WINTER
2024
ON
UTLOOK
Gallatin Valley
What’s INSIDE
Monarch Heating and Cooling keeps the Belgrade community happy
BLOUNT BELL REAL ESTATE makes clients in Bozeman feel at home SEE PAGE 7
THREE RIVERS YOGA is a tranquil haven in Three Forks SEE PAGE 8
MANHATTAN BANK
employees bring joy to four communities SEE PAGE 6
Plus more, SEE INSIDE!
Supporting Our Community
www.belgrade-news.com
By Abby Weingarten Staff Writer
Joe Miller’s background as a sergeant in the U.S. Army, leading operations during two tours in Iraq, undoubtedly shaped his professional prowess. Now, as the owner of Monarch Heating and Cooling, he is a leader in the Belgrade business community. Miller holds a degree in business management from Montana State University and worked for a local HVAC supply company before starting Monarch in 2011. “Monarch has been recognized and awarded as a leader in our market by business professionals and industry partners,” Miller said. “Monarch has continued grow, develop, and train our area’s finest technicians, while providing our community with the best in HVAC products and services.” During the 13 years of Monarch’s growth, Miller has attended dozens of the HVAC industry’s highest-level trainings and business development courses all over the U.S., which has helped drive the company’s success. “Monarch started with a vision
Monarch Heating and Cooling team.
to provide top-notch products and services to the Bozeman area. And Monarch has continued to grow over 200%, year over year, even through
COVID,” Miller said. “We believe that, if we do the right things for the See MONARCH | 9
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January 2024 • BELGRADE NEWS • OUTLOOK ON BUSINESS | 3
Serenity & Wellness coming to Four Corners in March By KAREN E. DAVIS Staff Writer
Katrina Wyant is a Idaho native, and told the Belgrade News she finished Chiropractic school while husband Jason was on active duty in the Army. A solo practictioner, she plans to have Serenity Chiropractic and Wellness open by early March. Her office will be at 135 Milltown Loop in Four Corners. Wyant practices regular chiropractic therapy, she said, and additionally some therapies unique to the area, including:
* Neurological integration systems, helping the nervous system to function better. “If you have areas not working well, it’s gentle and we can get to the root of that;” * Nutritional response testing. “It’s not invasive and can determine underlying reasons for ill health;” * She also employs a “neurological emotional technique that is non-invasive and helps the emotional system to get rid of subconscious restrictions stored in the body.”
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Army vet signs up with Belgrade’s Edward Jones By KAREN E. DAVIS
Middle School.
Staff Writer
He told the Belgrade News he was stationed at various Army bases in Kansas, Alabama, New York and Korea; and served two tours in Iraq and one in Afganistan.
Montana native Jason Wyant finally “came home” after a career in the U.S. Army and is the new financial advisor at Belgrade’s Edward Jones at 103 W. Jefferson Ave. Suite B. Wyant was born in Butte, then moved to Anaconda. Some of his youth was spent in southern Idaho, where he went to junior high and high school.
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After 20 years in the U.S. Army as a helicopter pilot, Wyant and his wife Katrina have settled down in Belgrade with their two boys, Cade (16) and Carson (13). His sons attend Belgrade High, and Belgrade
He got his undergraduate degree at Gonzaga University and a graduate degree at Central Michigan University. Among his hobbies he lists hiking, camping, hunting and ATVing with his family. “We just decided to retire and come home,” he concluded. The Belgrade branch phone # is 406-9241740. He can be reached at Jason.wyant@ edwardjones.com.
