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FALL 2019
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COUNTRY NEIGHBORS ~ FALL 2019
Eastern Montana Food & Ag Development Center Eastern Plains Economic Development Corporation (EPEDC) is excited to announce the creation of a regional Food and Agriculture Development Center that will serve 12 counties in eastern Montana, including Fallon County. The purpose of the Eastern Montana Food and Agriculture Development Center (FADC) is to encourage the development of Montana’s agricultural resources to ensure that more of Montana’s food, agricultural and alternative energy dollars circulate in Montana. The center will focus on adding value to our existing resources within Montana, keeping more of our agricultural products within the state by processing them locally, and exponentially increasing the value of our products before they leave Montana. The FADC is a joint effort through Eastern Plains Economic Development Center, of which Fallon County and the City of Baker are members, and Great Northern Development Corporation. These organizations applied to the Montana Department of Agriculture for $121,576 for initial funding for the Eastern Montana Food and Ag Development Center. This will be the first FADC in Montana east of Joliet. “We are thrilled to offer services that can support our
local farmers and ranchers, as well as others interested in gaining knowledge about the food and agriculture industries. We have such a wealth of ag resources and knowledge in eastern Montana. This program will provide one more tool to help strengthen and stabilize our economy,” said EPEDC Director Beth Epley. It can provide assistance for a wide variety of things ranging from product development and testing to food processing and packaging to market research and feasibility studies to promotion of farmers’ markets. “This is an opportunity for our local farmers to expand and diversify, which is critical in our current ag economy,” stated Epley. With eight different centers located across Montana, the Montana Food & Agriculture Development Center Network is a statewide technical assistance group that provides assistance to Montana’s agricultural producers. Each center within the Food & Agriculture Development Center Network focuses on a specific area of expertise, creating a wide variety of services and information channels for the clients. For more information or to set up a meeting with the FADC, please call Beth Epley at 406-853-6471.
Every year, National 4-H Week showcases the learn-by doing experiences that 4-H offers young people such as yourself and highlights the remarkable 4-H youth in our community who work each day to make a positive impact on those around them. This year’s theme, Super Hero’s in Training, is a campaign that will give kids more opportunities to do, empowering them with the skills they need to succeed in life and career.
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COUNTRY NEIGHBORS ~ FALL 2019
Adams County grain terminal structurally damaged Shortly following the incident, United Grain Corporation released the following press release:
Frank Turner
acrnews@countrymedia.net
On July 22, a United Grain Corporation grain terminal, located roughly four miles west of Bucyrus along Highway 12, experienced structural damage at its base. A week after the structural damaging “incident,” a large amount of grain spilled from the terminal. Although the grain has since been removed, the structural damage to the terminal has steadily worsened. What started as a small crack in the terminal’s structure has slowly widened overtime. As of October 10, little is known about the cause of the incident or extent of the damage the grain terminal sustained. According to a United Grain Corporation Public Relations Representative, United Grain is currently conducting an engineering analysis to learn more about the damage. The representative also noted that repairs are currently underway by contractors. The estimated time of completion on repairs is “early next year.”
Interruption in business at United Grain Corporation’s Bucyrus, ND location On Monday, July 22nd, Vancouver, Washingtonbased United Grain Corporation’s Bucyrus, ND grain terminal experienced an incident to one of the concrete bins on the premises. Our employees followed safety procedures and the facility was evacuated safely with no injuries. A team of engineers and construction staff are on site assessing the stability of the bin. The facility will remain closed until the structure can be fully evaluated to ensure its safety. “The safety of our employees is our number one priority,” said United Grain Corporation CEO & President Augusto Bassanini. “We will continue to adopt the necessary measures to live up to that expectation,” he added.
Engineers survey the damage on a United Grain Corporation grain terminal, located roughly four miles west of Bucyrus along Highway 12. Photo by Frank Turner
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COUNTRY NEIGHBORS ~ FALL 2019
Fallon/Carter County Montana welcome a new Extension Agent By Shannon Johnson
“It’s everything from livestock to gardening and food preservation to 4-H with the youth,” Michael Millward, Fallon and Carter County’s new Ag and 4-H extension agent explained about his position. “My first day of work was September 3.” Michael grew up in the small south-central Utah town of Bicknell. While growing up he spent a lot of his time working in the mountains with cows and working down in the valley tending to the hay fields that would be used to feed the livestock during the cold winter months. “I fell in love with range science,” he said. After graduating from high school, Michael took his passion for range science and attended college at Brigham Young University in Rexburg, Idaho where he would graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife, Range, and Ecology with an emphasis in range. When he wasn’t busy studying, he worked at the university livestock center as the student manager, where he was responsible for several class projects, as well as all of the livestock.
