Thanks for Meeting Us in Montana!

MSU Extension hosts NEAFCS 2016

The 2016 NEAFCS conference was a chance to Discover, Connect and Engage.  I just discovered that two months have passed since the national conference and some of my best intentions got put on the back burner as we ended up short staffed at our office.  Since returning home, I have been engaged in training for and teaching Living Life Well with Chronic Disease six-week class, hosting the Montana State 4-H Leadership Forum, teaching Powerful Tools for Caregivers six-week class, teaching StrongPeople strength training classes, attending MSU Extension annual conference and hiring new support staff, among other work and life duties and details. I am thankful to have meaningful work that I truly enjoy!  I also very much enjoyed helping host the NEAFCS 2016 conference and connecting with you.

Because our annual reports will be due soon, I hope to engage you for about five minutes in responding to a survey so we can discover some of the economic impact a national conference has on our state.  We would very much appreciate if you would take five minutes before December 1 to answer a few questions.

In addition to the survey, I wanted to offer all of you links to the materials from the in-depth session, concurrent session and Showcase of Excellence that I prepared for NEAFCS at Big Sky.  The in-depth session was on the Art of Science or the Science of Art.  In the class, we worked together to apply the scientific process to permanent marker dying.  I enjoyed teaching and appreciated tapping into the knowledge of colleagues who took the class and discovering the ways each of us uses science in our teaching.  We “let our minds wonder” and then set up experiments to test the “wonderings” or ideas. Class materials can be found here.

Showcase of Excellence

Our Showcase of Excellence was Operation Concession Intervention. Several of the Montana State University faculty were involved in this project including Carrie Ashe and Roubie Younkin. We want to encourage our colleagues across the nation in working with concession booths to upgrade the nutritional value of their food offerings.  Originally we worked with South Dakota Department of Health and received permission to modify Munch Code guidelines for use in our state.  The document is now available for you to customize for your county or state.  You can find Operation Concession Intervention materials and resources (some from University of Wyoming where I got my start in Extension) at this link.  

Demonstrating and easy grip tweezer for someone
who struggles with hand pain.

The Aging in Place with Assistive Devices class was prepared in conjunction with Dr. Sandy Bailey.  The class features a variety of devices that can make daily tasks easier for those facing changes in their abilities.  One of my personal favorites is the PenFriend, a programmable talking device for those with low vision.  A friend bought one as a gift for her mother and then programmed stickers on thermostat dials, dishwasher, washing machine/dryer settings and more, so that her mom could have the pen “read” her the instructions (from programmed stickers) on dials she can no longer see.  The weighted spoons/forks have also been popular with those who have tremors.  There are so many ways we can assist others to remain independent.  Feel free to serve and teach others with the assistive devices class resources found here. I have also included a document on “people first” language.  I encourage you to consider saying, “the person with low vision” rather than the blind man. We all strive to help others and making sure the person is first can be important.  I would be happy to review the class slides and materials with you, if you want to use them to reach audiences in your Extension coverage area.

Something I love about Extension is our willingness to share across counties, states and universities to benefit the people we serve.  I am excited to use the information I gained by attending NEAFCS to benefit the people in my county soon.  I look forward to sharing the Preserve@Home opportunity and to offering a Valentine’s special on the Five Love Languages. Just yesterday I shared information from the Happier Me! Mindfulness class.  I have also put into play some concepts from Developing a Marketing Mindset.  Since mid-September, I have reflected often on the messages from Dr. Temple Grandin with her insights on autism, livestock and animal handling and our food systems. 

MSU FCS!

You can find many of the materials I used for NEAFCS 2016 at this link. A little disclaimer, though, some of my notes may only make sense to me, but you are welcome to contact me to review or explain. As well, it may be evident that I am not letting perfectionism paralyze me.  Proofreading and improvements may be necessary before you use some of the materials, but I wanted to make the available sooner rather than later.  I trust you to use, improve and adapt materials that I have created.  If you happen to use any of the materials from my classes, please let me know at jwolery@montana.edu so that I can report the reach and impact of our cooperative efforts.  Thank you to everyone who contributed to this powerful exchange of knowledge and for the wonderful connections and camaraderie with colleagues.

Be Our Guest!

Jane Wolery
Follow my blog at  www.31homeplace.blogspot.com

MSU Teton County Extension

PO Box 130 * 1 Main Ave S., Courthouse

Choteau, MT 59422

jwolery@montana.edu

406-466-2491 Office *  406-590-2492 Cell

www.msuextension.org/teton

   I have a cup of Earl Grey tea beside me, as I look out the window on the rain pouring down on this cool, September day.  Though we had a high temperature near 90 earlier this week, autumn definitely feels like it has arrived.  The weather forecast is calling for snow in the mountains.  Of course, we already had snow in Montana in August!  In less than a week, many of us will be traveling to Big Sky Resort for the NEAFCS 2016 conference.  I thought there might be a few details that could help you plan for your trip.