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Manhattan Bank employees bring joy to four communities By Abby Weingarten Staff Writer
With its four locations in Bozeman, Manhattan, Three Forks, and Churchill, Manhattan Bank is a beloved fixture in the Montana communities it serves. Founders Warren Fenno and Norman Mulder first started the bank in 1905, and it is still independently owned, with a total of 41 employees. “We provide everything your regular bank down the street does – checking accounts, savings accounts, CDs, and also ag loans, commercial loans, and mortgages,” said Whitney Carr, a loan processor for Manhattan Bank. “We’re pretty much an allservice bank.” But what sets Manhattan Bank
apart is how much employees give back to the community, through hands-on volunteer work like volunteer firefighting, as well as coaching local school sports clubs and teams. “We donate to the Gallatin Valley Farm Fair for all the fourth graders that come out to the ranch in Manhattan to learn about agriculture,” Carr said. “We have an employee that helps with the Gallatin Beef Producers Association. We volunteer at local cattle sales, help the 4-H clubs, and are hands-on for the Three Forks and Manhattan Christmas Stroll.” Employees visit area schools to teach students financial literacy skills like saving and balance checkbooks. The bank also provides two trailers for the community, which are stocked with roundtables, seats, chairs, and
6 | OUTLOOK ON BUSINESS • BELGRADE NEWS • January 2024
containers for ice. People reserve the trailers, borrowing them for free to use at events in the area, or for weddings and Thanksgiving dinners. “Everyone loves the trailers. Sometimes we get thank you cards, and people are so appreciative of them,” Carr said. “The concept has been very well-received.” And Manhattan Bank is one of the
few independently owned banks in the area, with a traditional approach to customer service along with all the technological options available in online banking. “If you come in, you’re always going to get a person. If you call, we don’t have a major phone system that you have to go through; you’ll always get See BANK | 9
Blount Bell Real Estate
makes clients in Bozeman feel at home By Abby Weingarten Staff Writer
Best friends Nicole Blount and Tasha Bell make up the dynamic duo behind Blount Bell Real Estate in Bozeman, and their combined expertise keeps clients feeling right at home. Blount has been helping individuals and families with their real estate goals since 2013, while Bell transitioned from customer service to the real estate industry in 2020. “I never had dreams of being in real estate. I bought my first home in 2011 when I was young and naïve, and we listened to what the agent advised us to do. Fast-forward to one to two months after, we closed on our home, the problems started, and we started to realize that it was
at the hand of a realtor who lacked professionalism and gave bad advice,” Blount said. “After we spent thousands of dollars to fix things, I decided to get my license and help others avoid what we went through.” Then, about four years ago, Bell decided to take a leap and join Blount in business, and the two launched Blount Bell Real Estate. “It was during COVID and at the beginning of a slower market, but we made it and have continued to grow every year,” Blount said. “We have some big things in the pipeline. You will have to wait and watch.” Working as friends is a joyful experience, but the real estate business is not without its challenges. “It’s not all easy, and all agents are not the same. We don’t want to work
Nicole Blount (left) and Tasha Bell (right).
with someone we don’t get along with (one to three months of talking to someone daily while going through the process would be unbearable),” Blount said. “We take everything personally and have cried many tears – happy and sad tears – because,
behind every sale, there is usually a story.” But keeping clients happy and finding them their perfect homes makes the work worthwhile. See BLOUNT BELL | 16
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FIND DAILY NEWS AND SPORTS UPDATES ONLINE AT BELGRADE-NEWS.COM January 2024 • BELGRADE NEWS • OUTLOOK ON BUSINESS | 7
Three Rivers Yoga is
a tranquil haven in Three Forks By Abby Weingarten Staff Writer
Clients come to Three Rivers Yoga to find balance – nurturing their minds, bodies, and spirits through conscious movement. That’s what owner Michelle Evans wants for her community.
such as heart opening, paddleboard yoga during the summer on the currents of the nearby Three Rivers, and power yoga. Yoga mats and other props are offered for attendees.
“We also offer private and group classes. So, if you are planning a bachelorette or bachelor party Evans is a or birthday 200 Registered party and want Yoga Training to start with (RYT) professomething sional with healthy, try a Yoga Alliance yoga class,” who has been Evans said. teaching yoga Michelle Evans owner of Three Rivers Yoga. “I also just for three started offering years. She a ladies’ night once a month, which holds a bachelor’s degree in outdoor is a fun, lighthearted practice. Come education and biology, and previously with your besties and get a surprise worked as an arborist and bartender. at the end of class.” “I’ve been doing yoga for about 20 Evans believes the benefits of yoga years. Three years ago, I decided to are undeniable, and she has watched take my practice deeper. I first startthe impact that the practice has had ed teaching yoga through the adult on her own life. education program offered at Three “Yoga has helped me find balance Forks Schools and a couple studios in my life. There was a point when it in Bozeman,” Evans said. “Teaching was hard for me to stand straight up yoga in Bozeman made me quickly because of my autoimmune disease realize that Three Forks needed a and the stress I put on my body, and place to do yoga and I needed a place to teach. My business has grown from yoga helped me through that time,” Evans said. “Yoga is the practice of teaching adult education and teaching a power yoga class in Bozeman to mind, body, and breath in a communiopening a small space to teach here in ty. I believe that, when someone finds mind, body, and breath on the mat, Three Forks.” they find confidence, self-love, and As for her vision for Three Rivers acceptance. And who doesn’t need a Yoga, Evans hopes to provide “a safe place for people to grow mentally and little more of that?” physically in a healthy community,” she said. To this end, the studio offers a weekly class in gentle beginner yoga, as well several series of classes,
Three Rivers Yoga is located at 211 Main St., Three Forks. For more information, call 406-641-0030 or visit 3riversyoga.com.
