BOZEMAN — Bridger Animal Nutrition has joined the ranks of PETS+ "America's Coolest," an exemplary group of U.S. independent pet retailers and service providers. The magazine welcomes nine new pet businesses this year, as chosen by a panel of distinguished industry judges in its seventh annual contest.

More than 50 entries were judged in six categories: Exterior, Interior, Online Presence, Marketing, Individuality and Story. After internal judging, finalists were sent to this year's industry panel: Peter Scott, president and CEO of the American Pet Products Association; Lyn Falk, owner and president of Retailworks, Inc.; Nancy Guinn, founder and president of Dog Krazy Inc., and past America's Coolest winner; Missy Limbeck, marketing manager for Pet Palette Distribution; and Kat Carbonaro, marketing manager of Astro Loyalty.

"We asked businesses from across the country to tell us exactly what makes them so cool. We were impressed by all of the entries and thank all of the businesses that entered," PETS+ Editor-in-Chief Pamela Mitchell said. "This year's winners reflect the indie spirit still strong in our industry. They are a diverse group of pet businesses, from a single location to six and from retail only to a multi-service operation that even offers veterinary care. The smallest packs its offerings into 1,300 square feet, and the largest spans 54,000 indoors and outside. One element they all share? Each has achieved success in their own unique way."

BOZEMAN – A Montana State University geographer is leading part of a multi-institutional study funded by the U.S. Department of Defense to examine the effects of climate change on agriculture in Africa and how that may tie into U.S. national security.

The study is funded by a $3 million grant from the Defense Department’s Minerva program, which supports cross-institutional projects related to national security. It involves researchers from five universities and is led by the University of California, Santa Barbara.

“Some research suggests climate change may be, in military parlance, a threat multiplier or catalyst to conflict in political situations,” said Cascade Tuholske, assistant professor in MSU’s Department of Earth Sciences in the College of Letters and Science.

He said MSU’s portion of the project will study to what extent changing climate conditions are driving agriculture-related migration among the citizens of Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia.

Africa is generally growing hotter, he said, with some areas experiencing increasing extremes — dry regions becoming drier and wet regions wetter. That can impact Africans’ ability to work in agriculture, but it remains unclear whether those changes are prompting agricultural workers to leave rural areas altogether, Tuholske added.

Tuholske, along with a graduate student and post-doctoral researcher, will conduct surveys in Kenya and Zambia in 2024 and again in 2027 to assess whether climate-caused changes in food production, processing, distribution and consumption are influencing people’s decisions to relocate. The surveys also will inform satellite-based analysis in Tanzania, Tuholske said.

The MSU team will blend survey results collected in the field with satellite data to better understand how the populations of those countries are shifting. MSU’s Geospatial Core Facility, which helps researchers on campus distill complex sets of geographic data, will assist.

In addition to shedding light on migration trends possibly related to climate change, the demographic information collected during the study could help the African countries with planning infrastructure and better understanding their citizens’ needs, Tuholske said.

He added that the work may reveal lessons in resiliency that can be applied elsewhere.

“Southern and eastern Africa have tremendous potential for strong agriculture even with the challenge of climate change,” he said. “We can learn from communities how they are strengthening their societies through agriculture.”

The research methodology developed during the study also will be useful closer to home.

“The code we write, and a lot of the data sets we use from the climate side are global,” Tuholske said. “It can be leveraged by graduate students asking similar questions about climate impacts to farmers and ranchers here in Montana.”

Helena, MT- Big Hearts Under the Big Sky (Big Hearts), a program of the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association (MOGA), has completed the first of its “family adventure” trips scheduled for the year. Alli Duncan, 16, of Billings, MT was the first trip recipient of 2023.

Big Hearts covers all the hard costs for qualifying families to participate in outfitter-supported trips. Since 2008, the organization has served hundreds of individuals and their families and donated over half a million dollars in outfitted services.

Alli was nominated for Big Hearts through the Billings Clinic. She has been dealing with Spina Bifida and other medical conditions since birth, which have placed her in a wheelchair. Alli was accompanied on the adventure with her parents, Amber and Tony, and sister Addy.

Alli’s “Montana Adventure,” provided by MOGA Outfitter Matt Klumpp, owner of Walker Outfitting, included: lodging at Lion's Ledge Mountain Escape; white water rafting with Flying Pig Raft Company owned by MOGA member Patrick Sipp, fly fishing with; MOGA Outfitters Guy Flynn of Montana Elk and Trout) and Vern Strader of Greater Yellowstone Outfitters; and a helicopter tour of Yellowstone National Park with Golden Eagle Helicopter Tours.

