In Love with Montana!

“I’m in love with Montana.  For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection. But with Montana it is love.  And it’s difficult to analyze love when you’re in it.”  (John Steinbeck, Travels With Charley: In Search of America; 1960.)

Many Montanans not only know the famous John Steinbeck quote, but most of us identify with it, wholeheartedly.  While I was reading Prairie Ponderings:  The Fullness of an Open Land this week, I saw a photo of one of my first loves of Montana, the Sweet Grass Hills.  The blog author now lives on a farm near where I was raised.  This view below is very similar to the view I had out my bedroom window growing up on the farm.  She allowed me to share the photo with you.

Sweet Grass Hills, Montana photo by Katie Bangs

Since we want you to get acquainted with our great state, I challenge you to get out your Montana map and find the Sweet Grass Hills.  I'll give you a hint:  the Sweet Grass Hills are north of Big Sky Resort, where we will be hosting the NEAFCS Annual Session, September 12-15, 2016.  Of course, we hope you'll come early and stay late and travel our state.  You can get lost in Montana!

Even though you can get lost in Montana, we do not want you to feel lost trying to decide which accommodations to choose at Big Sky Resort.  We'd like to present to you a list of Big Sky area lodging options, so that you can begin to plan your September journey.  For  detailed lodging information for the conference, click here.  This information is provided for preliminary planning, hotel reservations for the 2016 NEAFCS Annual Session have not opened yet, and will open on May 1.  The booking link and reservation code will be sent to membership at that time.  Meanwhile, we know some of you are planning an extended stay, so we wanted to get you a little information now.  

For more information on Big Sky Resort, please see this post.  

We'll see you in Montana!

Jane Wolery

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

Join the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Science blog at

www.neafcsmontana2016.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

Below is a picture I snapped on my phone on Sunday, which shows my view from my current home in Montana.  Extra credit if you find Choteau on your Montana map.  Hint:  Look for the Rocky Mountains!  If you add a tour of Glacier National Park on either end or your visit to Montana, you can drive through Choteau on the way.  

Big Sky Resort

We are very excited to welcome you to Montana!  We believe many of you will fly into Big Sky Country likely into the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport.  The airport is just a few miles away from the beautiful Montana State University campus and home to MSU Extension.

The conference will be held at Big Sky Resort, which is just a scenic drive away from the airport.

If you have questions about transportation, you may find the answers here, or you can contact our conference liaisons Tara Andrews and Sheila Friedrich.

Big Sky Resort is a renowned area among skiers, but there likely won't be enough powder for skiing during our NEAFCS 2016 conference; however, it is not uncommon for there to be a skiff of snow, even in September.  We recommend checking the weather forecast and packing for cool Montana mountain evenings.

Big Sky Resort offers amazing lodging opportunities from hotel rooms to condominiums to cabins to homes.  You can enjoy western comfort and style during the NEAFCS 2016 conference in Big Sky. The different lodging choices each have their own amazing amenities.  Look for the situation that suits you from private hot tubs to fireplaces to kitchens.  Some states may even want to all stay together in a home, condo or cabin to really connect during the conference.