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After obtaining his bachelor’s degree, he moved on, still in pursuit of education, to New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM. There he would obtain his master’s degree in Animal and Range Science, studying the grazing distribution of cattle in large pastures. While he was studying at NMSU, he also managed the 60,000acre Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland Research Center. After obtaining his master’s degree, Michael stayed in New Mexico where he worked at NMSU as a rangeland specialist working at the USDA Jornada Experimental Range Station. Michael knew that he wanted to come to this region for work. “I’ve always loved this area,” he explained. So during his job search when he saw a position for Carter and Fallon County he was excited to apply, and even more elated when he received the position. He moved here with his wife Hayley and their two boys, ages four and one. “It’s beautiful,” said Michael. “I love it here.”
COUNTRY NEIGHBORS ~ FALL 2019
4-H offers a hands-on experience By Shannon Johnson
Twenty-one-year-old Lena Zehnder traveled from her home, near Bern, Switzerland, this summer to spend time learning about Montana’s farm and ranch culture through the Swiss organization Landjugend, which is like America’s 4-H program and a partner program of it, although theirs focuses more on travel. Lena learned about the opportunity through somebody else, “I’m not actually a part of the organization,” she explained. “I decided really spontaneously to come.” Lena arrived in the United States on July 8. The first part of her trip was spent with a farming family in Big Sandy. She enjoyed her time there, but because of the time of year and it not being harvest yet, there wasn’t a lot of work she was able to do while she was there. “We didn’t do a lot,” she noted. The next host family she stayed with was in Whitehall. She really enjoyed her time in Whitehall and grew fond of her host family, who took her to do a lot of sight-seeing. “It was really hard to leave,” she admitted. From there she came to Fallon County to stay with the Sparks family in Plevna. She has been staying busy helping them on their ranch. “We go out and work every day,” she said. The work she has been doing during her hands-on learning experience has included fencing, swathing, cleaning the shop, and working on wells. “I did learn a lot,” she added.
When they aren’t busy working, the Sparks’ try to take Lena to see some of the local sights, like Mount Rushmore and Medora. She will be staying with the Sparks family a little longer before returning back to Big Sandy to stay with a different family.
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Lena didn’t have any experience in agriculture before coming to Montana, and the experience along with the questions she has received about Swiss agriculture while she’s been here has sparked her interest in learning more about agriculture in Switzerland. Lena has enjoyed her time in Montana. “It’s really nice. It’s kind of like I expected it to be,” she said. One of the things that Lena has really enjoyed about the area is the people that she’s gotten to talk with. She explained how much she likes how friendly the population here is. “Everybody is nice and open. They talk with you,” she added. Lena will be returning to Switzerland on October 2nd. “I’m not really sure what I’m going to be doing when I get back,” she noted. She plans to apply and interview for jobs, and she has a few in mind that she’s strongly considering. The 4-H program, which helps organize these opportunities, is always looking for host families. Since it goes on during the summer and guests only stay for roughly three weeks, it may be more doable for families who would like to host a foreign exchange student but have time constraints. If families are interested in helping the 4-H program provide these opportunities through becoming a host family, they can contact the extension office for more information.
COUNTRY NEIGHBORS ~ FALL 2019
Three mules and a man stop in Baker, MT On July 1, Emile Brager packed up three mules and started his twoyear adventure encircling the United States and Canada. His three mules, Jojo, Sally and Jack, carry a tent, a sleeping bag, a few days rations of food, a slicker and few buckets to water them. “I camp outside” he said. “I ask for hospitality and to put my sleeping bag in the back yard and the mules.” Brager is an experienced horseman from France. Once, Brager and his wife rode from the deep south of Argentina to Fairbanks, AK, taking them four years. He was looking for a new challenge and decided on a two-year loop riding around the U.S. and Canada. Brager stopped in Baker, MT Sept. 19, spending the night at the Fallon County fairgrounds. The next morning he left for Marmarth, ND and onto Medora to see bison.
