REAL Montana Class V travels to Great Falls for seminar
REAL Montana Class V at Pasta Montana on June 23, 2023.Pictured, from left to right, starting on the back row is Josh Senecal, Chisholm Christensen, Jessica Murray, Weston Merrill, Shauna Dunn, Simon McCann, Clay Redding, Lacey Morrison, Amy Schulte, Peter Taylor, Tyler Tintzman;front row, left to right, is Tracy McIntyre, David Crasco, Micah Jam, Cassi Hammerness, Katie Kuhr, Christopher Anderson, Cameron Wohlschlegel, Shelby George and Brian Hogue. (Provided photo)
Flathead Valley residents Shauna Dunn, Shelby George, Brian Hogue and Cameron Wohlschlegel recently returned from three days in Great Falls as part of REAL Montana (Resource Education and Agriculture Leadership). This was the fifth seminar in their two-year educational program.
The focus of the June 22-24 seminar was “Montana Crop Production.” Class members heard from experts on trends in agriculture, how crop production contributes to the state economy, rail transport, organic production and the H2A visa program. The class participated in skill-building training focused on completing a strategic plan. They attended a networking banquet at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, where they interacted with local program sponsors and industry leaders.
Class V toured two local farms to learn about production practices and technology and then heard from a panel featuring speakers from the Montana Grain Growers Association, Wheat and Barley Committee and Pulse Crop Committee. Additional tour stops included Sustainable Oils to discuss the camelina industry and Pasta Montana.
“During the Great Falls session, it was amazing to see how far across the globe Montana’s grains and pulse crops are shipped,” said Class V participant Shelby George. “The Pasta Montana tour was amazing. I had no idea that Montana produced that much pasta and sent it worldwide.”
Twenty of Montana’s top natural resource industry leaders from across the state were competitively selected to take part in REAL Montana Class V. The program’s mission is to build a network of informed and engaged leaders to advance the natural resource industries in Montana. The intensive leadership program features eight in-state seminars, a five-day national study tour in Washington, D.C., and a 12-day international trip. Seminars include training in natural resource development, agriculture institutions and agencies, public speaking/media, economics, state and federal policy, international trade, urban/rural relationships, water issues, and other current industry topics.
REAL Montana is funded through a partnership with Montana State University Extension and private industry. An advisory board of industry leaders provides oversight. Complete program information is available at www.montana.edu/realmontana.