Several years ago, the negatives of the photographic jaunts of John Lawrence Breum (1881-1981) were discovered by his descendants in a shoebox covered with dust. Capturing the towns of Fallon and Terry, and the adjoining Badlands, Johnny’s photos, which include a self-portrait purportedly from 1902, linger largely unseen.

Diana Scollard’s dream of becoming a veterinarian began at the tender age of 6 when she watched her first C-section at her parents’ cattle ranch outside of Bozeman. Her fascination blossomed into reality when she attended school at MSU and later in Colorado, where she earned a doctorate in veterinary science.

Nichole turned her hobby into a successful business. She’s the founder of Lazy Daisy Soaps, a skin care product company that prides itself on the fact that all of the products produced are made using only natural, organic ingredients, beginning with fresh, raw goat’s milk from goats that Nichole raises and milks herself.

In light of the romance of February, we asked several Montana couples what makes a successful marriage. What do they do to ensure their marriage is working and fulfilling, and is a partnership worth fighting for? There is wisdom in their words.

Heidi and her husband Gary are the parents of Garrett, Anna and 3-year-old Emme. In addition to sheep, they also run cows, both on tracts of leased land outside of Big Timber. As young ranchers they have high hopes for their future and the future of their children. The idea of owning their own ranch is a reality that seems far into the future, but the young couple are determined to see it happen.

The Yellowstone Valley Food Hub was started in 2017, when 11 producers brainstormed about ways to reach customers. They knew education was at the top of the list. They felt they could bring local producers and customers together and educate both sides: the customers on what is available locally and the producers on the specifics of what customers want.

Duncan has been breeding and training horses for more than 25 years. He specializes in versatility. His horses are capable of ranch work, driving, packing, pleasure-riding and competition. He also shoes horses, builds saddles and designs and sews fur coats.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Wildrye Distilling of Bozeman was briskly meeting the demands of restaurants, bars and liquor stores statewide. Once the immediacy and severity of the virulent disease became the new reality in Gallatin County, partners Ben Ganser and Philip Sullivan decided they needed to responsibly recalibrate their mode of production. 

When the pandemic hit, a local livestock video auctioning company stepped up to help area ranchers, ensuring them that despite the COVID-19 restraints, their annual production sale could still take place. Across the region, ranchers who had never utilized on-line auctioning turned to the internet to make sure their cattle sold. 

Commercially raising bees fits perfectly into Montana’s rich agricultural and ranching heritage. It just involves dealing with smaller livestock. But even with beekeeping’s significant contribution to the Montana agricultural scene, it’s not all honey and sunshine.

Fire up those grills for some fun summer recipes.

Because of the pandemic, the grandstands have been empty. The bull riders as well as the spectators are under stay-at-home orders. As with all rodeo events, all PBR events are canceled for the time being because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Scrolling through Instagram a few weeks back, seeing how other musicians were approaching their live stream, I stumbled upon a songwriting challenge by Fry. She sang the words above, followed by examples of compassion she’d witnessed during the global coronavirus pandemic: “It’s a grandma sewing masks, it’s the ones without giving back/it’s a picture of a doctor head in hands/trying to save our fellow man.”

Grocery stores were among the few places where Montanans could actually visit while under the stay-at-home order from late March to late April, and these specific businesses experienced some good things, some bad things, and catered to the hungry.

At 6-foot-6 with broad shoulders and a deep, husky voice, Tony can be an intimidating force. He has to be, he and his deputies patrol a lot of territory. But under the tough exterior is a gentle man who is well liked and highly respected in his community.

The summer morning was just beginning as Trent Petersen drove down the gravel back roads from Roberts to Joliet. Trent, 17,  was on his way to join the Nobull Cattle Artificial Insemination team. Meeting at Centana Feedyard in Joliet, the team planned to artificially inseminate a group of registered heifers.

Jean is serving up Huckleberry crisp and Dutch Oven dinners this fall!

Working on his own at Livingston Anvil Works, Jem Blueher is something of a rebel. Backed by the might of aged, gritty equipment, he restores rare horse-drawn vehicles, tools, and machinery through rigorous application.

It was a tough blow, but Montanans don’t give up easily. With some ingenuity and a can-do attitude, a few activities continued, albeit a little different than they had been in the past. Here are a few events that found a way to carry on.  

The romance of the story is that just over seven years ago, Evan’s father, John Helle, and Robert “Bernie” Bernthal, a renowned clothing manufacturer, hatched the idea of using Helle wool from the Helle Rambouillet flock to come up with a line of wool clothing that would give consumers 100 percent American-made and -sourced clothing. The men struck a deal while skiing on nearby Maverick Mountain as they shared a chairlift.