“Since returning home, we can’t stop talking about what an amazing week we had and what it meant to be able to take a trip together,” said Tony Duncan, Alli’s father. “This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our family.”

“At Big Hearts, our focus is on the family experience,” said Mac Minard, MOGA Executive Director and trip Ambassador, “We know these conditions can become overwhelming fo

Bozeman —Despite community interest and Sweet Pea’s best efforts, we are unable to move forward with the Bite of Bozeman this summer. The Bite of Bozeman (and The Taste of Bozeman before it) is a long-standing community tradition. Unfortunately, in recent years, we’ve been unable to raise enough commitment from local food vendors and restaurants to adequately support an event of this magnitude and provide the best experience for everyone. Vendors that did sign up to participate will receive a full refund.

Sweet Pea Festival of the Arts remains committed to reimagining The Bite of Bozeman. We will continue to conceptualize a family-friendly event that appeals to vendors and community members alike. 

ABOUT SWEET PEA FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS:

The Sweet Pea Festival is a three-day festival of the arts held in Bozeman, Montana, since 1978. Festival dates are always the first full weekend in August with other events, such as Chalk on the Walk starting off the festivities of Sweet Pea Week. The Festival includes everything from music, theatre and dance to children’s activities, an Artist Marketplace with artists from Bozeman and around the country, and adult painting workshops. The Sweet Pea Festival is committed to its mission statement of “promoting and cultivating the arts.”

Hundreds of volunteers run and organize this annual event, a testament to the community’s desire for its ongoing success. All monies raised above what is needed to operate the Festival are given back to the community in the form of grants for the arts, art education, and special projects in the Bozeman area.

The Montana Beef Council and the Big Sky Country Fair have teamed up in order to bring education, activities, and fun to Bozeman from Wednesday, July 19 through Sunday, July 23. At the Gallatin County Fairgrounds, the Haynes Pavilion will be transformed into the Montana Beef Council Barnyard, where children’s workshops and giveaways will be taking place each day from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Activities include building your own brand, a roping relay, beef bingo, line dancing, protein poetry, pasture pair tag, and an introduction to beef cuts. While workshops are taking place, parents can pick up resources on where to find local beef, recipes, nutrition information, and ideas on what to make for dinner!

Additionally, the Montana Beef Council will be hosting a scavenger hunt using stickers placed throughout the fair. If participants fill out their scavenger hunt cards correctly, they are given the chance to win beef swag and other prizes. Competitors can sign up at the Montana Beef Council Barnyard or by following this link.

“Last year, we brought one pretty exciting activity to the fair in the form of a ninja obstacle course, but this year, we’re bringing a whole host of activities for families to enjoy,” said Anna Sponheim, project manager for the Montana Beef Council. “In order to accomplish our goal of putting more beef on more plates, we have to get outside the barn, which is why we’re bringing the barnyard to Bozeman.”

Amanda Hartman, Big Sky Country State Fair Marketing/Sponsorship Coordinator, said, “We are excited to team up with Montana Beef Council for the all-NEW Barnyard! Offering more agriculture education opportunities at the Big Sky Country State Fair has been a goal of ours for years, and with the help of Montana Beef Council, we are making that dream a reality.”

More details about the upcoming activities at the Montana Beef Council Barnyard and the Big Sky Country State Fair can be found on the Montana Beef Council Facebook page.

Check out more information about the Montana Beef Council throughout the year on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest, or by going to www.montanabeefcouncil.org.

As some may know, Bozeman City Commissioner I-Ho Pomeroy has been battling medical issues and absent from recent Commission meetings. On June 23rd, I-Ho underwent brain surgery to remove an aggressive glioblastoma tumor discovered there.
 
I-Ho is beloved by all who meet her. The news of her medical circumstance has been heartbreaking for many, from the Pomeroy family to the Commission, City staff, and the public. Her voice and cheerful presence at our commission meetings are truly missed.
 
Understandably, people have questions. We want to be clear that we place no timeline for Commissioner Pomeroy returning to Commission meetings.  The Bozeman City Charter allows us to excuse absences as we continue to do the work of the Commission. Our primary concern in this situation is for the health of Commissioner Pomeroy and to make things as easy as possible for her and her family during this time.

