With all its flamboyant pageantry, and horsemanship, trick riding is the stuff of little cowgirls’ dreams. At age five, Madison MacDonald-Thomas was smitten by the spotlight, fast horses, and jaw-dropping stunts. 

Thousands of camo-clad archery shooters traversed the snowless slopes at Red Lodge Mountain, shooting their way through 3D courses set up to hone their skills and test their marksmanship. Dozens of archery enthusiasts carrying bows and quivers filled with arrows, packs and harnesses strapped to their torsos, were visible from the chairlift.

Magic happens when Kenzie Holmberg picks up her camera. Whether she’s shooting a music video for an up-and-coming country singer, doing still-shoots of models for commercial branding, or documenting the everyday operation of a ranch; she captures the raw and the real.

The ancestors of the Russell and Rich families are as hardy as the century-old apple trees still growing on the Russell Ranch. Both families immigrated to the area in the early 1900’s - homesteading at a time when success would come only with hard work, determination and sacrifice.

A couple of years ago, a grass fire, sparked by a chain hitting the roadway, ripped across the dry field and within minutes, burned nearly a mile, ultimately reaching the shop at my son’s workplace. The flames were quickly extinguished, but it was a wake-up call. A structure-threatening fire can occur at any time, especially during our hot, dry summers. 

The tantalizing aroma of seared meat teased the crowd. Smoke rose from the portable charcoal grills, manned by chefs ranging in age from 6 to 13; all busy turning patties and kabobs, rolling meatballs and checking temperatures. It was an exciting time at the 3rd Annual Montana BBQ Kid’s Que Cook-Off in Absarokee this summer.

While we were planning this issue we were struck, once again, by a common theme weaving its way through the stories. Determined young chefs at a competitive barbeque in Absarokee; a centenarian couple from Nye married for 77 years and passionate people who have turned their much-loved hobbies into successful careers - authenticity shines through again!  

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.”