Explore Big Sky - April 18 to May 1, 2024

Big Sky said goodbye to the Six Shooter chairlift on Sunday, April 14. Six Shooter was innovative in 2003—it was the first sixperson chairlift in Montana and a centerpiece of the new Moonlight Basin Ski Area. Moonlight homeowner Dave Anna came up with the name as a play on words reminiscent of Wild West “sixguns” or revolvers. Six Shooter will be replaced in time for next winter by an even faster, eightseat chair called “Madison 8.”

MEDIA

Mira Brody | mira@theoutlawpartners.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Jack Reaney | jack@theoutlawpartners.com

DIGITAL PRODUCER

Jen Clancey | jen@theoutlawpartners.com

EDITORIAL CONSULTANT

Leslie Kilgore | leslie@theoutlawpartners.com CREATIVE

LEAD GRAPHIC DESIGNER

ME BROWN | maryelizabeth@theoutlawpartners.com

SALES AND OPERATIONS

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Josh Timon | josh@theoutlawpartners.com

CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER

Megan Paulson | megan@theoutlawpartners.com

VP DESIGN & PRODUCTION

Hiller Higman | hiller@theoutlawpartners.com

DIRECTOR OF RELATIONSHIPS

Ersin Ozer | ersin@theoutlawpartners.com

MARKETING MANAGER

Tucker Harris | tucker@theoutlawpartners.com

CONTENT MARKETING LEAD

Taylor Owens | taylor@theoutlawpartners.com

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT

Sara Sipe | sara@theoutlawpartners.com

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT LEAD

Patrick Mahoney | patrick@theoutlawpartners.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Thad Beaty, Kaley Burns, Mario Carr, Eileen Coil, Rachel Hergett, Eva Mitchell, Merrick Parnell, Benjamin Alva Polley, Kimberly Shields, Michael Winter

As the final bouts of snow

TABLE OF CONTENTS

12

MEET THE CANDIDATES: LOCAL ELECTION GUIDE

It’s time for Big Sky voters to elect board members to lead the school district, water and sewer and Resort Tax districts. Ballots are due back to county offices by May 7 for the special purpose district elections, and EBS featured a bit of background on local candidates and why they’re running.

$50M WASTEWATER PLANT OPENS AFTER THREE-YEAR BUILD

After more than six years of planning, funding, design and construction, the Big Sky County Water and Sewer District has opened its new Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility, which cost roughly $50 million—more than half paid by resort tax through the additional “1% for infrastructure” commitment. The plant will drastically increase both treatment capacity and quality.

REMEMBERING STEVE JOHNSON, ‘BO’ TERRY THOMAS

Two community members passed away in early April and will both be remembered for their contributions to Big Sky’s culture and values. Steve Johnson spent 24 years in Big Sky, and almost immediately dove into volunteerism with various public service and advocacy roles. “Bo” Terry Thomas is, for different reasons, a local legend. Thomas shared his love for the outdoors—hunting, collecting artifacts and exploring—with generations of Big Sky locals, and was surrounded by an outpouring of love in his final days.

BSSEF WRAPS ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SEASON

Local alpine, Nordic and freeride athletes just completed another season of competition with the Big Sky Ski Education Foundation, and EBS spoke with coaches to learn just how successful those athletes were. One big theme is the programs’ continued growth as Big Sky makes a name for itself on the national stage.

INSIDE BIG SKY’S NEW BOOK

Local writer Barbara Rowley and Boyne Resorts executive Molly Kircher produced a new book celebrating the history and culture of Big Sky. “BIG SKY” includes a balance of words, photographs and artworks showing the history of Big Sky Resort from its creation, through Boyne Resorts’ 47-year ownership, and the associated development of Big Sky’s year-round community. It was published by Assouline, a renowned French luxury brand.

10 YEARS OF THE BIG SKY SHOOTOUT

Roughly 400 community members attended the ninth annual Big Sky Shootout, a local and film and photography festival. The Shootout began 10 years ago as a way to unify the ski community through an inclusive event, and has since grown and evolved to reach high levels of participation and quality, and advance the mission of its current organizer, Second Season. EBS spoke with Erik Morrison, creator of Second Season, about the initiative and how Big Sky needs events like the Shootout.

PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

A legendary ranch located on the Jack Creek Road outside of Moonlight Basin, Big Sky Resort, Madison Valley, and Yellowstone National Park. Historically run as a summer guest ranch, all 160 acres are fenced and have corrals for horses. Large barn and outbuildings for vehicle maintenance and storage, an indoor tennis court, a spring-fed pond, Jack Creek, and Mill Creek run year-round through the property and it includes water rights. Adorable historically preserved log cabin homes. Lodge with commercial kitchen and enormous artisan stone fireplace where you can gather telling stories of your adventures from the day either fly fishing, horseback riding, skiing, hiking and so much more. With no zoning, you can run it as a business-create the ultimate guest ranch, or keep it for your private use.

755 JACK CREEK ROAD ENNIS | DIAMOND J RANCH

NEWS IN BRIEF BRIEFS

GALLATIN COUNTY TO HOST FREE E-WASTE EVENT

To honor Earth Day on Saturday, April 20, the Gallatin Solid Waste Management District and 406 Recycling will provide a free electronic waste recycling event at Logan Landfill. Between 8 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., anyone can stop by Logan Landfill at 10585 Two Dog Road to properly dispose of e-waste in an Earth-friendly manner.

Accepted items include cell phones, computers, tablets, batteries, hard drive towers, laptops, monitors, printers, TVs, remote controls, scanners, modems, stereo equipment, digital cameras, VCRs, copiers, keyboards, computer mice and handheld electronics. Data destruction on all devices is guaranteed.

Some common electrical items will not be accepted. They include blenders, power tools, fans, lamps, hair dryers, curling irons, coffee makers, microwaves, juicers, mixers, toasters and crock pots. Anyone unsure if something is considered e-waste can call 406-582-2493 for clarification.

Gallatin Valley Earth Day is hosting a festival jam-packed with events the weekend of April 20. Learn more about upcoming lectures, kids activities, and opportunities to learn from change-makers in southwest Montana’s climate at GallatinValleyEarthDay.org.

CHRIS LA TRAY, MONTANA POET LAUREATE, TO SPEAK AT BOZEMAN PUBLIC LIBRARY

Chris La Tray, Métis storyteller and Montana Poet Laureate, will speak with Montana Conversations at the Bozeman Public Library on April 22, at 6 p.m. Humanities Montana funds Montana Conversations, a program that brings trained facilitators across the state to conduct workshops and conversations on current affairs, culture and history.

La Tray has authored “Short Poems and Essays from the World at Large.” His latest book, “Becoming Little Shell” is published by Milkweed Editions. La Tray is an enrolled member of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians. Read more about the event at BPL’s website.

SOME ROADS OPEN FOR SUMMER SEASON IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

EBS STAFF

As the spring thaw arrives, Yellowstone National Park will open certain roads to visitors for the summer season. According to a press release from Yellowstone, the West Entrance at West Yellowstone to Old Faithful, Mammoth Hot Springs to Old Faithful and Norris Junction to Canyon Village will open, weather-permitting, at 8 a.m. on Friday, April 19.

The opening will happen just in time for National Park Week, when visitors’ entrance fees will be waived on April 20.

More roads will open as the region enters spring. Several roads remain open year-round: the North Entrance in Gardiner, and the Northeast Entrance in Cooke City/Silver Gate. The release advises visitors to assess conditions when planning a trip to Yellowstone and be mindful of safety around wildlife.

FATALITY INVOLVING SEMI-TRUCK CLOSES 191 BETWEEN BIG SKY AND WEST YELLOWSTONE

EBS STAFF

Early on the morning of April 12, an accident involving a semi-truck resulted in a fatality and temporary closure of U.S. Highway 191 between Big Sky and West Yellowstone. The highway between West Yellowstone and Big Sky remained closed through the afternoon due to bridge damage.

The accident occurred about 15 miles south of Big Sky near mile marker 33 or 34, near Taylor Fork Road and the Covered Wagon and Elkhorn ranches—Montana Department of Transportation reported a “full blockage of roadway” at mile marker 33, and a Facebook post from Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office reported the closure at mile marker 34.

“The semi truck caught on fire on the roadway and the semi trailer is in the river. This closure is expected to continue for a few hours. If you are traveling to West Yellowstone, you will need to drive through Ennis,” the Sheriff’s Office wrote this morning. The road reopened the following day, Saturday, April 13.

8:00am - Breakfast

8:30am - Presentation

Start the morning with economist Jackie Haines as she shares the important ripple e ect that our community has on the region. She will take us through the Big Sky 2023 Economic Impact Analysis and outline opportunities for community-wide infrastructure updates that help preserve economic vitality.

Spring Joint County Commission & BSRAD Board Meeting

10:00am - Meeting

Join our locally elected o cials as they discuss and take action on topics that directly a ect our community, from public services and government collaboration to environmental conservation and infrastructure investment. Be part of the conversation that shapes our future.

OBITUARY “BO” TERRY THOMAS

MARCH 20, 1957—APRIL 4, 2024

“Bo” Terry Thomas born in Sacramento, California, on March 20, 1957, passed away peacefully on April 4, 2024, in Big Sky, Montana surrounded by family and friends. He was 67 years old. He was known as a true Big Sky legend and for his love of hunting, fishing, finding and collecting artifacts, and spending time with family and friends.

Terry is survived by his twin brother Lance (Mary Goodson) Thomas of Big Sky, brotherfrom-another-mother Brian (Happy) Perin of Bozeman, nephews Luke (Alli) Perin, Dillon Perin, and Cody (Nicole) Perin, his godson Cody Hodge, the OG Bo’s, and too many friends to count or mention. He was preceded in death by his parents R.E. & Gladys Thomas, brother Jim Thomas, and his special little buddy Tyler Simmons.

Terry was raised in Sacramento, California, and graduated from Rio Americano High School in 1975 before moving to the last best place— Montana. Terry followed his brother Lance and close friends’ “Bo” Tim and Mike Pattison to Big Sky in 1989 where he and Lance

started a very successful HVAC business that thrived until their retirement in 2022. Over the course of his 30+ years in Big Sky, Terry took advantage of everything Montana has to offer. He was an avid hunter of all things on four legs and with wings and was often heard saying “smoke a pack a day”—wolves that is. Fishing was another favorite pastime of Terry. He was a gifted fisherman who loved nothing more than spending the day on Canyon Ferry with family or scoring big with friends at tournaments— during the summer and winter.

Terry’s true passion was for hunting shed, and collecting trade beads, arrowheads and other artifacts. He had an amazing collection built over 50+ years. The only thing that made Terry happier than finding these artifacts was sharing his knowledge on the topic and gifting pieces to friends. Over the last several years of his life, Terry gave away the vast majority of his collection in the form of small gifts he would pull out of his pocket and casually present to friends. Those on the receiving end could feel his love and cherish these treasures.

Terry was a natural born teacher. And he loved most of all to teach kids about Montana, nature and the outdoors. Terry spent countless hours introducing hunting and fishing activities to his nephews and the children of friends. He was particularly passionate about sharing his skills as an elk horn hunter and finder of artifacts. He’s helped multiple generations of children develop good sportsmanship and safe and proper outdoor skills, along with a respect for the land and those that came before us. He loved watching kids get excited about the great outdoors.

As his health declined over several months, Terry was patiently and lovingly cared for by his sister-in-law, Mary Goodson. He called her an “angel on earth” and felt appreciative of and blessed for her care, which allowed him to remain in his home for as long as possible. Terry chose to discontinue treatment and enter hospice care at Big Sky Medical Center— he asked that everyone respect his decision. During those two weeks, Terry could be found holding court daily in his room but more often than not, in the hospital solarium or out on the back patio. The number of people that come to see him every day (all day and all night) puts him at legendary status as far as hospital visitors go. Terry and the family were truly touched by this outpouring of love.

Terry and his family also expressed eternal gratitude for the nurses, doctors, orderlies, administrators and staff at Bozeman Deaconess Big Sky Medical Center. With no formal hospice program in Big Sky, amazing efforts, exceptions and considerations were necessary for Terry to be cared for in Big Sky. Special thanks go to Rachel Porter for her neverending advocacy. The family also wishes to acknowledge special friends Lynn Milligan and Sara Sipe for bringing great comfort to Terry and holding his hands as he drifted into the heavens.

Memorial services will be on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at 2 p.m. at Riverhouse BBQ & Events, 45130 Gallatin Rd, Gallatin Gateway, Montana. This will be immediately followed by a celebration of life and the 1st annual “Bo” Terry Thomas Memorial fundraiser.  Be sure to wear your best beads!

The family hopes Terry’s legacy will live on by bringing permanent, end-of-life care to Big Sky, Montana. Contributions can be made to the “Bo” Terry Thomas Memorial Fund at boterrymemorialfund.org. Donations can also be made during the celebration-of-life that follows the service.  All donations are tax deductible and will support the establishment of an end-of-life program in Big Sky, and to help cover expenses for families needing such care outside of the area.

Cremation was handled by Dahl Funeral Home in Bozeman, Montana.

Dear Editor,

We are writing in support of Kevin Germain who is running for a Big Sky Resort Area District board of director seat.

This is our 13th year as full time residents of Big Sky. Big Sky is not the same sleepy, small town it once was and we understand and accept that fact. However, we also understand that we need committed community leadership now more than ever. As an unincorporated entity,  Big Sky is vulnerable to the vagaries of our two counties. We need representation by an individual who champions our values, possesses the vision and has demonstrated the ability  in order to enable us to capture “forfeited” tax dollars to be returned to the benefit of our residents.

