Tattoo artists RUN APPAREL STORE IN BELGRADE
BY SEAN BATURA Staff Writer
After about five years operating 1881 Tattoo Company off West Madison Avenue in Belgrade, Lee and Robin Wilkinson decided to expand into clothing and accessories last July, and it turned out to be a good idea.
“I tell people it’s a man cave that sells men and women’s clothing,” Lee said.
To the left as one walks into 1881 Apparel & Leather there are shelves of men’s grooming products and Vikingstyle drinking horns. On the opposite wall are various women’s accessories such as purses and handbags -including some that are concealedcarry friendly.
A variety of pants, shirts, hats, boots, shoes, gloves and more can be found throughout the store. A lot of the clothing is by Wrangler and Sullen.
“I like a mix of styles -- we try and do a little something for everybody,” Lee said. “Work-style pants for bluecollar folks and stuff people can wear out for dinner.”
There’s all-terrain gear and clothing 1881 Apparel &
See TATTOO on page 14
Leather
ranchers, farmers, horse riders, motorcyclists, hunters, fisherman,
more at 203 West Madison Ave., Suite G, Belgrade.
Rocky MountainSupplyisyourlocal co-op, made upofhardworkingpeoplejustlikeyou.Being part ofacooperativemeansthatyou’reamember-ownerandthatmeansyou’reapartofthesuccess.
InIn2023wepaidout$2,952,245incashandequitytoourmembers. 2024 we paid out $3,186,542 in cash equity to our members.
In2022wepaidout$1,884,679incashandequitytoourmembers.
Whenyou jointheRocky MountainSupplycooperativeyou’rejoiningacompanywho’sfocusis onourmember-owners.You’llgainaccesstogreatprograms thatare easytouseand easyto understand.ForeverydollaryouspendatRocky MountainSupplyyou’llearnpatronageand oncea yearyougetacheckinthemail,it’sthatsimple.
AnotheroutstandingmembershipbenefitisourRockyCardforuseatanyofour 4 locationsaround southwestMontana.Pay atthepump orinthestoreand attheend ofthemonthyouget onebillto trackspendingand planforthefuture. JointodayandseewhyatRockyMountainSupply
Agronomy . Retail . Energy
NMLS #: 1941456
406 Brewing Company hops over to Manhattan
BY ABBY WEINGARTEN Staff Writer
In February, 406 Brewing Company – a fixture in Bozeman since April 2011, known by its area-code-inspired moniker – reopened in Manhattan to plenty of fanfare.
With its on-tap selection of beers – from Steampunk Pale and Hop Punch IPA to Peach Wheat and Rail Pale – the brewery is a definite boon to the city.
“We’ve fallen in love with the town of Manhattan — its character, its people, and its potential to be the perfect home for our brewery,” said 406 Brewing Company Owner
Matt Muth. “We specialize in quality craft beer, and we have a space where families, friends, and beer lovers can come together.”
The Manhattan space includes a large tasting room and a patio where regulars can enjoy craft products – as well as live music, games, and trivia nights – in a family-friendly atmosphere.
“We strive to operate a space where our patrons can gather and enjoy. It’s a place for locals and travelers to relax and hang out with friends and family, listen to musicians, and see the brewing process,” Muth said.
See 406 on page 6
A 406 bartender fills up a glass of on-draft beer.
Exterior of the 406 Brewing Company building in Manhattan.
Educating patrons about the brewing process is a significant part of 406 Brewing Company, considering the town of Manhattan has some historic claims to fame when it comes to beer.
“Manhattan has one of the richest histories of brewing of any town in the U.S., which was cut short during Prohibition, and we wanted to revive that tradition,” Muth said. “Our patrons love the beer, the camaraderie, and the inviting atmosphere that the taproom, lounge, and patio provide.”
And word is getting around about 406 Brewing Company, not just in Manhattan or the state of Montana, but throughout the entire country. In June, for example, the brewery’s team entered the
North American Beer Awards (hosted by the North American Brewers Association) and walked away with a total of three medals. The brewery’s Peach Wheat earned a bronze medal; the Belgian Pale Ale (the newest beer on tap) received a silver medal; and the J.A.M.B.E.R Ale (a brewery favorite) took home the gold.
