I really can’t remember when I started fishing, but I do know why. The “when” stretches back over 60 years -as soon as I could lift a fishing rod. The “why” is my dad. He loved the sport and wanted to share with his boys one of the many adventures he enjoyed as a Montanan.

The ebbs and flows of a river, guided by the rhythms of the natural world, ranging from quiet, tranquil waters to white- water rapids are the same patterns that mimic the life of Shawna Noble. The youngest of five children, Shawna grew up in a single parent household. Her greatest adventures involved riding her bike around the streets of Billings and playing in the backyard.

It’s been a work in progress, but the historic Roosevelt Center, a 104-year-old building, which served as the Roosevelt School for over eight decades, is now an event and art center and fast becoming a destination-conference location. 

When warm weather finally melted the last of the snow from the mountains around Red Lodge and thoughts turned toward the upcoming bike season, Jennifer Drinkwalter already had several bike events planned for the season. 

A few years back, on a hot, dusty September day, John Jenkins and a friend packed into the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness from the head of the Boulder River, south of Big Timber. They made their way to Lake Plateau, known for its excellent fishing, and set up camp. Then they headed out to fish - only to get skunked.

It’s unlikely any other Montanan of the 1970s could have surpassed the late Art Aylesworth for the title, “Bluebird Man.” Art had an unbounded enthusiasm for a beloved springtime migrant of the bluebird. The story goes that one wintery spring day, Art and his wife, Vivian, observed a flock of male bluebirds perched in pine trees blanketed in snow near their home in Ronan.

On a recent spring day, nearly 25 Can Am, Polaris, Honda and Kawasaki UTVs and ATVs gathered in the parking lot of the 307 Bar & Grill in Columbus. Anxious riders greeted each other - some longtime friends, some new to the group, but all excited for a ride with the 406 Side by- Side Group.

I don’t want to take summer for granted and let it roll by without taking advantage of every opportunity. When we do venture out, I try to bring healthy and easy to prepare food along. These recipes are a few of my ‘go-to’s’ because they are just that: easy to pre-make, and pack for a day.

"Plants do not exist to be pretty. They are hubs of life for species above and below the soil. Even if you create a small native garden, you can truly make a difference. They are the foundation of the ecosystem,” Jen Mohler, Executive Director of Grow Wild.

Warm days have finally arrived! A summer of basking in the sunshine and watching the dormant world come alive is unfolding! It’s a short season in Montana, and we hope to fill it with as many outdoor adventures as possible. 

There’s something intriguing about walking on the surface of a lake – a frozen lake, of course. It might not be a truly Biblical experience, like actually walking on water, but it is something of a pilgrimage and there is water involved - albeit frozen. Still the question remains: why would someone wander out to the middle of the lake and then drill a hole in it? What would possess someone to sit for hours, over a round hole waiting for a slim chance that a fish might actually come upon that circumference of area and take a bite out of whatever has been planted on the hook? Well, a lot of people do. Me included. It’s an adventure that I’ve loved for the better part of my life – Ice Fishing!

The spirit of the West has been in artist Ryder Gauteraux's blood since before he was born. Growing up in an off-grid log cabin that his folks built in the Blue Mountains of Central Oregon, Ryder and his siblings lived an untethered life in their beautiful, wild landscape. These early experiences—and his time competing in the rodeo as a young adult—manifested into sharing his vision of the rugged, uniquely American lifestyle in the many forms of his artwork.

“The most important thing we can do for our children is to give them a sense of their history,” Clara Borland said. “A sense of belonging and a reason to be proud of their heritage.”

Mark your calendars for May 15 – 18, 2025 and make plans now to attend the annual World Famous Miles City Bucking Horse Sale (MCBHS). For four days, beginning the third weekend of May, Miles City rolls out the red carpet, doubling in size, as guests from across the state and around the world converge on Eastern Montana’s premier social event of the year.

Yellowstone is a magical place in the winter, but in its very early days as a national park, it was mostly bereft of human visitation. It wasn’t until after WWII that visitation increased enough to consider winter adventures as a separate season; beckoning hearty souls to experience “Wonderland” when everything is frozen and covered in a white blanket of snow.

AgWest Farm Credit leads the way in serving the farmers and ranchers of Montana and beyond with their commitment to providing insurance and financial services to people involved in agriculture.

“They are the reason we have the lives that we have,” David Bradley said. “We hold them close to our hearts because of it.”

The Big Timber man was referring to military veterans and the reason he and his wife Anne, along with Brian and Kary Engle, also of Big Timber, started the non-profit Big Sky Warrior Outreach (BSWO) four years ago. BSWO’s mission is to honor service members, with an emphasis on combat veterans, who have served or are serving sacrificially for our country.

During the frigid days of winter, I enjoy baking bread for my family and friends. It warms our home and fills it with aromatic scents of spices and fruits. The following recipes are a few of my “go-to” favorites.  Each of these recipes can be split into mini loaf pans to share, freeze, or have ready for your next meal.

There’s a foot of snow on the ground and the temperature is in the single digits but many of us are itching to plant something! Seeding annuals, perennials, and cool-season vegetables allows us to satisfy the need to plant something, while gaining time in the spring allowing for an earlier harvest. While starting seeds indoors is a right of passage for many gardeners, winter sowing is an easy way to gain a jump on the season with minimal effort.  

As we worked to build the content for our February magazine, a theme weaved its way through the issue. As the stories unfolded a spirit of gratitude rose to the surface. It was more evidence that we live in an area where people are naturally neighborly and deeply care from the heart for each other.