Kevin is well grounded in these endeavors having spent years as a contributing board member on most of Big Sky’s major governing nonprofits. His leadership as past chairman of BSRAD provides him with the unique experience and perspective to help guide us in the very important community objective of claiming the control we deserve in determining our own destiny.

Please join us in reelecting Kevin Germain to represent us on the Big Sky Resort Area District board of directors.

John and Trish Loomis  Big Sky, Montana

ELECTION CANDIDATES

BIG SKY RESORT AREA DISTRICT

FIVE CANDIDATES FOR THREE SEATS—FOUR-YEAR

GRACE D. YOUNG

Relevant involvement(s) in Big Sky community:

22-year full-time resident, WIA founding board member 2004 –2014, South Fork Phase 1 HOA board member since 2005, small business owner since 2014, BSRAD board member since 2020; BSRAD representative on Elevate Big Sky, Reserve Strategies subcommittee, Transit and Transportation subcommittee.

Reason for running for this position:

I have enjoyed bringing my perspective as a long-time resident, local employee and small business owner to the BSRAD decision-making process. During my tenure, I am most proud of my work in securing 24-hour police coverage for Big Sky and initiating 3-year contracts with our government entities. I look forward to continuing to serve on the BSRAD board and ask for your vote again so I can continue to represent the residents of Big Sky.

JOHN ZIRKLE

Relevant involvement(s) in Big Sky community: Teacher at the Big Sky School District and Director of the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center.

Reason for running for this position:

I am running for a seat on the Resort Tax Board as a representative from the school and nonprofit community in Big Sky. I've lived and worked in Big Sky since 2009, and I am a strong believer in the power of a thriving community. If I am elected, my primary focus will be on leveraging partnerships between public and private sectors to tackle the big challenges surrounding livability in Big Sky.

KEVIN GERMAIN

Relevant involvement(s) in Big Sky community: Currently on the boards of Big Sky Resort Area District, Eagle Mount and Moonlight Community Foundation. Formerly on the boards of the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce, Mountain Parks and Trails District and Bear Smart Big Sky.

TERM

LAURA SEYFANG

Relevant involvement(s) in Big Sky community:

Founding Executive Director of Big Sky Community Housing Trust, active Big Sky Rotarian for seven years, board member with All Saints Church, leader of Seasonal Worker Community Support Group.

Reason for running for this position:

My past careers have taught me to be a problem solver. As an engineer and past automotive plant manager, I tend to analyze situations then take prompt action. Having held several nonprofit leadership roles in Big Sky, I understand our community dynamics and the importance of allocating Resort Tax funds responsibly. Through this board position, I aim to support collaboration across organizations to resolve our challenges as we continue to grow.

LANDON WEIGHT

Relevant involvement(s) in Big Sky community: Has worked in hospitality over 13 years and spent the past two years with Montage as Director of Finance. Landon has two young children in the Big Sky School District and his wife serves as an RN at Big Sky Medical Center.

Reason for running for this position:

With an education and background in accounting, I would love to put my knowledge and experience towards the betterment of those that call Big Sky home. After more than a decade of traveling in the hospitality industry, my family and I have always wanted to live in Montana and jumped at the opportunity to be a part of this community. As Utah natives, we thrive in this mountainous environment and seek to contribute toward its future.

Fifteen-year volunteer with the Winter Special Olympics, volunteer for trails day, Eagle Mount and Friendsgiving.

Reason for running for this position: I am deeply committed to assisting Big Sky to be a thriving, inclusive community. My focus lies on ensuring accessible housing, affordable childcare, enhanced transportation, and comprehensive wellness programs, including mental health. I am dedicated to preserving our natural resources and advocating for our community with our state and counties. I hope to nurture an environment where generations can prosper, raise families and cherish our natural resources, ensuring a sustainable and vibrant future for all.

BIG SKY COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT

FOUR CANDIDATES FOR THREE SEATS—FOUR-YEAR TERM

MIKE WILCYNSKI

Relevant involvement(s) in Big Sky community: Currently serves on the Big Sky County Water and Sewer District Board, and works as general manager of Moonlight Basin. Mike’s wife Jenny, daughters Josie and Maddie, have been full-time residents of the Big Sky community for 20-plus years.

Reason for running for this position: I have thoroughly enjoyed my time on the BSCWSD board. The district is constantly evolving: new leadership, new treatment facility, we have more tools in our arsenal for water and wastewater management, and talent that can position us as a regional leader in this space. I believe my background and institutional knowledge can benefit the district as we enter a new chapter of managing these resources.

RICHARD (DICK) FAST

Relevant involvement(s) in Big Sky community: Veteran of the U.S. Air Force and retired from active duty as a Colonel, moved to Big Sky in May 2000 and has lived here since, taught skiing with Big Sky Snowsports School through March 2020, organized and was President of Aspen Groves Owners Association for 12 years, elected member of Big Sky County Water and Sewer District Board for last 20 years.

Reason for running for this position:

I have served on the Big Sky County Water and Sewer District Board of Directors for the last 20 years, both as Secretary and Treasurer. My focus on the Board has been to represent our customers and ratepayers and to ensure that development in Big Sky reflects and respects our water resources and disposal capabilities. Protecting the environment we enjoy here is paramount and will continue to be my primary goal if reelected this year.

KENT VOLOSIN, MD

Relevant involvement(s) in Big Sky community:

Currently on the board of Aspen Groves Owners Association and a member of Big Sky Search and Rescue, has spent years on the board of BSOA, and the Shoshone Owners Association and still active on the BSOA advisory board.

Reason for running for this position:

I have been a Big Sky owner since 2003. I live currently in Aspen Groves with my wife. In a previous life I was a marine biologist studying the effects of discharge effluent on freshwater marine life. I also care significantly about proper and fair use of our freshwater resources. I firmly believe that strategic planning will allow for appropriate resource conservation management. We should manage capital improvements with fiducial responsibility and community involvement.

JERAD BIGGERSTAFF

Relevant involvement(s) in Big Sky community: Local builder and owner of Biggerstaff Construction, licensed realtor, serves on the Gallatin Gateway/Big Sky Zoning Advisory Committee, grew up in Big Sky and has been a community member for over 40 years.

Reason for running for this position:

I am proud to be from Big Sky and want to support its healthy growth. I believe that the Big Sky County Water and Sewer District Board is a vital part of the future of this community.

ELECTION

BIG SKY SCHOOL DISTRICT

FOUR CANDIDATES FOR TWO SEATS—FOUR-YEAR TERM

MATT KIDD (candidacy withdrawn)

Reason for withdrawal:

Given the other highly qualified candidates who have chosen to pursue serving on the school board,

MAREN DUNN

I have withdrawn my candidacy. I was willing to serve on the board if there was limited interest, but my intention was never to campaign against others who are engaged to help the future of our school

Relevant involvement(s) in Big Sky community: Worked at the Medical Clinic of Big Sky periodically from 2004 to 2008. Moved to Big Sky and opened Gallatin Valley Medicine, her private medical practice, in 2011. Moved to the Big Sky Medical center when it opened in 2015 and continues to work there. Served nine years on Morningstar Learning Center board: three as president and one as VP. Parent to a fourth grade Ophir Miner.

Reason for running for this position: Watching Big Sky children and BSSD grow has been impressive. I’d like to continue to put our children on the educational map with children from big cities. While on the MLC board, I learned the complexities of childhood learning and its diverse needs—especially staffing. I see hiring and retaining teachers through improved pay and housing as paramount, along with new educational opportunities in the STEAM building and growth of extracurricular activities.

DANIELLE MCCLAIN

Relevant involvement(s) in Big Sky community: Twenty years in the Big Sky School District, holding roles as a tenured teacher, librarian and WMPAC operations manager. Trustee for Morningstar Learning Center for seven years. Her children attended BSSD from K-12th grade.

Reason for running for this position:

My blend of professional experience and personal investment provides a unique perspective. I am deeply committed to ensuring all students, whether pursuing college or trade paths, have the necessary resources and support for success. Meeting the needs of diverse learners is crucial for fostering inclusive and equitable educational environments. Equally important is ensuring we advocate for and provide support to the invaluable teachers and support staff in our community.

and our community. I remain willing to help the school and the board members in any way possible and I wish all the current candidates well in their pursuits.

MATT JENNINGS

Relevant involvement(s) in Big Sky community: BSSEF board member, NICA team founder and coach for Lone Peak Composite, Ophir Miners Basketball coach, BSCO trail ambassador and winter groomer member, Big Sky Biggie race crew.

Reason for running for this position:

I’m excited to continue my service with the Big Sky School District and hope to continue providing students and families a school that is leading the state in academics. Having a senior this year and a soon-tobe freshman next year I’ve seen how important it is to have not only good academics but also administration and staff to lead them.

JOHN MCGUIRE

Relevant involvement(s) in Big Sky community: Big Sky resident since 2019 with three children in BSSD, Big Sky Community Organization board member (vice chair, treasurer), Friends of Big Sky Education board member (treasurer), head coach of LPHS girls basketball and coach of LPHS baseball.

Reason for running for this position: I love our community and can help our school district grow and thrive. I am a lawyer and finance professional with 25 years experience in management, budgeting and board oversight, experience that will be instrumental in creatively and responsibly navigating the fiscal challenges that will face the district over the coming years. My goal is to support our teachers, students, and administrators to maintain and enhance the precious and fragile excellence of our school district.

BALLOT ITEM: FORMATION OF THE FIRELIGHT MEADOWS COUNTY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT

Registered residents and owners in Firelight Meadows may vote to create a water and sewer district. State law requires 40% of qualified electors to vote in favor of creating a district, meaning that voters who don’t participate effectively vote no.

Concerned owners drive this effort to address Firelight's sewer system, which does not meet DEQ treatment requirements. Treating wastewater to the new standard will require substantial capital improvements. Establishing this district comes at no cost, offers the chance

to apply for grants to cover expenses, and presents a solution for enhanced wastewater treatment that will benefit the Big Sky community.

- Karen Macklin, Firelight owner

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Big Sky Fire District is not included in this section, because its election is not contested. Matthew Dodd and Debra Lewis will be automatically elected by acclamation, pursuant to Montana statute. Thomas Butler will also be automatically elected to the Yellowstone Mountain Club Rural Fire District, and Bryant Harp and Mary G. Oliver to the Madison Valley Hospital District.

For sake of space, six candidates for Ennis School District were not included.

BIG SKY FIRE DEPARTMENT OFFERS SAFETY INFORMATION AFTER RECENT FIRE

BIG SKY—In the wake of a destructive house fire on March 29, the Big Sky Fire Department released safety information for local households and buildings.

The suspected cause of the fire was an explosion fueled by a propane leak. BSFD offered information related to propane and natural gas as fuel sources for residential and commercial properties.

“When it comes to propane and natural gas, both of these fuel sources are naturally odorless and colorless,” an April 3 press release stated. “A chemical odorant is added as a safety measure, allowing for the detection of gas in the air. The smell of the odorant is often compared to rotten eggs, skunk spray, or the smell of a dead animal. If this odorant is detected in the air, immediate evacuation and communication of the emergency should be conducted.”

BSFD recommends the following steps in such an emergency: immediately extinguish any open flames or smoking devices; do not operate light

switches or electronic devices, which could cause a spark of static electricity and ignite the gas; evacuate immediately, call 911 and remain in a safe area.

In addition to flammable risks, the gases pose other health hazards. Both fuels can displace oxygen in the air, potentially causing asphyxiation. Symptoms include dizziness, headache, lightheadedness, nausea, loss of coordination, cold injuries when skin is exposed to liquid or cold vapors, unconsciousness and death.

To mitigate the risk of gas exposure, BSFD recommends a plug-in detector—which typically

includes a nine-volt backup battery—for explosive gases and carbon monoxide in homes and buildings where propane or natural gas is used as a fuel source.

“These detectors will alert you with an audible alarm if the presence of an explosive gas or CO is detected in the air. These detectors can be bought at most hardware stores and don’t require any technical setup, allowing for immediate use and added peace of mind,” the release stated.

For more information, BSFD encourages anyone to contact Fire Inspector Chris Vigness at 406-995-2100.

EBS STAFF

PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

NEW WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT OPENS IN

BIG SKY

$50 MILLION FACILITY WILL SLASH NITROGEN OUTPUT AND INCREASE TREATMENT CAPACITY

BY JACK REANEY

BIG SKY—After more than six years of planning, three years of construction and roughly $50 million of community investment, Big Sky’s new wastewater treatment plant is finally live.

The Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility provides two significant improvements: it will increase treatment capacity and reduce the amount of nutrients in treated water. It’s a membrane bioreactor or “MBR” plant and has been constructed around the existing plant completed in 2004, a sequencing batch reactor or “SBR,” which will continue operating as an integrated part of the new WRRF.

Water began flowing into the plant on March 26, part of a slow process to feed and grow new bacteria which will digest nutrients from sewage. On April 16, the new WRRF officially began processing liquids—the most significant milestone of its phased opening which is expected to conclude in November.

“This is the biggest project I’ve ever done, and it’s been the best one between engineer, contractor and [the water and sewer district],” Ron Edwards, general manager of the Big Sky County Water and Sewer District, told EBS during a WRRF tour on April 12. He plans to retire from a three-decade Big Sky career when the plan is completed between October and December of 2024.

Construction on the WRRF began in June 2021.

“You walk on deck now, and this looks like a wastewater treatment plant. For the longest time, it looked like a warzone out here with construction activity,” Edwards said.

WRRF Operator Justin Brechtelsbauer said “it’s a big step up” from the existing, 20-year-old plant. The new one equips operators with state-of-the-art SCADA computer controls, allowing operators to track and manage systems remotely, and run simulations.

“You’re going from a Buick to a Ferrari,” Edwards said. He commended the district’s talented operators, like Brechtelsbauer who has almost three decades of industry experience.