Food trucks are often onsite at 406 Brewing Company, too, with selections from such purveyors as Curry Express and Ernesto’s New York Slice – perfect bites to pair with hometown brews and music from local bands.
406 Brewing Company is located at 308 E. Main St., Suite 406, Manhattan. For more information, call 406284-2211 or visit 406brewing. com.
Entertainment and games are part of the 406 experience.
Manhattan High School Samuel Feddes
Manhattan High School Samuel Feddes
Manhattan Christian Simeon O’Hara High School
Manhattan Christian Simeon O’Hara High School
Three Forks High School Madison Griffiths
Three Forks High School Madison Griffiths
Willow Creek High School Savanah Davis
Willow Creek High School Savanah Davis
Churchill Equipment Company is happy to announce that we have taken over Valley Trailer Sales on Jackrabbit Lane. We will be offering the same great trailers and truck beds that you have come to rely on and adding Hotsy pressure washers, Grasshopper lawn mowers, and Massey Ferguson compact tractors. Churchill Equipment is priveledged to continue the tradition of supplying quality products, service, and parts.
The Life Yoga Studio brings tranquility and a sense of community to MANHATTAN
BY ABBY WEINGARTEN Staff Writer
Fifth-generation Montanan Katelyn Bessette opened The Life Yoga Studio in late May to “bring a dynamic yoga option to Manhattan and its surrounding neighbors,” she said.
After living in the Gallatin Valley for the past 17 years (more specifically, in the Big Hole Valley), Bessette imagined launching a studio that could bring together locals and serve as a peaceful gathering space.
“The studio is boutique but has that welcoming, small-town vibe where regular people take and teach classes,” Bessette said. “We have
a variety of classes, a consistent schedule, and affordable pricing for all levels – from the yoga novice to the very experienced.”
Some of the current offerings on the schedule include a heated set power flow (Life Flow) and a gentle restorative yoga class (Ol’ Farmer Flow). There is also Yoga in the Park, Mommy and Me Yoga, Kid Yoga, Foundations Yoga, and Life Trauma Yoga.
“The slogan of the studio is ‘Yoga for Life,’” Bessette said. “This yoga is designed to make live better, help the body move easier, and help the brain think clearer...basically, to help you ‘LIFE’ better.”
Bessette hopes to attract interest
Owner Katelyn Bessette poses outside The Life Yoga Studio.
Exterior of The Life Yoga Studio.
from people in the communities of Manhattan, Belgrade, Three Forks, and Four Corners.
“I’d love for the studio to be a community hub,” she said. “The studio is beautiful and a great option for events. Folks are welcome to reach out for private events (bridal showers, bachelorette parties, and more).”
Bessette understands the importance of having a yoga space like this in Montana – one that will draw in likeminded people from local towns that share her passion for yoga and camaraderie.
“After moving to Three Forks, I was very much missing my own yoga practice; it’s hard to get to Bozeman every day,” Bessette said. “I knew there
must be others like me that share this love of mind and body movement and the desire for something closer to home. Hence, Life was born.”
So far, regulars have been loving the studio and the classes, and that enthusiasm will only continue to grow as the studio expands its schedule.
“People love the heat, the fun music, and the serene tranquility the studio offers,” Bessette said. “Yoga is like good chocolate – a few classes in and you are hooked.”
For more information on The Life Yoga Studio, visit thelifeyogastudio. com, facebook.com/thelifeyogastudio, or instagram.com/thelifeyogastudio.
Owner Katelyn Bessette welcomes guests at the desk of The Life Yoga Studio.
The welcome desk at The Life Yoga Studio.
Jackpot Casinos offer family-friendly spaces for fun and games
BY ABBY WEINGARTEN Staff Writer
With eight locations – from Three Forks to Livingston –Jackpot Casinos have been entertaining communities throughout Montana for decades.
The first location opened in Bozeman 33 years ago, and owners Dick Harte, Kasey Harte, and Kathy Bushnell have been the foundation of the locally-owned-and-operated businesses.
“Our vision has been to provide a
fun and safe environment for people to come in, relax, and share in a family-like atmosphere,” said Jennifer Smith, a manager for Jackpot Casinos.
Outreach is integral to the company’s mission. The team at Jackpot Casinos has sponsored numerous athletic programs for local youth and held fundraisers for area organizations like the Rotary Club in Manhattan.
