Three Generations and the Three Rs

Text by Kay Bjork and Photography by Jim Wells

If there were a rodeo queen gene, Lindsay Garpestad certainly would have it.

Lindsay was crowned 2016 Miss Rodeo Montana and became the third generation rodeo queen in her family. Her grandmother Kay Harrison was Miss Dillon Jaycee Rodeo queen in 1952; her mother Vonda Harrison captured the same title in 1983 and her second cousin Shonda Nelson was Miss Rodeo Montana in 1990.

Gaining Popularity with North Central Agriculture

Written by Suzanne Waring

The United Nations declared 2016 the International Year of Pulses, and North Central Montana has chosen to be right in the middle of the festivities. Pulse growers, elevator managers/owners, and consumers from this region began celebrating on January 6 at Columbia Grain, Inc., by participating in a Pulse Feast where all of the dishes contained pulses—even dessert. As Montanans celebrated, others throughout the world were also taking part in Pulse Feasts. We pause to wonder exactly the reason for the excitement occurring throughout the world and here in Montana.

The Trail That Made Fort Benton Mercantile Owners Rich

Written by Suzanne Waring

The Whoop-Up Trail connected Fort Benton, Montana, to what is known today as southern Alberta. When asked, many will wonder aloud whether the Whoop-Up Trail had something to do with prohibition and the illegal transportation of alcohol. Prohibition occurred from 1920 to 1933. The Whoop-Up Trail was used much earlier—in the late 1800s—when trade goods were shipped north to Canada.

Because of the Gold Rush in Montana, modes of transportation from the East to Fort Benton had already been established before the Whoop-Up Trail was used for commerce. In the years between 1860 and 1890, goods came to St. Louis or to Sioux City, Iowa, via rail. They were shipped by steamboat up the Missouri River and dispersed to Bannack, Last Chance Gulch, and other settlements.

Text by Heather Bode | Photography by Jacqui Smith

Grab the Family & Get Outside!

Just 23 miles from the heart of Helena, and overlooking the former mining town of Marysville, the Great Divide ski area consists of ski-all terrain (thank you, beetle-kill) spread over 1600 acres. Kevin Taylor has owned Great Divide since 1985, but actual ownership of the slopes gets tricky. “This is mining country so it’s checkerboard ownership,” says Taylor. He owns most of the old Thomas Cruse mining claims and the remaining land is leased from various sources.

Ask anyone who frequents Great Divide to describe it and we guarantee you’ll hear the phrase “family friendly” come up again and again. Taylor says, “We’re family oriented. We have preschool programs, youth programs, terrain parks for teens, and we keep the price incredibly low.”

A personal story by Monica Taylor

As I sit here staring at the cutest bald-headed 5 month old in the universe (mine, of course), I ponder how life-changing the last 18 months has been for me.  My journey to get here started in 2009 when I got married in June, pregnant in September and just so happy to be where I was in life.  In November of that year, I experienced my first loss – I was pregnant with twins and I miscarried one.  It was bittersweet.  I hadn’t thought much about twins and although my heart hurt, my energy went to safely carrying baby number 2 (lovingly nicknamed Thor) to term.  At 18 weeks gestation on January 22, 2010, my doctor couldn’t find a heartbeat – Thor had decided to join his brother as one of my angels.  Ouch.

Showdown Montana’s “Ski P.E.” Program

Text by Shane Klippenes  •  Photos provided by Showdown

Would you refer to a ski resort as “An innovator in the field of child health and physical conditioning”? Perhaps it would be appropriate if you were talking about Showdown Montana.

While fighting obesity and disease by encouraging children to put down the IPhone and “go do something” is all the rage these days, Showdown has been leading the charge since 1975, promoting skiing and winter sports to the youth of Central Montana through their Ski P.E. program.

Ski P.E. is a one day program (schools can opt to come multiple times) that includes equipment rental, lift ticket and a two hour class for a significantly reduced rate. This isn’t just an unsupervised day off from school either; students are placed into classes based on their ability level, instructed by long time Ski School folks throughout the morning, and turned loose to ski runs that are appropriate to their skill level after lunch.