Brechtelsbauer added, “We have a lot of tools in order to make this plant run right.”

Quantity and quality

The new WRRF is rated to treat up to 1.4 million gallons per day, a maximum only expected during April and May—peak months due to snowmelt infiltration. On average, the WRRF can manage a capacity of 960,000 gallons per day, almost 50% more than the existing SBR, which was designed in 2001 for 650,000 gpd.

The district chose to build the foundation and framework for another WRRF section as a potential add-on in years to come. Eventually, at full build, the new plant could sustain maximum daily sewage roughly equivalent to a population of 30,000, according to Johnny O’Connor, Edwards’ replacement as BSCWSD general manager.

“Gives you some idea of the flow capacity of the plant,” O’Connor said during the district’s April 16 board meeting. Engineer Scott Buecker, with contractor AE2S, said the upgraded capacity should be plenty for projects like the Gallatin Canyon County Water and Sewer District and Big Sky’s continued development.

In addition to the significant capacity upgrade, the treatment quality will be “insanely clean,” according to Zach Frieling, process engineer with contractor AE2S.

“It’s gonna be a lot better for the environment, provides more options for reuse,” Frieling said while guiding EBS on a WRRF tour.

The water will be treated to Class A-1, which Edwards says meets drinking water standards. No plans exist yet for direct potable reuse or indirect aquifer recharge, but those options are now on the table. The legal health standard for drinking water is 10 milligrams per liter of nitrogen.

“We’ll be half that,” Edwards said, and Frieling confirmed: effluent will typically contain no more than 5 milligrams per liter, a strong reduction over the existing plant’s output which ranged from 15 to 30 mg, higher during the winter months when cold temperatures hampered the SBR treatment process.

Even in the winter, the new WRRF is better insulated to still keep nitrogen below 5 milligrams per liter.

“So, it’s a big difference,” Edwards said.

Frieling emphasized that no effluent is discharged into the Gallatin River—it never has, in Big Sky—and it will continue to be reused, only now to a higher quality.

The difference might be noticeable as soon as this summer.

Until now, the amount of reclaimed water that could be reused for irrigation—golf courses, primarily—was limited based on nitrogen output. With the new WRRF, Edwards said the grass couldn’t possibly absorb enough water to reach nitrogen limits.

“You’d need to throw half a billion gallons on the golf course to hit those numbers… It’s an unattainable amount, we can’t possibly do it,” Edwards said. “So it’s a game changer.”

In Tuesday’s board meeting, project engineer Scott Buecker explained that the WRRF’s forthcoming effluent will now begin to dilute the existing treated sewage—relatively rich in nitrogen—that remains to be drawn from the district’s holding ponds for reuse.

But by mid-summer, the combined product should be increasingly pure.

“Nitrogen shouldn’t be the limiting factor on irrigation ever again, really,” Buecker said, noting that it’s a longawaited benefit after six or seven years of planning, funding, design and construction.

“I don’t want to spike the football yet, but to get to this point is a big deal,” Buecker said.

Walking through the WRRF, Edwards emphasized that the Big Sky Resort Area District committed about $27 million for this project—dollars collected largely from visitors through the additional “1% for infrastructure” resort tax on luxury goods and services, approved by voters in January 2020.

“The size of this plant is driven by the population we see with all the visitors coming, so I think it’s a fair ask to have resort tax participate,” Edwards said.

The $50 million price tag is not strictly due to size and capacity, but also the commitment to treatment quality. Frieling and Edwards proudly tout the WRRF’s complicated technology.

Frieling jokes that WRRF operators are just bacteria farmers, seeding and growing the right balance and density of “bugs” to consume nutrients in wastewater. The bacteria came from Bozeman’s wastewater treatment plant, which has a similar design.

“They have a really good bacteria that we want,” Frieling said. It required truckloads through Gallatin Canyon, carrying 80,000 gallons of seed sludge.

Now that the plant is up and running, operators are responsible for keeping the right balance.

“You’re making sure all your bacteria is happy, it’s eating, it’s treating the water,” Frieling said. With the right balance, the wastewater plant should smell “earthy,” but a foul aroma isn’t common and usually indicates an imbalance.

A supercomputer lives below deck. It’s a mess of wires and blinking lights, shrouded in a whirring sound, and they are responsible for automatically turning components on and off—Edwards calls it “the brain” of the plant. The required computer chips and mainframe were largely responsible for a six-month delay in 2023.

“For me, this will be the most complicated wastewater plant that I have ever worked on,” said James Sletten, AE2S process engineer who manages the SCADA systems. He spoke loud over the computer noise.

“So, just from all the processes, the advanced control, the basins that are out there—there’s 21 [computer systems] trying to run that whole thing… Getting them to balance and all do their job at the same time can be challenging.”

Before raw sewage reaches the tanks of bacteria, a series of heavy equipment filters out particles—operators emphasized the trouble caused when customers flush or drain anything except toilet paper, even so-called “flushable” wipes which don’t dissolve.

“If people were more cognizant of what can actually be flushed down a drain, we could maybe downsize this and save taxpayer money,” Frieling said.

Those materials, even tiny particles, are removed and taken to Logan Landfill.

“At the end, it’s just basically nutrients. All the floating chunks, every little piece is screened out. At the end, it’s just water, nitrogen and phosphorus,” Frieling said. And then the bacteria goes to work.

The WRRF is an impressive symphony of mechanical and electrical components under human supervision. Still, most people will never care to see inside the WRRF, so the district made a point of designing its exterior to blend in, using a grain-elevator theme.

“It’s definitely the best-looking wastewater plant with the prettiest view,” Frieling said.

“By far,” Edwards added. “It really is, and obviously it adds to the cost of this, but we felt—and my board also felt—it’s important that you build something that kind of fits with Big Sky.”

The WRRF was constructed around the existing, 20-year-old plant (bottom right) and will integrate its services. COURTESY OF AE2S

STEVE JOHNSON, A ‘HALL OF FAME’ COMMUNITY ACTIVIST, DIES AT 77

JOHNSON FOUGHT HARD FOR THE PEOPLE OF BIG SKY, ITS LANDS AND WATERWAYS

BY JACK REANEY

BIG SKY—Many who know Steve Johnson, at least since he moved to Big Sky in 2001, will make a point of three things: his deep love for fishing and hiking, his extensive activism through local service and conservation projects, and his straight-shooting advocacy for anything he believed in.

With Big Sky’s volunteer-hungry governance and leadership structure, and its proximity to fragile rivers, trails and wilderness, those virtues did not stray far apart for Johnson.

“It’s people like Steve that make this community tick,” said Kevin Germain, a fellow Big Sky Resort Area District board member.

Johnson held various public service roles, most recently as board treasurer for BSRAD. He served on the board of the Big Sky Community Organization, and the local fire and parks and trails districts. He volunteered as a firefighter, ski patroller and with search and rescue. He would teach veterans to tie flies for the Warriors and Quiet Waters Foundation.

“Any one of the issues that Steve immersed himself in, to the degree he sunk his teeth into them, would have been an achievement for any community member,” said David O’Connor, a longtime community member who leads the Big Sky Community Housing Trust. “But he had like 10 of them… And Steve wasn’t interested in doing a drive-by.”

O’Connor met Johnson in the early 2000s. For the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce, O’Connor was hosting a strategic planning committee to discuss topics including Big Sky’s potential to incorporate as a municipality. Johnson joined, and became a “fierce advocate” for incorporation, lending to his desire to have the community’s back.

“I learned really quickly how smart Steve is,” O’Connor recalled. “And also how willing he was to listen. Steve was never too proud to go find the expert and pick their brain, on his quest to learn more about the things he was interested in.”

O’Connor said you couldn’t talk with Steve for long before understanding his commitment to conserving parks and trails, and waterways. He fell in love with Big Sky for its skiing, hiking and fly fishing and the sense of freedom they provide, and could not stand the idea that those beloved pastimes may not be as pristine or accessible in the future.

“He received a lot from Big Sky, and he felt like he needed to give back to Big Sky in a big way,” said John Loomis, a close friend.

Johnson’s love for fishing overlapped with his tendency toward solitude.

“That’s his personality. He liked being alone,” Loomis said. “So fishing really suited him.”

Loomis remembers Steve disappearing from an endof-season party. He was off in the river by himself, his happy place.

Ron Edwards remembers Johnson telling him that he has close to 100 fly rods in his collection.

“I mean, who’s got that,” Edwards said, laughing. “Some were rods he used, I’m sure. Some were art.”

Edwards is wrapping up his three-decade stint as general manager of the Big Sky County Water and Sewer District. After Johnson retired from a business consulting career of 30-plus years at Andersen Consulting—now Accenture—and moved to Big Sky, he dove into local involvement and made his presence known to leaders like Edwards.

In a word, Edwards painted Johnson’s legacy: Engagement.

“He always used to complain that people weren’t paying attention to what’s going on,” Edwards said. But Johnson showed up and did his homework. He’d sit in on water and sewer district meetings, and when the board would open public comment, he was “very vocal and always feisty.” Johnson was a sounding board for Edwards for years.

“He’s certainly in the hall of fame,” Edwards said. “I’ve been here a long time and watched residents come in, and get involved in various endeavors… And then they leave the area. I think that Steve would be the captain of the hall of fame in Big Sky as far as a citizen volunteer.”

“He volunteered almost everywhere,” Loomis said. “… He wasn’t talked into it. He just did it of his own free will. I respect it so much, and I wish we had more people around like that.”

Incisive

Johnson pushed hard for the recent creation of the Gallatin Canyon County Water and Sewer District, which he saw as a benefit to the Gallatin River—it could remove roughly 150 homes from septic systems near the river, and pump sewage into Big Sky’s new Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility, with improved treatment capacity and quality.

He was also behind the additional “1% for infrastructure” resort tax that helped fund that $50 million WRRF and included an arrangement that reserved a certain portion of its upgraded capacity for workforce housing.

“Instrumental in the 1%, and without it, we wouldn’t be building this plant,” Edwards said. O’Connor says the workforce housing tie-in was the smartest thing the Big Sky community ever did.

“And a good part of it came out of Steve’s brain… There were six people who dreamed this up, and Steve was one of them,” O’Connor said. He added that the housing trust wouldn’t look anything like it does without Johnson.

On land, Johnson was involved with a community-led effort to permanently protect the Gallatin Range.

Barb Cestero is director of the Greater YellowstoneHigh Divide Landscape Program, under The Wilderness Society, a national public lands conservation organization rooted in Montana. She remembers spending late nights at her office in Bozeman with Johnson trying to advance the mission, which includes “a package of conservation designation” for about 250,000 acres across the Gallatin and Madison ranges. The project is ongoing.

“Steve was a real ambassador and champion for this work in the Big Sky community,” Cestero said. “And really wanted to make a positive impact on how we take care of this corner of this Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.”

Johnson believed that the Big Sky community had a responsibility to care about land and water conservation.

“The last time I saw Steve, in March, he told me he really wanted to stick around to see it all through,” she said. “I feel like our efforts going forward are part of Steve’s lasting legacy.”

She collected adjectives from peers who worked with Johnson. They described him as kind, thoughtful and

smart, but several contributors offered another, less common word: incisive.

“He just had the ability to cut to the chase and call a spade a spade… And particularly when he would talk about the responsibility he felt to give back and take care of our wild places and rivers,” Cestero said.

“Once he had a passion, I don’t know much more of a devoted person than he was,” Loomis said. “Just a pitbull.”

Kevin Germain said he and Johnson were not immune to disagreement on the BSRAD board, but always came away from those discussions “respecting the heck out of one another.”

“If you didn’t know what he was thinking, all you had to do was ask him,” Ron Edwards said. “And a few cuss words into it, you would know exactly where he stands on any issue in Big Sky.”

Johnson was everywhere for almost 25 years, until suddenly, he wasn’t.

“There was a noise in the community when Steve dropped out from going to all these meetings,” Edwards said. He hopes to see an enduring recognition or memorial of Steve Johnson, who asked for nothing in return for his service, save for the fortification of his beloved surroundings.

An intentional father

Chris Johnson, the youngest of Steve’s four children, will remember his dad’s intentional and genuine love for the outdoors. Steve would bring the kids along, sometimes pausing to impart his wisdom about some natural wonder—the Gallatin River, Lone Mountain or Yellowstone National Park—so they could understand its magic and the importance of protecting it.

“And we are now teaching that to our children. So Steve’s grandchildren are reaping the benefits of that,” Chris said.

His parents fell in love with Big Sky on their first visit in the mid-1990s. They stayed at Lone Mountain Ranch. Steve knew that’s where he would retire and live out his final years.

“You could not take Steve Johnson out of Big Sky. He absolutely loved that place from the moment he stepped foot in it,” Chris said. “… That’s why he was so giving to that community. Because he was head over heels in love with it.”

Born in 1947, Steve Johnson grew up in Hammond, Indiana. For the better part of his 77 years, he stayed involved and engaged, but by the end of 2023, extensive health complications finally forced him to the sideline.

“I think we’re all going to miss him, a lot,” said Barb Cestero.

“He was just the consummate community member, there was hardly a public meeting that he did not attend,” said Kevin Germain. “We owe him a big debt of gratitude.”

“Heartbreaking,” said Ron Edwards. “He will be missed around here, for sure.”

In his final months, when Johnson disappeared from volunteer boardrooms and left his rivers and trails for the next generation, those who visited his bed said he was private and independent. As ever, he asked for no attention.

Steve Johnson passed away on April 8, and will be survived by his four children: Gwen, Tim, Pete and Chris. Steve joins his beloved wife Jeanne, who passed away in 2022, as a fixture in Big Sky’s fond memory.