8 | OUTLOOK ON BUSINESS • BELGRADE NEWS • January 2024
Three Rivers Yoga clientele head out on paddleboards.
Three Rivers Yoga clientele pose on paddleboards.
right reasons, growth will never slow down.” In future news, Monarch is currently building a new facility. The new headquarters will provide over six times more shop space, seven offices, a conference room, a lunchroom, and additional storage. This will drastically change how smoothly the business will be able to operate and support the community.
to Belgrade keeps Miller and the Monarch team inspired. “What I enjoy the most about the work we do is the ability to create strong careers for our team, while being able to help people in our community with their HVAC needs,” Miller said. “As we grow, it gives us the ability to continue to give back to the community in different ways. We love helping people.” Monarch Heating and Cooling is located at 26 Pipkin Way, Belgrade. For more information, call 406-298-2486 or visit monarchheatingandac.com.
“At Monarch, we strongly believe in giving back to our community, which is why we donate to dozens of different local charities. We give away a furnace every year to a veteran in need, which we call the Gift of Heat,” Miller said. “We also give away a free air conditioning system every year to different community support individuals, such as medical workers, police officers, firefighters, and teachers. Every year, we choose a new category to be We enjoyed meeting Richard, this year’s Gift of Heat recipient. Our team recognized.” Giving back
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From BANK | 6 a live person,” Carr said. “We’re still the hometown bank, where we’re going to know your name and help you through any problems. I think we really do a good job for our customer base. Sixty percent of our employees
have been with us over 10 years, which speaks to the work we do.” For more information on Manhattan Bank and its four locations in Bozeman, Manhattan, Three Forks, and Churchill, call 406-284-3255 or visit manhattanbank.bank.
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January 2024 • BELGRADE NEWS • OUTLOOK ON BUSINESS | 9
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IRS TAX TIPS 2024 TAX PAYER BILL OF RIGHTS #1: It includes The Right To Be Informed
Taxpayers have the right to know what they need to do to comply with the tax laws. They are entitled to clear explanations of the laws and IRS procedures in all tax forms, instructions, publications, notices and correspondence. They have the right to be informed of IRS decisions about their tax accounts and to receive clear explanations of the outcomes. What you can expect: • Certain notices must include the amount (if any) of the tax, interest, and certain penalties you owe. It must explain why you owe these amounts. • When the IRS fully or partially disallows your claim for a refund, it must explain the specific reasons why. • Help with Understanding Your IRS Notice or Letter is available online at IRS.gov. • If the IRS proposes to assess tax against you, it must explain the process – from examination (audit) through collection – in its first letter. This letter should explain your options for a review by an independent Office of Appeals and how the Taxpayer Advocate Service may be able to help you. • If you enter a payment plan, known as an installment agreement, the IRS must send you an annual statement. This gives you a record of balances and payments. • You can access current and prior year IRS forms and publications at IRS.gov. You can also request order them by calling 800-829-3676. • IRS also uses several social media tools that provide helpful tax information to a broad audience. You can find IRS on Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and the IRS2Go free mobile app. To find out more about the TBOR and what it means to you visit the Taxpayer Advocate Service’s website. By making this important publication available in multiple languages, the IRS hopes to increase the number of Americans who know and understand their rights under the tax law. The IRS has more tax information in other languages too. See the “Languages” menu at the bottom of any IRS.gov page. The IRS also is committed to protecting taxpayers’ civil rights. The IRS will not tolerate discrimination based on age, color, disability, race, reprisal, national origin, English proficiency, religion, sex, sexual orientation or status as a parent. This includes any contact with IRS employees and the staff or volunteers at community sites. If a taxpayer faces discrimination, they can send a written complaintPDF to the IRS Civil Rights Division. To find out more about the TBOR and what it means to you, visit: https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov
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January 2024 • BELGRADE NEWS • OUTLOOK ON BUSINESS | 11
Belle Morn Boutique brings clothing,
classes, and overall coolness to Belgrade By Abby Weingarten Staff Writer
Cammie d’Esterre loves to stay busy. She has held at least three jobs at a time since age 14. So, when she launched Belle Morn Boutique in Belgrade, she brought her unstoppable work ethic to the shop.
owns our little candy/gumball machine inside the shop and loves to help any chance he can to make some money,” she said. With so much support, Belle Morn Boutique continues to grow.