   First, there may be snow, but even if there isn’t snow, the weather forecast for the week of the conference has daytime highs in the 50s and evening temperatures at or below freezing.  When the sun sets, it gets cool quickly in the mountains.  We recommend packing warm coats, lots of layers and at least one pair of jeans to keep the chill out.  It is not an unreasonable idea to pack winter gloves.  I have only been to Big Sky twice, once in mid-May and once in mid-September and there was snow both times!

   Speaking of snow, Big Sky Resort was built with the winter sport of skiing in mind.  While the lifts won’t be operating yet at Big Sky, it is important to know that a ski resort has certain features.  One such feature are the stairs that connect different buildings on the mountain.  The grates are built with ski boots in mind. They are metal grates, so that snow can be scraped off ski boots before entering buildings.  While these stairs do not damage ski boots, they will not be so kind on a pair of heels.  We recommend that you have at least one pair of very comfortable and durable shoes (not heels) to wear outdoors.  Flats may be the footwear of choice for this conference!

   Since the resort is on a mountain, it is worthwhile to mention that the elevation at Big Sky is about 7000 feet above sea level and the peak is 11,000 feet above sea level.  MSU Extension has hosted other events at Big Sky Resort and people have noted the symptoms of mild altitude sickness.  Often, people with altitude sickness have noted being tired, having headaches and feeling drained. There are some things you can do to prevent feeling down while you are high on the mountain at Big Sky.  First, stay well hydrated. Drinking lots of water can really help, as can avoiding alcohol (though there are stores with a nice wine selection at Big Sky). Potassium is said to help alleviate the affects as well, so stocking up on bananas or other foods rich in potassium could be beneficial. 

   If you intend to buy some bananas while at Big Sky, there is one grocery store, but it is important to note that it is seven miles from the resort. For most people, this distance is not practical to walk, especially given the mountainous terrain. Other supplies are available in the limited number of stores seven miles from the resort or at the deli right at the resort; however, purchasing items like phone charging cords would most likely require a trip into Bozeman.  Bozeman is about an hour away (two hours round trip) on windy mountain roads.  Even if you remembered your cord and your phone is fully charged, there will not be continuous cell coverage in route from Bozeman to Big Sky Resort.  If you are planning to use a map that depends on cell coverage, it might be worthwhile to print or take a screen shot of the map or review the route.  There are landmarks the locals call the ‘meadow’, which is a flat area with some buildings and stores and the ‘mountain’, where the resort is located.

   If you are flying, it is important to note that the airport is not actually in Bozeman.  The airport is just west of Bozeman.  Bozeman would be about a fifteen minute trip the opposite direction from the Big Sky Resort.  Even though it would be out of the way, if you realized you forgot something you need and would like to purchase, it would be best to head into Bozeman, rather than plan to get it at either the meadow or the mountain.  If you planned to rent a vehicle at the airport, it would be good to call ahead this week to make sure there are plenty of vehicles in the fleets at the rental companies.  Generally there are vehicles available, but we are in the “shoulder season” between summer tourists and winter travelers.  

   Yellowstone had quite a summer tourist season this year, as you may have heard.  Hopefully, you will be able to enjoy the park on either end of your stay, but you may also get to see some wildlife right at the resort.  We recommend you avoid walking alone outdoors away from the resort, especially after dark.  If you see wildlife, make good choices, and certainly do not feed them, pet them, or take them to safety.  Get yourself to safety instead!

   While you travel, remember to keep well hydrated.  If you are driving, stay focused on the task of driving.  Avoid distractions and please wear your seat belt.  Remember, no matter how you travel, take routine, planned breaks to get up and walk around to minimize the chance of developing blood clots.  Of course, if you take my advice on staying hydrated, it will help force you into walking to the lavatory to balance your fluids – a two-fold benefit of drinking lots of water!

We are looking forward to your safe arrival and pleasant stay in Big Sky Resort.  We hope the tips we’ve offered you will help you enjoy your stay and keep you comfortable so you can Discover, Engage and Connect while in Montana!

Lisa Terry, 4-H & FCS

MEAFCS President

MSU Extension Agent

Stillwater County

PO Box 807

Columbus, MT 59019

406-322-8035

406-290-4460

lterry@montana.edu

   As we move into the fall season here in the Mountain West, I am reminded of the changes that happen to each of us in life. My first employment opportunity with Extension Services began more than two decades ago and found me working deep within the Ouachita Mountains, located in central Arkansas. With broadleaf trees predominant, our highways were lined with yellow, orange and blazing red foliage come fall. Here in Montana we now are seeing the first tinge of changing color among the Aspen growth dotting the countryside.

