Something more fun

Yesterday, I had two things going on that took me from 7:45 to 22:00 to complete. First, I had a meeting with the state 4-H director and curriculum specialist from Bozeman regarding my grant at Pretty Eagle Catholic Academy. The grant staff and myself (with student leaders) took the state personnel on a tour of the school and explained some of the Crow culture, we introduced them to the kids participating in the grant, had the kids show off their short films (the long ones aren't completed yet), and met about next year's grant. We are trying to incorporate a few more technologies into the grant next (possibly GPS/GIS) and we are writing in a field trip to Bozeman so that the kids can see PBS studios and see the MSU grad students' studios. This is such a fun project, sometimes it is hard to believe I am getting paid for this stuff!!! I hope to get these kids to present their films to the county commissioners (I talked to them about it this morning), our 4-H Council, Tribal Council, 4-H Fair, and any other venues that I can put these kids in front of. We are going to need to have a session on presentation styles and etiquette soon (this is a weakness of the kids right now...we are going to change that)!!!

After I got back to the office from that adventure, I went to help our exchange trip kids bake and deliver pumpkin pies. We made 144 pies last night and we made nearly $800.00 on the event! Two months ago, I wasn't sure we were going to make this trip a reality, but I reserved our train tickets last week and we are slowly but surely making the money needed to travel! I am thinking of requiring these kids to each do a "research project" on one of several topics relating to Virginia prior to going and presenting their projects at fair next year (I am really pushing "indoor" projects this year). I think that I will give the kids the choice of: crops of Virginia, history of Virginia, or geography of Virginia as topics to choose from...any other suggestions?

Economy of Stupidity

That is what we are in right now. For the most part, Montana has been shielded from the imploding economy seen in the rest of the country; but one of the local mines shut down this week and Sweet Grass County's economy just tanked. The Stillwater Mining Company provided 40+% of Sweet Grass County's tax revenue and now that source is gone. I don't know how far-reaching that one company's failure will be here in the state, but it will send ripples across the entire state. My county is still fine (we operate on a different economy due to the reservation) but still things are changing. Now this isn't supposed to be a "woe is me" post, but I am angry at the process that has put the country in this position. Stupid decisions made by people have crippled this economy. That's all it is; from CEOs to everyday common folks. Ordinary citizens "needing" more home and "stuff" than they can afford, bank personnell willing to give money to people who cannot afford to repay it, CEOs making it company policy to seek out and sell their products via financing options, and Congress willing to FINANCE failed business models! All of this is stupidity in action! I know that I rant about this frequently, but it is an important issue in America right now and this one issue dictated who and what I voted for (I don't usually vote on a single issue, but I did this year). Enough about that...

Update...

Well, there isn't much to update. Things are pretty busy right now but it isn't very exciting. I am working on finishing two classes, Christmas shopping, working, and hunting; not neccessarily in that order. My Christmas shopping is nearly done, hunting season (for deer and elk anyway) ends next Sunday, work is slowing down for the holidays, and my classes end in three weeks (YAY!!!). I will not be taking two classes next semester, it's just too much to keep up with. Although, hunting season will be over next semester...Nah, it'll get warm toward the end of the semester and then I'll have spring fever and won't be able to concentrate either! I just got a call from a friend of mine asking if I want to go fill my last deer tag on Tuesday morning...I just might have to do that. Since I have already killed Bambi's daddy, it's time to kill his momma!!! Although, I don't have a lot of room left in my freezer...I'll probably give most of the next deer away. I will keep some of the tenderloin and some burger, but that's about it. It's easy to get rid of deer meat!

1st Mountain-Plains Sheep and Goat Conference

I helped make history this past weekend! The mountain-plains sheep and goat conference was a big success and the plans are being drawn up for the next one! We had producers in Greeley, CO from as far away as Missouri and Arizona. We had a crowd of about 100, most of which went into the goat track. It was exciting, nerve racking, stressful, and informative all at the same time. The CSU meats team provided the catering and did an excellent job preparing the lamb during the meals...CSU's mascot was very tasty!!!

After the conference yesterday, I did a little sight seeing in Fort Collins before returning to Montana. I went up into the Poudre River valley and ate lunch near the continental divide. Those folks that live up there in that valley ain't right; all that was missing was the little banjo playing kid from 'Deliverance'.

The Deerslayer

That's right...I killed Bambi's daddy yesterday and my hunting partner killed Bambi's mother just before that!!! I didn't plan on hunting deer this year, but the opportunity arose and I bought my tags and went. This was the most unusual hunt I have ever been on. There was none of the boring sitting around waiting, no stalking through the woods (there weren't any woods to stalk through), there was no long trek into the brush. There was simply a drive out of town to a parcel of state land, parking the truck on the prairie, wathching the deer graze, selecting the desired targets and killing the deer. Aaron shot his doe first at 250 yards and as we were walking over to it a small buck came back into view at 180 yards and I knelt down and shot it. All told, it took longer to drive to the site than it did to kill two deer. Now I have him hanging in the garage aging and I will probably process him on Tuesday. I still have a doe tag to fill so I will probably go get another deer next week after I get back from a quick trip down to Colorado for the 1st Annual Mountain-Plains Sheep and Goat Conference where yours truly is the only speaker without initials after his name (pretty cool huh?)!!!

November already???

Wow, time really flies doesn't it? I can hardly believe that it is November, especially with the weather that we have had this week. It has been nearly 70 degrees all week and sunny. It's back to reality this week though...oh well, it's fall and I guess that it is supposed to be cooler.

We are in the thick of fundraising for the 4-H exchange trip to Virginia next summer. We have raised $3100.00 out of the $33,000.00 that we need...anyone want to donate a large sum to my 4-H program??? We had two fundraisers this weekend, raising a total of $1100.00 but we are going to need LOTS more if we are going to make the total.

Oh, I will share this with everyone. I have really taken an interest in bread baking. I make an average of 6 loaves a month (which isn't an enormous amount, I know) but I really enjoy making the bread. My attempt this week yielded my best product thus far. This bread is INCREDIBLE!!! It was really tasty fresh out of the oven with some honey butter!!! Now, I have found myself wanting a stand mixer...that ain't right, a 29 year old man thinking that a stand mixer would be a wise purchase!!! I may have to seek help for this one.