“When I got a bigger space, my vision grew so much. I wanted Originally to provide from Southeastclothing for ern Montana, everyone and d’Esterre moved not just in one to the Belgrade genre. I didn’t area to attend want just boho college in 2008. or cowgirlWhile working type clothing in the medior anything cal field for 13 else specific,” years, she also d’Esterre said. started a day“So, for the care company, last year, I’ve a boutique, and been trying to natural health provide affordCammie d’Esterre, owner. and wellness able clothing, company. Today, accessories, she and her husband own six busigifts, and items for all locals. I just nesses combined. added coffee to our boutique. We’ll also have balloons, gifts, and more “When I first started my boutique, my vision was to have affordable wom- holiday items soon.” en’s clothing. I built a little shop in my But the inventory is just a small she shed in my backyard, and I sold part of the appeal of Belle Morn items online for two years before find- Boutique. ing a space for a storefront,” d’Esterre “I want everyone to feel welcome said. “My boutique is a family-owned here. You don’t have to stop in to business, and my mom is my biggest shop. You’re welcome to come in, helper; she works three days a week grab a coffee, read a book, work from while I’m working at my other busiyour computer, or simply meet up ness. My husband also jumps in and with some friends,” she said. “We helps whenever I need him.” offer monthly classes like hat burnd’Esterre and her husband have ing, polymer clay earring classes, and three kids who help, too. screen painting. I love my boutique and the work I do because I truly feel “Our oldest, who is seven and strives to be an entrepreneur, appreciated every time a customer 12 | OUTLOOK ON BUSINESS • BELGRADE NEWS • January 2024
Cammie d’Esterre and family.
comes in. I feel like I’m providing a place for people to feel welcome, and our community needs that.” Belle Morn Boutique is located
at 6325 Jackrabbit Lane, Suite C, Belgrade. For more information, call 406-852-0787 or visit bellemornboutique.com.
Thank You!
• Thank You From The Belgrade News •
We would like to extend our appreciation to our Gallatin Valley
adverTisers & readers We appreciate you and ask our readers to continue to support these fine businesses.
308580-1 467318-1 2048417
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• Thank You From The Belgrade News • Thank You From The Belgrade News • Thank You From The Belgrade News •
• Thank You From The Belgrade News • Thank You From The Belgrade News • Thank You From The Belgrade News • January 2024 • BELGRADE NEWS • OUTLOOK ON BUSINESS | 13
‘Yellowstone,’
Lazy K Bar bourbon equals mini-riot By Karen E. Davis Staff Writer
If you’re a fan of both bourbon and the TV show Yellowstone, you know about the mini-riot in December when actor Cole Hauser showed up at Belgrade Liquor to sign bottles of his signature whiskey. Cole Hauser, who plays ranch manager Rip Wheeler on the CBS/Paramount show, has co-founded a brand new bourbon, and had a wildly successful signing event at Belgrade Liquor last month. The signing started at 3:30 p.m. and store personnel told the Belgrade News that they had more than 50 people already lined up outside the store at 2 p.m. to get autographed bottles of his Lazy K Bar bourbon. “We had a little bit of a crowd control problem.” one employee admitted. And, a darn unexpected problem. Yellowstone is popular; Cole Hauser is popular; dbourbon is popular; but the local response was far and away a surprise. Employees at Belgrade Liquor told the Belgrade News they thought they might sell 250 bottles; that afternoon they sold out, selling 750 bottles. If you missed the December signing party, no fear -- we’ve been told Hauser is coming back for another signing event this spring, when filming of Yellowstone resumes. And we don’t have a date for that, yet. In an early January interview on Bozeman’s K-SKY radio, another Gallatin Valley liquor store owner said that Hauser was tentalively scheduled back in town this spring, when Yellowstone starts filming again. (He added he loved the muscular, masculine packaging of the bourbon, with its original leather label.) We called Belgrade Liquor and they said they had no such info regarding another autograph party, but to keep watching their social media. The bourbon retails for $119.95 a bottle, and “It’s a really good bourbon,” Liah Allison of Belgrade Liquor said. “It’s not a trash ‘celebrity’ liquor.” At first, Hauser’s bourbon was just released in Belgrade and a handful of liquor stores surrounding
Photo by: Bigger Fish Unlimited
Belgrade Liquor hosted a signing event featuring “Yellowstone” actor Cole Hauser and his new signature bourbon.