   As will be reflected in this year’s NEAFCS Annual Session, change is part of the growth and advancement process of our work force. When I began my role in Extension, the home economist was just beginning the transition into Family Consumer Science. The formative years of our occupation, at the turn of the twentieth century, were comprised of in-depth knowledge of foods and farm life, combined with hands-on work in kitchens throughout the various counties. Gradually the Extension Agent’s role became accepted at the local level and our expertise was solidified as research based information, in a myriad of FCS related topics, and was disseminated through our offices. We became members of the faculty bringing the university to the people.

   As technology changes and advances, as more and more of our constituents log into cyberspace, and as each generation of youth flow freely and independently with new and somewhat raw technology, we as staff of the Land Grant Universities must adjust to the changes. Never before have we been able to discover, connect and engage as we are now able with the advancement in technologies. And not merely adjust, we have the opportunity to stay ahead of the curve, making technology work for us.

Rather than see change as yet another hurdle, we may leverage new opportunities. Each county seat and each population center, the rural family included, have for years relied on our faculty, training and expertise to help them transition through changes in family life and the workplace environment. As the culture around us transitions to more single parent homes, and even within two parent households where both parents are working, time constraints may make it difficult for families to stay engaged and connected.  We want them to discover that this is the “niche we fill. It may seem daunting, but we are the profession many look to for answers. And without prejudice, I might add that Extension faculty fulfill our obligations as well as any professional organization!

   As we gather in Big Sky next week, I want us to reflect on the rich heritage of our occupation and the various roles we fill within our counties. In addition, I encourage each member to embrace the rapidly changing world in which we find ourselves living and working, taking encouragement in the fact that we are supported by some of the brightest researchers located in the Land Grant Universities. That most agents throughout the country feel the same about their university system as I do Montana State, speaks to the pride we share in who we are and what we accomplish in the field. Not only is change “in the air”, it is an opportunity to be mastered.  

Denise Seilstad

4-H and Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent

Montana State University – Fergus/Petroleum County

712 W. Main St.

Lewistown, MT   59457

 406-535-3919

written by Jane Wolery

     One of the great things about Extension is how we connect with other professionals, whether across our state or across the nation.  Today has me thinking about my colleagues.  I was thinking about Denise Seilstad, who serves with Montana State University Extension in Fergus and Petroleum Counties.  Denise and I started with Extension at about the same time and we both transitioned into Extension from teaching and counseling positions in small, rural Montana schools.  Just to give a perspective, a small rural school in Montana might mean 100 students K-12.  I have enjoyed working with Denise from the start, though we are several miles apart.  Recently, she and I were talking about commonalities we have with our colleagues.  When Denise started with Extension, she found an instant bond with one of our NEAFCS co-liaisons, Tara Andrews, who serves in Custer County.  The county seat is Miles City, home of the world famous Miles City Bucking Horse Sale. 

Denise grew up in Butte, Montana, while Tara hailed from Maryland.  Both grew up going to private Catholic schools, wearing school uniforms.  Both of their fathers were doctors.  Both of them had two daughters, nearly the same age.  Even though Denise serves in central Montana and Tara in southeast Montana, the two had very common interests.  Almost eerily common, as it turns out.  They would occasionally arrive at statewide conferences with matching clothes.  Their daughters even bought the same prom dress one year!

It is certainly fun to find common ground with colleagues. The NEAFCS conference in Montana offers you a way to discover, engage and connect. 

One of Denise’s connections in Montana is that she grew up in Butte.  Butte is one of the famous places in Montana, and if you are at all interested in history, I suggest you add it to your list of places to see.  A few years ago I had the pleasure of touring many of the notable Butte historic sites.  I was surprised to learn that Butte, Montana, had something in common with New York City.  At one point, during Butte’s mining boom, the two cities rivaled each other in size!  Butte even had a Tiffany’s. The wealth and affluence of the Copper Kings influenced which goods and services “followed the money” to Butte.  It has been reported that Butte at one point boasted the most ethnically diverse population in the intermountain west.  Butte also has notable history when it comes to labor unions, which might be of interest to consider and research as we enjoy “Labor Day” in the United States.   Denise, in a nod to her Butte heritage, can sometimes be seen wearing copper jewelry from the mines of Montana.

Some of the tough scenery Denise has to look at while
to and from work!

Denise Seilstad at her other job!

One of Denise’s connections took her out of Butte to central Montana.  She basically followed her heart to the heart of Montana when she married a farmer from the Denton area.   She drives 35 miles (70 round trip) to work each day, from Denton to Lewistown, through beautiful farmland and cattle country.  To the west of her are the Little Belt Mountains, the Highwood Mountains, Square Butte and Round Butte and to the north are the Moccasin Mountains.  She is bordered on the east by the Judith Mountains and on the south with the Snowy Mountains.  Spring Creek runs right through Lewistown, which is a fabulous trout fishing stream, and is great fun to float.  (Just to see what we have in common, how many of you live near a place call Spring Creek?  I do!)   Denise takes ample advantage of her location through fishing and hiking, cross-country skiing and snow shoeing.  She can also be found outdoors working cattle with her husband when she is not riding for the MSU brand!

