Farm406

33 farm406 When I visit Graham Phillips, he is about to be thrown head-first into lambing season up on the Barthelmess Ranch, about about an hour south of Malta, Montana. e lambing jugs were set up, the 'lamb'orghini, (a cart they use to transport lambs to the jugs), was out, and the first ewe dropped her lamb as we chaed. "Having not grown up in the city and not around agriculture, throwing myself into the industry aer college has been an incredible journey. I feel that I have been exposed to the greatest challenges in my life and I am a beer person for it," Graham said. His mentor, Leo Barthelmess, wants to be able to pass on what he knows to the next generation, but he notes that he is also learning from Graham. Quivira's program provides educational opportunities through hands- on land health workshops and online courses for the apprentices. Knowledge is transferred both ways. "Graham has convinced me to try some things out," Leo told me as we rode in the side-by-side checking on the rest of the ewes. "It's good to have some new thoughts, new ideas coming on to the ranch." Right aer I le the Barthelmess Ranch, lambing started in full force. When I talked to Graham on the phone three weeks later, they were about half-way done. Ranching apprentice Graham Phillips drives the side by side with his mentor Leo Barthelmess on the Barthelmess Ranch south of Malta, Montana. The Barthelmess Ranch focuses their efforts on managing their livestock so that they improve soil health, water quality, forage quantity, forage quality and wildlife habitat.

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