the Gallatin Valley. Then it got a wider distribution around the state. We tried to find out how that national distribution is coming, dbut the brand’s PR person didn’t get back to us by presstime. The bourbon is named after the Lazy K Ranch in Big Timber, and is the ranch’s cattle brand. So: Originally first sold in Belgrade; named after a famous legacy ranch in Big Timber; and publicty-wise, piggybacking on the name of America’s first national park, Yellowstone. Welcome to The West. (Founded in 1872, Yellowstone is also thought to be the first national park in the world.) Most Yellowstone TV fans might not know that Hauser’s roots go deeper in Montana than most: His great-great grandfather Samuel Hauser was appointed as Territorial Governor of Montana in July, 1885 by U.S. President Grover Cleveland. Hauser was the first Montana Territorial Governor to already reside in the Territory; the previous Territorial govenors had been men from the States sent out to govern the new area. He served until 1887. Helena’s Hauser Lake and Hauser Dam are also named after Cole’s family.
14 | OUTLOOK ON BUSINESS • BELGRADE NEWS • January 2024
His ancestor was a Helena and a Montana Territory pioneer, territorial governor and an entrepreneur in banking, mining, smelting, ranching, railroads, irrigation, and hydro-electric power. The Montana Historical Society has 22 linear feet of Governor Hauser’s historical papers. “A lot of collectors like to get a signed bottle,” Allison said. There were no looky-loos at the signing -only serious bourbon buyers. In the words of Allison, it was “not an open ‘meet and greet’ for the whole to wn.” Looking back, getting ready for the signing and the bourbon’s launch “was a little bit of a jumble,” Allison continued. “And usual for things in the liquor world. You have the parent company, and reps, and the State and Agency stores.” They had talked tentatively about this “for two or three weeks,” she continued. “We didn’t get final confirmation until a week” before. Allison guessed they would have 350 bottles of Lazy Bar K on hand that afternoon Plan to sell it all? “ If that happened it would be a first in the history of a sign-
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ing event, that everything sold out.” she laughed. She would be proved oh-so-very wrong, as the store for a first time ever sold completely out, a total of 750 bottles. And for future reference, Belgrade Liquor has a loyalty program for locals; Allison said to ask the cashier about the “Local” program. “This (signing event) project came together so quickly,” she concluded. “Just two days before the State could bring it (the bourbon) down.” Belgrade Liquor is at its new building at 7007 Jackrabbit Lane, near Albertson’s and in the old Burning Stoves & Stuff, which closed in 2021 after 26 years.
Photo by Jordan Strauss/ Invision/AP
Cole Hauser arrives at the 80th annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023, in Beverly Hills, Calif. The “Yellowstone” actor was in Belgrade earlier this month for an event featuring his new signature bourbon.
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The event drew fans of both bourbon and the television series “Yellowstone.”
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From BLOUNT BELL | 7 “Although we sometimes lose sleep over the stories and conversations we have with our clients, it’s worth it,” Blount said. “When the deal is done, we are still involved in their lives. We’ve seen clients go through adoption, divorce, engagements, deaths, cancer, and all that’s in-between,
and we feel incredibly blessed to be in their lives, going through it with them.” Blount Bell Real Estate is located at 2621 W. College St. #A, Bozeman. For more information, call 406-5792246 or visit blountbellteam.cbdistinctive.com.
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Cold brews: Sawdust and Steel Brewing brings
hometown crafts, passion for beer to Three Forks By Karen E. Davis Staff Writer
Can Montana ever have too many homegrown, craft breweries? With a nod to that thought, Sawdust and Steel Brewing has opened in Three Forks at 123 W. Elm St. It joins Bridger Brewing, located out by the Interstate 90 freeway. As for the name? Sawdust and Steel is the culmination of a longtime dream of a local construction company owner, Cody Hamm. He told the Montana Brewers Association that he and his wife and co-owner Kari were throwing around possible names for this venture, and this one stuck. In his “other life” Hamm is a bridge contractor, and this brewery taps into both a love of beer — and Montana bridges. “We are a bridge contractor ... and over the years, have taken down many historic bridges,” Hamm told The Three Forks Voice. “I have always wanted to be able to integrate them into something just to preserve the history,” Hamm said. Three local, historic bridges have “pieces” of themselves at the brewery: the Williams Bridge over the Gallatin River, built in 1892; the Varney Bridge over the Madison, built in 1897; and the Meridian Bridge, built over the Jefferson in 1912. “It came out cooler than I had ever envisioned, and I can’t wait for everyone to see it. Three Forks is a
Sawdust & Steel Brewing menu.
town full of construction and farm folk, so we thought it was fitting,” Hamm said.
Sawdust & Steel Brewing is owned by Cody & Kari Hamm.
