Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce

106 Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce www.greatfallschamber.org A G R I C U LT U R E A special part of living in Montana is exploring anywhere outside of city limits where the sky is bigger, water runs rapid, mountains are waiting to be climbed, and in August, wheat harvest smells amazing. It's one of the few states where faarm and ranch life is literally right out your back door – and you can be a part of it. In our concrete jungle of cities across the U.S., families are three generations removed from agriculture. If you visit the grocery store and believe that hamburger magically appears in the refrigerated case, you are not alone. The essentials – eggs, milk, bread, protein – started on the farm. These nutritious items have a farmer or rancher that grew or raised your plate of food for dinner. Here in Montana, you are close enough to the farm to live it, if you choose to "boot up." Here are some ways to get involved, teach your kids about where their food comes from, and have a little fun: 1. Buy some eggs, and visit the brood. There are a number of people raising chickens these days and you can buy your country ovules directly from them. The shells are tougher, the eggs generally last longer, and chicken enthusiasts might share some tricks of the egg-keeping trade. Don't have them deliver (well, you can if you want), but instead, go pick up a couple dozen yourself and take the time to see the chicken coop. It's a great experience for littles because it's not so intimidating, and your poultry farmer might let you gather eggs with them. The cattle industry has seen an increase in the market with some profitable pricing. After years of putting a spotlight on the heavy influence from a handful of out-of-state corporate monopoly packing plants impacting our markets, we are seeing the rise in economic growth and development of area food and ag processing, as well as the continued growth in local and value-added processing. All in all, processing growth is providing more access for Great Falls residents to the high- quality Montana beef, lamb, pulses, oilseeds, grains, and more that are grown in our area. With ranchers being able to turn a profit on their cow/calf operations, they finally can reinvest into necessary updates to their operations. These updates come from … you guessed it … local businesses supplying building materials and services. Montana Agriculture is far more than just cattle, sheep, hay, wheat and barley. Bourgeoning crops and animals are becoming more prevalent in our arid and relatively cool climate. More oilseeds, produce and row crops, lentils, hemp, bison, and agritourism are finding a foothold in our surrounding area. Diversifying an operation mitigates risk and brings new avenues of revenue opportunity. More importantly, ranching and farming diversity and local processing put more options on the store shelves for all of us to enjoy. Increasingly, shoppers are looking for ways to buy local, farm fresh foods with clear information about how it was raised and processed. Many shops and direct-to-consumer businesses offer fresh, local food and products. We encourage you to check out Chamber Resources to find those businesses. The Abundant MT Local Food Guide is an online, statewide resource you can use to find businesses that focus on Montana produced goods. Or go to the source and talk with local producers in your area about where your food comes from. More consumers supporting the family farmer and rancher up the road means strong farms and ranches that support Great Falls area businesses and build vital communities for generations to come. Montana Farmers Union How to Take In Farm & Ranch Life, and Not Own a Farm

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