Central Montana is also famous for some of its mined products – Yogo sapphires!  Montana sapphires are among the reasons we are called the Treasure State.  In western Montana, near Rock Creek and Phillipsburg, there are Fancy Montana Sapphires, which are pretty fun to “mine” by panning through gravel bags.  We bought bags of the gravel one year for a frontier-themed 4-H camp and discovered the almost addictive quality of mining for sapphires.  A different summer my family enjoyed a vacation near Philipsburg and did some more mining for fancy sapphires.  But, the Montana Yogo Sapphires were found in central Montana, near Yogo Creek.  According to one source, they are among the finest gemstones ever found in the state.  Actually the Yogo Mine is the only place this variety of sapphire has been found, making it rare indeed! Living near a Yogo sapphire mine has its advantages, and so, in addition to her copper jewelry, Denise can be found wearing a beautiful assortment of Montana Yogo treasures.  She has a custom-designed piece that commemorates her hike across Snowy mountain range and incorporates her love of fishing.  I also have some treasured Yogo sapphire pieces that my husband bought for me when each of our daughters were born.  The jewelry will be given the girls when they are older. Comment on the jewelry on the person sitting next to you at NEAFCS conference, you might strike up a rich conversation discovering a great connection, personally and professionally! 

A very happy grandmother!

Of course, if you happen to be seated next to Denise, she is just as likely to show you pictures of her new granddaughter, because spending time with her is something Denise truly treasures.  If you happen to get seated near Tara Andrews, she will also share photos of her granddaughter.  The two became grandmothers at nearly the same time, too! 

We are all connected in more ways than we probably even imagine.  This spring I was teaching class and used a resource that Denise had created called, Halt the Salt, and I also used resources on cooking with herbs from Alice Henneman from University of Nebraska Extension.  Though I’ve been using Alice’s resources for years (brought to me by colleagues who attended NEAFCS – one being Bernie Mason, see her retiree guest blog), last year was my first time to attend the national conference and I took a class from Alice!  We work in a great system that when I’m preparing a class to teach in Dutton, Montana, and I can use high quality resources from colleagues in both Lewistown, Montana and University of Nebraska.  

At the NEAFCS conference, we really look forward to ways we can help you connect with your colleagues from your state and from across the nation.  We also encourage those attending to share the wealth with those who were not able to attend.  Together we will look for a common vein in FCS where we can mine professional treasures to deeply enrich the lives of those we serve.  

Bernie Mason
Montana State University Extension
Family Consumer Science Agent, Retiree

I would like to invite fellow FCS Extension current employees and retirees to attend the 2016 NEAFCS Conference and visit Montana, The Big Sky Country.  Attending a National Conference provides many benefits, both professionally and personally and you go home with memories that last a lifetime.  To introduce myself, I am Bernie Mason, and retired three years ago from my position as the FCS Extension Agent in Yellowstone County, with the office located in Billings.  Since retirement I have continued to be involved in many of the community activities that I was committed to as an agent, particularly in the areas involving the well-being of children, such as Billings Action for Healthy Kids and the School Health Advisory Committee.  Upon retirement I also took on the leadership of establishing a food pantry at our church for families in need.  I help with the care of my grandchildren who are now in elementary school, and serve as a resource person in their classrooms, sharing some of the educational resources I used as an Extension Agent.  For the past two years I have written a weekly recipe column for the local paper, the Billings Gazette as well.

Once I attended a National Conference, the first one was in Tulsa, Oklahoma I looked forward to participating again.  Attending National Conferences provided me with a great wealth of knowledge, new educational programs, and the opportunity to meet and form relationships with fellow Extension Agents from around the country. Whether it was the National Conference in Nashville, Baltimore, D.C., Portland, Rapid City, Wichita, Phoenix, Denver, Providence or one of the others, each conference I attended had special memories.  I was able to purchase Christmas ornaments from several of the conferences, and each year when I decorate my tree and bring out the ornaments, I think about those special moments.  The conference in Greenville, North Carolina was particularly meaningful because while on the tour of the furniture warehouse in Ashville, I purchased a wonderful bed that I enjoy sleeping in every night. 

The conferences provide an excellent resource for new programs to bring back to your county.  Where else can you go to have so many different trained professionals presenting educational programs that have proven to be successful, that you can take back to your community and share with your clientele?  For instance, at the conference where the Financial Specialist from Minnesota presented her program, “Who Gets Grandma’s Yellow Pie Plate”, I was able to bring that program information back to Montana, and after our Financial Specialist revised it for compatibility with Montana law, it became one of the most successful programs I presented for years.