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COUNTRY NEIGHBORS ~ FALL 2019
Persistent rains plague producers Frank Turner
reporternd@countrymedia.net
Already, long summer days have shortened and green leaves have turned red. In a normal year, autumn is synonymous with the harvest season. However this year, torrential rain and poor weather conditions have inhibited farmers and their crops at every twist and turn. As of October 1st, the last 60 days in southwest North Dakota have yielded four to five times more precipitation than what is normally expected, according to National Weather Service data. The anomalous weather, according to Bowman County Extension Agent Max Robison, has severely affected local producers and their entire farming operations. Robison supported the National Weather Service data, saying, “the weather has been so far skewed from what everybody is used and what we have seen in the past.�
See RAINS Page 9 According to National Weather Service data, parts of the southwest North Dakota region have experienced four to five times more precipitation than what is considered historically average. Photo by Brad Mosher
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COUNTRY NEIGHBORS ~ FALL 2019
RAINS
FROM PAGE 8
For producers, the problems started in the early spring when ceaseless rain prevented a timely planting. Across the Midwest, farmers had to wait until late May and early June to start their operations, limiting the growing season. “I could probably count on one hand how many days we hit 90 degrees or above,” said Robison. In addition to a late plant, humid and cool weather conditions also provided the perfect conditions for the growth of certain diseases. Normally, hot summer weather prevents the spread of most diseases, however this year’s cool and humid weather provided favorable conditions for fungus growth and infection. “The issue is not just specific to Bowman County or the southwest corner of North Dakota, it’s been wider spread throughout the state,” said Robison According to Robison, farmers have experienced an increased prevalence of certain diseases, funguses, and molds, such as scab, which causes vomotoxin, and ergot. The extension agent warned that high concentrations of fungal infection and disease are “toxic” for either human consumption or livestock consumption. Robison said that when farmers attempt to sell infected crops, the produce can either lose value or be completely rejected from the market. “[Diseased crops] can really knock a lot off a farmers bottom line and whether they can even reach break even on some of their crop,” he said.
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In addition to disease, producers have also run into other issues during this year’s harvest. Uncooperative rain not only prevented heavy machinery from entering the field, it has also affected certain crops in other ways than just disease. 55-Bed Skilled Nursing “It was set up to be a really good crop this year, Providing Providing 55-Bed Skilled Nursing CareCare In House & Out Patient Therapies but with all the continued moisture and the inability to harIn House (Physical, & Out Patient Therapies Occupational, & Speech) vest, farmers didn’t have a single day they could get into (Physical, Occupational, & Speech) the field,” said Robison. “It just will knock so much off the Assisted Living Available bottom line that it’s almost not worth harvesting the crop.” Robison said that many farmers have experienced Assisted Living Available “sprouting” in their wheat fields. Sprouting, he explained, “THE HOME WITH HEART” is a phenomenon when crops like wheat take in enough “THE HOME WITH HEART” moisture from the surrounding air and their seeds start to www.hthc.org germinate before they are harvested. “It is about the equivalent of planting that seed, www.hthc.org except that it’s still on the plant,” he said. “Once sprouted, 95 Hill Top Drive | Box 780, Killdeer, ND 58640 | 701.764.5682 the wheat isn’t useful for human consumption. Farmers Providing 55-Bed Skilled Nursing Care then aren’t getting the price they need from that commod55-Bed Skilled Nursing In House & Out Providing Patient Therapies ity.” In House & Out Patient Therap 95 Hill Top Drive | Box 780, Killdeer, ND 58640 | 701.764.5682 (Physical, Occupational, & Speech) Right now, Robison said that producers are try(Physical, Occupational, & Spee ing to salvage what they can and decide whether it’s worth Assisted Living Available taking to market. Overall, he said that conditions have put Assisted Living Available producers in a tough position. “THE HOME WITH HEART” “As Ag producers, you don’t want to cuss the rain, “THE HOME WITH HEART” because you don’t know when you are going to get it again, www.hthc.org but it has been trying for a lot of people,” he said. “Producwww.hthc.org ers just have get through this year and hope for something better next year
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COUNTRY NEIGHBORS ~ FALL 2019
Frank Turner
reporternd@countrymedia.net
Local 4-H leaders are always looking for new ways achieve the organization’s goal: “[to engage] youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development.” Bowman County Extension Agent Max Robison and other leaders see shooting sports, such as archery, air rifle shooting, and trap shooting, as the next best way to get kids involved in the program. Robison said that a local shooting sports program would provide an avenue for kids to learn about safety and give students a chance to get involved in extracurricular activities