He said the bar has 12 taps, and plans to eventually have about eight consistent beers and another “four or five rotators.” His favorite? “The Headwaters Hazy IPA,” he offered. Right now, Mobile Mike’s Food Truck is handling the food part of the business. His website has the truck at the brewery most nights until 7:30 p.m. “We take pride in keeping things local,” he told the MBA. “Locally owned, fresh, locally sourced ingredients, and a brewmaster who is a Montana veteran. It started as the dream of a local construction business owner, who has a passion for beer. And we are now
18 | OUTLOOK ON BUSINESS • BELGRADE NEWS • January 2024
Sawdust & Steel Brewing has opened in Three Forks.
serving unique hand-crafted beers in downtown Three Forks.” (In June, his national ad for a
Photos by Dan Chesnet
brewmaster stated they were looking for someone who has “an interest in unique, short-run beers.”)
Sawdust & Steel Brewing in Three Forks is located at 123 W. Elm St.
“We are pretty passionate about beer,” he continued. “We spent a lot of time traveling around to breweries and thought it would be an exciting venture to do something a little less rigid than the usual construction work ... and we wanted something
closer to home.” As for he and Kari’s construction bona fides? “My wife’s dad is a contractor; her brother is a contractor; we are contractors, and all our friends were contractors. It is what we do,”
he told the TFV. “It’s how we got to the point we could build this place, so we wanted to celebrate this.” It’s deliberately family-friendly, he added, with an outdoor patio and an indoor “kids’ corner where your
little ones can play. Bring the whole family.” Sawdust and Steel Brewing is open from noon to 8 p.m. Check out their Facebook page for updates. Phone 406-593-0842.
January 2024 • BELGRADE NEWS • OUTLOOK ON BUSINESS | 19
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Churchill Equipment adds Belgrade location By Karen E. Davis Staff Writer
Churchill Equipment just gained a Belgrade location with its recent purchase of Valley Trailer Sales at 5246 Jackrabbit Lane. “It’s a busy location,” said Churchill Equipment General manager Kendal Walhof. Churchill Equipment had been leasing the business’ buildings and land, and recently had the chance to buy it from the investment company that bought it from longtime owner Dex Dink, he said “Our biggest thing is we have trouble getting our Bozeman and
Belgrade customers to drive out to Churchill Equipment,” he continued. “We have a lot of loyal customers and they were willing to keep it going (Valley Trailer Sales). “We thought we’d put some of our consumer equipment out there, lawnmowers, power washers.” Its grand opening was supposed to have been Tuesday, but a paperwork backlog has that on hold. “We’ve had a ‘soft opening’ all week,” said partner Tim Van Dam, “and we’ve been training employees.” The business is still waiting on paperwork from the state of Montana.
22 | OUTLOOK ON BUSINESS • BELGRADE NEWS • January 2024
Keith Moss, Kendal Walhof and Tim Van Dam of Churchill Equipment.
It’s 8.2 miles from Belgrade to Churchill Equipment at 7150 Churchill Road in Manhattan; and 17.3 miles from Bozeman. Churchill Equipment was started in Manhattan in 1956 by Ron and Dave Hoekema. Walhof and partners Van Dam and Keith Moss became full owners in 2018, Walhof said. “The three of us had been buying it for a few years. It was important to us to keep the
business local. And our desire is to keep it that way in Belgrade,” he said. The Belgrade location will also be known as Churchill Equipment, he said. Walhof said they purchased the parts and trailer inventory and all the contents of the building “so we’ll have some product to sell starting out the year.” Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Churchill Equipment is a local dealer of Massey Ferguson farm implements. The Belgrade location will not be selling farm implements, he added. “No, not the implements,” he laughed. “There’s not a lot of room at that location for (big) equipment. We’ll sell lawn mowers, a skid steer. We thought we’d put some of our consumer inventory out there.” That consumer inventory will
include the compact, Massey Ferguson tractors and attachments, and Grasshopper commercial duty lawnmowers and attachments, and Hotsy power washers. Jackrabbit Lane is “a busy, dangerous road to get anything wider than 10 feet,” he said. “Right now we’ve been in the building, cleaning it up and making it look nice.” Valley Trailer Sales handles dump trailers, utility trailers, car haulers and snow mobile trailers. “We’ll love to work on any drift boat trailers, but we aren’t selling the new ones,” Van Dam added. “Anything to do with trailers, we can handle or find somebody to do. We’d been looking for a spot to be closer to consumers and this spot will fit like a glove. This product mix. Our customers know that we service what what we sell.”