Commissioner Pomeroy is a rare gem. She has given so much to her community, and we hope you will join us in wishing I-Ho a full recovery.
 
Please keep Commissioner Pomeroy in your thoughts. A GoFundMe has been set up to help with expenses.

Statement from Mayor Cyndy Andrus.

Kyle Suta Teams up with Colombo’s Pizza to Create a Community-Oriented Lounge for All Ages


Bozeman – Bozeman's newest beer and wine lounge is now open on West College Street, just off the northwest corner of the Montana State University campus.

“The Break Room gives our customers a comfortable space to socialize, study, or just take a break and relax on the patio,” says Kyle Suta, Bozeman native and general manager of The Break Room.

The Break Room is brought to the community by Colombo's Pizza & Pasta, and patrons of the Break Room have direct access to Colombo’s Pizza’s game room, Joe’s Fun Zone, which includes classic arcade games such as Skee-Ball and pinball. “Colombo's is a Bozeman institution,” says Suta. “My family and I have been loyal customers since they opened in the mid-1980's, and I couldn't be happier about partnering with them to expand Bozeman’s social offerings.”

Both The Break Room and Colombo’s Pizza & Pasta occupy space in historic Westgate Village. Built in 1957, it is the oldest multi-unit shopping center in the Gallatin Valley and has recently been determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places by the Montana Historical Society. The Bozeman City commission has also recently passed resolution 5484 recognizing the historic significance of the shopping center. The Break Room occupies the space previously used by Gallatin Drug (1957-1974), Bridger Mountain Sports (1976-1984), and the Community Food Coop (1984-1992) among others.

A casual, friendly atmosphere surrounds a fine selection of Montana craft beers, draught wines, and hand-crafted sodas. Their old-fashioned soda fountain is a centerpiece of the bar, providing customers with a glimpse of classic Americana and a robust selection of alcohol-free drinks.
On the menu are several comfort food items, including Wind’s Pasties of Anaconda that are baked in the pizza oven at Colombo’s and served with a gravy made from Guinness beer. Other menu items are also inspired by and cooked with beer, including a chili made with Mexican lager, and a nacho cheese sauce made with wheat beer.

The walls of The Break Room are adorned with fun, colorful and mind-bending murals by Florida-based artist Daniel Barojas (@r5imaging).

The Break Room is open now--11am to 11pm every day of the week at 10011 West College Street in Bozeman. For more information call Kyle Suta or follow @breakroombzn on Instagram.

HELENA - Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is advising anglers that portions of the Sun and lower Madison rivers will close to all fishing daily from 2 p.m. to midnight, beginning Wednesday, July 12. The restrictions will stay in effect until conditions improve.

The hoot-owl restrictions are issued for:

• Sun River – from the Highway 287 Bridge to the mouth of Muddy Creek.
• Madison River – from Warm Springs Boat Launch to the confluence with the Jefferson River

FWP's drought policy provides for angling restrictions when flows drop below critical levels for fish, when water quality is diminished or when maximum daily water temperatures reach at least 73 degrees for three consecutive days. Water temperatures of 77 degrees or more can be lethal to trout.

Restrictions of this nature are designed to protect fish that become more susceptible to disease and mortality when conditions like this exist. FWP officials said one short-term strategy to address heat-induced stress in Montana's wild trout is to reduce catch-and-release mortality by alerting anglers to fish only in the morning. 

"Limiting fishing to only the cool morning hours can help a lot," said Eric Roberts, FWP’s Fish Management Bureau Chief. “We're trying to minimize any additional stress on wild trout during these mid-summer conditions of high-water temperatures and low flows.”

Anglers can reduce stress on fish at all times of the year by getting fish to net or hand quickly, keep them in the water, and revive them prior to releasing them back to river.  
In addition, anglers can also help reduce stress and mortality for fish by following these practices when catching and releasing fish, though fish mortality may still occur: 

• Fish during the coolest times of day, where permitted. 
• Keep the fish in water as much as possible.  
• Let the fish recover before releasing it. 

If high temperatures and extremely low flows persist, anglers may want to consider fishing areas with less stressful temperatures and conditions, such as larger lakes or reservoirs, or higher elevation waterbodies.

These are the first restrictions imposed this year by FWP, but probably not the last. For the latest waterbody restrictions and closures, click here.