LEADERS IN BIG SKY HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS DISCUSS HOW TO IMPROVE SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES

BY JEN CLANCEY

BIG SKY—At a Thursday afternoon event where only about 35 people were expected to attend, Jerome Tinianow, sustainability professional and proprietor of West Urban Sustainability, was excited to see almost 50 people associated with local homeowners associations arrive at the April 4 HOA Sustainability Workshop in Big Sky.

In total, 13 HOAs in Big Sky were represented at the event, which was organized by Big Sky Sustainability Network Organization (SNO) and held at The Wilson Hotel. CAP Management, a Denver-based HOA management company, led the bulk of presentations and breakout groups in topics of sustainability education, and empowerment of HOAs to take the next sustainable step.

Gabrielle Fuerst, chief sustainability officer at CAP Management, gave a presentation where she acknowledged the challenges HOAs face organizationally and financially.

“First of all, we kind of had to recognize the pressures that HOA and property managers are under in sustainability,” Tinianow said, describing some of the main objectives of the event. “If you're operating minute-by-minute or hour-by-hour … it's kind of hard to focus on the big issues of sustainability.”

After Tinianow noted the obstacles, Fuerst discussed how committees within HOAs could alleviate some of the burden on property

managers. By organizing a committee dedicated to shaping sustainability within the community, HOAs are empowered to create change on a larger scale, especially in an unincorporated area, such as Big Sky.

Fuerst then outlined low-hanging fruit that HOAs could build toward to eventually reach a sustainability certification system in the next five years.

Addressing homeowners concerns and cementing progress

“There's a lot of … old wives tales and urban legends, and things like that about sustainability that aren't really true anymore,” Tinianow said, reflecting on his presentation about energy efficiency in which he reviewed the effectiveness of electric heat pumps over propane furnaces in homes.

“And part of the struggle is just bringing everyone up to date with the way technologies have changed, and the way fuel costs have changed, and things like that.”

Lizzie Peyton, director of community sustainability with SNO, noted that a resounding concern heard from homeowners was the threat of wildfires.

“The fire doesn’t know private property lines,” Peyton said. She discussed taking a more “synthesized approach” to sustainable and native plant landscaping across HOAs.

She also addressed waste management in a destination that brings many visitors renting

for short periods. According to the 2023 Big Sky Waste Composition Assessment, 35.3% of Big Sky garbage is made up of food waste, surpassing the National Environmental Protection Agency average of 21.6%.

“The messaging has to be consistent,” she said, noting the importance of food donation sites and describing a need for all people involved in home management to unite on similar goals.

“I thought there was a great collaboration between HOAs and property managers,” Peyton said. But she also recognizes every organization needs to be met at a different place depending on priorities, resources and type of residency.

Main focus areas discussed at the event can be divided into four categories: finance and governance, landscaping, waste and consumption, and energy efficiency. After organizers collect feedback from attendees, Big Sky SNO and Tinianow will create a resource guide based on these categories that homeowners can use.

Some questions came up that they hope to answer in the future, such as engaging renters in sustainability practices as well. Overall, Peyton noted this was a great start.

“The conversation was fantastic, robust and rewarding for everyone in that room,” Peyton said. She thanked The Wilson Hotel, Resort Tax and the Moonlight Community Foundation for sponsoring the workshop.

SPORTS

LONE PEAK HIGH SCHOOL BEGINS BASEBALL, TRACK SEASON

BY MERRICK PARNELL EBS CONTRIBUTOR

BIG SKY—It’s springtime, and with the warm weather and corn skiing on the mountain, comes a new sports season for Big Sky’s student-athletes.

Lone Peak High School is gearing up for its second baseball season. In 2023, the high school added baseball for the first time after the Montana High School Association approved and introduced the game as a Montana varsity sport. Baseball has boomed in Big Sky with an explosion of participation among the little league levels that has helped develop players, and will eventually feed the high school ranks.

This year, the Big Horns’ roster features 21 players.

“We have one of the strongest contingents of players of any sport at Lone Peak, and it’s a testament to the years of good work and development of players at younger levels. Work that we are committed to continue as more players and families join up to play baseball here in Big Sky,” said coach John McGuire.

For the second season, the team will play their home games at Edward Medina Field in Belgrade due to the lack of a regulation-sized baseball field in Big Sky. Although youth baseball programs in Big Sky play on softball fields at Big Sky Community Park, the high school level requires 90-foot basepaths, a pitcher’s mound and a larger outfield. The Big Sky Community Organization announced efforts in July 2023 to build a multi-use baseball field as a part of their ALL OUT for Parks & Trails campaign in the next three years, but the Big Horns will need to play away games until then.

In Montana, all the classifications are grouped into leagues by region, meaning Class C schools—the smallest in Montana—will compete against the largest high schools in the state in Class AA. Lone

Peak, which recently grew into a Class B school, will compete in the east, featuring the Belgrade High School Panthers, who finished third in the state last year. However, the team must form a new rivalry in the east.

“Our rival last year was Butte Central after beating them to end our season,” said coach Matt Morris. “Unfortunately, they were moved to the western division because of the growth in participants. We are looking forward to creating a new rival that brings out the best in both teams.”

This season, the team expects to compete against any opponent, large or small, and will rely on some key players.

“We are led by our seniors, including Keelan Grupe and Aidan Germain, both of whom have played for years in the Big Sky baseball system and are now enjoying their final season for Lone Peak,” McGuire said. “We’ve got a strong contingent of juniors, including Jack Laxson and Walker Bagby who will step up and inherit the leadership roles on the team.

“We have a very bright future given that our core contingent of players are current sophomores or freshmen, including Ebe Grabow, Brady Johnson, Eli Gale, Oliver McGuire and Sid Morris,” he continued.

The team has already shown a lot of promise, even early in the season.

“Our growth as ballplayers and, more importantly, young men is tremendous,” Morris said. “When we are fundamentally sound and play as a team, we can play with the best AA schools in the league.”

The second season is shaping up to develop stronger players, and build a new tradition of high school baseball in Big Sky. Their next home game will be in Belgrade, against East Helena on April 23. The full schedule is available online.

Ophir Middle School gears up to hit the track

Another growing sport in Big Sky, studentathletes and coaches at Ophir Middle School are excited to take to the track for their second year of competition.

The Ophir track program provides an opportunity for student-athletes to develop their skills and prepare for high school level competition. The Lone Peak High School track team competes in the Southern Conference of Montana Class B.

This year’s OMS team features a roster of 30-plus student-athletes, which is up 10 runners from last year, according to head coach Tina Albers. Albers is optimistic about her team, and she’s looking forward to seeing how each runner will fare in the competition. Assistant coach Laura Barzizza will join Albers to make up the program’s coaching staff.

The track team showcased its talent on Friday, April 12, at the Rural School Track Meet held at Gallatin High School in Bozeman. Coach Albers is also looking forward to a few other meets on the schedule.

“The Bozeman Lions Club meet is always a big event, with all the schools from the area attending. We will also host a home meet this year,” Albers said.

Ophir will compete in five meets in total, and Albers said she has high expectations for the track squad.

“I believe our runners will have a great year,” Albers said.

With their largest turnout yet, the Ophir track team will continue to train hard all season and build on last year’s inaugural track season.

The Lone Peak Big Horns baseball team. PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN MGUIRE

BIG SKY SKI EDUCATION FOUNDATION

ATHLETES COMPETE AT NATIONAL LEVEL, AND BEYOND

BY MARIO CARR EBS CONTRIBUTOR

BIG SKY—Big Sky Ski Education Foundation teams have wrapped up their 2023-24 season, and have once again produced junior-level athletes that are competing at the highest level. Athletes qualified for national and international level competitions on the Nordic, Alpine and Freeride teams. Explore Big Sky visited with coaches of the local nonprofit to talk about standout athletes and wrapping up another successful season.

Nordic

The Nordic team wrapped up their season the earliest, with a national championship on March 17 in Lake Placid, New York. Hana Mittelstaedt (U16) qualified for this elite level competition for the second year in a row, and performed best in the 5k skate race, placing ninth overall. She placed in the top 20 in all four of her races. Coach Anna Fake was very proud of her performance.

“She is extremely driven and she loves the sport and knows how to have fun and be competitive,” Fake said.

Mittelstaedt has two more years of eligibility at the junior level, and her coach hopes that this year’s performance will help her with some additional invitational competitions, and increased recognition moving forward.

The team also sent four U14 kids to the U14 cup, the highest level of competition for that age group. Maeve McRae, Lola Morris, Ty Mittelstaedt and Thaddeus Davis performed exceptionally well in the Inter-Mountain Division.

“We have a lot of U12 and U14 kiddos that are just loving the sport, and that’s really fun,” Fake said.

The best overall team performance occurred in Sun Valley, Idaho at the Inter-Mountain Youth Championship where—with just 12 athletes—BSSEF placed third, just behind Bridger Ski Foundation with 40 competitors, and Sun Valley with 100.

“That was really cool. That’s something the Nordic team has never done before, scoring as a team like that,” Fake said.

Fake and her team are thankful for the opportunity to practice at local courses like Lone Mountain Ranch and the Big Sky Resort Golf Course and Nordic Center, and Fake believes that their training is what sets them apart from other teams.

“You train on the golf course and it’s pretty flat, and then you go up to Lone Mountain Ranch and get pushed by the hills and they figure out how to ski them really well. So [Big Sky] is a pretty awesome place to train,” Fake said.

With about 50 kids involved in the program, and only about 14 still traveling for competition, Fake is very hopeful for the future after having a successful year with their development programs that range from first through seventh grade. The program also produced three community Viking Races, and Fake hopes to do even more next year.

“We want the community to be involved as much as they can be,” Fake said.

Alpine

BSSEF sent three U16 alpine ski athletes to the National Championship in Vail, Colorado the first week of April: Anna Taylor, Oliver Svensrud and Anthony “Geno” DiTullio, who ended up finishing fourth overall in the giant slalom.

“It’s been one of the better years that we’ve had for the alpine team, especially U16 and older,” coach Aaron Haffey said.

Younger brother to Geno, Dominic DiTullio (U14) qualified for the Whistler Cup, an international competition where typically, fewer than 10 U.S. athletes qualify. BSSEF has sent an athlete to this race for the last three years.

“For such a small club, it’s pretty amazing that we’ve qualified at least one athlete to the Whistler Cup in the last three years,” Haffey said.

At the U18 level, BSSEF qualified two athletes to nationals at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, a competition that Haffey said the organization has only sent one athlete to for the last six years. Sophia Davis and Carter Morton will both have another year of eligibility at the junior

The BSSEF Nordic team has seen strong participation in recent years. COURTESY OF BSSEF

Hana Mittelstaedt continues to shine in the BSSEF Nordic program. COURTESY OF BSSEF

Carter Morton and Sophia Davis qualified for U18 nationals in alpine racing. COURTESY OF BSSEF

level, and coach Haffey hopes to see lots of returning athletes and increased depth on the team.

Haffey is excited about the younger athletes on the team that are showing great promise: Sophia and Aurora Kaczmareck-Hill (both U12s) who push each other on and off the hill; Aurora has even had podium performances competing with U14 competitors.

“I have watched those girls ski and seen some of their results and they're gonna be pretty darn good ski racers,” Haffey said.

Some other notable performances from the season include a podium performance from Drew DiTullio in January, placing third overall, and Caleb Unger winning the downhill in Mammoth, California this April.

Freeride

The “national” freeride competition changed this year, with the North and South American regions now combined. BSSEF was able to qualify five athletes to the IFSA Junior Freeride Championships in Breckenridge, Colorado on April 13, with one athlete making it through to the finals.

Mac Bertelson finished 13th overall in the U15 mens ski category. Coach Wallace Casper was proud to see all of the athletes leaving it all out on a venue, in a competition with a strict finals cut. Casper said that competitors Kennedy Cochenour, Henry Flach, Ava Staudt and Duke Woodman “went big” in their qualifying runs, and Casper was glad to see smiles on their faces even when things didn’t go according to plan.

“Every year until this year, it’s just been the North American Championship. This year it included all of North and South America, so getting to the event was extremely difficult,” Casper said. “So for us to get five kids in with a team of 30 was already a huge success for us.”

Casper said that it was a great way to end the year with an excellent venue. The 12,500-foot North-facing slope at Breckenridge provided cold, chalky snow for the entire competition.

With a low snow year here in Big Sky, Casper said that it was hard to keep motivations high to train at home throughout the season.

“I think we did super, super well, especially considering we had one of the lowest snow years here in Big Sky…

You know how it is once you’ve skied Mr. K a hundred times,” Casper said.

When the kids were able to travel to venues with better, or even just average snowpacks, they were increasingly grateful for the improved conditions.

“I think the kids were actually more confident just because of how gnarly everything was for us all season in Big Sky,” Casper said.

After this year’s competition with the South American competitors, Casper said that a big focus for the team will be traveling to the Southern Hemisphere in the summer in order to keep improving.

“Spending so much time with the Chileans and Argentinians for the last week or two has really motivated our team to try and get down there over the summer to do some training,” Casper said.

With hopes for better snow next season, and an excitement for the future of the team, Casper is particularly excited for the U12 athletes that are “stoked” to be a part of the team.

“They don’t really care if the skiing’s good or bad, they're just hyped to be skiing… So the coaches had to kind of fight over who got the U12 group because they were just so fired up,” Casper said.

As the ski season comes to close here in Big Sky, BSSEF coaches are proud of their athletes and thankful for the opportunity to provide an environment and atmosphere where kids can grow, compete and have fun together on and off the slopes.

