March 17, 2015 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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South Central Stockgrowers Host Meetings, Support Scholarships

Jed EvjeneBy Jed Evjene, Two Dot, MSGA South Central District Director

It looks like winter is coming to a close or at least on the downhill slide into spring. Although we can still see some spring storms that remind us, Mother Nature is still in charge. Some folks in the area have started calving while others do not get started until March & April.

To report on some of the Local Affiliates in the South Central District, they have been very busy.

Beartooth Stockgrowers held their membership meeting in January with a great turnout. MSGA President, Gene Curry, was invited to speak on the issues. One of their members, Lynda Grande Myers, was elected as the new Montana CattleWomen’s President at the convention in Billings last December.

Crazy Mountain Stockgrowers is holding Rancher Round Table Workshops on different issues and educational programs for ranchers in the area February through March. These workshops were started last year and are very well attended. Some of the topics covered will be mineral nutrition and cattle markets. If anyone would like more information, contact CMSGA President, Matt Cremer, (406) 537-4481.

Gallatin Beef Producers held their banquet and meeting in January that was very well attended. Ryan Goodman attended the business meeting and gave an update on behalf of MSGA staff. Longtime President, Brent Sinnema, completed his service this year and we would like to thank him for all his hard work and commitment.

Wheatland County Stockgrowers hosted an adult education course in October and November on ultrasounding cattle, injection sites, carcass quality and grading for their members and ranchers in the surrounding area. They are currently working on an April 17th fundraiser with a donkey basketball game for their scholarships. In June, they will host the banquet for the Montana Range Days. They continue to build and improve the carcass contest for the Wheatland County Youth Fair in August. If you would like additional information, contact WCSGA President, Ron Fischer, (406) 632-5598.

Fergus County Stockgrowers held their banquet in November and were able to raise $5,000 for their scholarships. Applications for these scholarships can be found at the Central Montana Foundation or by contacting any board member. The scholarships are open to anyone graduating high school or currently in college from the Fergus County area. The applications are due by April 10. They just finished the Montana Winter Fair in January and had great attendance at their Farm Forum. For additional information, please contact FCSGA President, Todd Olsen, (406) 350-0025.

Once again, the AMP program, held in Helena this month, was a success, very well attended and educational. Local Affiliates from across the state were able to meet and discuss issues that are affecting them in their areas and learn about issues that are affecting ranchers in other regions of the state. I would strongly encourage every Local Affiliate to send representatives next year.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at (406) 537-4405. I hope you all have a great spring and calving season!

March 11, 2015 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Affiliate Mentorship Program Brings Ranchers to Helena for Leadership Workshop

AMPMontana Stockgrowers Association is in its second year of making a renewed effort to connect with Local Affiliate groups from across the state. The Affiliate Mentorship Program (AMP), which is designated as a three-year program, has been designed to connect the existing dots of communication between the Local Affiliates and MSGA. It encourages individual producers across the state to become involved in the outcome of their own destiny within the BEEF industry through their local affiliate and on to MSGA.

Our AMP program annual meeting took place this February with a two-day workshop held in Helena. 60 leaders, representing 15 Local Affiliate Associations from across the state were invited to learn more about what Montana Stockgrowers is doing for members on a state and national level. Attendees were also invited to provide feedback on improvements in communication and opportunities Local Affiliates would like to see from MSGA.

The leadership seminar is designed to empower individuals to engage by sharing their thoughts, ideas and concerns in a constructive manner to a constructive audience that can respond in a beneficial way and to become more familiar with how MSGA develops policy and strategies to continue to be an effective leader in the industry.

During the meeting, attendees had the opportunity to meet with the MSGA Board of Directors, hear from Executive Vice President, Errol Rice, gave an overview of MSGA’s structure and how information flows between state and local levels. Director of Natural Resources, Jay Bodner, informed the group on how MSGA handles policy issues during the legislative session and how MSGA works to give Montana ranchers representation on important policy and regulation changes. Manager of Communications, Ryan Goodman, introduced the group to the many ways MSGA is working to build communication channels within membership and to elevate the story of Montana ranchers.