The conferences are also a great way to learn more about the different states where they are held.  Taking the opportunity to become more informed about the history and special attractions at each of the sites has been a special benefit.  One I will always remember is the nighttime tour of the Capitol and the Monuments at the D.C. conference.

I encourage you to come to Montana and create your own set of memories, and let us share some of the many wonders of our state.  When you look at the variety of program opportunities that will be available, it will be difficult to choose which ones to attend, but at least with our technology, you will still be able to return to your state with information about all of them.   

Jane Wolery
Follow my blog at  www.31homeplace.blogspot.com

MSU Teton County Extension

PO Box 130 * 1 Main Ave S., Courthouse

Choteau, MT 59422

jwolery@montana.edu

406-466-2491 Office *  406-590-2492 Cell

www.msuextension.org/teton

Lake McDonald, Apgar, MT in Glacier National Park

We are just a short time away from the NEAFCS conference and you may have wondered about the absence of any blog posts for the last several weeks.  As I suspect is true of most Extension professionals, I have had a very busy summer.  I was trying to live up to my motto, “Better a full life than a dull life.” Professionally, my schedule included 4-H Leadership Retreat, 4-H Textile Show, 4-H Fair, 4-H Congress and 4-H Camp.  Personally, my schedule included a friend’s daughter’s wedding, Fourth of July festivities in Choteau, and swim meets.  My daughters both swim competitively in the summer.  Because of all these events, I feel like I got to see much of our great state of Montana.  I do, however, feel like we could play a game of “Where’s Wolery?”  If you want to get out your Montana map, you can see if you can spot some of the places I’ve been this summer … Great Falls, Lewistown, Jordan, Glendive, Wibaux, Chester, Joplin, Conrad, Apgar, Columbia Falls, Helena, Seeley Lake, Lincoln, Missoula, Stevensville, Hamilton, Como Lake, Lake McDonald, Monarch, Bozeman, Townsend, Augusta … I don’t know how many miles I’ve traveled this summer and I’m not going to take time to count, but it is a bunch and I never left the state!

It makes me think of a piece I wrote for a Montana literature class (way) back in college:

Miles.

          Friday.  I’ve traveled fifteen-hundred and thirteen miles since last Friday.  Never left the state.

Montana.

Hinsdale to Joplin.  Two-hundred and nine miles.  Six turns.  One into the yard.

Forty five miles an hour through Hingham.  I slow down to sixty-five.  Too many miles.  Too few cops.

Five in the family.  Three vehicles headed the thirty miles north.  Auction today.

Twenty-six.  Thirty-five.  Never been able to keep a count of the grain bins shining in a row.  Eight years old. Someone said there was money in them.  I imagined coins.  Grain.

Highway painted at the edge of town.  Identifies the year and the kids who are free to leave.

Outrider Drive Inn. The building has been gone for years.  Sign is still there.

Gravel.  Meet a tractor.  Wave.

Sweet Grass Hills, Montana

Sweet Grass Hills give the sun something to hide behind.  Blue cardboard cutout silhouette is ominous as it is backlit – violent orange.  Sky.

Clouds.  Land. Forever stretches of blue sky. Shapes in the clouds.

Five different towns. Five different Stockman’s Bars.  Never been in one.

Seventy-three miles an hour makes raindrops swim up the windshield.  A futile attempt to escape the blades.

Every so often, deer.  Usually one solitary one watches while I pass.

Scanning.  Always.

          Mountains, trees, curves along rivers,

                    Flat, straight, huge …

                              Open …

                                        Miles …

If you want to fill some of your remaining summer days or the miles you travel with some good Montana literature, my FCS colleagues and I have compiled a list for you.  Check your local library for the books in either print or audio form. (I enjoy audio while traveling or while I’m cleaning at home. It is amazing how much longer you can scrub if you have a good book in your ear!) The list features either Montana authors or Montana topics.  Perhaps some of the books will inspire you to travel a few extra miles while you are in Montana.  Plus, since Big Sky Resort was conceptualized by Chet Huntley, who was a man of words as an NBC broadcaster, but Montana native, it is only fitting that we share a few Montana words with you as you head to Big Sky Resort.  Incidentally, Huntley attended school in Saco, Montana, for a while and I’ve driven by the Huntley School hundreds of times in my life.  My husband is from Saco!

Bonus:  The first person to add a comment identifying which book is not about
Montana or by a Montana author will receive a small gift.  Add your name and
university.  Hint:  Western Region might have the best chance.  

