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Diane Keane and Vanessa Janssen are excited to bring a play to Big Sandy, Bedtime Stories (As Told By Our Dad) (Who Messed Them Up). According to Amazon, "It's Dad's turn to tell his three rambunctious kids their bedtime stories, but when he gets fuzzy on the details, the classics get creative: a prince with a snoring problem spices up The Princess and The Pea, The Boy Who Cried Wolf cries dinosaur instead, and Rumpelstiltskin helps turn all that pesky gold into straw. You may think you know...
This weekend at a MFU Women's Conference held in Fairmont, Jolene Brown, CSP, CPAE a National Hall of Fame Speaker talked about how to relieve stress and renewal of the farm and family. She has been speaking to farmers and supporting them of 37 years. Jolene talked about the three benchmarks of balancing our lives. It was surprising the importance of individual physical health and healthy relationships. She talked about how important it was to realize dreams and a clear plan that moves desires...
Jess Peterson and his wife Laura are one of Montana's Power couples in Agriculture working a cow/calf operation in Miles City. They have two wonderful cowgirls, Cadence and Chloe. I got to hear both of them speak at two separate conferences. According to his bio "Jess Peterson, the President of Western Skies Strategies (WSS), represents the United States Cattlemen's Association (USCA) as its Executive Vice President. Peterson and the WSS staff provide USCA a full-time presence in Washington, DC...
According to Vance Butler there was some excitement at the gun show. There were a number of high quality of guns at the Big Sandy Gun Show. Vance Butler and Brian Harwood from Thompson Falls, Hardwood Bullets, spend the night on the premises guarding the guns. Brian who was instrumental in encouraging Vance to have a gun show in Big Sandy woke up to a large loud bang. He looked over to Vance's cot and Vance wasn't there. He was afraid Vance had woken up and had to use his gun. He went looking...
According to Matt Perdue, Government Relations Representative at National Farmers Union in Washington DC, it's important to know your facts and act accordingly. He was introduced as "He is up on the hill every day!" And when he started his presentation he said, "And it is very important you stay!" Commodity Prices have dropped 49% from 2013. In just five years the loss is $65.7 billion. The medium farm income is projected to be $1,691 less in 2018. He mentioned farms bill struggle to pass...
The National Geographic Geo-Bee started in 1989 but this is only the second year Big Sandy Schools have participated. Students from the fourth grade to the eighth grade compete. This means Big Sandy had 10 finalists competing in the contest. There were nine boys and one girl. They were given two opportunities to answer incorrectly before they were removed from the contest. As it turned out they were actually given more than two wrong answers as they had to have two for the final contest. They ha...
Every two years we have an opportunity to participate in state government. In order to contact our legislator’s, we are printing our local Representative and Senator’s contact information. District 27 Representative Joshua Kassmier 406-781-538; and Email address is Joshua.Kassmier@mtleg.gov. District 14 Senator Russel Tempel 406-292-3542 and 406-265-0990; and Email Address Russ.Temple@mtleg.gov. Here are some bills having to do with agriculture you might want to research; SB 32- Creates stream gauge oversight work group; HB 102- Creates civil p...
Katherine Bold daughter of Anna Bold was chosen as one of two winners of a trip to Washington DC from the Foundation for Rural Service and Triangle Communications. Baily Gasvoda was one of two last year and told Katherine about the opportunity. Students who is 16-17 years old who is a dependent of a subscriber receiving telephone, broadband or mobile service from Triangle can apply for the opportunity to win the trip to Washington DC. Katherine said she is looking forward to meeting to people...
The 7th Annual Gun and Ammo Show in Big Sandy will take place on January 25th, 26th, and 27th. The Gun Show will be at the Jerry Martin Memorial Hall. Vance and Jean Butler along with their son Kirkley started the show seven years ago because they thought "it was good for the community, because it gives everyone a chance to get a gun and some ammo." Vance said he, "enjoys visiting with old friends as well." There will be some new vendors this year, because a couple from last year will not be...
The full board was in attendance President Darin Genereux, and board members Brandon Gasvoda, Jerri Roth, Brad Weaver, and Heather Pleninger. Also in attendance Superintendent Kelly Haaland, Big Sandy School Principle Heather Wolrey, Baily Gasvoda Student Body President, Travis Baumann Tech, Melanine Schwarzbach Teachers Representative, Maryetta Engle Big Sandy District Clerk, Layne Taylor Shop Teacher and FFA representative, and Amy Terry 2nd grade teacher. The Student Council Report by Baily Gasvoda said the Christmas Party was a large food...
Judy Hawkins said, "People who live and work in your community donate bits all the time. But people like myself who have moved away aren't able to do that. It is my way of giving back to a community that gave me a great start." She had surgery on her leg on New Year's Eve, that makes three surgeries since May so making quilts gives her a real sense of accomplishment because she's been non-weight baring for nine months. She already has Big Sandy's Library Quilt for 2019 already made. It has nine...
It’s Bingo for the entire family Sunday January 27th. The Christ Lutheran Youth are trying to create a fun family afternoon starting at 1:00. The cards are only 50 cents per card for adults. They can’t charge kids to play, so they are asking adults to attend with their children. There will be snacks and prizes. They are looking for donations from local businesses or individuals to support the activity. Depending on how it is received, and how many people like playing Bingo at least one person said they would like it to be a regular event. It...
