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The Necessity of Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread A favorite childhood photo is one of my dad and I washing carrots. I was about four years old. My mom had me dressed like an Artic air front was likely to come blasting through at any moment—red overboots, hooded jacket zipped all the way up to my neck, hat, and mittens. Our row of freshly washed produce lined the cement divider between the lawn and garden. From an early age, I knew that when it came to chores, my dad had definite ideas of how things should be done. It was time to work; play and r...
Last week, I had an opportunity to treat myself to something fun. I began looking around at things I use daily. I have a record player next to my desk that I picked up used from Facebook Marketplace. I often listen to records while working at my desk. I enjoy it, and it makes a positive impact on my work day. I began thinking about upgrading my turntable. I rapidly discovered that the player I enjoy now is kinda cheap, but with exceptional sound. It never sounded inadequate, but the more I read...
Managing horticultural landscapes and houseplants in the fall is important for healthy production during the growing season. Below are a few recommendations for Chouteau County gardeners. • Apply protective mulches to perennial beds. • Use a humidifier to maintain humidity for houseplants. • Prune out dead limbs of woody ornamentals. • Do not fertilize or transplant anything after Indigenous Peoples’ Day. • Continue to water landscape plantings (trees, shrubs, and perennials) until the soil freezes. • Apply winter mulch to strawberry beds as so...
MSU Extension Urban Alert system for Chouteau County gardeners Chouteau County gardeners can sign up for “MSU Urban Alert,” a system developed to rapidly share information about plant disease, insect and weed issues in urban settings. Urban Alerts can be set up to go to E-mail or text. The MSU Urban Alert focuses on issues in homes, gardens, parks or other outdoor urban settings. MSU Urban Alert might warn people to avoid mistaking the fruit of the poisonous vine white bryony with grapes, for example. It could provide the latest inf...
Chopping Ice As winter is drawing to a close (at least it appears to be) I think back on some of my farm life wintertime memories. As a young girl, I remember the sound of the furnace blower kicking in, and if it was the weekend, the sweet realization that there was no need to get up for school. Instead, it was a chance to snuggle down deeper under the blankets and drift back to sleep. I also remember my dad coming into the house with fogged up glasses after milking the cow. I paid attention to when he came in because my job was to get the...
During my time as chaplain at the Children’s Home, I had a season where I was in conflict with another administrator who worked with me. We were at odds on all manner of issues, with many of our conflicts becoming quite heated. Over time, our arguments became the source of a great deal of stress and tension in my world. Many days, I would find myself grinding my teeth and getting increasingly angry on my drive home every day. Eventually, I realized that I had to do something to deal with the pro...
Sitting in the grain truck waiting for my brother to offload the next combine tank of winter wheat, I looked up at the cotton ball cumulus clouds that dotted the Lonesome Prairie sky. I think of them as “summer clouds”, reminiscing back to being a little girl and enjoying the quietness of a simple summer day, kept company by my dolls and stuffed animals under the Russian olive trees planted by my grandparents. In the warm, no-breeze truck, I realized if I took a cat nap and woke to see them, I could groggily believe I was elsewhere…like on th...
The article below is a portion of an article written by Peter Kolb (MSU Extension Forester). The article is available in full at the Chouteau County Extension office. The article explains the natural phenomenon of fall needle drop, insect management, and proper watering techniques for pine and spruce trees. Every fall a lot of concern arises when conifers such as pines, spruces and firs start to drop their older needle cohorts in preparation for winter. This is essentially an energy conservation mechanism for surviving the winter as all living...
One of the most famous accounts in the life of Peter took place when Jesus sent the disciples across the Sea of Galilee ahead of him one night. In the middle of night, Jesus walked out across the water toward them. There was a storm raging at the time, and the disciples were struggling to make any progress. They saw Jesus walking on the water in the darkness and were understandably freaked out. Jesus called out to them identifying himself, to which Peter replied: “If it is really you, tell me t...
MISSOULA, Mont. - Hunting season is underway and it's still fire season. The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) urges hunters and recreationists to take extra precaution to prevent human-caused wildfires. Even a small warming fire can quickly ignite the next wildfire if left unattended or not fully extinguished. Each year, firefighters respond to wildfires sparked by seemingly small campfires or warming fires that were thought to be out but were left smoldering. Dry...
Private applicators within PAT District 3 require six private applicator credits prior to the license expiration date of December 31, 2025 to renew their licenses. Applicators can review their credit information on the MSU PEP website by selecting “License and Credit Search” and entering their license number. Applicators can also contact their MSU County Extension office for license information. Presenters for the tour include: • Ricardo Pinto, PhD, MSU Precision Ag. Research & Extension Specialist will discuss novel technologies for targe...
Like many children, when I was young I was afraid of the dark. Late night walks across the neighborhood kicked my heart rate up 40 or 50 bpm. Every shadow felt sinister and unidentified noises lit a fire in my imagination fueled by my love for scary movies. I think most kids don’t like the dark and most little boys would never admit it to their peers. As I got older, I began thinking that I was getting too old for that sort of thing, but just thinking it didn’t turn off my physiological rea...