Here is a list of some suggested Montana Reads in no particular order:

Montana Reads

Books and Authors

All But the Waltz, by Mary Clearman Blew

Blind Your Ponies, by Standley Gordon West

Bound Like Grass, by Ruth McLaughlin

Breaking Clean, by Judy Blunt

A Bride Goes West, by Nannie T. Alderson and Helena Huntington Smith

Charlie Russell’s Yarns, by Charlie Russell

Dancing at the Rascal Fair, by Ivan Doig

English Creek, by Ivan Doig

Fire and Brimstone, by Michael Punke

Fool’s Crow, by James Welch

It’s Just Grass and Water, by Wally McRae

Last Bus to Wisdom, by Ivan Doig

Legends of the Fall, by Jim Harrison

Montana:  High, Wide and Handsome, by Joseph Kinsey Howard

Montana: High, Wide and Handsome (Volume Two), by Rick Graetz

Paper Talk:  Charlie Russell’s American West, by Charlie Russell and Brian W. Dippie

Plenty-Coups:  Chief of the Crows, by Frank B. Linderman

Pretty Shield:  Medicine Woman of the Crows, by Frank B. Linderman

Ride with Me, Mariah Montana, by Ivan Doig

Rima in the Weeds, by Deidre McNamer

A River Runs Through It, by Norman Maclean

Stick Horses and Other Stories of Ranch Life, by Wally McRae

Ten Tough Trips: Montana Writers and the West, by William Bevis

The Big Sky, by A.B. Guthrie

The Horse Whisperer, by Nicholas Evans

The Last Best Place:  A Montana Anthology, by William Kittredge and Annick Smith

The Smoke Jumper, by Nicholas Evans

The Virginian, by Owen Wister

This House of Sky, by Ivan Doig

Tough Trip through Paradise, by Andrew Garcia

Trash Fish: A Life, by Greg Keeler

We Pointed Them North, by E.C. Abbott and Helena Huntington Smith

When You and I Were Young, Whitefish, by Dorothy Johnson

Wind from an Enemy Sky, by D’Arcy McNickle

Winter Wheat, by Mildred Walker

Wolf and the Winds, by Frank B. Linderman

Young Men and Fire, by Norman Maclean

One of my colleagues, Phyllis Hansen, sent the following list.  She and her daughter buy books about Montana locations as they travel the state.  These are some that are their bookshelves. 

A Guide to Historic Bozeman, by Jim Jenks

Glacier Day Hikes, by Alan Leftridge

Glacier Ghost Stories, by Karen Stevens

Haunted Montana, by Karen Stevens

It Happened in Montana, by James A. Crutchfield

Jerry's Riot: The True Story of Montana's 1959 Prison Disturbance, by Kevin S. Giles

Miracle on the East Ridge, by Pat Kearney

Montana Off the Beaten Path, by Michael McCoy

More Haunted Montana, by Karen Stevens

Nothing To Tell: Extraordinary Stores of Montana Ranch Women

Out of the Night: A story of the tragedy and hope from a survivor of the 1959 Montana-Yellowstone Earthquake, by Irene Bennett Dunn

Taken By Bear in Yellowstone, by Kathleen Snow

Women in Wonderland: Lives, Legends and Legacies of Yellowstone National Park, by Elizabeth A. Watry

Young Men and Fire, by Norman Maclean

You might check out these two links for more reading material. 

http://www.humanitiesmontana.org/map/#

http://www.missoulapubliclibrary.org/readers-corner/montana-reads

Como Lake

Feel free to add your favorite book/author from Montana or share one from your state in the comment section below!

                                                                                                             

Marsha A. Goetting, Ph.D., CFP, CFCS

Extension Family Economics Specialist

P.O. Box 172800

Bozeman, MT 59717-2800

phone: (406) 994-5695 fax: (406) 994-4838

E-mail: goetting@montana.eduLocation: 208C Linfield Hall

Web site

Summer 4-H season for me (Jane Wolery) and therefore I was a little delayed bringing you this article from Marsha Goetting that she sent to me in June!

___________

June equates to wildflower season in Montana.  That means it’s time for me to grab my camera, tripod, and backpack and head for the mountains.  I spent the first Saturday in early June hiking around state lands in the mountains near Bozeman.  A variety of wildflower were blooming….prairie smokes, larkspurs, shooting stars, ball head waterleafs and many, many more.  I really didn’t care that it rained most of the time and that it was too windy to take photographs…. I was just happy to be among the millions of blooming flowers.

Albino Fairy Slipper

My husband (Gary) and I spent the next two weekends in June in the northern section of Yellowstone National Park.  I was ecstatic to find an Albino Fairy slipper.  Contrast the Albino with the normal purple-ish one below.  Aren’t they both beautiful?  A fairy slipper is sometimes called a Calypso orchid.  This flower has a very specialized reproduction system, requiring exacting habitat conditions so finding one calls for a celebration.

When you visit Yellowstone this time of year you experience what we locals call “Bear Jams.”  You can almost tell when a person sees a bear for the first time.  The driver stops the car, four doors blast open and people run out with their cameras in hand to take a photo of the bear.  Never mind that the bear will only appear as a black dot on the final picture.

