A poetic exploration of community as I experience it in rural Montana.
SEEING THE WORLD THROUGH COLOR CONTEMPLATION
As I listened to their grunts and grumbles, the rut certainly close if not already underway, I wondered, what does brown mean? And in that question, I found myself satisfied without an answer, fully present in contemplation and curiosity, completely slack jawed at the vast beauty of Caprock Canyon State Park.
WIDE SKY RETREATS
The opportunity to celebrate a friend realizing their dreams holds a particular kind of undeniable joy. Being able to do while also experiencing a transformative experience, now that’s down right the best. My trip to the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness as a participant of Wide Sky Retreats encompassed all of this and more.
MASTER HUNTER PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY FOR LANDOWNERS TO MANAGE WILDLIFE AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS
At Topos & Anthros, we work with non-profits on strategy and engagement. Currently we are working with One Montana on a number of strategic initiatives including the landowner recruitment and retention component of their signature Master Hunter Program. Launched in 2018 to field more ethical, educated, and effective hunters, the Master Hunter Program provides landowners opportunities to build relationships with hunters in an effort to manage wildlife on their property.
ESCAPE TO OUR PUBLIC LANDS
Though there are countless ways to enjoy natural and wild places, the USFS cabin rental program provides a unique experience to convene with some of the most beautiful places throughout our country. Maintained by the USFS, the cabins are available on a first come, first serve basis by booking through the National Recreation Reservation System. Almost every aspect of staying in a USFS cabin or tower requires a bit more work than a typical vacation rental or cabin-getaway. In our experience, the reward is well worth the (mostly enjoyable) work.
WORKING FARMS IN MAINE
As the average age of working landowners increases and younger generations increasingly choose jobs and lives in more urban or populated areas, the rural landscape is changing. And just as often as these changes present challenges, they present opportunities. While in Maine this spring, we visited two working farms that have addressed these types of challenges with creativity, making each challenge an opportunity to build community and connection around working lands: Wolfe’s Neck in Freeport and Aldermere Farm in Rockport.
ORGANIC DAIRY TOUR
As part of the Grassfed Exchange conference in Santa Rosa, California, we had the fortunate opportunity to learn more about the business of dairies that graze cattle in pasture and sell organic milk while touring two family-owned dairies, McClelland Dairy and Beretta Dairy.
NEW RELEASE: REDUCING CONFLICT WITH GRIZZLY BEARS, WOLVES AND ELK
Reducing Conflict with Grizzly Bears, Wolves and Elk, A Western Landowner’s Guide is now available. This informative landowner’s guide produced by Western Landowners Alliance features case studies from ranchers across the west that address the challenge of how to share and manage a wild, working landscape that sustains both people and wildlife.
CATTLE DRIVE FUNDRAISER UNDERWAY
For the second year, the Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) and Montana Stockgrowers Foundation (MSF) are holding their “Cattle Drive” feeder calf program, which raises funds for MSF. The program allows folks to contribute toward the efforts of MSF beyond the more traditional cash donations.
USFS HEALTHY FOREST PROGRAMS
BATS IN MONTANA
MONTANA MASTER HUNTER PROGRAM
Private landowners in Montana now have another option when considering how to integrate hunting into their land management operations and stewardship strategies. The Montana Hunter Advancement Program promotes safe, ethical, and responsible hunting through its focused “Master Hunter” certification program, offered in partnership with forward-thinking private landowners across the state.
SOUTH TEXAS HERITAGE AT THE WITTE MUSEUM
Did you know that for nearly a century, San Antonio was the largest city on the western frontier? Or that Texas is the only state to have farm to market roads? Our recent visit to the Witte Museum's Robert J. and Helen C. Kleberg South Texas Heritage Center immersed us in the culture and history of ranching in South Texas.
SEASONAL MONTANA TWO DOT DINNER
Agriculture plays a pivot role in the economy and culture of Montana. Together companies like Seasonal Montana and Two Dot Land and Livestock, which intentionally and tirelessly work to connect folks throughout the state to the landscape, strengthen the connection of people and place.
AGRICULTURAL WATER USE IN GALLATIN VALLEY
Recently we visited the Gaffke Ranch in the Gallatin Valley. The most impactful part of the tour was not the low water component, but Mike's take on the changes to water availability. Mike seemed to be more concerned with the dissolution of community as a result of the decrease in agricultural water users than the water itself.
COMMUNITY FUTURES FINANCE TOOLBOX
Earlier this year, we collaborated with The Trust for Public Land on their Community Futures Community Futures Finance Toolbox project. We conducted research to learn how small and rural communities are becoming more livable, resilient, and vibrant. Our research revealed that communities of all sizes are utilizing innovative tools to leverage their natural resources into a prosperous and sustainable future.
MONTANA HERITAGE ORCHARD PROGRAM
In Montana, Montana State University Extension is leading the charge to identify and preserve the heritage orchards that still exist through their Montana Heritage Orchard Program. The designation of Heritage Orchard gives landowners recognition, and helps preserve and propagate the unique fruit tree cultivars.
This summer we had the opportunity to tour one of Montana's Heritage Orchards. The Yellowstone Springs Ranch orchard is currently undergoing the process of genetic testing to determine and catalog the exact cultivars of trees.
LAND STEWARDSHIP IN SOUTH TEXAS
CENTRAL IDAHO RANGELANDS NETWORK
As part of their devotion to "the inextricable link between the public lands surrounding our private working lands", the Lemhi Land Trust joined forces with The Nature Conservancy and Pioneer Mountain Group to create the Central Idaho Rangelands Network to encourage collaboration and rangeland monitoring across a large landscape with diverse public and private ownership in Central Idaho.
KIDDING AROUND AT FARM 51
Just outside of Bozeman in Kelly Canyon, Jennifer and Chris Boyer raise boer and nubian goats on Farm 51. They provide sustainably-raised goat meat to restaurants in Bozeman and to consumers through the local Community Co-op. Farm 51 has grown organically from a hobby to a business for the Boyers.