Currently, the company is excited to expand its space at the Manhattan Depot and open a restaurant by the
end of June.
“This is important for the community for several reasons. For one, the town of Manhattan wants more options for dining without having to drive eight or more miles,” Smith said.
Another benefit of the expansion is that Jackpot Casinos are providing job opportunities for Manhattan residents, including young people.
“Nowadays, there is a disconnect with young people wanting to work; they are too often told they cannot work because they are too young
or don’t have enough experience. Those kinds of shutdowns can squash any ambition these young ones have,” Smith said. “We provide an environment that encourages teamwork, and we’re happy to help train people with skills that they can use for a lifetime.”
Not only does Jackpot Casinos take care of its employees and its community, but the offerings at each of the locations keep guests coming back for the entertain
See JACKPOT on page 12
Exterior of Jackpot Casinos’ Manhattan Depot building.
High-top tables and wood accents greet guests of Jackpot Casino.
The Manhattan Depot has plenty of interior seating for guests.
“We offer adult gaming and a full-service bar with a small menu that is perfect for a quick bite of lunch. We have a liquor store with great variety,” Smith said. “We have plenty of seating available for families and we also have a game room for kids.”
When the Manhattan Depot location reveals its expansion this summer, guests will be treated to a menu for lunch and dinner, as well as breakfast options at 7 a.m. on Saturdays (and potentially other days, depending on staffing).
“We strive to build lasting relationships and engage with our community to be a blessing to all,” Smith said.
For more information on Jackpot Casinos and its eight locations, visit jackpotmontana. com.
At Manhattan Depot we have a full service bar, liquor store, and a hoppin’ casino with the best staff in the valley! We are now offering full dining experience for the whole family including a game room for kids. Serving smashburgers, hand crafted cocktails and more! Clip this ad and bring it in for $5.00 off your order of $20 or more. Valid 7/1/24-9/30/24
Jackpot Casinos has an extensive inventory of beverages at its Manhattan Depot site.
with UV protection for active folks, golf attire, and leather and denim jackets. Some of the clothing is wrinkle resistant. Much of the attire is suitable for hunting, fishing, or working around the ranch or homestead. There’s also clothing for riding both animal and steel beasts.
The store also has a nicotine and tobacco license and sells Big Sky Cigars.
Lee has been tattooing for 23 years and his wife for five and a half years. His favorite work is on her leg: a human skull wrapped in octopus tentacles. He’s from Florida and she’s from South Carolina where they both lived before moving to Montana, so they have an affinity for sea creatures.
“Anything to do with nautical stuff, we dig,” Lee said.
The store also offers piercings and tattoo touchups and coverups.
“Tattoos age and some people want it to be refreshed and some people get a piece and they want it covered up,” Robin said. “[Tats are] going to migrate, they’re going to age.”
Large tats age better than smaller ones. Robin sometimes declines to do tattoos that are too small, as she knows time just won’t be kind to them.
A day in the life of a tattoo artist is anything but boring.
“Generally, it’s something different every day -- a lot of different types of people, a lot of different body types,” Lee said.
Robin’s oldest client is woman who got her first tattoo around her 80s. Another tattoo artist at 1881 also has a female client in her 80s.
“She’s such a sweetheart,” Robin said. “She actually comes into the clothing store a good bit, says it’s her favorite place to shop.”
Also slinging ink at 1881 Tattoo Company is a guy called Auto -- it’s common for body art specialists to be known mostly by nicknames.
Belgrade News asked him what the strangest tattoo he ever did was.
Auto replied that a man once asked for a tape measure tattoo. The image started around the client’s ring finger and went up his arm. Another memorable tat Auto made was an image of Mr. Clean wearing a Seattle Seahawks jersey and holding a magic eraser in one hand and a Starbucks cup with flames coming out of it in the other.
Lee and Auto were trained and mentored by a tattoo artist nicknamed Crowbar, of Satsuma, Florida. Crowbar’s real name was Edward Boivin Williams, and he died at age 54 last year. He had an
enormous influence on the tattoo artists he took under his wing. Lee, Auto, and Robin spoke highly of him.
“Everyone that met him loved him instantly,” Robin said.
Crowbar also imparted a lot of knowledge about the business aspects of tattooing -- from him, Lee learned how to run a successful tattoo studio.
