Farm Forum at Montana Winter Fair

Published: 2019
By Emily Standley

The Montana Winter Fair is moving into its 75th year in 2020. This annual event, held in Lewistown for the last 16 years, celebrates agriculture and rural communities through a variety of events including beef shows, quilting clinics, fiddle contests, ranch sorting, cooking competitions, and more. One of the events MSU Extension is heavily involved with is the Farm Forum. This event features speakers and workshops centered around agriculture, and in the last few years has grown from one day to two days. In 2019, the Farm Forum hosted Marsha Goetting, PhD, MSU Extension’s Family Economics Specialist, for two sessions of estate planning for agriculture and non-agriculture families. More than 60 people attended the workshops. The second day of the Farm Forum featured an agri-tourism panel of local farmers and ranchers, as well as the Executive Director of the Central Montana Tourism District. Panelists spoke about experiences as hunting outfitters, hosting weddings, renting out cabins on their land, and interacting with guests from across the country. Attendees learned about the challenges and rewards involved with developing an agri-tourism enterprise, and also received firsthand tips and resources for how to get started. The 2019 Farm Forum concluded with presentations about managing wildlife-livestock interactions. One speaker discussed opportunities for herd protection using guardian dogs, while the second speaker shared his experience ranching in grizzly bear territory on the Rocky Mountain Front. Attendees learned about resources for protecting livestock, challenges of fellow ranchers, and what to do if they suspect predator death or injury in their livestock. Fergus County MSU Extension is excited to continue the Farm Forum event at Winter Fairs to come!