018, the restaurant opened to serve “country casual” food. “This is beef country,” Becky said. “Everybody wants beef.” But when creating their first menu, they added some variety with the inclusion of pork, chicken, and seafood. It was a matter of “figuring out what sells,” Becky Theirexplained.offerings are posted on two blackboards – a small one with sides and starters, and a larger one with the main entrees. The menu lists choices described by a couple of words, but the plate arrives at the table with so much more.
The CHEF MADE FOOD FOR A COMMUNITY
49 49at CUSTER MONTANA WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHY BY STELLA FONG
At lunch, the Fried Chicken Wrap includes chicken breast coated in large-diced cornmeal and fried crispy, paired with fresh spring greens tossed in house-made honey mustard, wrapped up in a toasted spinach tortilla. The soup of the day, Strecker Farms Corn Chowder, made with locally sourced corn, brims with roasted corn kernels, potatoes, grated 44 // www.raisedinthewest.com
The Fort at 49, a restaurant and campsite in Custer, Montana, quickly becomes a blur in the rearview mirror while cruising between Billings and Miles City. No signage or kitschy Western objects lure the traveler off Exit 49 on Interstate 94. Even venturing south on MT-47 towards Hardin, the presence of the dark gray manufactured building adjacent to a campground with 12 hookups mostly goes unnoticed.
Dave grew up in Ridgeway, Pennsylvania, receiving a degree from the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute.
Dave hired Becky to work with him at the Jackson Hole Mountain Lodge. She is mostly self-taught and trained by people from the kitchens in which she has worked. “We are very well trained. We make everything in-house, if possible,” Becky said. “We plan a menu on what we can do successfully within the limitations of our kitchen. Selected dishes can be cooked with different techniques and kitchen equipment. This way, not everything is cooked in the oven, fryer, flattop or on the stove.”
carrot, and bacon bits all anchored with cream. The Fork Steak Salad consists of browned prime rib pieces and seasoned french fries atop fresh greens tossed with homemade ranch dressing. Prime rib is served on the weekends at dinnertime with options such as Jerk Pork Chops, Chicken Fried Steak, Fried Shrimp and Southwest Chicken Salad.
Despite their past experiences and trainings lending to the wonderful meals prepared and served at The Fort at 49 over the past four years, building up the “hole in the wall” restaurant at the wide spot in the road is about much more. “It’s not about our background or where we’ve been,” Dave said. “It’s about where we are going. We’re here now and we’re enjoying our community.” O: Billings,3470www.parsecdata.com406.294.3282GabelRd.MT59102
He spent his early career in Jackson, Swan Valley, Idaho, and Palm Beach, Florida before migrating back West and settling for some time at the Jackson Mountain Resort. Over the next ten years, he moved up from line cook to sous chef to executive sous chef. In 2014, he was part of a team of five chefs from the Fine Dining Restaurant Group and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort selected to cook at the James Beard House.
HOSTING | COLOCATION | IAAS MANAGED SERVICES | CLOUD SOLUTIONS SPRING 2022 // 45
“Cooking interested me because it is not set in stone and allows creativity,” he said.
“Dinner is where we shine,” Dave proudly added. And it didn’t take long for the locals to agree. Becky said The Fort at 49 is now a popular place for locals to congregate, socialize, and gather to celebrate anniversaries and birthdays. In the beginning, when people called to make reservations, they usually asked what was on the menu. These days, they don’t bother because they know it will be good.
“We write a new menu nearly every day because we are in such a small area,” Dave said, while noting the location can make sourcing food a challenge. That challenge, though, allows the team’s creativity to shine.
VISIT THE FORT AT 49 IN PERSON AT 7799 Custer Frontage Rd Custer, MT 406-856-420259024 ONLINE AT www.thefortat49.com AND FOLLOW THEM ON /thefortat49
July 9 Wes Hardy Memorial Poker Run
June 17 – 18 Miles City Ranch Rodeo, Eastern FairgroundsMontana
June 18-19 24 Hours of Elk Basin June 23-25 Songwriters Festival July 1-26 Art in the Beartooths July 1 Extreme Bulls July 2,3,4 Home of Champions Rodeo and Parade July 9 Beartooth Run July 15-17 Beartooth Rally July 22-24 Red Lodge Car Show
July 22 – 30 Central Montana Fair, PRCA Rodeo and Concert with Chancey com.ferguscountyfairgrounds.Williams
July 2, 16, 23 Charlie Russell Chew Choo July 4 Pancake breakfast, Parade and Concert with Warren Taylor and XLT Country July 22 Hot Summer Nights
Aug 14, 27 Charlie Russell Chew Choo
June 11 Montana BBQ Cookoff, Absarokee June 25 Fishtail Days July 9 Nye Goes Nuts July 30 & 31 Absarokee Days
July 8 – 10 59th Annual Yellowstone River Boat Float
Lewistown June 7, 25 Charlie Russell Chew montanadinnertrain.comChoo
July 15 – Sept 9 Friday Farmer’s Market July 17 – 21 National Targhee Sheep Show July 25-30 Sweet Grass County Fair
MiLes City June 11 Highland Games
June 17– 19 All 90’s Class Reunion June 18 Kid’s Fishing Day
July 25 – 30 Carbon County Fair July 22 Nitty Gritty Off Road Race July 26-27 Big Sky Gravel Tour
July 22 – 24 Chaos Fast Pitch Softball Tournament Aug 24 – 27 Eastern MT Fair, Miles City
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Bridger July 16-17 Jim Bridger Days
CountyStiLLwater
June 17 & 18 Nitro Hill Climb
Aug 3 – Sept 10 Wednesday PRCA Pro Rodeo Aug 19 Sweet Grass Brewfest Aug 19-21 Art of the Cowgirl Sept 1 Give Where You Live Sept 4 Great Montana Sheep Drive, Reed Point
June 25 Miles City Garden Club Yard Tours June 24 – 25 Cowtown BBQ Cook-Off, Riverside Park
Aug 11 – Sept 22 Thursday Columbus Farmer’s Market Red Lodge June 4-5 Montana Renaissance Festival June 4-12 Red Lodge Music Festival
Aug 11 – 14 37th Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering & Western RendezvousMusic Sept 9 - 10 Chokecherry Festival
Big Timber May 20-21 Crazy Mountain Fiber Fest May 29-30 High School Rodeo June 17-18 Goat Show June 24-25 Sweet Grass Fest & NRA Rodeo
If you or a loved one experiences a heart attack, time is critical. Swift, expert treatment can mean the di erence between life and death. Billings Clinic provides heart attack patients with the highest level of care because every minute matters.
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At the John R. Burg MD Cardiac Center, your cardiac care is in good hands. As the only hospital in Montana with two Heart Failure Fellowship trained providers and dedicated heart failure team, Billings Clinic is ready to care for every beat of every heart.
. 2021
Heart care that can’t be beat
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