Crowbar’s work can be found at https://www.facebook.com/ crowbartat2.
1881 Tatoo Company hosts a Bike Day very so often in the parking lot in front of 203 West Madison Ave., Suite G. The event is open to everyone -especially if they’re hungry. Lee grills
a massive amount of chicken and gives it away for free.
“That man can cook,” Robin said. “He’d feed the world if he could.”
The Bike Days are a great opportunity for residents of the area to get to know one another and for local businesspeople to network, Lee and Auto indicated. The last event was held June 2, and that day all items in the store were 20% off. 1881 Tattoo Company probably will hold another Bike Day at the end of July, but nothing’s set in stone yet, Lee said.
More about the company can be found at https://www.facebook. com/1881tattoocompany.
1881 Apparel & Leather offers clothing and accessories suitable for homesteaders, ranchers, farmers, horse riders, motorcyclists, hunters, fisherman, and more at 203 West Madison Ave., Suite G, Belgrade.
Provided by Rocky Mountain Supply
RRocky Mountain Supply A Company of the Community
ocky Mountain Supply proudly stands as one of the longeststanding businesses in the Gallatin Valley! Its roots date back to when it was formed in 1931 in Bozeman. As an agricultural-based cooperative, it was started in the Dust Bowl days of the 1930s by farmers and ranchers coming together to form a business that they owned to provide critical products and services to their operations at a competitive cost. Gallatin Farmers Company was the predecessor company of Rocky Mountain Supply. Gallatin Farmers Company moved to Belgrade in the 1960s at the current location of Bar 3 Brewing & BBQ. In the early 1990s, they purchased the site of its current retail operation at 350 Jackrabbit Lane in Belgrade. Since then, Gallatin Farmers Company added locations in Townsend and Ennis. Then in 1999, Gallatin Farmers Company merged with another locally owned cooperative, Co-op Supply of Dillon. This merger formed Rocky Mountain Supply as it is today.
Rocky Mountain Supply is still owned by the communities it serves today as it was when it was formed back in the 1930s. The company has grown and evolved significantly in its almost one hundred years of existence. The foundation of the business still lies in its agricultural roots, however, the business and patrons it serves have changed as the communities have changed. In the early years we served exclusively farmers and ranchers. Today we
continue to serve farmers and ranchers, but also commercial & industrial entities such as trucking, excavating, and mining companies, as well as your average consumer who is looking for the products and services that the company offers.
When the company was formed in the 1930s, supplying petroleumrelated products such as gasoline, diesel fuel, and lubricants were products that the farmers and ranchers were looking for to be sourced in a more reliable and competitive fashion. Over time, as the cooperative expanded and gained additional members, more products and services were added such as livestock feed, fertilizer, animal health products, crop protection products, and seed. As the urban areas of the Gallatin Valley continued to grow, more products and services were added to serve this growing membership base. This includes hardware, pet supplies, convenience store items, western & work wear clothing & footwear, and sporting goods (hunting, fishing, & camping).
Today Rocky Mountain Supply has operations in the Montana communities of Belgrade, Dillon, Townsend, Ennis, and Helena. It serves customers and members in a 250-square-mile area in southwest Montana. It currently has approximately 18,000 members, with about 6,000 of them actively doing business with the cooperative. As a locally owned cooperative, we are governed by a seven-member board of directors which is elected from the agricultural producer members of the company. The profits of the company are in part distributed back to the members who do business with the company each year. As an
example, Rocky Mountain Supply will be distributing just over $3 million in patronage dividends back to its members in 2024. Of that amount, almost $1.8 million of it will be distributed in the form of cash. The balance is retained by the company as equity in the name of the patron, thus making the patron an owner. This equity is used to help finance the operations of the company as well as to replace and improve the assets that serve the members. This equity is retired and paid to the member in cash in future years as determined by the board of directors. An example of this is that we plan to retire approximately $1.25 million of equity back to the members who received the equity in the years 2000 through 2007. This means that we will have over $3 million in cash being distributed back to the membership in 2024. This is the combination of the cash portion of the patronage dividends and equity retirement. To
give you an example, in 2023, Rocky Mountain Supply paid a patronage dividend of approximately fifteen cents per gallon on gasoline and diesel fuel purchased at one of its four retail stores. Of the fifteen cents per gallon, about six cents per gallon was paid back in cash. You will not find very many businesses anywhere that are truly as local as Rocky Mountain Supply. We are owned by the people in our communities, supported by the people in our communities, and the profits go back to the people in our communities! Please reach out to us if you have any questions or would like to learn more about being part of Rocky Mountain Supply!
