Agriculture

Three Historic Jails in Central Montana

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Three small communities in Central Montana have some interesting jail history that you can view today. Square Butte, Montana , once a stop along the Milwaukee Railroad as it traveled from Great Falls to Lewistown, has a granite jail built from locally quarried ashlar granite. As you drive in to this little community there is even a sign that says “Historic Jail 3 Blocks”. There really aren’t “blocks” in this community but it probably is … Read more

Quirky Exhibits at Three Central Montana Museums

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Many museums have unique and historic items on exhibit but let’s take a look at some rather quirky things at three of Central Montana’s small town museums. In Stanford, Montana you’ll find the Judith Basin County Museum next to the local courthouse. A well-manicured lawn and beautiful flowers surround the entrance during the summer. As you enter the main floor level of the museum you can’t help but see their massive collection of salt & … Read more

Mighty Mo Brew Co. – Mighty Good Beer and More

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It was 2013 when Mighty Mo Brewing Company established their brewery in downtown Great Falls. It quickly became a great gathering place, lunch place, dinner location, beer drinking place and more. Two guys, one great idea, that sums it up, but I’m sure it took a lot of hard work to get to opening day. Mighty Mo, which is also how locals refer to the Missouri River, is located in a historic building right on … Read more

Drink Brews Named For Mining History at Black Eagle Brewery

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It was a chilly, snowy late afternoon when I stopped at Black Eagle Brewery. Only one other couple sat at the beautiful custom-crafted polished wood bar. Handmade wooden bar-height tables and living edge wood decor on the walls gave warmth to the brewery and it felt good after experiencing the weather outside. Open for 4 1/2 years, Black Eagle Brewery adjoins a restaurant named The Pit Stop. Across the street to the west is a … Read more

A Focus On Production at Jeremiah Johnson Brewing

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We talk a lot about breweries these days and we are used to seeing those shiny barrels, lots of tubing and piping, typically behind glass panels, as we sit and sip one of our favorites. Jeremiah Johnson Brewing Company’s business model is a bit different, in a good way. Jeremiah’s primary goal is production and they refer to their location in Great Falls, Montana as a production facility. Beer is brewed there, canned and kegged … Read more

These Goats – My Skin – Windrift Hill’s Herd

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A few weeks ago I was in the town of Conrad, Montana just off I-15, about an hour north of Great Falls. A fairly new gift store, Windrift Hill, has opened there selling some of my favorite skin softeners. Montana’s weather has low humidity which I like, but that’s a challenge for my skin. I think my skin is naturally dry but this climate makes it worse. So what makes Windrift Hills’ product so good … Read more

Joplin’s Secret Scenic Drive

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Joplin hosts an annual Art In The Park and Car Show each June and it was on my list of events to attend this year. And what an event it was! There were vendors of all kinds, live music and over 60 vintage vehicles in the car show. And, of course, I couldn’t pass up a yummy slice of pie at one of the food booths. What kind? Raspberry rhubarb with pecan topping. Homemade, unique … Read more

Two Days, Ten Foodie Stops in Central Montana

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It was time to hit the road to promote Taste Our Place, a program by the MT Office of Tourism (Dept. of Commerce) and MT Department of Ag. The goal – seek out food and beverage locations using Montana sourced ingredients. Our first stop was Infinity Bakery in Havre. We didn’t have time for a sit-down lunch but we had time for some incredibly yummy scones, baked doughnuts and cookies. Infinity has a soup and … Read more

Enjoying Homemade Pie On The Pie Trail

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Central Montana’s Pie a la Road has taken me to local restaurants I didn’t know existed. My latest pie sampling though was at Brooks Market and Deli on Lewistown’s Main Street and I had been there several times…I just hadn’t tried the pie. That was about to change. Three of us met for lunch on one of those beautiful spring days you wish you could experience every day. We walked in to Brooks Market and the first thing … Read more

Shonkin’s Country Christmas Worth The Drive

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I’m not sure if I should even refer to Shonkin, Montana as a town. It’s primarily a community center building and an elevator but believe me, it was a hopping place this weekend. Located in Chouteau County, Shonkin was one of the towns that participated in the county-wide Christmas celebration. It requires a bit of gravel road driving to get to Shonkin but the drive provides some varied and beautiful scenery. Well worth it. I … Read more