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MSGA hosts educational seminar and tourMontana Montana environmental writer and political columnist George Ochenski went head-to-head with Beaverhead County rancher Jim Hagenbarth in a point-counterpoint session during the Undaunted Stewardship "Open Space and Sustained Rangelands: Can Modern Management Meet the Challenge?" seminar. The seminar and range tour drew ranchers, agency officials, conservationists and a few members of Montana's mainstream media to Bozeman in July. Undaunted Stewardship is an award-winning Montana-based education program that promotes naturally sustained productivity on rangelands and historic site preservation. The Montana Stockgrowers Association, Montana State University, Bureau of Land Management and the Montana Public Lands Council are sponsors of the program. "It was a great opportunity to interact with a diverse group of interested people," said Jay Bodner, natural resource director for MSGA. "The tour highlighted the challenges facing the cattle industry and the benefits derived from participation in the Undaunted Stewardship program." The tour began with a continental breakfast at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman followed by an introduction by Errol Rice, executive vice president of MSGA. Tom Daubert, MSGA media consultant, discussed the history of Undaunted Stewardship and gave an overview of the program. Then Hagenbarth and Ochenski discussed their views on many of the perennial and heated conflicts between ranching and environmental communities. Federal lands grazing, grazing in riparian areas, and wildlife/livestock conflicts were among topics discussed. Rangeland experts Gene Surber and Dr. Clayton Marlow of Montana State University gave a crash course in relevant established and emerging scientific principles of public and private range science and management. After a barbecue beef lunch and participant introductions, Dale Veseth, the 2008 winner of MSGA's Environmental Stewardship Award, gave a slideshow presentation discussing the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance. That afternoon, everyone gathered on the bus and headed to the Milesnick Ranch in Belgrade, owned by Tom and Mary Kay Milesnick. Tom explained how his family has worked hard to rehabilitate streambeds and increase the health of streams flowing through their ranch. The Milesnicks discussed their construction and use of hard gravel crossings to encourage cattle to cross streams at designated places, reducing the impact to riparian areas and increasing water quality. Milesnick explained how his ranch grazes riparian areas for short duration to improve the health of these pastures. The Milesnicks utilize a free sign-in sheet and fee-based fishing for certain areas of their property. This system ensures that the public has access to high quality fishing while maintaining a healthy balance with the needs of his operation. From Belgrade, the tour moved to Three Forks, where participants enjoyed a catered prime rib dinner and spent the night at the historic Sacajawea Inn. The next morning, the tour departed for the Hamilton Ranch in Twin Bridges, managed by George Trischmann. Trischmann discussed ranching on interspersed private and BLM lands. He also talked about improvements he has made to the rangeland that has benefited livestock and increased sage grouse habitat. The tour participants enjoyed a home-cooked lunch under a large cottonwood tree in the Trischmanns' yard. The tour headed to Virginia City next, where participants enjoyed an ice cream social with National BLM Director Jim Caswell, State BLM Director Gene Terland and Associate State BLM Director Howard Lemm. Caswell talked to the group about challenges facing the agency and its goals for the next administration. From Virginia City, the group traveled to the Sitz Angus Ranch in Harrison, where Bob Sitz and his family discussed various issues that have an impact on his ranching operation such as bison, sage-grouse, Animal Feeding Operation/Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation regulations, fire management, and subdivision and land planning. The group then headed back to Bozeman and enjoyed dinner at the Outback Steakhouse. On the final day, participants gathered for brunch and reviewed the issues raised during the tour. Participants also discussed how to improve the tour for next year. 8/18/08 Date: 8/13/08 Advertisement
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