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“With trailers, you need a dealer’s license and we can’t sell trailers until we have that license,” Walhof said. “We have a fair amount of inventory to sell, and hope to have the dealer’s license by the end of week. We have a lot of parts. Don’t forget us for trailer parts. We can sell their (Valley Trailer Sales) inventory and truck beds, and we’re hiring two, possibly three more people to be over there.”
State Farm, Bloomington, IL January 2024 • BELGRADE NEWS • OUTLOOK ON BUSINESS | 23
Gibson Brands firms up leadership with new COO By Jason Bacaj Staff Writer
Gibson Brands appointed a new chief operating officer on Wednesday as the company firms up its leadership team. Luke Ericson had acted as interim COO since May 2023, the same time the company’s board of directors appointed Cesar Gueikian interim CEO. “Luke’s overall experience as an operations expert, successfully serving in multiple leadership roles, uniquely positions him to drive operational excellence for Gibson,” Gueikian, who was named permanent CEO last July, stated in a news release. “I have full confidence in Luke’s ability to lead our office of the COO, and Gibson, into the future.” Gibson is an international guitar manufacturer with an acoustic guitar factory in Bozeman. The local facility — Gibson Acoustic — off South 19th Avenue is about 50,000 square feet. The building’s size roughly doubled in an expansion completed in November 2022. At the time, the local operation employed 230 people. The expansion added more machine shop and manufacturing space, as well as expanded the company’s custom shop capability, according to a 2022 announcement. It also added an artist showroom. Gibson Acoustic first started in Kalamazoo, Michigan and briefly operated in Nashville before finally moving to Bozeman after Gibson purchased the local Flatiron Mandolin company in 1987. Ericson is an Australian who studied economics and finance at the University of Technology, Sydney. His career includes extensive experience in supply chain and manufacturing operations, “typically as part of large-scale business
Photos Samuel Wilson/Chronicle/Report for America
The Gibson acoustic guitar facility in Bozeman. The guitar company recently expanded their Bozeman “craftory,” which produces all of Gibson’s acoustic guitars.
transformations,” the release states. During his time as interim COO, Ericson played a key role in building out the operations office putting a global strategy. Prior to joining Gibson, Ericson was an operating partner at KKR, an international private equity firm, where he worked to “develop and execute growth strategies,” according to the A Gibson employee flips his hammer while assebling a guitar at the Gibson acoustic guitar facility in Bozeman. release.
24 | OUTLOOK ON BUSINESS • BELGRADE NEWS • January 2024
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January 2024 • BELGRADE NEWS • OUTLOOK ON BUSINESS | 25
Geyser Whitewater Expeditions passes the paddle, merges with Montana Whitewater Staff Writer
Just days before Christmas, Montana Whitewater announced a merger with Geyser Whitewater Expeditions. In an online post announcing the sale, Geyser owner Eric Becker wrote “it is with a mix of nostalgia and gratitude that I write to you today... I am pleased to announce the recent sale of Geyser Whitewater Expeditions to Montana Whitewater.” “It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as the owner of one of Big Sky’s oldest businesses and the longest-running outfitter on the Gallatin River,” Becker continued.
Founded in 1992, Geyser Whitewater Expeditions was one of Big Sky’s oldest businesses and longest-running whitewater operators on the Gallatin River. Becker and co-founder Jim Robbins started off guiding just 150-200 folks down the river their first season — the same amount the company might take out in a single morning 30 years later, according to a 2021 Explore Big Sky write-up. Over the past 30 years, company highlights include a visit from the Obama family in 2009, making Geyser the only outfitter in the Greater Yellowstone region to host the First Family. The company even received a certificate of appreciation from the Secret Service.
Ridley Hudson/Chronicle
Montana Whitewater rafting and houses are pictured along the Gallatin River and U.S. Highway 191 on June 28, 2022.
But Geyser’s tenure was even more marked by everyday adventures, smiles and laughter, with their efforts and genuine love of the activity showing in their glowing online reviews.
In Geyser’s farewell post, Becker expressed well wishes to Montana Whitewater and confidence in their ability to guide the new, expanded company to further heights of success.
While a whitewater-focused venture, the company also partnered with Yellowstone Park Zipline to provide customers with affordable aerial adventures.
