The Montana State University Department of Agricultural Economics and Economics and MSU Extension will host the 13th annual agricultural economics conference, “Managing Risk and Uncertainty in Agriculture” on Friday, Nov. 1. The conference is part of the College of Agriculture’s annual Celebrate Agriculture weekend. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the Procrastinator Theater in the Strand Union Building, and the conference will run from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Register by phone at 406-994-3511 or online at www.ampc.montana.edu/fallconference/. More information can be found at www.agriculture.montana.edu/celebrateag.
When and Where
Montana Chamber of Commerce
The Montana Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual conference on Oct. 30 at the Hilton Garden Inn Missoula. Keynote speaker will be Boeing Helena Director Reyna Cardenas. Cardenas will share how Boeing Helena crafted a successful talent pipeline. For details go to Montana Chamber of Commerce website.
September 15, 2019: When & Where
The Montana Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual conference on Oct. 30 at the Hilton Garden Inn Missoula. Keynote speaker will be Boeing Helena Director Reyna Cardenas. Cardenas will share how Boeing Helena crafted a successful talent pipeline. For details go to Montana Chamber of Commerce website.
Registration is open for Big Sky Fit Kids (BSFK) Fall Fit Kids Day, a new and FREE youth program of the Big Sky State Games. Like the Big Sky Fit Kids spring program, the goal of Fall Fit Kids Day is to get kids more physical activity. To register for Big Sky Fit Kids Fall Fit Kids Day visit bigskyfitkids.org or call with questions 406-254-7426. Town Pump is the Presenting Sponsor of Big Sky Fit Kids. KTVQ, and Albertsons are Community Sponsors and Contributing Sponsors include Montana Association of School Superintendents, Billings Clinic, and Wendy’s.
Registration is now open for the 16th Annual Young Ag Leadership Conference (YALC)! The conference is set for October 4-6 at the Copper King Convention Center in Butte. YALC is a collaborative effort between nine of Montana’s agricultural organizations, offering attendees a chance to discuss current ag issues, take part in various workshops, meet with industry leaders, and network with fellow young people. Anyone aged 18-40 and interested or involved in agriculture is encouraged to attend. The cost of registration is $50 including all meals provided. After the pre-registration date of September 25, fees increase to $60. To register, go to eventbrite.com and search Young Ag Leadership Conference. Contact Leah Johnson at (406) 733-2079 or leah.nelson.johnson@gmail.com for questions.
Montana Manufacturers – Show Your Stuff
The Montana Manufacturing Extension Center in Bozeman is encouraging manufacturers to plan an event to recognize Manufacturing Day which is October 4. The organization says there are lots of options:
- Tours of your facility, especially if you have new equipment or processes
- Product demonstrations
- Learning and hands-on activities for children and students, at your site or at schools.
Another idea: invite a teacher – or perhaps a group of teachers. They are the ones who touch the future generation who will carry forward the industry. To see first-hand how the technology to which they are introducing students is actually used is very enlightening and helps encourage students to understand the many opportunities before them.
For more ideas and for assistance contact MMEC at http://www.montana.edu/mmec/news/MFGDay.html
Local Food Producers Hold Annual Event in Absarokee
The Yellowstone Valley Food Hub will be hosting its 3rd annual fundraiser at the Wild Flower Kitchen in Absarokee on Saturday, October 5. The event, “Chef Goldman’s Farm to Table Dinner,” will feature food raised by the Food Hub’s local producers. A Barn Dance will immediately follow the dinner at the same location.
“This has been an exciting year of growth for the Yellowstone Valley Food Hub, and our farm to table dinner is a great way to celebrate all we’ve accomplished and see where we are headed with the help of our local community,” said Annika Charter-Williams, a Shepherd rancher and President of the Food Hub Co-op Board.
“Our customers tell us how much they appreciate the taste and quality of our locally produced food over the products trucked in by corporate farms to big grocery store chains,” continued Charter-Williams. “Food like ours, which is grown and raised by local producers who truly care, becomes even more delicious in the hands of a skilled chef like Nick Goldman. Whether you’re a hard-core foodie or simply someone who wants to enjoy an amazing meal that benefits family agriculture, we can’t wait to see you at the Wild Flower Kitchen in October.”
The Yellowstone Valley Food Hub was officially launched last year after the Northern Plains Resource Council and its Billings area affiliate, the Yellowstone Valley Citizens Council, brought together area farmers and ranchers to create an independent growers cooperative. Northern Plains helped the producers raise funds to hire a general manager and launch an online local food marketplace. Chef Goldman’s Farm to Table Dinner is a fundraiser to help the growers cooperative spotlight quality local foods and grow in the year ahead.
Since its initial launch, the Yellowstone Valley Food Hub has expanded its product offerings and developed a system that allows customers to place orders online with weekly pickup locations in Billings, Red Lodge, and Absarokee.
Attendees of the fundraiser can meet and socialize with the farmers and ranchers who produced the food served in the dinner. Locally-sourced raffle prizes and auction items will also be part of the event.
Chef Goldman’s Farm to Table Dinner is on Saturday, October 5, at the Wild Flower Kitchen in Absarokee. The 4-course dinner features food from 12 local farms and ranches.
Doors open at 4 p.m. and the dinner lasts from 4:30-7:30 p.m. A Barn Dance follows the dinner from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.; admission to the dance can be purchased with or without a dinner ticket.