Fairy Slipper

 I can’t blame them for their excitement in one way, but when you are stuck on the road for a half hour because the person in front of you and the driver in the opposite lane have abandoned their cars, we locals tend to get a bit testy.  However I must confess that because of a “Bear Jam” we were fortunate to see a mother black bear and her two cubs churning up grass and eating grubs.  We also saw grizzly bear grazing in a picnic area.  Luckily no one was picnicking at the time!

Chocolate Lily

Gary’s find of the day the second weekend in June was the tallest Chocolate Lily we had ever seen.  Chocolate lilies are a challenge to photograph because the flowers hang downward like a bell.  The tallness of this one allowed Gary to get “up close and personal” with one of the flowers on the stalk as you can tell from the photo below.

You won’t find any fairy slippers or chocolate lilies at Big Sky in September during the NEAFCS 2016 Conference because our blooming season is usually mid-May to late June. But if you attend my preconference on September 12 entitled….Wildflower Reflections:  Families, Legacies, and Estate Planning you will meet the Fairy Slipper Family and learn how one father accidently disinherited his children by having the property in joint tenancy with his new wife.

Speaking of flowers ... if you are looking for a way to send a lasting bouquet to friends on their birthdays, consider purchasing Montana wildflower note cards as a gift.  Plus, you'll also be providing support for the NEAFCS 2016 conference. 

More information here.

Something from Montana You Need in Your Wallet

Jane Wolery
Follow my blog at  www.31homeplace.blogspot.com

MSU Teton County Extension

PO Box 130 * 1 Main Ave S., Courthouse

Choteau, MT 59422

jwolery@montana.edu

406-466-2491 Office *  406-590-2492 Cell

www.msuextension.org/teton

I just reached into my wallet and ran across one of my favorite resources from MSU Extension.  You might think it was the cash from my paycheck, which I certainly do appreciate.  But, what I was referring to were the credit trackers that I use on my credit and debit cards.  The trackers are a register-style wrapper that help me keep track of my spending.  For any of you who use Rutgers Small Steps to Health and Wealth, you know that one of the most effective tools for behavior change is to track your current behavior.  In the Small Steps to Health and Wealth workbook, authors point to the five A’s of successful behavior change – awareness (tracking current behaviors), ability (being able to make a change), ambition (a strong desire to change), attitude (a positive state of mind about changing) and action (taking steps to actually change).

For me, the credit card registers have helped me reconsider a few purchases.  One evening, I was doing some on-line shopping and as I got ready to check out, I took out my credit card register.  Written in the register was a $200 expense that I had already incurred that month, but had ‘forgotten’ about until seeing it on the register.  If I had not been tracking my credit card expenses, I would have absent-mindedly overspent that month.  As it was, I emptied my shopping cart and decided to wait until another time when I knew I could pay for my purchases

without caring a credit card balance.

Awareness is the first step.  Many people are oblivious to their current behaviors.  Keeping written records can be an effective way to track patterns and work toward change. 

If you want to use the credit trackers for a class, or for your own wallet, you can find them at the MSU Extension store, or stop by our MSU Extension Distribution Center to pick them up while you are in Montana in September!

Have You Met the Bitter Family?

Marsha A. Goetting, Ph.D., CFP, CFCS
Extension Family Economics Specialist
P.O. Box 172800
Bozeman, MT 59717-2800
phone: (406) 994-5695 fax: (406) 994-4838
E-mail: goetting@montana.eduLocation: 208C Linfield Hall
Web site

In the summer of 2009 when my husband and I were driving to a friend’s cabin for a weekend adventure in the Deerlodge National Forest we kept seeing "pink" in the pasture fields.  We were really mystified as we had made that trip many times during past years (always in June) and never saw pink flowers.  What could they be?  Once we reached public lands we stopped to take a closer look so we could discover what type of wildflowers were making a striking appearance all over the fields and growing very close to the ground.  We were ecstatic to find they were bitterroots.  Prior to this time we had only seen bitterroots in Yellowstone National Park.  This area of Southwest Montana had more than normal amounts of rainfall in the spring and early summer of that year.  That extra moisture allowed the bitterroots to make a majestic appearance  in their full bloom. 

The bitterroot is the Montana state flower. Each large flower has 12 to 16 rose or pink pointed petals.   The flowers unfold from a tubular structure held close to the ground on a short stem.  The genus name Lewisia honors Meriwether Lewis, leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition who collected a specimen of bitterroot on July 1, 1806 near Lolo in Western Montana.  Native Americans harvested the roots and boiled them for food. 

You won’t find any bitterroots at Big Sky in September during the NEAFCS 2016 Conference because the short blooming season is typically from mid-May to late June. But if you attend my preconference on September 12 entitled….Wildflower Reflections:  Families, Legacies, and Estate Planning you will meet the Bitterroot family and see how grandchildren can become "bitter" and feel unloved because of the lack of planning by their grandparents. You will also learn a variety of ways you can take care of those you love by taking appropriate measures to avoid the “bitterness” that can result from poor planning. 