Big Sky Freeride athletes at the IFSA Junior Freeride National Championship. COURTESY OF BSSEF

Caleb Unger tops the podium at Mammoth Mountain. COURTESY OF BSSEF

Freeride athletes compete at Grand Targhee. COURTESY OF BSSEF Geno DiTullio (right) earns fourth place at U16 nationals in Vail. COURTESY OF BSSEF

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FUTURE OF TOURISM

COMMUNITY STRATEGY WORKSHOPS

Join community members and industry professionals for interactive sessions with leading field experts to design Big Sky’s tourism roadmap.

CLIMATE ACTION FOR THE TOURISM INDUSTRY

Tuesday, March 19, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

OUTDOOR RECREATION: DEVELOPING SHOULDER SEASON EXPERIENCES

Tuesday, April 23, 9 a.m - 2 p.m.

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Monday, May 6, 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.

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A&E ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

NEW BOOK CAPTURES BIG SKY’S 50-YEAR HISTORY

BOOK CELEBRATES GROWTH OF BIG SKY’S COMMUNITY AND CULTURE, ‘FOR ALL WHO LOVE BIG IDEAS AND BIG SKY

BY JACK REANEY

BIG SKY—Writer and Big Sky community member Barbara Rowley wrote the words, and Boyne Resorts executive Molly Kircher arranged the art and photography for a new book celebrating the history and ever-evolving culture of Big Sky. “BIG SKY” is rich with full-page imagery, and focuses on the history of Big Sky Resort from its creation, through Boyne Resorts’ 47-year ownership, and the associated development of Big Sky’s year-round community.

“BIG SKY” was released this winter by Assouline, a French publisher known for luxury coffee-table-style books depicting culture, brands and places.

“They are internationally known, and I have long wanted Big Sky to be among their collection,” Kircher told EBS. Aided by a coincident family connection between Bozeman and an Assouline executive, the publisher was thrilled by her proposal.

Assouline launched the book on Feb. 16 at its store in The Plaza Hotel in New York City, and a private launch party was held on March 21 in Big Sky, including all of Big Sky Resort’s living general managers: John Miller and Bob Fritz, Taylor Middleton, and Troy Nedved. Rowley and Kircher plan to host a book signing event or two in the Big Sky area this summer.

The book contains roughly 10,000 words—for scale, Harry Potter books range from about 77,000 to 257,000— balanced against sprawling photography and art.

“My friend Molly Kircher and I thought we needed a book that celebrated the years after Chet Huntley, and that book did not exist,” Rowley told EBS. “And we thought the 50th anniversary would be a great time to do that.”

It’s been 35 years since Rowley discovered Big Sky.

In 1990, she was writing about the “small-scale intimacy” of Big Sky Resort for an assignment with Snow Country magazine, and in planning her field trip, she met Taylor Middleton, resort director of sales and marketing; today, he’s president and COO. Middleton later invited her back to Montana, and they would eventually marry.

On the first page of Rowley’s article, Snow Country noted, “Barbara had so much fun at Big Sky that she moved there after writing this article,” which only validated her article’s praise of the young mountain town.

Three decades of Big Sky living later, with a fresh opportunity to share Big Sky’s story, Rowley said she went “all in” on research and loved the process. It helped to have Middleton as an “original source” with well-kept notes and experience from Big Sky Resort since 1981. Research deepened Rowley’s knowledge and love for Big Sky, and Kircher said Rowley’s talent and writing chops made her the perfect scribe—Rowley said it only took her about a month.

“You find so much more than you have room to say,” she said. “… I wasn’t trying to get 50 years in 14,000 words, because that’s impossible.”

Kircher, the book’s producer, feels a similar way. She tackled imagery and art, praising designer and graphic artist Sophie Dupin for helping her sift through the visual archives. Kircher was disappointed by the lack of photos from the earliest days and as she dug for founding-era photographs, she realized the importance of preserving history across Boyne’s resorts. Despite this, Rowley said Kircher was “relentless” in sourcing images.

“It was a pretty big process. Sometimes you get into things that are much more involved than you expected,” Kircher said. The entire book came together during 2023, between June and October.

It took a lot of work to decide which narrative thread to pull on and select existing photos of Big Sky’s countless dramatic landscapes and nostalgic artifacts. Both creators were struck by the boldness of Chet Huntley’s concept.

Visionaries and homegrown leaders

Kircher became attached to the late Gustav “Gus” Raaum, Big Sky Resort’s first general manager. Rowley and Kircher had access to his entire “fascinating” notebook. Raaum was a former Olympic ski jumper from Norway, who immigrated from Europe in 1947, learned English, and ran Jackson Hole Mountain Resort 20 years later, before Chet Huntley recruited him.

The assignment: operate a ski resort in the middle of Greater Yellowstone wilderness.

“It really was insane what they were trying to do,” Kircher realized while studying Raaum. Rowley wrote that his notebook resembled “an impossible to-do list.”

Cancer took Huntley within months of Big Sky Resort’s 1973 opening. Hurt by the compounding effects of the

1973 oil crisis on tourism and real estate—corporate investors included Chrysler and Northwest Airlines, plus energy and oil companies—the struggling resort was sold in 1976. Raaum journaled that despite offering extensive perks to condominium prospects, “they couldn’t give them away” due to the uncertainty of traveling to such a remote destination.

Rowley wrote that any buyer of that young ski resort would need “big ideas” and optimism. Boyne Resorts founder Everett Kircher became that buyer. Even Everett’s acquisition was a bold move, Molly Kircher said of her father-in-law.

“It could have looked crazy at the time,” Kircher said. “It’s not like it’s been an overnight success… It took a visionary to take a visionary’s idea and actually bring it to fruition.”

That’s the story “BIG SKY” explores, of Boyne and the Kircher family, who brought entrepreneurial history and ski industry knowledge to the dream of Big Sky—its foundation set by a non-skiing Montana native in Huntley.

“What I want people to come away with is the amount of time, and energy, and vision and investment that this company, Boyne USA, decided to put here,” Rowley said. Even with outside pressures to grow in certain ways at certain times along Big Sky Resort’s slow road to substantial profitability, Rowley said, “they took it from there to a premier ski area in the United States and the world.”

Rowley emphasized chapter three, “Living in Big Sky: A Do-It-Yourself Neighborhood,” which discusses the way Big Sky developed its own infrastructure. Middleton recalls when resort bellmen would drive to Bozeman, stashing the day’s cash receipts in a bag under their car seat, until a bank finally opened in Big Sky in 1990.

“Where Big Sky started and where it has gotten to in a pretty short period of time is amazing,” Rowley said. “And I hope I give credit to all these visionaries and leaders—both in the community and in the company… They were eyeson-the-prize people.”

The late Everett Kircher said his first time skiing Big Sky was “a romance,” as he’s quoted in the book. That was 20 years before his son and former general manager, the late John Kircher, installed the original Lone Peak Tram with a vision of Big Sky’s “unbounded” ski terrain. Another 20 years gave way to Boyne’s commitment to improve Mountain Village amenities, lift infrastructure, community partnerships and transportation connectivity.

In “BIG SKY,” Stephen explains that Chet Huntley desired an economically viable resort destination in his home state, and Everett Kircher wanted to own a prosperous western resort.

“When I wonder what they’d think of Big Sky today, it seems like they’d be proud of all it has become and as excited as we are about its future,” Stephen says.

Inspired by the vision of Big Sky’s founding leaders, Molly Kircher said the book’s production energized her own sense of pride in Boyne’s long-term development of Big Sky. She said Boyne aspires to guide Big Sky to be more than a business, but a “legacy project.”

“It’s much more than a financial opportunity,” Kircher said. “It’s an opportunity to create a place.”

This place has changed a lot in 50 years. A new edition of its past, present and future is now available for coffee tables needing another hardcover.

Cracking open the book, its dedication affirms its audience.

“For all who love big ideas and Big Sky.”

Stephen and Molly Kircher (left) with family and Barbara Rowley (right). COURTESY OF MOLLY KIRCHER

Big Sky Resort’s living general managers celebrated the book launch and 50 years. Left to right: John Miller (1976-1981), Taylor Middleton (1996-2019) and Troy Nedved (2019-present). COURTESY OF MOLLY KIRCHER

Rowley (left) and Kircher at the local book launch party. COURTESY OF MOLLY KIRCHER

COURTESY OF MOLLY KIRCHER

BIG SKY SHOOTOUT CELEBRATES 10 YEARS WITH SELLOUT CROWD FOR THE FIRST TIME, FILMS AND PHOTOS WILL BE POSTED FOR ONLINE VOTING PERIOD

BY JACK REANEY

BIG SKY—Nachos in Retrograde? SinglesLineOnly. com? You kind of had to be there.

The 2024 Big Sky Shootout gathered roughly 400 community members to celebrate local ski community and mountain culture on Saturday, April 6. The ninth annual Shootout displayed 16 short films and dozens of photographs, all shot during March 2024 by local artists in Big Sky.

The Shootout was established 10 years ago and it’s rapidly becoming a favorite local tradition. In September 2023, it was also adapted into a summer event.

“This is the coolest, most local, culture event in town,” said Chris Kamman, well-known videographer and a Shootout volunteer. Kamman emceed the larger of two theaters at The Waypoint during the overflowing 6 p.m. showing.

Kamman also produced two films: “Nachos in Retrograde” ranked second by audience vote and could be described as creative; “Auras” was creative in a different way, showcasing the cinema skill he’s known for with his Skylab Media House, and earning him “Best Cinematography” and a tie for top film by audience voters.

When “Auras” finished, Kamman praised the Shootout for its openness to just about any idea.

“No one would ever pay me to make that video,” Kamman told the crowd. “Ever.”

In its early years, the Shootout generally featured more hardcore ski-focused edits, perhaps with a touch of humor, according to Erik Morrison, who has been involved since the beginning and now runs the show. But in recent years, the Shootout began to blossom.

“I think Chris [Kamman] started to level up the game and raise the bar on what was possible. He was the one really taking the time to think of more robust pieces, and more storylines. Really raising the production quality and level… certainly inspired a lot of other people,” Morrison said.

As the event has leveled up, it has empowered more creators and drawn bigger crowds—Morrison said both showings pushed up against The Waypoint’s capacity of roughly 200 people.

The 2024 show began with “March of Powgress,” a sequence of point-of-view ski clips, including the Big Couloir and Dobe’s. The film won “Best Line.”

“Top of the Bell Curve” was a mean film—average, that is—as local actors celebrated their pursuit of becoming “medium” and “mid.” Audience laughter rewarded the young ladies’ sense of humor.

Local wildlife including elk, moose, foxes and birds took the big screen in “Stay Wild.”

The fictitious Headwaters Triple-Black Adventure Zipline was announced to maximize the use of bomb trams on the Headwaters, in “Coming April 1st.”

Some of Big Sky’s younger rippers earned screen time in “Miss Liberty 2.0” and “A Touch of Powder Flu.”

Other films edged closer to an R-rating. “Dear Winter” and “SinglesLineOnly.com” were laced with adult, ski-town humor, but the audience was evidently not bothered, voting them first and third place, respectively. The former won “Best Powder” and tied with “Auras” for “Peoples Choice” favorite, perhaps aided by Rob “Switchie” Leipheimer’s enthusiastic and breathless

shouting of “yeah” when winter finally arrived in March. The latter won “Best Social Commentary.”

“Double Duch Day” showed dirtbags skiing the tram to Terry Stebbins’ Big Sky parody soundtrack, “I’ll ride the tram and ski with you.” It was awarded “Best Lifestyle.”

In the finale, “Plunger Park Party,” a towrope was apparently installed in the park by popular request, enabling a montage of tricks under a bluebird sky and awards for “Best Trick” and a tie for second place by audience vote.

For photographers, Sean Mackinson earned first place by audience vote, Jonathan Stone took second, and Delaney Coveno earned third place.

This year, for the first time, viewers will be able to vote online for another round of “Peoples Choice” awards. Creators are encouraged to blast their own work out to their networks as soon as voting goes live, Morrison said.

Movies with a mission

Morrison is behind an initiative called Second Season, which has formally hosted the Shootout in recent years. Second Season aims to help new residents and visitors understand and respect Big Sky’s culture of mountain

living, so they can assimilate while making a positive impact.

The value of Shootout is to unify community members, old and new, in an immersive shared experience, Morrison explained. “Instead of trying to tell people how we live, and what is it we value, and what is at the essence of Big Sky, and what is our community all about. This is really a way to experience it, be part of it, see it, feel it.”

Morrison is driven to continually cultivate community with events like the Shootout.

“Big Sky is never going to be what it once was, but we do have control in some way, of helping foster it and make it into something special moving forward,” Morrison said. He looks forward to beefing up the program as events like the Shootout gain momentum.

“We want to start doing way more things similar to the Shootout. More inclusive, in-person, interactive experience with new residents, visitors, and locals and experts in their field,” Morrison said.

At Saturday’s event, Morrison was overwhelmed by comments and feedback from attendees. They expressed gratitude for organizers using the popular tradition to build community.

“It kind of chokes me up as we talk about it,” Morrison said. “I was really honored.”

He added that you can’t force these moments when a community comes together, sharing so much and being divided by so little.

“You can kind of stack of deck, if you will—just continue to cultivate the environment where it may not happen every time, but it’s more likely,” Morrison said.

He thanked his volunteers for helping with the popular annual event that can feel like a marathon.

One such volunteer, Andrew Robin, runs Peak Creative Design and designs advertisements and marketing for the event. Robin has been submitting films to the Shootout since the beginning.

“He has been instrumental in helping us build it into what it is today,” Morrison said.

Other regular volunteers Micah Robin and Bella Butler were out of town and unable to help during the event, but Ethan Schumacher, another Big Sky native and impressive videographer, stepped in to edit the final product, Morrison said.

Morrison dedicates the 2024 Big Sky Shootout to Jen Clayton, who runs Second Season’s website and digital tools. Clayton was occupied with a family emergency, but Morrison emphasized the importance of Clayton’s support.