Shooting programs coming to Bowman during the winter. “If sports or other school activities are not someone’s big drive – if there is something else for a student to do during the winter like archery, it would give them a great opportunity,” he said. According to Robison, there are 4-H members already interested in shooting sports. Every week, a small group of dedicated Bowman County 4-H members drive to Slope County to participate in the available shooting programs in Amidon. Although driving to Amidon works for some, local 4-H leaders are looking to make the shooting sports more accessible by creating a shooting program closer to home in
Bowman County. Robison said that creating a local shooting sports program in Bowman County would likely “get a larger number of kids involved in shooting sports if there was something local where they wouldn’t have to drive up to Amidon.” Right now, the program is in the early stages of fruition and many logistical issues still need solved. Robison said that to get the program started, 4-H leaders would need to find suitable locations to facilitate the new sports. Once they have determined a location, the organization plans to look into available grants for the shooting equipment.
Even thought the new program is a ways from complete, Robison said he is excited at the potential its ability to attract new kids to the 4-H organization. He expressed that 4-H isn’t necessary all about agriculture. Instead, Robison said that 4-H is about living up to organization’s mission statement - getting kids involved and helping them “reach their fullest potential.” “There is a common misconception that with 4-H that you have to have livestock or show an animal,” he said. “You can do that, but there are a number of other activities, including shooting sports, that kids can do… It’s not just agriculture, it’s a little bit of everything.”
To participate in 4-H archery and air rifle, students must be at least 8 years old by the time of enrollment. Trapshooting and other firearms shooting requires the completion of a hunter safety course. Although the new program does not have a set date, 4-H leaders plan on hosting a shooting sports related meeting midNovember to work out more details and gauge community interest. The meeting is set for November 18th at 6:00 p.m. in the west wing of the Four Seasons in Bowman. Robison said anyone interested in shooting sports is welcome to attend the open meeting.
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COUNTRY NEIGHBORS ~ FALL 2019
Local Hettinger Pheasants Forever Chapter leads youth hunt
Frank Turner
acrnew@countrymedia.net
In North Dakota, hunting is considered a physically engaging sport that connects people to nature. Every year, North Dakota hosts a separate youth pheasant hunting season to encourage a new generation of hunters. Although the 2019 regular pheasant season begins Oct. 12, the youth hunting season started a week earlier. Recently, the local Hettinger Pheasants Forever Cedar Creek Chapter took advantage of the early youth season by hosting a youth pheasant hunt on Oct. 6. The youth hunt, hosted by Pheasants Forever Volunteer Ben Geaumont, sought to encourage kids ages 11-15 to learn more about hunting. The Pheasants Forever youth pheasant hunt has been an ongoing Hettinger tradition for over ten years. This year ten kids and seven adult chaperones attended the event. “We have a lot of mentors that don’t even have kids anymore that come out to help,” said Geaumont. “There are a lot of adults out there helping out.” Before the hunt started, Geaumont and other adult chaperones led the youth through a safety talk and trap shooting exercise to get the kids comfortable with their guns. To participate, the kids had to have completed a hunters safety course and posses a North Dakota hunting license. Even
Youth hunters and adult chaperones show off three pheasants after a successful hunt in Hettinger.
still, Geaumont said that the kids had vary ing experience with a shotgun. “Some kids have shot their gun and really knew their gun, other kids I don’t think had ever shot a gun,” he said. “Just to get them out to shoot their gun is important – to get them more familiar with gun safety is really important.” This year, the hunt took place on Geaumont’s private land. Luckily, Geaumont said that the October weather cooperated with this year’s hunt. “It was a little windy, but it was nice and sunny,” he. “We are trying to get these kids excited about hunting, but when it’s freezing and cold, it’s not as fun.” Overall, Geaumont said that the hunt was successful. By the end of the day, the young team of hunters had shot three pheasants. In addition to having fun, Geaumont said the goal of the hunt was to both encourage kids to get involved with hunting and teach them about conservation. “By getting kids interested in hunting, it teaches them about conservation and land use,” he said. “A lot of these kids might own land someday, and if they can be thinking about conservation and wildlife, it can be another thing they can think about while they are managing their ground.” Geaumont continued, “Also, hunting is a sport that you can do your whole life.”
