MONTANA RANGE DAYS
BOOSTER CLUB
DATE: April 30,2012
TO: Montana Range Days Boosters
FROM: Amber Nordahl, Booster Club Chairman
RE: 2012 Range Days and Booster Club
Spring is here, the grass is “ris”.
I wonder where the flowers are.
My brothers and I used to roll our eyes when my Dad would jokingly recite that poem to
us each year around Easter. Well, the grass around here “ris” early this year, didn’t
yours? Happy Days! The cows can graze, less feeding hay, and fewer days wearing
those muck boots.
Speaking of those muck boots – I’m looking for a pair with football cleats on the bottom.
Men’s, size 13, for my husband Al. You see about 4 hours after the first cow calved this
spring, he slipped wearing his muck boots, and landed on his shoulder. There are some
nasty rumors going around that I pushed him, but I assure you they are false. Anyway,
Al had rotator cuff surgery 3 weeks after that, just in time for March Madness and all
those basketball games on TV. You-know-who was the chief: cow checker, calver, and
feeder. The girls and I did just fine and I am very grateful for all the spring weather we
had during calving and for the grass greening up early. I still have 9 to go, but the pairs
are out to pasture now feeding themselves.
They say we owe our entire existence to a 6” layer of topsoil and the fact that it rains.
That would make Montana Range Days pretty important. You know it starts in 48 days.
You know you learn about soil, rain, plants, and how to manage them feeding animals.
You know the local committee, the instructors there, and the folks attending, are the kind
of folks you would want for neighbors. You know the 14 Steering Committee members
work all year long to see that Range Days happens again, every year, since 1976.
The 36th ANNUAL MONTANA RANGE DAYS
JUNE 18th, 19th and 20th
DEER LODGE
So June 18th it all gets going. There are one of a kind tours, hands on workshops,
illustrated talks, plant collections, great meals, and of course the contest. There are
prizes, scholarships for college students, 3 $1000 scholarships to be exact, and the Top
Range Hand is given the opportunity to work as an intern at their local DNRC office.
Go to our website: www.montanarangedays.org
There you will find all the details and also the registration forms.
The Deer Lodge committee put on a wonderful 3 days last year–you won’t want to miss.
If you want to become a Booster Club member, the dues are $25.00 each year. Last year
we made the 60 mark with 63 members. We even have 7 Top Range Hands as members.
I am very proud of our Booster Club some members have been a part since the start in
2000. All Booster Club members receive lapel pins and at your 10 year mark I give you
another. We also recognize you at the banquet on Tuesday night of Range Days. But
mostly, all Booster Club members can feel they are a part of helping Montana Range
Days and the kids. I am going to Bozeman later this week to see one of our scholarship
winner’s graduate from MSU with a Range degree. I know last year the top Range
graduate had received all 3 of our scholarships. Doesn’t that make you feel proud?
Besides the Booster Club, there is the Permanent Endowment Fund. You have the
opportunity to contribute in that fashion also as a memorial or in honor of a special
person. It all helps us give out the 3 scholarships, help fund Montana Range Days and
give financial help to the top teams to go to Old West Range Judging contest. This will
help promote rangeland education in our great state. Next year, the 37th annual Montana
Range Days moves to Havre and Hill County. I have never been to Havre and am really
looking forward to that event and spreading our Montana Range Days message there.
I hope you can make it to Deer Lodge in June. I hope you can join the Booster Club
again, or for the first time. I hope you wear your Range Days pin. I hope people ask you
about your pin and you invite them to come along to Range Days. I hope if you see a
pair of cleated muck boots size 13 you let me know!
So I’ll see you in Deer Lodge. Call me at (406) 669-3193 or email: tbarj@mtintouch.net
if you have any questions. Have a great month of May.
________________________________________________________________________
MONTANA RANGE DAYS BOOSTER CLUB DUES $25.00
Donation to MRD Permanent Endowment Fund
________
Total Contribution
________
We would appreciate your dues by June 30, 2012
You can mail it in the enclosed envelope
or bring it along to Range Days
Mail to: Montana Range Days Booster Club
c/o Amber Nordahl
2033 Columbus-Molt Road
Molt, Montana 59057