MFU is pleased to announce registration is open for the 2019 Women’s Conference at Fairmont Hot Springs February 1, starting at 4:00 PM and ending February 3, at 10:00 AM. It is a relaxing & welcoming environment complete with workshops on personal & professional development. The cost is very reasonable for a weekend at Fairmont. Laura Peterson, head of federal government relations for Syngenta, will kick off the event with a talk on Ag Policy and how it relates to her work with Syngenta. MFU Lobbyist Cindy Palmer will provide a legislative u...
January of every year has lots of farm forums around the state of Montana. Except for delivery of grain and feeding livestock agriculture farmers and ranchers are finding time to attend. I heard the other day that there is still a need for health insurance for farmers and ranchers, but no one seems to be visiting about that. Speakers are discussing with attendees that they need to write a business plan every year. Revisit your skills to determine training you may need to learn, i.e. agricultural...
The Big Sandy Senior Center announced they will be closed on Fridays. Linda Schwarzbach President of the Big Sandy Senior Center Board said, "We are trying to get it open again, but when the participation falls and you can't pencil it out and keep it even; it gets a little scary. It's starting to pick up on the four days. When we start getting a few more people, we will open it up again." Renee Hansen said, "If we want the senior citizens to be open we can buy a food ticket whether we use it or...
On January 6 Bailey Gasvoda and Bryanna Goodman participated in a Cross–Fit competition in Spokane Washington at the fair-grounds. They left the competition very inspired and after talking to them you'll realize you're inspired too! Cross Fit uses rowing machines, assault bikes (bikes that use both your arms and your legs), bar bells with weights. Bailey Gasvoda said, "I just started Cross Fit in August. Bryanna was such a good teammate, because she is so strong. She's been doing it for a l...
The Big Sandy City Council met as usual on January 9th, with all council members present Shaud Schwarzbach-Mayor, Colby Baumgarn, Darin Ray, Ted Pursley, and Jon Sheehy. All employees of the city were also present, Wendy Kleinsausser, City Clerk, Tim Labuda and Larry Geyer Big Sandy’s maintenance personnel. There was one Big Sandy residence but he gave no public comment. Dennis Hale, Chouteau Country Sheriff’s Deputy, report was short. The digital speed signs on the outside of town are working again. Those serving on the Pivot Committee at the...
The Big Sandy Booster Club met January 8th with nine moms attending at the Big Sandy Senior Citizen’s. Melanie Schwarzbach gave the Financial Report. Currently they have $13,790.00 for future projects. There was considerable exciting discussion about the numerous opportunities for future contributions they could make. The posters are up at the high school where names of the Corporate Sponsors and Life time membership are displayed professionally. They hadn’t been updated since 1994. Pep’s is now a Corporate Sponsors. New Pioneer clothes and g...
The USDA's Farm Service Agency is closed because of the government shut down, but the new farm bill, The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, has increased the agencies abilities for loan guarantees $1.75 million an increase from $1.40 Million. It also increased the direct farm ownership loans to $600,000 which doubles and increased direct operating loans by $100,000 to $400,000. I researched on line at the American Bankers Association/Agricultural Banking and found that bank lenders are glad....
Picture Reggie Jappe sitting on a deck overlooking a lake in Texas working on her craft projects and sewing quilts. That's what she will be doing! Why not retire!? Leah Grubb, CEO of the Big Sandy Medical Center said, "She will be missed. She's fun! The residences are going to miss her. She always made their days better." Lisa Sipler told me she always personalized her activities to with the residences. Whatever they liked to do she would do one on one with them. "With one she would bake, with...
Morgan Simpson was a cheerleader in Big Sandy when she was in high school. She was a cheerleader for two years in 2002 and 2003. She really enjoyed it. I asked her if that was why she wanted to be a coach. Morgan told me, “The girls approached me. They wanted a program again. And there is no reason there shouldn’t be a program. We have the girls that have the interest in it. We have the uniforms. They fit and they look good. They just needed a coach to help them.” Morgan moved to Big Sandy...
Happy New Year! I bought myself a Craig Edwards art photograph. I saw wings of creativity and new directions. I just wanted to know more about the picture so I asked Craig Edwards to tell me about his photograph. Glen and Anita Cook were eating lunch with me and when she saw it she said, "I see a seed pods exploding." Craig said, "It's pigeon wing impressions in the dust of the ceiling in a grain bin." I wanted to know if he actually knew it would turn out to be such an awesome picture. He...
January 3, 2018...We discovered that the Montana Department of Health and Human Services budget was cut by $49 million. Some programs in Chouteau County were cut completely in the Office of Public Assistance. Programs being affected Suppled Nutritional Assistance, TANF, and CHIP. Private First-Class Christopher Stiles, US Marine Corps was home visiting for Christmas. January 10...Brady Pleninger, Travis Pegar, Abriana Blanion, and Alicia Bjornstad studied, interviewed and wrote an article about...
The Christ Lutheran Church had dimmed the lights of the sanctuary and the Christmas tree looked like it had a thousand lights when I entered. Traditional Christmas music was playing quietly in the background. As families walked in with laughter and excitement knowing full well their child was very excited about the program. The lights in the sanctuary went up just so the kids could see their parents and pictures could be taken. The church was full. Full of parents, grandparents, siblings, aunt...
Starting January 1, 2019 Heather Pleninger will become the fourth Executive Director in the history of Big Sandy Activities. Lorrie Merrill is stepping down from the position to pursue a different opportunity and to give her more time to write. Connie Green was the first Executive Director when she retired after 20 years. Jean Denning took the reigns as the Executive Director in 1995. She was the Executive Director for 11 years, before Lorrie Merrill became the Executive Director in 2006. Big...