Tickets for the Dinner only are $125 per person; tickets to the Barn Dance only are $25; and combined tickets for both the dinner and dance are $135. To learn more, visit www.yvfoodhub.com/.
September 1, 2019
Registration is now open for the 16th Annual Young Ag Leadership Conference (YALC) The conference is set for October 4-6 at the Copper King Convention Center in Butte. YALC is a collaborative effort between nine of Montana’s agricultural organizations, offering attendees a chance to discuss current ag issues, take part in various workshops, meet with industry leaders, and network with fellow young people. Anyone aged 18-40 and interested or involved in agriculture is encouraged to attend. The cost of registration is $50 including all meals provided. After the pre-registration date of September 25, fees increase to $60. To register, go to eventbrite.com and search Young Ag Leadership Conference. Contact Leah Johnson at (406) 733-2079 or leah.nelson.johnson@gmail.com for questions.
Stockman Bank Makes Staff Announcements: Yackley
Melissa Yackley has recently joined Stockman Bank as a Commercial Loan Officer for the King Avenue office. Her responsibilities include developing and servicing commercial and construction loans, and assisting clients with their lending and credit needs.
Yackley brings over 14 years of banking experience to the position, which includes commercial lending and business development.
Yackley earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Management from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND.
She is located at 2700 King Avenue.
Fed President will Speak on Sept. 26
Do you have a question about how the Federal Reserve System affects you as a business professional, community leader, student or consumer? Wondering about economic disparities, regulating big banks, or the Fed’s recent interest rate decisions?
On September 26, Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari will discuss these topics and more in Billings at MSU-Billings’ Petro Hall.
Kashkari is a member of the Federal Open Market Committee, the body of the Federal Reserve System that sets national monetary policy.
Since taking over as president of the Minneapolis Fed in January 2016, he has spearheaded several initiatives, including releasing a plan to end the too big to fail problem and launching the Federal Reserve’s Opportunity & Inclusive Growth Institute, housed at the Minneapolis Fed. Doors for the program will open at 11:30 am, with opening remarks by Neel Kashkari beginning at 12 pm, followed by questions and answers at 12:15, ending at 1 pm.
Free parking for attendees is available in the Virginia Lot (located on the corner of Virginia Lane and Rimrock Road on the west end of campus).
When and Where August 15 2019
Alter Ego will be the headline entertainment at the Billings Clinic Foundation’s Street Party on Broadway Ave. for the 2019 Billings Clinic Classic, Saturday, Aug. 24. The theme of this year is Urban Classic, playing on the street party setting and classic downtown Billings elements. Proceeds benefit the Sustainable Fund for the Psychiatric Services Residency Program at Billings Clinic, Montana’s first and only psychiatry residency program. Alter Ego, from Montreal, Canada, is North America’s top party band. Kicking off the evening will be Arterial Drive, a six-member band from Billings, who will perform during a festive cocktail pre-party. The 2019 Classic will be held outside on Broadway Ave., between 3rd Avenue North and 4th Avenue North. Billings Clinic Classic tickets range in price from $100-$200.
Registration is now open for the 16th Annual Young Ag Leadership Conference (YALC)! The conference is set for October 4-6 at the Copper King Convention Center in Butte. YALC is a collaborative effort between nine of Montana’s agricultural organizations, offering attendees a chance to discuss current ag issues, take part in various workshops, meet with industry leaders, and network with fellow young people. Anyone aged 18-40 and interested or involved in agriculture is encouraged to attend. The cost of registration is $50 including all meals provided. After the pre-registration date of September 25, fees increase to $60. To register, go to eventbrite.com and search Young Ag Leadership Conference. Contact Leah Johnson at (406) 733-2079 or leah.nelson.johnson@gmail.com for questions.
Where and When August 1 2019
Alter Ego will be the headline entertainment at the Billings Clinic Foundation’s Street Party on Broadway Ave. for the 2019 Billings Clinic Classic, Saturday, Aug. 24.
The theme of this year is Urban Classic, playing on the street party setting and classic downtown Billings elements. Proceeds benefit the Sustainable Fund for the Psychiatric Services Residency Program at Billings Clinic, Montana’s first and only psychiatry residency program. Alter Ego, from Montreal, Canada, is North America’s top party band. Kicking off the evening will be Arterial Drive, a six-member band from Billings, who will perform during a festive cocktail pre-party. The 2019 Classic will be held outside on Broadway Ave., between 3rd Avenue North and 4th Avenue North. Billings Clinic Classic tickets range in price from $100-$200.
The Montana Chamber Foundation’s 2019 Governors’ Cup Golf Tournament and Sandbaggers Reception will be held in the Flathead Valley on Aug. 1-3. The reception is on Aug. 1 at the Flathead Valley Community College in Kalispell. On Aug. 2 and 3, the Chamber will host the tournament at Eagle Bend golf course in Big Fork, Meadow Lake in Columbia Falls, Whitefish Lake (south). Started as the Centennial Golf Classic during the 100th celebration of Montana’s statehood in 1989, the Montana Chamber Foundation annually hosts more than 400 business and government leaders, representing over 100 businesses from across Montana, the entire U.S., and even around the world through the Governors’ Cup Golf Tournament. The event is specifically organized for networking and to promote the state’s growing opportunities for business and investment, as well as a charitable fundraiser for our various programs. Register at www. montanachamber.com