Andy Kellom Montana Rancher EducationAttendees also had the opportunity to hear from Renea Heinrich with MorganMeyers. Renea provided this year’s AMP participants with an educational platform on “Becoming Ambassadors for Agriculture: Changing the Conversation”. Participants learned how to become better ambassadors for agriculture by discovering how to tell their stories in ways that are meaningful to their audiences. The workshop continued to build on last year’s Thought Leadership session, beginning with a refresher on media training skills, and then moved into a discussion around what consumers want to know about animal agriculture and how to deliver that information in ways that will resonate. Attendees learned that transparency is vital in today’s world as is communicating through shared values.

The outcome of the AMP program is to make a more consistent connection between MSGA and the local affiliates. We want to convey the message of who we are and how we are tied together from the local to state levels and then to a national level through existing networking. AMP conveys the message that individuals shape conversations. Those who show up, indeed run the world, however, “It is shaped by those who speak up.”

The AMP program would not be possible without the support of generous sponsors. Special appreciation goes to Merck Animal Health, Montana Livestock Ag Credit Inc., along with the help of several additional private sponsors that wished to remain anonymous.

January 2, 2015 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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MSGA’s Commitment to Communication and Engagement

Tucker Hughes, PresidentBy Tucker Hughes, Outgoing MSGA President

At our ranch the calves are shipped, the cows are tested, the replacement heifers are bangs vaccinated and I am finishing up visits with MSGA members for what I call “The Fall Drive”.

Your board of directors, officers and staff are committed to attending local affiliate meetings not only to inform members on topics of importance, but also to listen to our members. The issues across the state are complex and vary a great deal. This is one of the reasons the Affiliate Mentorship Program was developed so affiliates members can sit down with the leadership to have those vital discussions on topics that affect the ranchers in Montana. The 2015 AMP Program is scheduled for February 12 & 13. Local Affiliate groups should contact the MSGA office to learn more about being involved in the meeting.

As I cross the state there is lots of optimism and the youth are returning to our rural communities. The young folks are attending meetings and are engaged so let’s keep the welcome mat out for them. MSGA hosts both Student and Young Stockgrowers memberships, and remains involved in programs for these age groups, including three Collegiate Stockgrowers programs, Young Ag Leadership Conference, Young Ag Couples Conference, Young Cattlemen’s College and the Educational Heritage Scholarship from REEF. If you know a young man or women who would like to attend a convention or these conferences, contact myself, one of the officers, directors or staff. We are committed to the younger generation of ranchers!

The 2014 elections are over and there is enthusiasm for what agriculture might accomplish in the coming years. I first met both Steve Daines and Ryan Zinke at Montana Stockgrowers events and I first met Jon Tester at the Judith Basin Courthouse in Stanford. I feel as we move forward these men will represent our interests well in D.C., but we need to stay actively engaged. The Montana Stockgrowers will remain the premier ranching institution in the state of Montana by engaging both national, state and local policy makers by providing accurate, credible information. We all can make a big difference, both as individuals and collectively.

The last 24 months have been rewarding and educational as your President of the Montana Stockgrowers. The staff, officers, past & present, directors, past & present, have made the position gratifying. It has been a real pleasure serving you. Thank you very much for the opportunity.
I hope your holiday season was filled with joy, hope, prosperity and good health.

January 1, 2015 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Southwest Montana Stockmen’s Reflect on Active 2014

Over the last year or so we have accomplished some good things and feel that with the help of MSGA and others we have warded off some troublesome issues as well.

Both Beaverhead and Madison counties petitioned and voted to establish a livestock protective committee. The committees are authorized to assess up to 50 cents per head on cattle 9 months or older and 20 cents per head on sheep. These funds could be used in almost any way that protects the interests of the livestock industry in the county as decided upon by the committee. The Department of Revenue will collect this for us for free and the money stays in the county under supervision of the committee. These two groups should complement each other very well dealing with similar problems and close proximity.

Once again, the Yellowstone Bison were a hot topic over the past year. The proposal was to allow bison to venture out of the park to the north into a large designated area. There was an EA done on the issue and SWMSA commented on them. We supported the “no action alternative.” At least for the time being the bison are not allowed out of the usual area.