As summer edges closer to an end, the fall season will soon take its place! Although Fall doesn't officially begin until September 20, the start of Big Sandy's school year seems to kick off Fall for many families. Kindergartners leave the house to start a whole new schedule they will likely follow for the next 13 years! Elementary, Junior High, and High School students are excited to be back with their friends, hopefully ready to expand their knowledge. The volleyball and football teams will...
MSU Agricultural Research Centers have one test plot for winter wheat in Chouteau County which is managed by MSU Northern Agricultural Research Center (NARC) north of Loma. A special thanks to Peggy Lamb (NARC agronomist) for establishing and maintaining the Chouteau County test plot. The Extension office would also like to thank the McKeever family for donating the use of their land for MSU research. NARC (Loma area) top three yielding winter wheat varieties (10-year average yield) from 2015-2024 include Bobcat at 55.9 bushels per acre,...
I have a good friend who runs a small business. His home is within walking distance of his shop with an alley separating the two. In recent years, the summer months have presented an increasing problem with vagrants hanging around in the alley, the sidewalk out front, and occasionally coming into his shop. Often, they engage in unsavory behavior, litter, use illicit substances, or represent a danger in other ways. He and I have spent a lot of time discussing his frustrations, the fact that he is...
A few years ago, a friend encouraged me to read, “The Sun Also Rises” by Earnest Hemingway. The story follows a group of friends who belong to the “Lost Generation” of Americans, who were terribly damaged by World War I. Their disillusionment with the world leads them to wander from vague interest to vague interest. They live for nothing and struggle to find any real, lasting happiness. Reading it, I found that none of the characters were particularly admirable or accomplished anything worth d...
After the death of his mother and wife within the space of a few short hours, Teddy Roosevelt left his home on the East Coast for life as a rancher in the Dakota Badlands. The cowboys who encountered the future president with his glasses, fancy, fringed, custom buckskin outfit, high-pitched nasally voice, and the manners of a Harvard elite were skeptical. They laughed at him behind his back, calling him a dude (a derogatory slang word for an Eastern tenderfoot or city slicker). Some cowboy...
My wife often teases me that I “collect hobbies.” It’s a weird side effect of having raging ADHD. I develop sudden interests in new topics, spend months obsessed with learning to do the new thing, then lose interest and move on to something else. In college, I taught myself to fix cars after buying a $250 Lincoln Continental that broke down more than it drove. After school, I spent a year learning to built computers. I have taught myself video editing, how to play ocarina, the history of classic...
The first pastor I worked for in my ministry career nearly 20 years ago told me a story about his office job before going to seminary. He was explaining to me that every day he would go out and buy lunch with his coworkers on his lunch break. He explained that it was usually a fun outing and a bit of a treat, easy, and not much of an expense. He kept up this habit through his first few years of employment until one day, while eating his lunch, he spent time calculating how much eating out was...
Shon Tester wrote this poem and read it at Homecoming. We repeat it here to acknowledge the importance of community. The Homecoming Committee is planning a final meeting to discuss the event and invite those who want to work towards the next Homecoming in five years. Because harvest is upon us it will take place after harvest is over. Stay tuned. 'purple haze.' By Shon Tester They dropped us off with love in their hearts, looked us in the eye and said this is where it all starts. With hope in...
I found the following definition for freedom. “Freedom, at its core, is the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrances. It often encompasses both individual liberty and collective rights, and can be understood as the absence of constraints or the ability to make choices without undue restrictions. Ultimately, freedom allows individuals to pursue their own paths, express their beliefs, and shape their destinies.” Our rights are found in the Bill of Rights. “These include freedom of religion, speech, press, assem...
One of the best gifts my father gave me as I was growing up was challenging my thinking about pretty much every topic. He made me explain my reasons and defend my ideas all the time. Sometimes it was frustrating, and I didn’t win all of the arguments, but I learned how to ask hard questions and evaluate my own ideas. A recurring piece of advice he gave me along the way was “never believe your own propaganda.” The idea was simple: every side presents their own position as stronger, better, might...
One of the things I love most about living in Big Sandy is that it is a community-focused town. I love that in this town, I feel welcomed and a part of the community. I could be walking downtown, and people always wave or say hi to me. As human beings, we are meant to be there for one another; communities are built on friendships and mutual respect. Kindness always goes a long way in a person’s day - you never know what someone is going through! Visiting the Big Sandy Library is a great way to connect with the community. The Big Sandy L...
In Men’s Bible Study today, the text we discussed was from Romans 8, where Paul talks about the hardships he faces in the work he is doing preaching the gospel all over the world. For context regarding the hardships he is referring to, he elsewhere lists some of those hardships: going without food, clothes, in danger from bandits and enemies, shipwrecked (spending a night and day on the open sea!), and more. On top of that, there were multiple whippings, beatings with rods, other instances of t...
I would like to acknowledge the Big Sandy Homecoming Committee for the enormous amount of work they have done to make this Homecoming theme of All Roads Lead Home a reality. The Homecoming Committee Members are: Kristen and Brandon Gasvoda, Michelle and Steve Bahnmiller, Brenda and Rick Darlington, and Heather and Scot Pleninger. I want to thank all eight of you for your efforts, but would also like to recognize Brenda Darlington procuring the funds, planting the flower pots for downtown, and for her commitment for watering the pots during the...