He thanked The Waypoint for being a “fantastic” host and generally offering “robust” programming that fits with Second Season’s cultural mission. He also gave some love to the theater’s previous owners, Scott and Sally Fisher, who first conceived the Big Sky Shootout in 2014.

Morrison thanked local sponsors for making the event possible and better than ever.

After dishing out cash prizes and covering event production and website costs, he’s excited that Second Season is finally in a position to move beyond foundational work. Morrison looks forward to investing in education efforts—engaging PSAs in the theme of “Mountain Living 101”—and launching more localfocused events like the Shootout.

After the show, attendees gathered in the bar and took photos at the “Shred Carpet,” sponsored by Katie Morrison. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

A captive audience soaks in a shootout film at the 6 p.m. showing at The Waypoint. PHOTO BY CHRIS KAMMAN

The Big Sky Shootout, established in 2014, continues to unify a growing crowd of locals. PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

‘WHEATFIELD—AN

INSPIRATION. THE SEED IS IN THE GROUND’ AT TINWORKS ART

BY TAYLOR OWENS

Established in 2019, Tinworks Art has provided seasonal annual programming on site on the corner of East Cottonwood Street and North Ida Avenue, as well as a variety of spaces around Bozeman. From June 15 through Oct. 19, Tinworks will house “Wheatfield—An Inspiration. The Seed is in the Ground” at their location in the northeast neighborhood.

“One of the first works I thought of that I would love to bring to Tinworks, and Montana, is Agnes Denes’ ‘Wheatfield,’” Jenny Moore, director at Tinworks Art, said. “In 1982, Agnes planted a two-acre field of wheat in lower Manhattan [New York] in the landfill that was created from the construction of the World Trade Centers. And it’s such a significant, iconic, public, ecological artwork, and it lives in the imagination and minds and histories of so many folks.”

Moore was first exposed to Denes’ piece when she moved to New York in the late 1990s.

“This golden field of wheat has been such an important image in my mind all these years as I’ve worked with contemporary art,” Moore said. “When I came to Bozeman and started to understand the period of growth that the city is going through right now; questions of land value; the loss of agricultural land; certainly food insecurity that we’re dealing with globally; how we value the land; all of these topics that Agnes raised 42 years ago with ‘Wheatfield—A Confrontation’ are unfortunately still very pertinent today. So Agnes was the first artist that I reached out to and asked if she would reconsider the work, and we’re incredibly honored and humbled that Agnes accepted the invitation.”

Denes has since created a version of the work in London and a much larger version in Milan, however her acceptance of the invitation to showcase “Wheatfield— An Inspiration. The seed is in the ground” in Bozeman has been the first time she has reconsidered her previous artwork in an American context once more. Bozeman, and Tinworks Art, is the first American institution and place to house a recreation of her original work.

“We’re really just beyond thrilled that she was inspired to actually not just reconsider ‘Wheatfield,’ but inspired to make a whole new work,” Moore said. “For Agnes, the distinction between ‘Wheatfield: A Confrontation’ in 1982, and ‘Wheatfield: An Inspiration. The seed is in the ground,’ which for her is a whole new work, operates on many levels. It’s certainly a different context.”

Bozeman is not New York City, but it is a city that is grappling with a lot of the issues that ‘Wheatfield—A Confrontation’ initially raised. Tinworks Art is in the northeast neighborhood of Bozeman, which houses the vestiges of a field, a complex of industrial and mill buildings, and residential and mixed-use buildings. This certain character of the neighborhood, as well

as its evolution with modern growth, was particularly interesting to Denes. This artwork will be created as an opportunity to engage the local community to think creatively about not just how we value the land, but how we use the land.

“In this new work, there is an invitation to the community to plant wheat in solidarity and on any fallow piece of land available to them,” Moore said. “What an amazing opportunity for a community to consider how we value land, how we use land, how we produce food in our region with the substantial loss of agricultural land around Bozeman. As well as the opportunity for the community to help tend the field, to weed the field, and then harvest. We’ve really expanded on those elements here.”

Guests at Tinworks will have the opportunity to visit the wheatfield as it grows and matures, as well as volunteer and work the land by harvesting the wheat and then processing the wheat on site and turning it into flour.

“It’s an opportunity for people to actually be in that living, growing space and to think about what it means sensorially,” Moore said. “Then the opportunity to go all the way from planting to tending to harvesting and then processing. I think that’s such an exciting, positive way to bring people together in a very active and engaged way.”

Community involvement and inspiring the public through this artwork is the intention behind the installation for Denes. Due to the development of agricultural land, it is valuable to allow for a space for people to come and experience the process of growth and harvesting, while also coming together as a community to think about and solve significant problems we are all facing.

“We have had the opportunity and the real pleasure to partner with folks in the Plant Sciences Department at MSU,” Moore said. “And even those folks who work so closely with wheat often don’t physically harvest it. It’s such a laborious practice and certainly a skill that for some folks might have been lost. There will certainly be an opportunity for the community to come on site and understand what it means to physically harvest wheat and transform it into flour that then can be baked.”

Tinworks will also be partnering with Wild Crumb once the wheat has been processed into flour. Wild Crumb will utilize the flour to make bread and other baked good that will be available to the public.

“It’s been such a fantastic opportunity to find hope and inspiration from working with farmers,” Moore said. “I think they have to be kind of endlessly optimistic and have a bit of faith in mother nature that it will hopefully all work out. And as of last week, we have a fantastic stand of winter wheat that’s sprouting and so fingers crossed that it will continue to grow as we hope that it can.”

The project further expands through the circulation of “Questionnaire,” a work in which Denes poses questions about the most pressing issues facing humanity, like artificial intelligence and global warming. On site, there will be a plaque that links with a QR code to a questionnaire so that guests can continually respond and participate with the artwork in perpetuity. A version of one of the questions will resemble “What will be more essential for human survival to be practical or creative?”

Denes will choose responses from among the submissions, which will be recorded and played as part of a sound work installed at Tinworks for the 2024 season.

“They are not easy questions,” Moore said. “I’m always interested when people can distill their answer to one word because they’re very profound questions, and they really compel you to think deeply about the issues that are facing humanity. But what I always find so remarkable about Agnes’s work over the 50-60 years that she’s been practicing is that it’s very optimistic and hopeful and it’s about posing solutions to our problems, not just lamenting the place that humanity has found itself in.”

When asked what readers should consider before going to view “Wheatfield—An Inspiration. The seed is in the ground,” Moore responded with: “The power of art to take us to places we can’t get to on our own.”

Tinworks will be distributing spring wheat seeds at the Gallatin Valley Earth Day celebration on April 20 at the Gallatin Valley Fairgrounds, as well as at The LARK Hotel for Give Big Gallatin Valley on May 3, for people to plant in participation and solidarity with “Wheatfield—An Inspiration. The seed is in the ground.”

Tinworks Art, 719 N Ida. Photo by Blair Speed.

Wheatfield - A Confrontation: Battery Park Landfill, Downtown Manhattan - With Agnes Denes Standing in the Field, 1982

PHOTO BY JOHN MCGRAIL, COURTESY OF AGNES DENES AND LESLIE TONKONOW ARTWORKS + PROJECTS

BIG SKY EVENTS CALENDAR

Thursday, April 18 - Wednesday, May 1

If your next event falls between May 2 - May. 15, please submit it to media@theoutlawpartners.com by May 8.

THURSDAY, APRIL 18

Big Sky Transportation District Board Meeting BSRAD, 1 p.m.

Arts Council of Big Sky Second Studioversary BASE, 5:30 p.m.

Arts Council of Big Sky Volunteer Appreciation & Social BASE, 6:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, APRIL 19

Wildfire: A Century of Failed Forest Policy with George Wuerthner Museum of the Rockies, 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, APRIL 20

Gallatin Valley Earth Day Festival

Gallatin County Fairgrounds, 10 a.m.

Board Game Night

The Wilson Hotel, 5 p.m.

E-Waste Recycling Event

Logan Landfill (Three Forks), 8 a.m.

SUNDAY, APRIL 21

St. Joseph Mass

Big Sky Chapel, 8 a.m.

All Saints in Big Sky Service

Big Sky Chapel, 10 a.m.

Big Sky Christian Fellowship Service

Big Sky Chapel, 4:30 p.m.

Community Game Night with Big Sky OUT Cowboy Coffee, 6 p.m.

MONDAY, APRIL 22

Gallatin River Impairment Public Meeting

Big Sky County Water and Sewer District boardroom and via Zoom, 6 p.m.

TUESDAY, APRIL 23

Local Election Candidate Forum

The Waypoint, 5 p.m.

Western Roots Line Dancing

Tips Up, 7:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24

Trivia

The Waypoint, 7 p.m.

Live Music: Jacob Rountree

Wilson Lobby Bar, 5 p.m.

THURSDAY, APRIL 25

Scratch N’ Gravel

Tips Up, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, APRIL 26

Friday Night Karaoke

The Waypoint, 9 p.m.

SATURDAY, APRIL 27

Live Music: MINT!

The Waypoint, 8 p.m.

SUNDAY, APRIL 28

St. Joseph Mass

Big Sky Chapel, 8 a.m.

All Saints in Big Sky Service

Big Sky Chapel, 10 a.m.

Big Sky Christian Fellowship Service

Big Sky Chapel, 4:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, APRIL 30

Western Roots Line Dancing

Tips Up, 7:30 p.m.

American Legion Bingo Riverhouse BBQ & Events, 5:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1

Trivia

The Waypoint, 7 p.m.

FEATURED EVENT

TUESDAY, APRIL 23

BIG SKY CANDIDATE FORUM

The Waypoint, 5 p.m.

The Big Sky community will have the opportunity to meet candidates for volunteer positions for local special purpose districts like school, fire, water and sewer, and the Big Sky Resort Area District. Doors open at The Waypoint at 5 p.m. and a discussion, where candidates will answer questions from the community, will begin at 6 p.m.

PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

BIG SKY’S BIGGEST SUMMER OF EVENTS

JULY 9 | COMMUNITY CONCERT

BITLY/TBT_TICKETS

TRAMPLED BY TURTLES

JULY 18-20 | BIG SKY PBR

BIGSKYPBR.COM

AUG. 2-3 | WILDLANDS FESTIVAL

WILDLANDSFESTIVAL.COM

MAREN MORRIS DIERKS BENTLEY LUKAS NELSON WYATT FLORES

SHANE SMITH & THE SAINTS

BY THAD BEATY GUEST COLUMNIST

National Record Store Day stirs me every year. The experience of a physical record is so magical and memorable. Formats have changed in our digital world, but the all-encompassing visceral participation of holding a record in your hands, opening the jacket, seeing the artwork, reading the liner notes, hearing the scratch of the needle dropping, flipping it over to the other side and sharing it with everyone within hearing distance touches on all the senses.

My wife is from New Orleans, where music fills every crack and flows through everyone’s soul like the Mississippi. I love to hear stories of my in-laws camping out all night, holding their place in line to buy the latest Beatles or Stones record on the release day. I remember my first trip to the record store. I only had the money for one album, and, to this day, I still feel the memory of choosing between “Thriller” and “Metal Health.” Music isn’t just about a song; it is the heartbeat of every experience. Records allow us to physically hold those experiences.

For a musician, vinyl records are a big deal. And for today’s artists, making a record is a tremendous

commitment in time, money, and vulnerability on so many levels. Opening your soul and imprinting it on a record, etching it in vinyl—there’s nothing like it. Much like Yellowstone National Park is better in person than in pictures, there’s something about experiencing music on vinyl that is otherwise untouchable.

Big Sky is rightly known for its wondrous natural beauty and outdoor experiences. But it is also the home of incredible artists adding another sensory layer to our remarkable community. This is a beautiful place to create and celebrate music. The record store is the musician’s gallery. By putting music into the world, artists are opening their souls and taking a chance. Like skiers launching themselves down a

black diamond run, it’s a beautiful, terrifying, and thrilling risk that makes life worth living. It’s part of our story here in Big Sky.

Saturday, April 20 is National Record Store Day. I have gathered vinyl from many of our local artists and will feature them for purchase in Montana Supply Company. So, let’s celebrate some locals who have taken the risk. Let’s take a chance with them and dance to the music. Let’s say thanks and help support our artists who help complete the picture of Big Sky and tell our story through their songs. Let the world know that this town isn’t just about skiing; it’s a unique community of people who’ve seen a need and started nonprofits, and continue to take action every day, whatever the season, to make this place special. Like a great record store, our town is a gem, a hub of inspiration, a gathering place to celebrate the wonder of creation on all fronts. Let’s celebrate it together this National Record Store Day.

The next time you are at a local venue and you overhear someone say, “This artist is great,” nudge them and mention that they can buy their record at Montana Supply Company and take home a part of Big Sky that they can genuinely experience forever.

Thad Beaty is a musician, composer, and the music and entertainment manager for Lone Mountain Land Company. He lives full time in Big Sky with his musician wife Annie, kids Noura and Hawk, and his mom Giga.

Records by local musicians will be sold at Montana Supply Company, beginning on National Record Store Day. COURTESY OF THAD BEATY

DINING

YELLOW HOUSE BARBECUE OFFERS AUTHENTIC TEXAS BARBECUE IN BOZEMAN

BY MARIO CARR EBS CONTRIBUTOR

BOZEMAN—Yellow House Barbecue is run by Austin Brown and has been serving barbecue in Bozeman off and on for about 18 months.

“The fact of the matter is we don’t really cut corners. I’m using only Montana beef,” Brown said.

Pushing to serve their food two to three days a week consistently for the past six months has been a passion project for Brown and his crew, currently operating on Thursday and Friday evenings from 5 to 8 p.m., and Saturdays after 11 a.m. Brown has made his living in Bozeman running R&D catering for the past seven years, primarily catering private dinners and events in Big Sky.

