Founded in 1865, Beaverhead County is Montana’s largest with an area of 5,571 square miles. Of the 3.56 million acres of land, 69% is publicly-owned, which contributes to the sparse population of the county. The population density is less than 1.7 people per square mile, while the average cattle population density is 27.6 per square mile. The economy is driven largely by agriculture, mostly cattle and hay production, but tourism and recreation also contribute. Beaverhead County is the number one Montana county in beef cattle production and annual forage production.

Branding. Photo by Laney Brentano

As the largest annual forage producing county in the state, Beaverhead County farmers and ranchers must be cautious of high nitrate concentrations in feed. Barley, oats, and triticale were the most common nitrate-accumulating small grains grown. This year, Beaverhead County MSU Extension conducted 78 nitrate tests. Using information from these tests, livestock producers were able to make decisions about the class of livestock and the ration to be fed. With over 150,000 beef cattle and 15,000 sheep, animal agriculture is one of the largest economic drivers in Beaverhead County. The Southwest Montana Stockmen’s Association (SWMSA) and Beaverhead County Livestock Protective Committee (LPC) partner with the Beaverhead County MSU Extension to provide resources for ranchers. The LPC generates funds from local livestock producers to help safeguard the local animal agriculture industry. The SWMSA provides a forum for producers to learn about legislation, rules, and regulations that will affect their operation. This association of roughly 75 ranches and agricultural businesses meets twice a year to discuss the latest ranching challenges and triumphs. The Noxious Weed Seed Free Forage (NWSFF) program is vital to maintain the ecological integrity of our public lands. Seven returning growers and one new grower participated in the NWSFF program through having 544 acres of forage inspected. In addition to gaining a new participant, 4-H members enrolled in the Weeds project shadowed the inspector to learn throughout the year.

Beaverhead County hosted the 2019 Montana Range Days. This event is comprised of many workshops, exhibits, contests, and tours for future generations of farmers and ranchers to learn more about the 68 million acres of rangeland across Montana. Roughly 300 people participated through attending illustrated talks, taking part in a workshop, competing in a contest, creating a weed collection, or helping put on the event.

This large-scale educational event was a collaboration of the Montana Range Days committee, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Montana State University Extension, Beaverhead Conservation District, and local volunteers. In addition to the usual Montana Range Days events, Beaverhead County offered two tours of local rangeland and management strategies. Participants traveled to the Helle Ranch to discuss sagebrush burning and the sheep grazing program with a lunch provided by the Montana Wool Growers. The second tour took place at various ranches around Dillon and was focused on Juniper and Douglas fir encroachment into sagebrush and grasslands.

The Beaverhead County 4-H Program is made up of 200 youth in 10 clubs. Youth ages 6-19 are given the opportunity to explore education and interests by participating in activities. Seventy-five adult volunteers help to deliver the program to the county’s youth. This year, 140 members participated in a livestock project. We held Livestock Quality Assurance classes for both the small and large animal members so they could learn about or brush up on important safety measures for the animal and themselves. Youth who participate in livestock projects not only learn sportsmanship and responsibility, but they also learn about the agriculture industry at a young age. Beaverhead County 4-H youth achieved seven Steer of Merit awards, eleven Symbol of Excellence awards, and fifteen Certified Lamb awards, which all signal high quality care and attention to the animals. There were 22 building project members this year, from welding to sewing, which teach members about different trades, skills and bookkeeping. These members take advantage of many opportunities throughout the year to show off their skills, participating in events like the Beaverhead County 4-H Food Festival. Shooting Sports was a popular project again this year, boasting 70 members. These air rifle, archery, shotgun, and pistol members practice weekly, throughout the winter, in their discipline to compete in the Beaverhead Invitational and fair shoot. Beaverhead County 4-H had a very successful year with many members competing in the Annual Communications Rodeo to enhance public speaking skills, the Beaverhead Bonanza to work on showmanship abilities, and Style Revue to show off their garments. The county sent three members to Montana 4-H Congress, four to Rec Lab (a 4-H statewide, weekend event for relationship and skill-building), five to ambassador training (a leadership and service training), one to citizenship seminar, four to Citizenship Washington Focus, and through the Montana 4-H International Program one member went to Finland. The Beaverhead County 4-H Foundation awarded two scholarships of $1500 each to James Kramer and Harleigh Johnson.

Preventing invasive weeds from spreading around Beaverhead County is important for recreational and aesthetic purposes but also for wildlife habitat, livestock production, and farming. Montana State University created an educational program that promotes the proper use of pesticides and coordinates the Montana Private Applicator Training program. This private applicator program works to license and train individuals who apply Restricted Use Pesticides to certain classes of land. This year, in conjunction with the Beaverhead County Weed District, Montana State University Extension offered eight opportunities for recertification credits in Lima, Dillon, and Wisdom as well as licensing three new private applicators. The 4-H program in the county works every year to involve youth in weed management by attending the Beaverhead County Weed Day. Each year the 4-H members travel on a Saturday in July to Bannack State Park or the Beaverhead River to remove noxious weeds. Each member is given a colored tape to mark bags of weeds pulled, and at the end of the day the member with the most bags wins a prize. This year, members traveled down 12 miles of the Beaverhead River and collected 20 industrial garbage bags of weeds. Beaverhead County MSU Extension annually supports the Weed Whacker’s Ball, whose mission is to fundraise money to eliminate noxious weeds along the Big Hole River. This event is comprised of a silent and live auction of donated items, banquet, live entertainment, and community support. This year, over $15,000 was raised and will fund the noxious weed management efforts in the Big Hole Basin Cooperative Weed Management Area in 2020.

Weed Day 2019. Photo by Amber Burch