“Geyser Whitewater Expeditions will always hold a special place in the story of Big Sky, and I am confident it will thrive under new leadership,” he said. Bill Zell, creative director and founder
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of Montana Whitewater, said the rationale behind the merger was increasing crowds in the canyon, the business’ prime location and those at Geyser wanting to leave the business. Zell said Montana Whitewater can support both companies and thinks the move will be an overall positive for whitewater enterprises in the area. “We’re just really happy to continue offering great service in the community,” he said. They also hope to acquire guides from Geyser and provide more trip times. “We’ll put together a product that hopefully combines the skills of both and the knowledge of both companies for the better,” said Zell. Despite combining two companies, the addition of Geyser will not double the
size of Montana Whitewater. The company describes itself as a one-stop shop for outdoor adventures in the Yellowstone area, offering raft-guiding services on both the Gallatin and Yellowstone rivers, two ziplining courses, fly-fishing lessons and a variety of rentals. The announcement of the merger was well-received on social media, with many commenters extending congratulations to Becker on making the bittersweet decision and taking the next step in his life, illustrating Geyser’s impact on the community. “Geyser Whitewater Expeditions has been more than a business to me; it has been a journey marked by adventure, camaraderie and the beauty of the Gallatin River,” Becker wrote.
Samuel Wilson/Chronicle
A raft from Geyser Whitewater Expeditions floats over rapids on the Gallatin River on Aug. 7. BELOW: Montana Whitewater rafting and houses are pictured along the Gallatin River and U.S. Highway 191 on June 28, 2022.
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Café Zydeco for sale, future remains uncertain for Cajun restaurant Staff Writer
$650,000 for the turnkey Café Zydeco business.
Café Zydeco is for sale as its owner looks to move on from his 25-year career bringing Cajun specialties to Montana.
The restaurant itself needs little introduction to Bozemanites. The Cajun restaurant had already become a staple even before it moved to its current location in 2012.
First listed in June, the cafe’s owner Kevin Carloss and his wife, Laura, hope to sell the property and the business for close to $3 million.
Café Zydeco’s menu features a variety of Cajun-style items such as the “All That Jazz Po’ boy” loaded with shrimp, andouille, ham, turkey, provolone and American cheese. But the gumbo and jambalaya is what most people come for.
By Laurenz Busch
“It’ll be bittersweet…I’ve been doing this for 25 years, and I need a life, you know,” Carloss said, chuckling Friday. “I’ll miss it, I love doing it (but) my wife and I are tired.” The 1930s-era 5,600 sq ft. building on an acre lot located at the intersection of West College Street and Main Street has an asking price of $2.4 million and
Carloss says, he often works in the kitchen due to staffing issues but also partly due to his passion for serving up authentic Cajun food, worried that others can’t get it right. “I work here a lot because I can’t trust anyone to cook my food — the
28 | OUTLOOK ON BUSINESS • BELGRADE NEWS • January 2024
The front of house at Cafe Zydeco. The restaurant business and its property on West College Street are up for sale.
gumbos and jambalaya, I have to do,” he said. And over the years, Carloss has left his mark when it comes to Cajun food in Montana. He’s opened and sold other
restaurants by the same name in Billings, Missoula and Helena — the latter of which still operates today. Raised in Abbeville, Louisiana in a family of 17 kids, Carloss found his way
Photos by Laurenz Busch
Kevin Carloss, the owner of Cafe Zydeco in Bozeman, prepares food in the kitchen.
to Montana in the 1980s. At the time, despite a good salary and enjoying the company he worked for, he was looking for something else, he said. As his cooking with a Cajun flair gained popularity, he decided to leap into the food industry, despite discouragement from his brother, who owned a restaurant in Whitefish at the time. Starting with a smaller rendition of his business in a gas station in Four Corners, Carloss eventually moved the cafe into the current Roost Fried Chicken location and then into the old hatchery building in 2012. Now, Carloss says it’s time to head south again — at least part-time. “I would like to spend the winters where my roots are. Louisiana, south, southwest, southeast, I don’t care, just somewhere. I just want to be down there,” Carloss said. “I miss all of the activities I used to do as a kid.”
Carloss plans to sell the property in Bozeman — which he purchased four years ago — along with the business, but also wonders if it may be best to instead lay Café Zydeco to rest out of fear that once he moves on, it won’t be the same. “My number one goal is just to sell the building and be free, but if someone is willing to buy the business and the recipes and the equipment I have, that’d be fine,” he said, hinting at the difficulties of running a restaurant in Bozeman. “To find a place to rent in this town is just very costly, so given that, you can definitely succeed if you buy both — we have a bar that’s not being used, beer and wine would kill it. There’s a lot of possibilities.” For now though, until it sells, the café doesn’t have a set closing date. Carloss and the staff will continue to serve up the restaurant’s iconic Cajun fare into the new year. January 2024 • BELGRADE NEWS • OUTLOOK ON BUSINESS | 29
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