We would like to thank the people and communities we serve for supporting Rocky Mountain Supply. We have been around for almost one hundred years and plan to be around for another one hundred years and beyond!
Trailer, ag equipment dealer celebrates new location
BY SEAN BATURA Staff Writer
After decades running Valley Trailer Sales, Dex Tank retired and handed the business over to the partnership that owns Churchill Equipment.
The partnership, composed of Montanans Tim Van Dam, Kendal Walhof, and Keith Moss, purchased the business in December and began operating it in January as a new Churchill Equipment location off Jackrabbit Lane. They celebrated the new location with an open house on June 11 – an event that featured the Hotsy Monster Truck, lunch served
by Prairie Dogs, 10% off certain Hotsy products, and chances to earn Feddes Family Meats certificates.
“This location fit the bill perfectly,” Van Dam said of the acquisition. “We could sell trailers, so we had instant sales, we had instant parts, we had instant service.”
The new location at 5246 Jackrabbit Lane showcases the Massey Ferguson compact tractors, truck beds, Grasshopper lawn mowers, and Hotsy pressure washers, in addition to flatbed trailers, hydraulicly operated dump trailers, enclosed trailers, and more. The company features other brands such as Hillsboro, Aluma,
Walton, Mirage, Snake River Trailer Company, and C&B Quality Trailer Works. The location also sells parts for trailers.
Under the former ownership, Valley Trailer Sales had employed two people, not counting the owner. With Churchill’s acquisition, three more jobs were created, according to Van Dam. Churchill Equipment now employs about 30 people, he said.
“We were fortunate enough to hire some really good people here to run this business,” Van Dam said.
Churchill Equipment started out as Churchill Garage, founded by Pierre and Dave Hoekema in the 1950s.
They repaired well pumps, kitchen appliances, dairy equipment, automobiles and more. Churchill Garage became Churchill Equipment and moved to its location at 7150 Churchill Road as its emphasis changed from general products to farm machinery. Its product line continued to evolve over the years.
Fifteen years ago, while Van Dam, Walhof, and Moss were employees of Churchill Equipment, they were offered the chance to assume ownership.
“We could not believe the opportunity that we were given to buy into the business,” Van Dam said. “To
left, Corwin Walhof, general manager, and Churchill Equipment co-owner Tim Van Dam are shown at the company’s Jackrabbit Lane location in June.
become an owner of a full-fledged agricultural implement dealer is difficult for individuals to do, and so we were just very excited. I would say there was very little hesitation on what we were going to do.”
Van Dam handles mostly the sales management part of the business, while Moss deals with the service end, and Walhof is the general manager. They’ve known each other for a long time.
“We’re of the same mind,” Van Dam said. “We’re different, but we balance each other’s strengths and weaknesses out.”
Walhof and Moss are native Montanans and Van Dam and his wife moved to the area in 1981 fresh out of college to thrive in small-town America and the rural lifestyle of the Gallatin Valley. The area used to be much more rural than it is now.
“Forty years ago, when we moved to the valley, it was an ag town and the whole valley was geared toward
agriculture,” Van Dam said. “Bozeman would host the national final rodeos, and now there are four-lane roads, traffic lights -- it’s become the place to move to, especially after covid. A lot of acres are being changed into urban use versus full-blown ag.”
But the area’s agricultural heart still beats, as Van Dam deals with farmers, ranchers, homesteaders every day.
“Working with ag people is just -- I couldn’t find a better bunch of people to work with,” he said.
The partnership of Walhof, Moss, and Van Dam also serve a lot of people interested in recreation and hunting, as the flat bed trailers are great for hauling ATVs, UTVs and other fun vehicles.
All three partners are Christians and found that beginning their venture together all those years ago was something God wanted them to do, Van Dam indicated.
See CHURCHILL on page 20
Churchill Equipment sells power washers, compact tractors, and a variety of trailers and related parts and accessories -- among other equipment -- at a new location it recently acquired at 5246 Jackrabbit Lane.
