In Montana’s dying farm country, "vanguard
agriculture" is putting people back to work on the land
Magazine

December 26, 2005
In Montana’s dying farm country, "vanguard agriculture" is putting people back to work on the land. Also in this issue: Concerned citizens overflow a meeting in Delta, Colo., as a crucial deadline for protecting roadless areas in national forests nears.
Feature
Sidebar
Montana’s land-grant universities have so far shown
little interest in promoting organic agriculture
More Montana farmers are starting to raise oilseed crops
and produce their own biofuels to save on energy costs
Editor's Note
Supporting sustainable, local, organic food production is
one way to reduce our ecological impact and restore the
West’s rural communities
Uncommon Westerners
Andrea Malmberg of Wyoming’s Twin Creek Ranch uses
her gourmet cooking to put her ranch guests in touch with the land
and with the food they eat
Essays
Backcountry seasonal ranger Tony Prendergast has spent
much of the past six summers working in western Colorado’s
Gunnison National Forest
Book Reviews
In Predatory Bureaucracy, Michael J.
Robinson traces the history of the U.S. Biological Survey,
particularly its war on wolves
Gary Ferguson explores the history and culture of the
backbone of the West in The Great Divide: The Rocky
Mountains in the American Mind
In The Sum of Our Past, Judy Busk
weaves personal memoir and historical research together as she
retraces the Mormon and Oregon Trails in the modern "covered wagon"
of her van
The Pictograph Murders by P.G.
Karamesines, combines archaeology, witchcraft and murder in a
chilling first novel set in Utah
Writers on the Range
The war in Vietnam destroyed a long-lasting liberal
coalition; now, political scandals and the war in Iraq are
threatening the conservative coalition that took its
place
Heard Around the West
Evolution Amber Ale; wolves, bears and elk in Yellowstone;
Starbucks vs. Sambuck’s; cows adopt an elk; PETA vs. your
daddy the fisherman
Dear Friends
Happy Holidays from HCN; festive recipes; Juan Butron wins
award
News
Concerned citizens overflow a meeting in Delta, Colo., as
a crucial deadline for protecting roadless areas in national
forests nears
Who rewrote Park Service’s management policies?;
judge permits building of U.S.-Mexico border fence; Superintendent
David Hunsaker leaves Utah’s Escalante National Monument;
judge says Forest Service blew his ruling out of
proportion
Wyoming Game and Fish plans to test feedgrounds elk and
slaughter any that are infected with brucellosis in order to keep
the disease from spreading to cattle
Budget crunches have thinned Forest Service staffing even
as visitor numbers soar, making it hard to enforce regulations such
as trail closures
Reps. Richard Pombo’s and Jim Gibbons’
controversial proposal to sell off public lands was pulled after
both Republican and Democratic lawmakers and citizens rallied
against it
A federal judge has ordered the government to buy back
offshore oil and gas leases that energy companies say can’t
be developed, leading some to wonder if the BLM will have to do the
same with leases in potential wilderness areas
Letters
Featured stories
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ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSTRUCTION GEOPHYSICS - We find groundwater, buried debris and assist with new construction projects for a fraction of drilling costs.
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SPRING MOUNTAINS SOLAR OFF GRID MOUNTAIN HOME Located 50 miles northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada in the pine forest of Lee Canyon at 8000 feet elevation. One of a kind property surrounded...
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WATER PROGRAM DIRECTOR Based in home office within Arizona, with travel to Phoenix 2-3 times/month (TNC office space may be available if located in Phoenix or Tucson area)....
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FOREST PROGRAM DIRECTOR, 51721 The Forest Program Director oversees aspects of protection, science, stewardship and community relations for the Arizona business unit. Provides scientific leadership and support for TNC's...
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SOUTHWEST CONSERVATION ADVOCATE WildEarth Guardians is seeking a full-time advocate in our Wild Places Program to advance a new paradigm of forest management and protection based on the...
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REGIONAL CONSERVATION DIRECTOR FOR THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION (RCTC) The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) is conducting a national search, seeking a dynamic leader and effective manager to be the next Regional Conservation Director....
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WYOMING CONSERVATION COORDINATOR The Wyoming Conservation Coordinator (WCC) is a senior-level position that provides strategic leadership for GYC's efforts to protect lands, waters, and wildlife within the Wyoming...
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NEW AGRARIAN PROGRAM SOUTHWEST COORDINATOR The New Agrarian Program Southwest Coordinator is responsible, in partnership with the NAP Director and Colorado Manager, for implementation of Quivira's apprenticeship program in New...
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NEW AGRARIAN PROGRAM ALUMNI AND OUTREACH MANAGER The New Agrarian Alumni & Outreach Manager is a passionate community builder who enjoys identifying opportunities to develop new programming, supporting beginning agrarians and land...
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ANIMAS RIVERKEEPER San Juan Citizens Alliance seeks a passionate, experienced, and motivated Animas Riverkeeper to lead campaigns to protect water quality and flows in the Animas River...
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CO & NM COALITION TO ENHANCE WORKING LANDS MANAGER Land stewards are more effective when they work as a team and have strong relationships. Our goals are to acknowledge and support the good work...
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PATAGONIA SONOITA-CREEK PRESERVE MANAGER The Patagonia Sonoita Creek Preserve Manager performs and participates in preserve operations including the maintenance, management, development and coordination of conservation programs. On-site housing provided...
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VERDE RIVER PROJECTS TECHNICIAN The Verde River Projects Technician (VRPT) provides technical assistance to Verde River Program staff in implementation of the Verde River Streamflow Monitoring Protocol. This consists...
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HEALTHY CITIES PROGRAM MANAGER The Healthy Cities Program Manager works directly with the business unit's Healthy Cities Program Director to advance the Healthy Cities Program's long-term vision and innovative,...
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MAJOR GIFTS MANAGER - MOUNTAIN WEST, THE CONSERVATION FUND Cultivate, solicit and steward a portfolio of 75-125 donors.
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CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER WITH RURAL COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE CORPORATION RCAC in West Sacramento, CA seeks a strategic CFO to oversee and safeguard RCAC's finances.
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PRECIOUS WATER IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK Hardcover and eBook available now. Contact your local bookstore or the author at 970.371.7339 [email protected]
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DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers (RFOV) is a non-profit organization with a mission to promote stewardship of our public lands by engaging our community in education,...
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NATURE'S BEST IN ARAVAIPA CANYON 10 acre private oasis in one of Arizona's beautiful canyons. Fully furnished, 2123 sq ft architectural custom-built contemporary home with spectacular views and many extras....
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HEALTH FOOD STORE IN NW MONTANA Turn-key business includes 2500 sq ft commercial building in main business district of Libby, Montana. 406.293.6771 /or [email protected]