Class IV at the Westmorland Coal Mine in Colstrip on May 10. Back (L to R)- Justin Miller, Merrill McKamey, Collette Anderson, Colleen Buck, Mike Hatten, Dustin Martens, Skyler Hoefer, Joel Krautter, Sidney Resel, Tara Becken Front (L to R): John Morgan, Zachary Bashoor, Courtney Burgard, Shawn Fladager, Orry Fruit, Cynthia Johnson, Sue Ann Streufert, Tyla Snapp, Jaime Edmundson, Rob Koelzer and Anna Stitt
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Big Sandy resident Colleen Buck just returned from 5 days in Colstrip, Miles City and Sindey as part of REAL Montana (Resource Education and Agriculture Leadership). For Colleen other members of REAL Montana Class IV, these were the sixth and seventh seminars in their ten-seminar educational program.
Class IV began in Colstrip where they discussed energy production, legislation, and community successes and challenges. Tours included the Westmoreland coal mine and Rosebud Power Plant. The group then proceeded to Miles City where they heard from leaders in the livestock industries on current regulations, legislative impacts, and the positive impacts livestock systems have on the environment. A skill building session focused on effectively fundraising for a cause followed. Class IV toured the Homestead Cattle Company feedlot and Powder River Pack in Terry then continued on to Sidney where they learned about consumer trends and protein marketing at Reynolds Grocery Store.
The remainder of the week focused on oil and gas development. Class IV learned about oil and gas extraction, pipelines, community issues, irrigation projects in the region, and how the Bakken oil boom and slowdown has impacted other sectors of the economy. They also participated in a skill building training on how to effectively facilitate meetings. Participants toured an active Crescent Point drilling site near Williston, ND, and the ONEOK Riverview Rail Terminal in Sidney. The seminar included a networking banquet where class members interacted with local program sponsors and industry leaders.
"The whole week was interesting stop after stop. I didn't realize how much reclamation efforts were done after the coal is taken out. It is truly a restored natural landscape. The great part about this week is the diversity we see and how all the industries really rely on each other, stated Buck."
Twenty of Montana's top natural resource industry leaders from across the state were competitively selected to take part in REAL Montana Class IV. The program's mission is to build a network of informed and engaged leaders to advance the natural resource industries in Montana. The intensive leadership program features eight in-state seminars; a five-day national study tour in Washington D.C .; and a ten-day international trip. Seminars include training in natural resource development, agriculture institutions and agencies, public speaking/media, economics, state and federal policy, international trade, urban/rural relationships, water issues, and other current industry topics.
REAL Montana is funded through a partnership with Montana State University Extension and private industry. Oversight is provided by an advisory board of industry leaders.
Complete program information is available at http://www.realmontana.org.