“We’ve been blessed,” Van Dam said. “We’ve got just a great group of employees. Many of them are very long-term employees, and I’ve been able to find and attract just excellent, excellent people to work with us.”
The trio had been looking for an additional location for quite some time.
“We just really felt led that this was the right decision in the same way with buying this trailer business,” Van Dam. “It just really felt like it was a good time to do this.”
More information about the company can be found at https://www.facebook.com/ ChurchillEquipmentCompany and www.churchillequipment. com.
Local Business Solutions
Whether you are looking to expand, purchase equipment, increase inventory, hire more employees, or consolidate debt, we offer a variety of loan types to help your business grow.
Churchill Equipment sells compact tractors, among other equipment, at a new location it recently acquired at 5246 Jackrabbit Lane.
Churchill Equipment sells compact tractors, among other equipment, at a new location it recently acquired at 5246 Jackrabbit Lane.
The Gallatin Conservation District is proud to have been serving Gallatin County for 75 years!
LANDOWNER RESOURCES AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE:
Working on a project that could affect the bed or banks of a stream? Apply for a 310 permit, it’s free, it’s the law.
Do you have a private well that needs to be tested? We provide free well testing kits and cost-share assistance for lab results. Looking for fun, educational experiences for your kids this summer?
Our Summer Stewards program runs every Thursday from 10 AM - 12 PM at our Education and Outreach Center.
The Gallatin Conservation District also manages the Manhattan Farmers Market. Come visit us every Wednesday from 4 PM to 7 PM in downtown Manhattan.
Want to learn more?
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for weekly updates on activities, landowner resources available, and upcoming events.
Uninsurable? Wildfire
Courtesy Bitterroot National Forest
BY ROB CHANEY
WWildfire coverage for Montana homes is getting harder to buy as insurance companies nationwide lower their exposure to natural disaster payouts.
Homeowners in Missoula and other parts of Montana have had their insurance policies non-renewed, seen premiums increase and levels of potential reimbursement fall, according to officials in the industry and local government emergency services. Montana may actually lag behind the wave of insurance broker pull-outs in other states that have suffered big losses from tornadoes, hurricanes and floods.
“The impacts to Montana are probably just starting,” said Adrian Beck, Missoula County’s Emergency Management Office director. “But it’s coming. A handful of individuals have reached out to us, having lost coverage in Missoula area.”
That will put renewed emphasis on residents protecting their own properties through fire-wise defensive efforts. Bozeman-based Headwaters Economics released a comprehensive guide for confronting urban wildfire risk in May.
Almost one in ten homeowners in Montana do not have insurance on their homes, according to a 2024 analysis by the Consumer Federation of America. Nationally the percentages are even worse for owners of manufactured homes (35%) and those who inherited their homes (29%).
And that analysis does not include under-insured people whose policies are too small to cover the cost of rebuilding.
“We also expect that the number of uninsured homeowners has risen since 2021, as insurance companies have increasingly pulled out of states and homeowners have had to contend with double-digit rate
Charred remnants of an old dairy barn left from the River Road East fire
31, 2023.
hikes,” the CFA report authors noted. Specialized earthquake and flood policies were also not analyzed.
In 2022, the Montana towns of Gardiner and Red Lodge incurred extensive damage from a sudden June rainstorm that toppled homes and tore out roadbeds in and around Yellowstone National Park. Last summer, the town of Paradise lost at least 50 structures, including 16 homes, in a wildfire that burned 12,000 acres in less than 12 hours. They join more than 115 million people in the United States — onethird of the national population — who live in counties with high wildfire risk, according to a May 29 report released by Wildfirerisk.org. Montana ranked higher risk than 74% of the rest of the nation.
“Big Sky has a 93% higher risk than the rest of the nation,” said Big Sky Assistant Fire Chief Dustin Tetrault, who dove into the study
ANTONIO IBARRA OLIVARES/Missoulian
are seen off of Highway 200 outside the town of Paradise on Aug.
for a presentation he made last month to fellow disaster services managers. “And we’ve dealt with a large amount of the primary insurance market — State Farm and those bigger companies — that have pulled out from writing new policies in Big Sky. They’re trying to mitigate risk.”