The sage grouse was at the forefront of almost all natural resource uses in the west this year. The State of Montana and the BLM each have developed management alternatives that will hopefully be enough to suppress the listing of the bird on the endangered species list. We commented on both the State and Federal plans. We don’t necessarily like everything in the alternatives that we supported but they will be better than the mandates if the bird gets listed.

The grizzly bear is currently on the endangered species list. We commented on an EA that had alternatives of management to warrant the de-listing. The numbers of bears are way up and conflicts are increasing. We were in favor of an alternative that provided for more liberal measures of mediating livestock/bear conflicts and did not lock up any additional federal land for multiple use.

In southwest Montana we have wonderful country to live and produce in. It is also a constant challenge to keep up with the times and protect this way of life. We have brucellosis, wolves, grizzlies, sage grouse, water, weeds, dead timber, and a multitude of other issues that affect natural resource use on private, state, and federal lands. We appreciate all that MSGA does on all these issues and more.

John Hagenbarth, President
Southwest Montana Stockmen’s Association
Dillon, MT

December 31, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Western Montana Stockmen Active in Communities for 2014

By Kurt McPhearson, President and Kyle Middlemist , Director, Western MT Stockmen’s

We are looking forward to the coming year as an affiliate of the Montana Stockgrowers Association. We have all enjoyed a year of high cattle markets, higher than many of us ever expected to see. With the demand of good beef and the low cattle numbers it would seem that, we should expect the high markets to continue.

This last year has been an exciting and busy one here in western Montana. WMSA has been involved in various activities throughout the year. One thing we were excited and proud to do was raise money for the South Dakota producers coping with the aftermath of winter storm Atlas. Two heifers donated by WMSA president Kurt McPherson and director Greg Gardner were auctioned off in a rollover style auction with all proceeds and heifers going to South Dakota. We also gathered up eleven head of donated females from association members, hauled them to Miles City, and left them in the care of Ty Linger with “Heifers for South Dakota”. Special thanks to Montana Livestock Auction in Butte and Missoula Livestock Exchange in Missoula for helping with the auctions. Also big thanks to all the producers from western Montana who donated females and money to the cause.

Livestock producers and veterans, Charles D. Jacquier and Warren J. Trosclair, were able to participate in the Honor Flight program thanks to the help of Western Montana Stockmen

Livestock producers and veterans, Charles D. Jacquier and Warren J. Trosclair, were able to participate in the Honor Flight program thanks to the help of Western Montana Stockmen

Western Montana Stockmen’s Association has also established a “Goodwill Fund” funding projects each year to help others in need in our communities. So far in 2014, we sponsored two local livestock producers who are also veterans Charles D. Jacquier and Warren J. Trosclair to participate in the Honor Flight program. The Honor Flight is a chance for veterans to fly to Washington D.C. to be recognized alongside fellow veterans. Although the Honor Flight was a free flight for veterans, they still had the expense of getting to Billings. WMSA paid for the trip to Billings, including hotels and meals. These two gentlemen did not know each other but traveled together and had an outstanding trip. Both gentlemen are World War II veterans.

Last January, our annual meeting and banquet was a huge success with over 200 in attendance. We honored Jimme Wilson as past president of WMSA, MSGA and NCBA with our lifetime achievement award, which recognizes association members for their service to WMSA and to the cattle industry. Our Keynote speaker was Derrell Peel Agriculture Economist from Oklahoma State University. Derrel gave an excellent talk on the nation’s cattle numbers and the future of beef prices.

Our 2015 annual meeting will be held January 24 at the Best Western resort in Polson, MT. We have many things on our agenda. Along with the good markets comes many dissensions to our cattle industry that need to be addressed, but as a larger group with members all pulling together for our great industry, we can do this. There will be a chance to win one of two rifles or two pistols along with dozens of other items donated by our generous sponsors. Our speaker will be Rachel Endecott MSU Extension Beef Specialist. The food is good as well as entertainment and dancing. We always enjoy meeting cattlemen from all over our state and extend an invitation to join us.

Be sure to check us out on our Facebook page – Western Montana Stockmen’s Association. Give us a like and stay up to date with all of our events. Remember to thank your grocer for the Country of Origin labeling on our outstanding beef. Happy holidays to every MSGA member across this great state.