41
farm406
S M A L L T O W N A M E R I C A
Life in Rural Communities Feeling
the Effects of Agriculture's
Technological Advancements
FORT BENTON, Mont. – Harvest equipment
is in full motion combining, carting and
delivering this year's crops to elevators across
Montana. Agriculture-based towns like Fort
Benton, Mont., are bustling with custom
cutters who travel throughout the nation
and call these small towns home for a short
time before moving to the next job. "Custom
harvesters give us a summer boom, but there
are not near the number of crews around that
there used to be," said Mark Jonsrude, Pastime
Bar owner in Fort Benton. "Fort Benton has
always been a hub for custom harvesters."
By Shannon Ruckman
Photography By Eric Visocan