Speaking of love ... if you are looking for a way to send a lasting bouquet to someone you love, consider purchasing Montana wildflower note cards as a gift.  Plus, you'll also be providing support for the NEAFCS 2016 conference. More information here.

Leadership and Liaisons

As a chair of just one subcommittee planning for the NEAFCS 2016 conference, I have admired our two co-liaisons Tara Andrews and Sheila Friedrich.  I think it takes some true dedication (and bravery) to volunteer for the co-liaison positions.  Tara and Sheila are coordinating with the national team to prepare an NEAFCS conference.  I took a little time recently to catch up with Tara and Sheila, and to interview them about the conference-planning experience.

Tara M. Andrews

MSU Extension Cluster County

1010 Main St.

Miles City, MT 59301

406-874-3370 Office

406-852-0020 Cell

It’s quite an undertaking to be co-liaisons for NEAFCS annual conference.  What made you interested and decide to take on the project?

Tara:  The reason having the National meeting in Montana appealed to me, first, and foremost, because I really wanted to show off Montana, MSU and our Extension Service and the professionals in our state. We have great programming that is very diverse in our state. I was also ready to take on a new challenge in my career and this definitely fit the bill. Early in my Extension career, we hosted the NAE4-HA Conference in Billings, Montana, and it really brought the Montana agents together as a cohesive group. Because we are a small system, in terms of employees, it takes all of us to pitch in and work together to do something so big.

Sheila Friedrich

MSU Extension Sheridan County 

100 West Laurel Avenue

Plentywood, Montana  59254

(406) 765-3406

sfriedrich@montana.edu

Sheila:  I was excited about the prospect of having an NEAFCS Conference in Montana and showing off our state and Montana State University.  It was with Tara’s urging that I decided to jump on board.  We knew we would work well together and thought it would be a fun and rewarding experience.

How long have you been with Montana State University Extension?

Tara: This is my 25^th year with MSU Extension.

Sheila: I started my job with MSU Extension on December 2, 1981, so almost 35 years.

How many NEAFCS conferences have you attended?

Tara: have attended four NEAFCS conferences, and some of my most impactful programming came from ideas that got sparked during a NEAFCS conference.

Sheila: I have attended conferences in Wichita, Kansas, Providence, Rhode Island, Lexington, Kentucky and the last I attended was the conference at the Greenbrier in West Virginia.

Any standout learning experiences or memories from other conferences to share?

Tara:  When the NEAFCS meeting was in Denver I went to session on kids cooking and brought it back to our community with some variations. We offer our Chef School to second and third graders.  It is taught by our 4-H teens and we use the FCS room at the high school. The kids make an entire meal and then sit down and eat it. We work on nutrition, cooking skills, manners and food safety. I think we are in our eighth year and we offer 2 to 3, two-week sessions a year.  They always fill within the first few days after the announcement.

Sheila:  In Kentucky, I went on a tour to the University Butcher Shop.  They have a great facility for teaching and meat processing.  The morning we went they had harvested hogs and we got to see various parts of the inside of a hog.  It was very interesting.  And, of course, the beautiful Greenbrier Resort will always be a great memory -- such an amazing property in a beautiful state.

What value do you find from attending?

Tara:  The value of attending the National Conference is the range of ideas you come home with and, of course, meeting colleagues from other states and learning about their programming.

Sheila:  Getting new program ideas and networking with colleagues from all over the U.S.  At the past couple of conferences, it has been a great pleasure to get to know the National Officers, National Board and Cindy and Jody from the National Office.

What do you think will be unique about the Montana conference experience?

Tara:  I think the Montana experience will be unique because of the beautiful environment, and the chance to enjoy the outdoors in a lovely and breath taking location. We hope to give a relaxing Western flair to the entire meeting.

Sheila:  Location, location, location.  Big Sky is in a beautiful area of Montana.  Our Welcome Event promises to be unique and very fun.  The list of in-depth sessions is diverse and will provide opportunities to check out the Montana lifestyle.

To mix business with pleasure, if attendees have time to DISCOVER any Montana treasures, which ones would you recommend?

Tara:  If you can only visit one place when you come to Big Sky be sure to visit Yellowstone National Park. It is one of my favorite places on earth, and my husband and I visit it at least a couple of times a year. The park is so varied – with thermal features, wildlife, peaks and large meadows and lots of opportunities to get out and walk or just enjoy the scenery as you drive through.

Sheila:  Yellowstone Park and/or Chico HotSprings.  There is so much to see and do at these places and both are located close to Big Sky.

Thanks so much to Tara and Sheila for their efforts on this conference and to ALL who contribute, so that we can ENGAGE and CONNECT to improve the ways we serve others as Extension professionals.