According to a New York Times analysis, homeowners’ insurance was unprofitable in Montana five of the last 10 years. Three of those loss years were more than double the best of the positive years, and two of the positive years just barely made it in the black at all.
That has rippled up to the re-insurance industry — a small group of international insurers who backstop more well-known policy writers.
“This unregulated market has tightened over the past several years and reinsurance rates have seen the sharpest and longest continuous rise in at least 30 years,” the CFA report stated. “Consequently, domestic homeowners insurance companies have turned to other strategies to protect profits, namely increasing rates, limiting underwriting and reducing the coverage offered to consumers. In addition, regulator weaknesses at the state level has allowed insurers to pull back from local markets with very little resistance.
Montana State Auditor Troy Downing, whose office regulates insurance dealers in the state, said state law restricts insurers’ ability to cancel a homeowner’s policy, but does not prevent non-renewal of expired policies.
“(Re-insurance companies) like Swiss RE and Lloyds of London have really struggled the last halfdozen years with year-after-year losses,” Downing said. “They’re not in the business of losing money, so they’re tightened up underwriting
and pulled back on the risk they’ll take. It’s hard to entice people to invest if you’ve got five years of losses. And that trickles down to domestic insurance.
“But even if you get nonrenewed, the (Auditor’s) office is not aware of any market without an insurer writing policies there,” Downing said. “We don’t have concerns that it will evaporate like Oregon and California did.”
Insurance brokers in Oregon have pulled back considerably in the past couple years. Oregon homeowner premiums are up about 30% since 2020, according to reporting by Oregon Public Radio.
Residents of fire-hit places like Bend and Medford have seen their rates double or quadruple. Some near Ashland, Oregon, have risen as much as 600%.
Those premiums go to cover the expenses of disaster-hit communities. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2023 logged 28 weather and climate disasters costing at least $1 billion apiece — for a total of about $94 billion. That was actually a downturn in the trend, which saw $180 billion (18 events), $161 billion (20 events) and $118 billion (22 events) in damages in the previous three years respectively.
2024 has already had seven $1-billion disaster events as of May 8, the latest NOAA recap shows.
In response, many states have had to set up “insurer of last resort programs” where public programs cover policies the private market will no longer touch. Those include Colorado, Florida, Louisiana and California.
“You wonder what does hundreds of homes burning in Hawaii have to do with our insurance in Big Sky?” Tetrault said. “They have to recoup that somewhere, so they trim risk where they can.”
JOSHUA MURDOCK/Missoulian
A helicopter drops water on the Triple L fire, a fast-moving brush fire in Lolo that burned multiple structures in July 2023.
French restaurant La Brasserie opens in downtown Bozeman
BY ISAAC GREEN Chronicle Staff Writer
When France native Aloys Scheer acquired the former downtown Bozeman winery Blend in February and relaunched the business as La Brasserie, he fulfilled a lifelong dream.
“Having my own restaurant has always been a dream of mine, and through this acquisition, I was able to turn that dream into a reality,” Scheer said. “The love for wine culture has been a constant in my career and life, and combining it with the cuisine I grew up with is the perfect match.”
The business finished converting last week, the new owner said, a
process that involves a fresh rebrand, a new look and new offerings, developing new wine labels, a new menu, and getting involved with the community.
“Obviously, it is a work in progress like every good restaurant and we will make sure that our clients will enjoy a very special experience at La Brasserie,” Scheer said.
The new look at La Brasserie means a revamped space, kitchen improvements and an interior redesign, according to Scheer.
“We partnered with Yellowstone Bank that is supporting our efforts and Design Republic, a Bozemanbased interior design agency,” Scheer
said.
The certified sommelier and spirits specialist moved to the United States from France with his parents, where he graduated from both Johnson & Wales University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management and Marketing and Cornell University in 2017 with a Master Certificate in Hospitality Asset Management.
“Bozeman and the surrounding valley do not currently have any French restaurants, making La Brasserie a unique addition to the culinary scene,” Scheer said. “The closest French restaurants are located in Missoula. By bringing this concept
to Bozeman, we aim to fill that gap and offer locals and visitors a taste of authentic French cuisine paired with exceptional wines.”
Scheer said he brings with him more than 20 years of luxury hospitality operations experience and a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Most recently, he has served as the head of the food and beverage division at The Armory Hotel and will become an adjunct professor for the Hospitality College at Montana State University this fall.
