You Don’t Need to Put Others Down to Build Yourself Up
Post by Clemson Montana Summer Program student Fiona Slater
My first week in Montana so far has been wonderful. It is so nice to get away from all the hustle and bustle of the city and come out to the country. One of my first impressions of this place was that it is very similar to Vermont in a lot of ways; grass fields, mountains and a lot of cows. One big difference between Vermont and Montana is what the cows are predominantly used for.
Montana is the number one calf producing state and has a very large beef cattle industry. In Vermont most of the cows are used for dairy. On our second day in the roundup area we visited the Midland Bull testing facility where we learned about an industry that I never knew existed. It is fascinating to see how technology can advance what most people think of as simple farming practices. Of course a rancher would want a superior bull to inseminate his cows. In the past to ensure superior bulls ranchers would observe how much feed a bull would eat as well as his disposition. This practice still exists, but now facilities like Midland Bull Test use advanced feeders like "Grow Safe" to collect data on the cattle feeding as well as distribute individual proportions of food to each cow based off of its weight and typical feed intake. This not only ensures that all the cows have an opportunity to feed, but allows the rancher to save money by giving the cattle what they need, not what they want.
Montana certainly embodies a wild west feel, but also is very innovative and advanced in terms of sustainable ranching practices. At the ranch we are staying at we had two Montana State extension agents come and talk with us about our beliefs on specific agricultural practices. None of us in the group are Montana natives yet we all seem to have strong opinions on a lot of local practices. John Pfister encouraged us to not take any facts people tell us to heart unless they can back it up. I think that was great advice as today a lot of people don’t think twice about re-posting or re-blogging something even if they don’t know the credibility of the source. For example, administration can make policies regarding the removal or addition of wildlife to a particular area. Who does the Bureau of Land Management consist of during this current administration and how are they qualified to make some of these specific decisions especially those regarding conservation. Another thing I learned from these extension agents is to really listen to your locals because your decisions will impact them the most. Also just because you’re a scientist does not mean you are always right and it certainly doesn’t guarantee you that your opinion will be respected. Mr. Pfister and Matt Walter (the grasslands extension agent) were telling us stories about situations when locals refused to listen to them despite their extensive science background. In one case a man walked out on a talk Mr. Pfister was giving about cutting down some trees to prevent wildfires. He was distrustful of Mr. Pfister and said that no matter what he would never cut down his trees. Mr. Pfister ran into him a year later after devastating wildfires swept through the area destroying many people’s homes. He said that this man after losing his home and all his belongings “did a total 180” on how he felt about cutting down trees that are potential dangers due to wildfires. Public education is extremely important, but often times people will not see your point of view until they see results or experience something first hand.
At MSU we visited the BARD facilities including the steer house which is 100% student run with one faculty member as an advisor. I really admired that the university is getting hands on experience in the cattle industry and that the profits they make go directly into the funding of their trips. I also learned that the students build relations with local cattle ranchers who donate the cattle in return for data on the cattle they donate. This allows students to make connections with ranchers who they may be working with in their future careers.
One of my favorite parts of this trip so far has been the wool lab at MSU followed by the sheep farm. I knew about shearing sheep but I didn’t know about wool production or the science behind it. Wool production falls more under materials science which is a subject I am not very familiar with. The objective of this lab is to assist sheep producers in improving their wool clip for fiber diameter and wool yield which will greater increase their profits. The machinery which pulls and measures texture and durability of individual strands allows for great advancements in this industry. What I have observed so far is that the advancements in agriculture and rangeland science made at Montana State directly benefits Montana’s own ranchers and farmers. The people in this state from my interactions genuinely care about one another and promote and work alongside others closely in industries which could be viewed at as competitors from an outside standpoint. The people in Montana have seemed to figure out a concept that others don’t understand which is that you don’t need to put others down to build yourself up. Ranchers here provide honest data on the cattle that they sell which provides a sense of trust between the farmers, ranchers, and people buying their products. The transparency of their operations is a key component of their success in a time where people now care about where their food is coming from. I am excited in the next two weeks to learn more about this state and all the job possibilities it has to offer someone in a wildlife or agriculture field.
Montana certainly embodies a wild west feel, but also is very innovative and advanced in terms of sustainable ranching practices. At the ranch we are staying at we had two Montana State extension agents come and talk with us about our beliefs on specific agricultural practices. None of us in the group are Montana natives yet we all seem to have strong opinions on a lot of local practices. John Pfister encouraged us to not take any facts people tell us to heart unless they can back it up. I think that was great advice as today a lot of people don’t think twice about re-posting or re-blogging something even if they don’t know the credibility of the source. For example, administration can make policies regarding the removal or addition of wildlife to a particular area. Who does the Bureau of Land Management consist of during this current administration and how are they qualified to make some of these specific decisions especially those regarding conservation. Another thing I learned from these extension agents is to really listen to your locals because your decisions will impact them the most. Also just because you’re a scientist does not mean you are always right and it certainly doesn’t guarantee you that your opinion will be respected. Mr. Pfister and Matt Walter (the grasslands extension agent) were telling us stories about situations when locals refused to listen to them despite their extensive science background. In one case a man walked out on a talk Mr. Pfister was giving about cutting down some trees to prevent wildfires. He was distrustful of Mr. Pfister and said that no matter what he would never cut down his trees. Mr. Pfister ran into him a year later after devastating wildfires swept through the area destroying many people’s homes. He said that this man after losing his home and all his belongings “did a total 180” on how he felt about cutting down trees that are potential dangers due to wildfires. Public education is extremely important, but often times people will not see your point of view until they see results or experience something first hand.
At MSU we visited the BARD facilities including the steer house which is 100% student run with one faculty member as an advisor. I really admired that the university is getting hands on experience in the cattle industry and that the profits they make go directly into the funding of their trips. I also learned that the students build relations with local cattle ranchers who donate the cattle in return for data on the cattle they donate. This allows students to make connections with ranchers who they may be working with in their future careers.
