Riding around Eastern Montana’s open range in the 1880s I saw countless wagons, but none more important or revered as “The Wagon” aka the chuckwagon. The indispensable nerve center of any outfit. A kitchen on wheels, complete with a gentleman known affectionally, among the cowboys as “Old Cookie,” the unnamed King on the open range whose word was law. That is, of course, in an area 60 feet around the wagon - his domain. The big box or cupboard on the back was designed by Charlie Goodnight during the long cattle drive days. He also changed the wagon’s axles using...

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What you wear, and how you present yourself on stage, is an important part of being a musician. Looking sharp is critical if you want people to take you seriously, and one of my biggest pet peeves is when bands look like they walked in off the street corner. Since we have a batch of shows coming up that will allow for more creativity in this department, I have been spending some time (probably too much) figuring out what to wear. I always go into my closet first, lean toward classic things I can wear for years to come if...

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Joyce has four daughters as I mentioned, she also has a son whom I, for some reason, thought was a grandson. My apologies, Brady. Joyce’s Mom, after watching her ride into town and making a day of it got concerned for her safety and told her if she didn’t stop, she would sell Joyce’s horse, Flicka. She finally sold Flicka to Joyce’s Dad’s cousin… Joyce: Well, Dad’s cousin, who had kids of his own, kinda liked me and I liked his kids and him as well. He knew what Mom was doing, so when he bought Flicka, he said he...

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America has always been a melting pot - a place, a land, a nation where anyone from anywhere can embrace our values, our original governing documents, and the Judeo-Christian ethos that permeates the very atmosphere of this incredible Constitutional Republic and become an American. Historically, the best qualities and cultural norms of immigrants were not forgotten but rather added and melded into the larger American fold. Tragically, however, the melting pot has, in recent decades, begun to resemble what many now call a “salad bowl,” where the figurative fruits and vegetables in this analogy, the people groups of America live...

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During the 2025 Angus Convention in Kansas City, Missouri, the 2026 Miss American Angus title was awarded to Claire Murnin of Pompeys Pillar, Montana. Murnin is the first Montanan to hold the title of Miss American Angus since the inception of the program in 1968. Murnin began showing Angus cattle when she was eight years old through the National Junior Angus Association, 4-H, and FFA. Now a college freshman, Murnin is currently an online student at Montana State University-Billings, with plans to transfer into an animal science and pre-law program next year. Her road to Miss American Angus began back...

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The Agriculture Diversification and Development (ADD) Fund was created to support new or growing value-added businesses that demonstrate financial feasibility, enhance profitability, create jobs for the industry, and grow North Dakota’s economy. Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring announced the most recent ADD funds totaling 7,694 were approved at the ADD quarterly meeting on July 23. Richter Farms was one of three recipients, awarded 7,694 to assist in the transition of their dairy facility to be utilized as a beef cattle backgrounding operation. What Now?... The Richter family has been milking cows on their farm since 1934, formerly known as Richter Dairy....

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At the recent, virtual Stockmanship and Stewardship event hosted by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Emma Coffman of Double E Ranch and Tucker Brown from the R.A. Brown Ranch presented on effective advocacy in agriculture. Both Coffman and Brown shared meaningful ways to be an advocate for agriculture regardless of background. Although social media oftentimes gets a bad rap, Coffman and Brown have found ways for it to bring positive light to agriculture and even drive the narrative around how our food is being produced. Brown is a sixth-generation rancher on the R.A. Brown Ranch in north Texas. “A lot...

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I felt pretty good following the November Cattle On Feed report released by USDA last Friday. Placements came in at 2,076, down 10 percent from last year, with an average guess of 91.6 percent and a range of 89.5 percent to 95.5 percent. Total cattle on feed was 11,691 head, down 2 percent from the same month last year and a range of 97.7 percent to 98.6 percent. Marketings came in at 92 percent with a range of 92 percent to 93.1 percent. If you all remember, a few weeks ago, I said there would be a Cattle On Feed...

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Cutting your own Christmas tree can be fun for all ages, and six Bureau of Land Management field offices in Montana are making it simple and inexpensive to get a permit. Personal-use Christmas tree permits issued by the Butte, Dillon, Lewistown, Malta, Miles City, and Missoula field offices cost only per tree and can be applied for online. Contact the North Dakota Field Office at 701-227-7700, and/or the South Dakota Field Office at 605-892-7000 for information about Christmas tree and/or firewood permits in those areas. Locations where Christmas trees can be harvested vary by field office. Maps, stipulations and...

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U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) intent to purchase up to million in fresh fruit from American farmers and producers to distribute to food banks and nutrition assistance programs across the country. These purchases are being made through USDA’s authority under Section 32 of the Agriculture Act of 1935 and will assist producers and communities in need. With this action, the Trump Administration is bolstering American prosperity by supporting American agriculture, rural communities, and those in need of nutrition assistance. “President Trump is standing with America’s farmers, especially right now while...

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