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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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Alexis Bonogofsky is a fourth-generation
Montanan, sheep rancher and freelance
writer and photographer focusing on
agriculture and rural Montana.
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.