Every day, Virgil climbs the steep steps to his office in the loft of the store and oversees the business that he and his partner J.Q. Robbins founded in 1947. Walking through the door at Gust’s is like stepping into a time machine and turning the dial back 70-plus years, except that the merchandise is perfect for the needs of the small community in 2020.

Hannah Todd walked quietly through the knee-deep grass toward a small herd of cattle. Carrying a bucket of feed and a halter, she stopped and waited as a heifer came forward and pushed her nose into the bucket. Hannah laughed, rubbed the heifer between the ears and down her back and placed the bucket on the ground for her. 

Ephraim Strain led the small parade sitting high atop the bright red-and-yellow stagecoach, his brother, Yoseph rode shotgun. He drove 6 Up, meaning three teams of horses, as they crossed the Yellowstone River bridge and headed into town. 

Bill Brinkel might not live in the country anymore, but country still most definitely defines him. The 90-year-old retired wheat farmer was born and raised near Broadview where he farmed until he was in his late 70s.

Haven Meged remembers roping so late into the night that he and his best friend illuminated the arena with the headlights of three tractors and two trucks. They used a lime green lariat rope so they could see where their loop was heading as they practiced roping young calves. 

Jean Duffey lives at the family homestead where she and her late husband raised five children. After the death of her in-laws and husband, she remodeled the original log home, added on to it, and for years it was a popular bed and breakfast. 

Huckleberry Burger offers a bit of spice to a basic 100% beef burger and Morel Mushrooms coincides with our article on tips for foraging for food in the springtime. Bon appetit! 

Visible from Interstate 90, six miles east of Columbus, Midland Bull Test is a familiar site to anyone accustomed to traveling along that stretch of the road. The long low barn with “Midland” printed in large letters across the roof, and pens filled with cattle, extending out from the barn, might look like most feedlots across the region. But Midland Bull Test is anything but typical. 

Ericka eventually returned to hats, first working under mother, Sheila Kirkpatrick-Massar, a notable hatmaker, who up until a couple of years ago based her business in Twin Bridges. Ericka’s plan was to start her own operation where she lived in Wisdom. For a brief time, mother and daughter worked in two separate locations: Ericka started the hatmaking process and Sheila completed it and fitted all the customers. But after Sheila closed her shop, a series of events yanked Ericka out of Wisdom and pulled her back to Twin Bridges.  

“Unique soaking adventures abound at Norris Hot Springs,” Chris Wilson insisted. “It’s a place like nowhere you’ve seen before.”

Roger Siemens knows more about prairie rattlesnakes than most of the people in Montana. He should. He’s been studying their habits, researching their habitat and living with them for over 25 years. He didn’t set out to be a rattlesnake expert. It was something that happened quite by necessity, or accident, depending on how you look at it.

Backing his horse into the box, Ty Erickson readies himself. With a nod of his head, the chute operator springs the gate open releasing the steer. It bolts into a full run across the arena. 

Ben Swanke of Billings, runs his calloused hands over the back of a newly finished saddle.   He smiles with pride as he explains the many steps and individual parts involved in taking it from a wooden “saddle tree,” covered in rawhide, to a finished saddle. 

Every second matters. Urgency pressures action and response time is immediate when the pagers release their call. The siren sounds and the Big Timber Volunteer Fire Department is ready to spring into action. Volunteers from every corner of the county will be responding because someone needs help.  

Across the driveway from the ranch house is a beautiful new building that any rancher would be proud to own. Ranch business is not done there, however.  The building houses Canty Boots, a business that Nikki Edmundson founded, owns and operates.  And though young, the business has already found its way to international markets.  

Carson Kuehn rubs his hand across the horse’s back and down her hip before settling on the mare’s fetlock. As he picks up her hoof and rests it on his chap- covered knees, he begins the process of trimming hooves and replacing her shoes.     

It was a typical day for Jake Brown. The sun had  barely peeked over the mountain and the temperature was brisk as he stepped outside his home, whistled for his dog and started the ATV.  His day had started and he had a long to-do list. 

Being a saddle and chap maker by day and a blanket weaver by night allows K.T. Monson, of Shepherd, an outlet for his artistic side. K.T. has spent the last 30 years working at Swanke Saddle Co. and Boot Repair. He’s instrumental in the saddle-making process that takes place at the company as well as in the custom chap division.

A nice peach cobbler for summer days and elk chili for the first sign of fall.

The culinary scene in Montana is as spectacular as its scenery. With the Taste Our Place program, visitors and locals have the opportunity to connect with the agricultural heart — and flavor — of the state.