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COUNTRY NEIGHBORS ~ FALL 2019
Nine holes of fun
By Brad Mosher The Herald
Halfway between New England and Highway there is a nine-hole golf course. That, in itself, may not be unusual. But Llewellyn Rustan’s Dakota Pasture Pool course is a little different. Sitting on the east side of
Highway 22, Rustan says his course is “dedicated to that entertainer’s philosophy and the promise of good times where everyone is a winner.” Rustan, who is also in the tree moving business, has built up a nine-hole course with a slightly fun twist for the people who come to play a round around his
farmyard compound. “It isn’t beautiful. It isn’t even that challenging. It is just plain silly. But it is a lot of fun,” he explains. The course has proven to be popular. “I have had reunions and family gatherings.” Open during good weather and the summer months, the nine-hole course may seem somewhat normal as golfers try to hit around buildings like a Quonset hut, sheds and his home. But there is one hole that has proved to be the biggest challenge and the most fun – especially for Rustan. The fourth hole tee is at the southern edge of his compound and goes 280 yards toward the northeastern edge. But, for most golfers there is a big problem on the Par 22 hole.
“It is my signature hole,” he explained, with a chuckle. Golfers have to try to avoid getting penalties at the same time avoiding a barn and corral. If golfers hit the barn, it is a fourstroke penalty. If golfers hit a board in the corral, that is a four-stroke penalty. If players hit the ball out of boards, that is a four-stroke penalty. The biggest penalty is
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hitting around the barn, which is a 12-stroke penalty. In each case, part of the penalty is starting again at the tee. From the tee, golfers need to clear three corral fences. “I had a golfer here one time that three strokes of the tee box, he hit the corral three times. He was standing at 15 strokes and still in the tee box,” he added with a chuckle. “It is about having fun,” Rustan explained, with hidden golf wardens, a picnic area and a swinging noose attached to a “hanging tree.” The seventh hole is even considered to be lucky enough to be decorated with horseshoes set up to gather luck and to dispense luck to the golfers. “It is the type of a course that is more fun to play with a group of people rather than just a four-
some,” he said, noting that it gives the golfers more opportunity to make comments about each other. “That is what this whole course is about. “It is not about how skillful you are or how well you can score. It is about having fun,” he said. The course is pretty much designed for good weather, with Rustan mowing the course as needed before each reservation. “I like to have time to really prune it up.” The recent rains have had an impact on his course. “I have never seen it so green this late in the year.” According to Rustan, the course is available for tournaments or private parties and can have reservations. People can make reservations by calling 701-5794347, he added. “If people want to play it, they just get hold of me and we work it out,” Rustan said.