“Upon taking over, my intention was to convert the tasting room into
See FRENCH on page 28
Contributed photo
The inside of La Brasserie in downtown Bozeman.
Contributed photo
The inside of La Brasserie in downtown Bozeman.
an Urban winery that serves French cuisine because of my background,” Scheer said. “This transformation would involve developing multiple labels and creating a unique experience for our guests.”
Developing these labels will involve partnering with vineyards and wineries to create unique and high-quality wines that will be exclusive to the establishment, according to Scheer.
“The first label to be released will be Bozeman Winery, in addition to Valo Cellars, which was part of the acquisition,” Scheer said. “I am also working on a couple of other projects that will be revealed later this summer, along with their respective names and designations. These projects will draw inspiration from renowned wine regions such as Argentinian Wine, Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Central Coast and Bordeaux.”
If the concept is successful, Scheer said he plans to add more locations around Montana.
“By focusing on quality, craftsmanship, and a deep appreciation for French cuisine, my vision is to establish La Brasserie as a place where guests can create lasting memories while savoring excellent food and wine,” Scheer said.
Contributed photo
Patrons take in dinner at La Brasserie in downtown Bozeman.
Made in the USA beef label policy quietly returns
BY TOM LUTEY Billings Gazette
As farm policies play in politics, county of origin labeling has always sizzled. Ranchers have shined to the populism of beef labeled “raised in the USA.” Consumers responded positively.
“COOL,” as the labeling is known,
has been a PR hit since a first-year U.S. Senator from Montana, Democrat Jon Tester, proposed it in 2007. But it’s also been highly controversial, opposed by meatpackers who argue that on the hook there’s no difference between an American Simmental and Corriente from Mexico.
Congress fought through the politics of meat to make COOL law
in 2009 but retreated as Canada and Mexico complained to the World Trade Organization, calling the U.S. policy an unfair trade practice. WTO in 2015 granted the two nations approval to impose tariffs on United State products in retaliation for meat labeling.
Quietly, COOL has made a return, despite the threat of tariffs from
Mexico and Canada, once thought to add $1.01 billion to the cost of U.S. exports. The reason is vacancies on the WTO Appellate Court, explained Bill Bullard, CEO of the R-CALF USA. Earlier this spring, Bullard told Lee Montana newspapers that vacancies on the appellate board have gone
See BEEF on page 30
LARRY MAYER/Billings Gazette
The moon sets behind cattle near Broadview on a September morning in 2020.
unfilled since 2019 because the United States has blocked new appointees. Both President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump have played a role. R-CALF USA stands for the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America.
During the appellate board logjam, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has been tenderizing the U.S. meat labeling policy. In March, USDA finalized its rule allowing voluntary “product of USA and “Made in USA” labels, starting in 2026, which means the COOL labeling doesn’t rise to the mandated identification at the core of the WTO dispute brought by Canada and Mexico.
USDA also committed to purchasing United States beef for its “Foods in Schools” program. About 15% to 20% of the food in school lunches is purchased by USDA.
“Biden has made the use of ‘Product of USA’ only if it is born, raised, slaughtered in the United States, that’s huge, because now they know, they’ve got to quit lying to the consumer,” said Walt Schweitzer, CEO of Montana Farmers Union. “And then he went even a step farther, and he’s requiring that any food procured by the USDA has to be born, raised, and processed in the United States. And so that’s going to force these factories, because a huge market for them is the schools, is the prisons, is our hospitals. If they’re going to fill that market, then they’re going to have to establish that it’s a product of USA.”
Federal lunch programs were long a target for beef raised outside of the United States but slaughtered at meatpacking plants in the United States, Schweitzer said. That’s because school lunch beef is usually hamburger, which comes from lower quality animals, a niche cattle from Mexico and Canada contributed to.
“The United States, we’re one of the largest exporters of beef, but, you know, we’re also one of the largest importers of beef. And it’s this lower quality that we’re importing to blend off with our beef and then feed to our kids in the schools.”
Farmers Union puts a Montana label
on the beef it processes in Columbia Falls, Schweitzer said.
There is a new bill to create country of origin labeling that what would be “WTO-compliant.” The latest version was introduced in partnership by Tester and South Dakota Republican Sen. John Thune.