COUNTRY NEIGHBORS ~ FALL 2019
Youth hunters bag over 20 doves Frank Turner
acrnews@countrymedia.net
With adult supervision, four youth hunters and one tagalong participated in a youth-focused dove hunt just west of the Hettinger Research Extension Center. The expedition, led by Cedar Creek Chapter Pheasants Forever Volunteer Ben Geaumont, sought to encourage kids ages 12 – 17 to learn more about dove hunting. This year was the second year Geaumont has led a youth dove hunt. Geaumont said that youth hunts give him a chance to show off and teach others about his passion, hunting. “The reason I do it is because it gives me an opportunity to bring kids out hunting,” said Geaumont. “If I can get kids involved in hunting, as a research biologist, I can help them understand habitat and grasslands, and that’s great for conservation in the long run.” He continued, “And if you teach the kids to hunt, it’s something they can always do if the season is open.” Altogether, the kids, Riley Hasbrouck, Blake Larson, Cameron Wieland and Isaak Guthrie, shot over 250 shells. The ammunition was paid for through Game and Fish grants, according to Geaumont. By the end of the hunt, the group walked away with over 20 doves. Geaumont said that the small canola field west of the Hettinger Research Extension Center turned out to be the best place to hunt. “Doves are migratory birds, so you have to scout for them,” said Geaumont. “I scouted all over the day before, and it turned out the birds were where they were.” After the hunt, Geaumont and the other volunteers cleaned and cooked the birds and hosted a corn and dove feed for the youth hunters. Youth hunters who missed the dove hunt might have another chance to participate. Geaumont said that the local Cedar Creek Chapter is planning another pheasant hunt to take place sometime in early October. “Last year, I hosted the youth pheasant hunt at my house,” said Geaumont. “We have
Pheasants Forever Volunteer Ben Geaumont scouts out the area for doves and creates a plan for the annual youth dove hunt. Photo by Frank Turner the kids come out, we shoot trap, and then we hunt my land.” Geaumont said that shotgun shells are provided, and that all the kids need do is sign a waver with their parents, have a hunting license, and bring their own gun and gear. “Anyone is welcome,” said Geaumont. “We are just happy to have kids participate.”
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COUNTRY NEIGHBORS ~ FALL 2019
Let the Veggie Car Races begin By O’Connell Qualley
On September 16 and 17, Baker, MT students from both Longfellow and middle school started working tirelessly to build their cars for the veggie car race. The students had the option to build their cars from different vegetables and fruits. The students had teams of three or four with one or two supervisors for each team. The teams started their race to build their veggie vehicles starting by racing to the box of vegetables. After the teams had picked their base and some sort of ideas for their wheels, the teams got started on engineering their vehicles. Throughout the process some teams changed their designs and some people kept them the same, all while trying to get them to run straight and true. By the end of the second day, all the teams had their vhicles built and ready
to roll to the best of their abilities in the given amount of time. The teams then competed Tuesday night for first place through third and different prizes. The results were as follows: 1st - 5th graders Michael Hanson, Ronnie Kloetzke and Ryann Gorder– Corny 2nd - 7th graders Brylee Swarts, Keely Custer-Heaton, Terrance Adamson, and Malichi Marshall- The Flash 3rd - 7th graders Zander Rost and Jaran Kesinger - The Karen Most Creative Theme - 7th graders Selena Gallegos and Sheridan Beach--Sombrero Best Engineering - 7th graders Rebecca Qualley, Halle Brown and Chase Follmer-The Hollow Best Use of Veggies - 5th graders Deeanna Hess, Madigan Shipstead and Bryleigh Arnold-- The Horsey
Kennedy Lyson working on her veggie car.
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COUNTRY NEIGHBORS ~ FALL 2019
Outdoor shooting programs coming to Hettinger Frank Turner
Country Media
If there is one thing Adams County is known for, it’s hunting. During the fall season, locals and visitors take advantage of an abundance of deer and pheasants, but in the offseason, hunters upkeep their shooting skills at the firing range. With a local firing range available for use, leaders in Hettinger are working toward creating new trap shooting and archery teams specifically for younger students looking for new activities.
So far, the new trapshooting team and archery team are in their beginning stages of coming to fruition. Even still, the idea for new shooting sports teams has been received with great interest by the local area. According to Adams County NDSU Extension Agent Hannah Nordby, 25 people, both adults and kids, from the Adams County area have expressed interest in either joining or volunteering for the teams. “For the past few years, outdoor shooting sports programs are something
students must complete a hunter’s safety course. Currently, Nordby is still looking for grant money and equipment for the new outdoor shooting program. If everything goes accord-
ing to plan, Nordby said that she hopes to have the archery program up and going by November and the trap shooting team going by next spring. “This is a really great
opportunity for students to try something new.” Said Nordby. “We are still looking for anyone who would be interested in helping, providing resources, or joining the teams.”
that have been gaining traction state wide in North Dakota,” said Nordby. “I knew that this was an area that had community support and interest, so it seemed logical to put the teams together.” Nordby said that both archery and trap shooting would benefit youth because they are activities that everybody can participate in. Age is the only limitation for students interested in joining the club. For the archery team, students must be at least 8 years old. To participate in the trap shooting team,
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COUNTRY NEIGHBORS ~ FALL 2019
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