“A lot of people come into this town with millions of bucks to start restaurants to invest in it, and we don’t have that. The fact that we have this 100-plus-year-old house that’s zoned commercial is kinda like the grace of God,” Brown said.

Located at 609 West Mendenhall Street, the yellow house of Yellow House Barbecue was built in the late 1800s and features a small commercial kitchen, and a small living space upstairs where Brown lives.

“We’re just learning as we go. It’s modeled after Texas barbecue. Most Texas barbecue joints are only open a couple days a week. The focus is on the meat,” Brown said.

Meat is weighed and priced per pound for each customer, and is served over the counter. Customers can take their barbecue to go, or bring their plate out back and eat at picnic tables. In the backyard, customers will see the piles of the imported wood used to smoke the meat, the smoker, and even a chicken coop.

“No wood naturally grows in Montana that’s good for smoking over long periods of time,” Brown said.

Brown uses a blend of post oak and pecan wood to provide just the right temperature and flavor for all of his meat.

“Post oak is known for central Texas barbecue. It’s a thick dense wood with a mild smoky flavor. It’s not gonna overpower the meat but you’re gonna know it’s there… Pecan is great, it’s a little bit sweeter, it’s a little less dense and it burns hotter. So we use a blend to actually manage the fire,” Brown said.

From the woods used to smoke the meat, the kind of smoker, and the cuts of meat, Brown and his team are dedicated to creating food that is a step above the rest.

“Right now it’s just in its infancy. We’re gonna start spending more time focusing on it but it’s meant to really focus on food and quality and community,” Brown said.

About a year and a half ago, EBS columnist Rachel Hergett met with Brown when Yellow House was getting started, and Brown was running his smoker in a tent, which he has since replaced with a shed.

“It’s absolutely my favorite [kind of cooking] and it’s totally a challenge… This is a Texas barbecue ideology, and that is, pain begat beauty. You have to suffer a little bit for the meat to be this good, and David’s learning that,” Brown said of his understudy, David Braun.

Brown is the Pit Master of his operation, but has enjoyed teaching Braun, his Pit Boss, how to prepare the meat.

“We can only make so much meat and we want to keep it quality,” Braun said.

The two work together with fire, thermometer and instinct.

“This is like we’re making a handmade guitar everytime we make a brisket,” Brown said.

Brown said that the private catering is becoming more competitive and saturated, so he is happy to have people coming to him for his barbecue, and hopes to continue to see his passion project grow. Currently, as they perfect their craft, Yellow House Barbecue is a “labor of love,” with minimal profits gained, Brown said.

“We live to serve… I do this to make people happy. When someone bites into something, and I know it’s perfect and I put my heart and soul into it, and their face lights up, that’s—of course to make money too, we all want to get paid—that’s the real reason,” Brown said.

Brown and his team are hoping to be open three days a week this summer, with more picnic table seating and live music.

PHOTO BY MARIO CARR

PHOTO BY MARIO CARR

“In its infancy,” says chef Austin Brown, Yellow House Barbecue is focused on quality. PHOTO BY MARIO CARR

A LA CARTE

BLINDSIDE BURGER TAKES SMASH BURGERS, SHAKES TO THE EXTREME

BY RACHEL HERGETT EBS COLUMNIST

While the name “hamburger” is derived from the city of Hamburg, Germany, over the last century, the food has become quintessentially American. And boy, do we have opinions. Should a burger be thick and juicy? A tad pink in the middle? Crusty on the outside? Steamed over onions? (I see you, White Castle, even if I don’t particularly like you). Round? Square? Grilled? Griddled?

With hamburgers on the brain, I stopped into Big Sky’s new Blindside Burger this month. Troy "Twist" Thompson, who conceived Town Center restaurants Blue Buddha Sushi Lounge and Tres Toros Tacos & Tequila, is also behind Blindside Burger. The name is taken from a snowboard trick, a more difficult rotation in which the rider is blind to the takeoff or landing. Twist is an avid snowboarder who once tried to go pro, general manager Jed Sanford tells me, pointing out the snowboarder in the restaurant’s logo, performing a blindside off of a hamburger. Twist loves a blindside, I’m told, and I love the nod to Big Sky’s mountain culture and adventurous spirit.

The space—47 Town Center Ave.—used to be home to the Lotus Pad, a Thai restaurant which closed in October 2023 after 17 years in business. It received a makeover before Blindside Burger opened in February. Enter from the parking lot and you’re greeted by a black and white graffiti-style wall graphic featuring three suit-wearing primates— my guess is that they are chimpanzees, but I’m no primatologist—sitting on a pile of burgers and milkshakes and helping themselves to the treats. Other walls have similar treatments, making the space feel modern and a bit funky. Neon touches— like a line highlighting those chimps or a sign with Pac-Man ready to chomp on three burgers as if they were video game ghosts—are a nod to old-school diner culture.

Which brings me to the menu (find it online at blindsideburger.com). My first thought was to say it was nothing fancy, filled with burgers, fries and milkshakes. But within those staples, Blindside explores a range of tastes and textures. I landed on the “Lone Wolf,” a burger topped with “bourbon peanut butter, smoked gouda cheese, caramelized onion, bacon and garlic aioli,” according to the menu. As I’ve tried to incorporate more protein into my diet of late, I’ve been rediscovering a love for peanut butter. And I’ve always loved bourbon. Together, they added a sweetness to the burger that was a wonderful complement to the smoky cheese and beefy burger patties.

Blindside’s burgers are smash burgers, which mainly means they are smashed onto the flattop with a spatula, locking in the juices with a hard sear and resulting in thinner patties. The meat, Sanford tells me, isn’t expensive wagyu beef. It’s not sirloin, which is too lean for a proper smash burger. You need the right meat-to-fat ratio to create the burger’s outer crust and keep the inside properly juicy, he says,

and an image flashes in my head of southern food personality Paula Deen adding chunks of butter into her burger patties.

A kid-sized single smash burger and small fry starts at $10. A lunch special, with “The Base Layer” basic burger, fries and a drink, is $16. One can also go big, both in terms of the cost and the amount of food. The most expensive burger currently on the menu is $22.

Basic shakes are also priced around $10, and feature 10 scoops of ice cream, Jed tells me. I couldn’t go to Blindside and go basic, however, not when the menu features a series of “Gnarly Shakes” that seem more meant for the ‘gram than for actual consumption. These take an old-fashioned milkshake to the extreme, with an abundance of sugary toppings like cookies, candy bars and slices of cake. One, the “Donut Delight,” has both a full donut and a slice of cheesecake on top. I went with the “E.T.” featuring mint ice cream topped with a mini chocolate mousse

cake. There were also an abundance of crushed Andes mints on the rim. I admit that I couldn’t hack the whole thing. I deconstructed the milkshake at my table, and took the cake home for later, wanting to finish the delicious melty bit before it fully liquified.

For mains that are not hamburgers, Blindside’s menu has a couple of chicken sandwiches, starting with sous-vide chicken pieces that are then fried without breading. I like how this method creates a crispy exterior without hiding the chicken.

Sides are mostly fried and include garlic cheddar cheese curds, stout-breaded onion rings and smoked gouda mac and cheese bites. Many come with a side of the house “Blindside Sauce,” which seems to be in the fry sauce/thousand island family with a ketchup and mayo base. I enjoy the slight kick of spice that lingers on my tongue.

For drinks, Blindside offers fountain sodas and a bar. Though perfecting the food has been the focus since Blindside Burger opened, Jed tells me there are plans for expanding bar offerings to match the menu. I spotted a burger-topped bloody mary on Instagram this week, so we have movement in that direction.

I haven’t mentioned Blindside’s French fries since the beginning of this column, mainly because compared to the burgers and shakes, they are nothing special. They are fried potatoes, so they’ve automatically got something going for them. The beer cheese sauce on the loaded version slaps, and I wish they were fully smothered in the gooey goodness. But I have to admit that I’m not going to Blindside Burger for the fries. I am going for the burgers.

And after trying what Blindside has to offer, I may be swaying toward the superiority of the smash burger.

Rachel Hergett is a foodie and cook from Montana. She is arts editor emeritus at the Bozeman Daily Chronicle and has written for publications such as Food Network Magazine and Montana Quarterly. Rachel is also the host of the Magic Monday Show on KGLT-FM and teaches at Montana State University.

PHOTO BY RACHEL HERGETT

The “E.T.” milkshake at Blindside Burger is one of a few “gnarly shake” creations. PHOTO BY RACHEL HERGETT

PHOTO BY RACHEL HERGETT

BUSINESS

MAKING IT IN BIG SKY: THE AGENCY’S JOY VANCE

The Agency is a global real estate agency that opened its doors in Big Sky in 2023, shortly after its initial arrival in Montana—an office in Bozeman in 2022. For this Making it in Big Sky, Explore Big Sky spoke with Joy Vance, The Agency, Big Sky’s managing partner and founder.

Vance leads with humor, grace and her knowledge of the local luxury real estate market, closing more than $50 million worth of real estate in 2021. She was named among the Top 10 Bozeman Realtors by the Gallatin Association of Realtors in 2020 and 2021 and prides herself on her strong network of repeat clientele. From turnkey vacation homes to new builds, ground-up developments and investment opportunities, Vance takes pride in guiding clients no matter where they are in their real estate journey. She also represents sales for the new Hotel Bozeman & Residences, Autograph Collection, a 34-residence condominium development, the city’s first and only custom-designed fullservice hotel and residences.

Outside of work, Vance is a devoted community member supporting several local nonprofits including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Haven and Eagle Mount.

This series is part of a paid partnership with the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce. The following answers have been edited for brevity.

Explore Big Sky: Let’s start with a bit about you—when did you first come to Big Sky and what brought you here?

Joy Vance: I graduated from Montana State University here several years ago. I love southwest Montana and all that it offers in terms of recreation and lifestyle.

EBS: When did you join The Agency?

JV: We opened the Bozeman office in November 2022 and Big Sky in September 2023.

EBS: Tell me a bit about The Agency, what sets you guys apart from other real estate agencies in town?

JV: The Agency was founded by real estate agents for real estate agents. We got our start in 2011 by a team of people who aspired and modernize the real estate experience. The Agency set out to foster a culture of partnership, where our agents could share their knowledge and expertise. This notion was the basis of The Agency's founding principle: collaboration. This approach enhanced client representation and forever altered the industry to create a better experience for agents and clients alike.

EBS: Tell me about The Agency team; how many of you are there and what expertise can buyers and sellers expect?

JV: Our team includes about 17 agents. The Agency has evolved into a driving force of global real estate sales. As one of the world's most-followed residential brokerages on social media with an average of 68,000 global impressions per post, this is an area we excel in. We believe no two properties are alike and each has a story to tell.

EBS: What is your favorite thing about working in Big Sky, especially when it comes to helping new homeowners?

JV: Real estate isn't just business, it’s personal. Each individual has a story; a vision for their life. I believe it is a real estate agents' job to take that story and bring it to life.

EBS: Anything else you’d like to tell the Big Sky community?

JV: If you’re in the market to buy or sell property, get in touch! You can find me at joyvanceandco.com and theagencyre.com/agent/ joy-vance

Meet Joy Vance, leader of The Agency in Big Sky and a devoted community member. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE AGENCY

ENJOYING THE RIDE

IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO BECOME FINANCIALLY LITERATE!

BY MICHAEL WINTER

Since 2003, April has been recognized as National Financial Literacy Month. This may surprise you because financial literacy is a topic that’s been largely ignored for far too long, especially in formal education. Budgeting, savings, investing, and taxes are all things that we seem to learn as we go. If you’re lucky, you have a family member or friend who has been able to give you some guidance.

Today, people are faced with even greater financial challenges than ever before. Financial uncertainties come in all shapes and sizes. Inflation has soared to levels not seen for decades. Accessible markets have paved the way for greater bouts of short-term volatility. Financial “advice” is being provided by the least reliable source: social media. While turning to social media may be quick and easy, it can be entirely misleading or inappropriate for your situation. Often the material provided is more of a sales pitch than actual education and the problem is a lot of people buy it.

So, what can we do to secure our future and better develop our own financial literacy?

The first step is to find a good teacher. This person can be a family member, friend, colleague, or a trained professional. You can even take a course at a local community college. A good teacher should possess and provide a few things. First, a sound understanding of personal finance. Financial advisors, accountants, and estate attorneys are often great resources. Many have years of formal education, designations, and degrees, as well as continuing education to make sure they stay current on the rapidly changing environment. Professionals are also able to draw on past experiences, which can aid them through the power of storytelling.

Another important quality of a strong financial educator is to be able to relate the subject matter to something you may already understand. To do this, the educator must have an understanding of what you are already knowledgeable about. This could include your profession, hobbies, parenting, etc. For some, relating personal finance to something like diet and exercise can be a successful strategy, as the latter is already understood by so many.

Finally, continued education and development is required to build a solid understanding of personal finance. Becoming knowledgeable about any subject matter takes time and purpose. Personal finance is

no different. The nuances and complexities in “basic” personal finance range from a simple monthly budget to understanding portfolio construction and tax implications. As one develops an understanding of topics and continues to build on that foundation, they are more likely to understand the next, more complex detail.

The truth is many people reading this are long past their formal education years. We are unable to go back in time and swap our organic chemistry class for one year of personal finance, but we do not need to let our kids face the same uninformed future. It’s imperative that everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status or demographics, get informed as early as possible. Take some time to learn and eventually to teach, and as always, enjoy the ride.

Michael Winter is an Associate Vice President and Financial Advisor at Shore to Summit Wealth Management. He currently works and lives in Annapolis, MD with his wife and child.

Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC (WFAFN), Member SIPC. Shore to Summit Wealth Management is a separate entity from WFAFN.

©2023 – 2024 Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC. All rights reserved.

ENVIRONMENT

PREVENTING THE

TRAGEDY

OF THE COMMONS IN THE BIG HOLE

BIG HOLE WATERSHED COMMITTEE ENCOURAGES SHARED SACRIFICE

BY BENJAMIN ALVA POLLEY

Southwest Montana’s Big Hole River has garnered much attention in the media lately due to its algae blooms, drought, dying fishery, warm water, and low river flows. Behind the headlines and photos of zombie fish, however, are impactful restoration projects and stakeholder meetings by the Big Hole Watershed Committee. Every third Wednesday, they meet at the Grange Hall in Divide to hear from experts and discuss problems and solutions for water management.

For the last thirty years, the BHWC has been committed to addressing the problems along the Big Hole watershed, working to keep conversations going, secure grants, conduct groundwork, collaborate and coordinate with stakeholders, and restore and improve the watershed stream-by-stream, one drop at a time.

BHWC plays the long game. They know conservation takes time and involves building trust by maintaining long-standing relationships. BHWC secures project funding through grants and fundraising campaigns. They also coordinate with multiple agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Bureau of Land Management, the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, as well as private landowners and other local conservation organizations. Some agencies are underfunded and understaffed, but that is where the BHWC steps up to fill in the gaps and make conservation happen quickly. Easy to play the blame game

Playing the blame game is easy when a watershed isn’t doing well. For example, some ranchers blame anglers for overfishing, and some anglers blame ranchers for low river flows.

“Anyone who floats the Big Hole River in August sees the irrigation ditches full of water, the river low, and irrigators taking water as pivots spray fields,” said Pedro Marques, the executive director of the BHWC. “It’s easy to blame and point fingers, and ranchers become easy targets.”

The Big Hole River Drought Management Plan encourages voluntary conservation in the name of shared sacrifice. Some irrigators give up water they are legally allowed to use—and often need—to keep water in the river for the fishery and the local angling economy. They understand that the watershed’s long-term health is more important than short-term monetary gains.

Some ranchers are enrolled in the Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances program in the upper Big Hole. They have site-specific agreements that require them to reduce their water use during periods of drought in exchange for legal protections should Arctic grayling become listed under the Endangered Species Act. BHWC and the CCAA initiate a phone tree and call key irrigators, who help spread the message.

“The Big Hole Watershed Committee has been a forum of education and a place to exchange ideas of how to improve the habitat for the betterment of the resource,” said local rancher and BHWC board member Randy Smith. “I have always thought it’s all about the resource, not the politics.”

History

The BHWC hatched in 1995, and the catalyst was when the river ran dry near Wisdom in 1988. At the time, ranchers were in the river with excavators diverting water into their irrigation ditches. The 1980s and ‘90s were a strenuous time in the Big Hole; tensions rose as drought worsened and Arctic grayling populations declined.

In 1994, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service suggested placing grayling on the Endangered Species List because the Upper Big Hole River was a potential refuge for replenishing fish numbers. Ranchers feared the big government would come and tell them what to do with the resources, so they collaborated to find local solutions.

A historic moment happened in August 1994 after six ranchers toured the watershed with the Legislative Water Policy Committee. They sat down together and wrote a letter to then-Gov. Marc Racicot seeking economic assistance and direction on how to deal with the river’s problems. Together, they wanted to create positive change.

In January 1995, all ranchers holding water rights along the river were invited to a meeting, where they appointed two ranchers from each of the four river stretches. They knew the key to success was inviting other stakeholders into the conversation, including businesses, conservation groups and districts, guides and outfitters, local governments, and water utility groups.

Not long after the group was formed, the MDNRC was directed to do a detailed report of rivers statewide, including the Big Hole, that were candidates for a “Chronically Dewatered” listing. This would have caused state and federal government regulatory agencies to get involved and place measures on ranchers. The BHWC persuaded DNRC to allow the committee to resolve the issues locally. The group scheduled meetings to have experts educate themselves about water management, history and options, and formulate a plan to save the watershed. The group enacted the state’s first Drought Management Plan based on voluntary participation to meet target river flows, which is still used today.

“The Big Hole Watershed Committee is a communitybased group of individuals representing all interests dedicated to our responsibility to nature and society to ecologically and economically enhance our working landscape,” said rancher Jim Hagenbarth, a chairman of the BHWC.

Doing the work

The BHWC became a nonprofit organization in 2005. It comprises six people—three full-time, three parttime, plus 22 board members—and does half a million to three-quarters of a million dollars worth of work annually.

Since 2016, the committee has restored riparian plants near Melrose, stabilized streambanks by enhancing plants in the Lower Big Hole, created fish passages by the Upper French Gulch, helped restore streambanks in the Upper Big Hole, found ways to hold back snowpack, restored Oregon Creek Placer Mine, French Gulch, Moose Creek and Lower French Creek, and continue pilot projects along Mount Haggin Uplands.

Restoring riparian plants and streambanks helps to provide shade along the river’s banks, which in turn helps to cool the water temperature. They also build beaver dam analogs, human-constructed dams that slowly release water over time and help saturate the water table by spreading water out. BHWC plugs up gullies from sedimentation, rebuilds, and restores wetlands.

“Agencies are piling money into our partnership agreements, which are long-term contracts that get access to more funding yearly,” Marques said. “We get companies hired and jobs done at lightning speed compared to what the agencies can do because the internal processes need multiple approvals and signatures for everything, which takes forever.”

BHWC has one Superfund site signed off by the EPA and a multi-million dollar remedy in the works for the Elkhorn Mine, which still has flowing orange water contaminated with heavy metals.

The DNRC is still satisfied with BHWC’s progress by not issuing the Chronically Dewatered status. The USFWS has determined that the Arctic grayling does not warrant listing under the ESA, partly because of the BHWC’s successful conservation efforts. The organization has been upheld as a watershed and drought management model statewide.

Conifer encroachment

BHWC coordinates projects to address historic droughts by writing grants and hiring project work, such as the thousand acres of conifer encroachment they manage between the BLM and the USFS. Seventy percent of the Big Hole comprises pine trees, and 70% of the precipitation hitting the Big Hole is used by vegetation. Conifer forests are slowly encroaching and gobbling up grazing lands, economically impacting ranchers and anglers.

“The forest has more than doubled in the last hundred years [in the Big Hole], and fire crews have stopped every fire from thinning the forest, so we have more straws drinking that groundwater before irrigation even starts,” Marques said. “Every pine tree begins photosynthesizing as soon as its temperature reaches the mid-30s. They start drawing up groundwater.”

The watershed is at a deficit before irrigation even starts. “They are thinking of many different ways to keep more water in the river,” said Butte-Silver Bow Water District Supervisor, Jim Keenan, over the phone. “It’s a vital organization that does excellent work—some restoration projects and all the coordination of agencies, ranchers, outfitters and everyone else.”

If you follow the logic and think ranchers are at fault for the river’s demise and your goal is to get ranchers off the river and the landscape, then think of the outcome. Only one land use replaces ranches: subdivisions.

“Do we want to eliminate ranches’ open space, create subdivisions and strip malls in the Big Hole, and become the next Jackson Hole, Wyoming?” Marques asked.

Some ranching families have been on the landscape for hundreds of years. They care about the resources, the watershed, and the wildlife because their livelihoods depend on them. They have spent a century or more learning from the land and trying to prevent the subsequent tragedy of the commons.

Conservationists come in all shapes and sizes, and while some conservation groups don’t mind working in the background, they still deserve recognition.

Learn more about the Big Hole Watershed Committee at bhwc.org.

BHWCs French Creek restoration removed 800 tons of sediment a year from French Creek. PHOTO COURTESY OF BHWC

DISPATCHES FROM THE WILD: CHANGING HOW THE PUBLIC PERCEIVES FIRE

A NEW UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA STUDY REVEALS FIRE SUPPRESSION WILL CONTINUE CREATING MEGA-FIRES

BY BENJAMIN ALVA POLLEY EBS COLUMNIST

On March 25, the University of Montana published a study revealing that suppressing all wildfires has created an environment that selects wildfires to be more destructive.

According to the study published in Nature Communications, these fires continue to burn across the landscape in extreme conditions with high severity and unintended consequences. The “fire suppression bias,” as it’s called in the study, makes wildfire activity more sensitive and responsive to global warming and fuel accumulation. This increases the impacts of climate change, adding more fuel to the fire. Land managers today are inviting a more severe future through fire suppression. However, smaller fires have many benefits, including fuel reduction, and they create opportunities for a new generation of plants to be established.

“Over a human lifespan, the modeled impacts of the suppression bias outweigh those from fuel accumulation or climate change alone,” lead author Mark Kreider, a Ph.D. candidate in UM’s forest and conservation sciences program, told UM news. “This suggests that suppression may exert a significant and underappreciated influence on patterns of fire globally.”

The problem

Fire activity has been increasing rapidly across the globe over the last century, and fire suppression worsens the problem. Land managers have disproportionately removed low- and moderate-severity fires through fire suppression, leaving only the most extreme potential fires. This guarantees that most people’s experience with fire is negative because we only see the most devastating and scary fire events. Mega-fires have become almost impossible to stop without season-ending events like major rainstorms or snow that blanket and suffocate the fire so it can’t grow.

“Our traditional fire suppression efforts are making the impacts of global warming more severe,” wrote Philip Higuera, a UM professor of forest ecology, in an email to EBS. “Part of the reason we are experiencing such a rapid increase in wildfire activity (e.g., in the West) is actually because we focused so long on putting out all fires.”

Many plant and animal species have adapted to small- and medium-sized fires. However, when only giant fires rip through the landscape, species have more difficulty adapting because the fire becomes expansive and burns larger areas further from the seed source.

“The probability of switching from a forest to a non-forest or having a very slow return to a forest is greater in those really severe extreme fire events,” Andrew J. Larson, Kreider’s advisor and professor of forest ecology at UM, told EBS. “It is harder and takes longer for those ecosystems to redevelop.”

Extreme fires on the landscape change the composition and pattern of the ecosystems. This has implications for how ecosystems will reorganize in response to climate change.

“This might alter natural selection. By removing all those instances of low-severity fire, we’re taking away the opportunity for organisms to interact with fire and to have the traits that confer resistance to that fire and the ability to recover from that fire,” Larson said. “They’re losing that selection pressure.”

The solution

Introducing small- and medium-sized fires at the right time of year and in the right places in the environment could help prevent mega-fires from consuming entire landscapes.

“Our study tries to shift how the public sees fire,” Kreider told EBS. “The study has profound consequences for public support of fire management. When the only fires that make the news are the really high, extreme fires, we only allow extreme fires to interact with the landscapes, but this doesn’t have to be the case.”

Kreider’s paper also identifies a problem different from the fire suppression paradox: excess fuel in the forest left by a century of fire suppression.

The public’s concerns

Significant public concerns about fire include property damage or loss, and the health impacts of breathing in too much smoke.

The study does not suggest that every fire should be allowed to burn but that we as a society should consider, evaluate, and change how, when, and where land managers suppress fires, specifically around particular places where we have values at risk, like communities. We should thin those forests by hand instead of using fire as a tool. However, where we don’t have risks, fire can be a great way to manage larger fires.

“If we have fires on our terms, fire under more moderate weather conditions, yes, they will create smoke,” Kreider said. “But in many cases, they produce lower levels of smoke than the big, catastrophic, high-severity fire. It’s a matter of choosing when and how we want our smoke to occur because regardless of whether we allow more fires to occur under safe conditions, more smoke will come with climate change.”

Kreider added that it is crucial to invest in public health measures, make air filters more accessible, and create public air spaces or rooms in buildings with clean air.

“Smoke is a huge issue and it will only get worse. The solution is learning how to live with smoke and mitigating those health consequences as best we can,” he said.

Allowing more fires to burn when safely possible is crucial to addressing our nation’s fire crisis and helping to adapt to more fire-prone climate conditions now and in the future. Suppression is an important management tool that must be implemented quickly and aggressively around homes and communities, but not across entire forests. This study suggests that we must choose a management option between suppression and mega-fires in many places.

The paper helps to expand that spectrum of management options. There’s no silver bullet or one-size-fits-all solution, but it provides more tools for managers to choose the best action for particular goals.

Benjamin Alva Polley is a place-based storyteller with stories published in Outside, Adventure Journal, Popular Science, Field & Stream, Esquire, Sierra, Audubon, Earth Island Journal, Modern Huntsman, and other publications at his website www.benjaminpolley.com/stories. He holds a master’s in Environmental Science and Natural Resource Journalism from the University of Montana.

From 2018, a lightning strike caused fire visible from Glacier National Park’s Scalplock Fire Lookout. PHOTO BY BENJAMIN ALVA POLLEY

BY EVA MITCHELL EBS STUDENT CONTRIBUTOR

What is the worst that could happen when you walk up to a sleeping bison?

“The bison is sleeping,” you may think.”As long as I am quiet, I’ll be fine and end up with an awesome photo from my trip, right?

What’s the worst that could happen?”

This past year in Yellowstone National Park there were many incidents where people got to close the wildlife and nothing bad happened to them. Most incidents where tourists get too close are not reported because there is often no injury or “newsworthy incident.” Some of you may be asking, “Why is this a problem if no one got hurt?”

I address this by stating—it’s the principle of the matter.

Just because you don’t get hurt one time, doesn’t mean no one will ever get hurt because you didn’t. There have been some very critical attacks including one in which a lady was attacked by a bison because she got too close so she could take a picture of the animal.

During Yellowstone’s 2023-24 season, the rate of

bison (100 yards for bears and wolves). This occurs sometimes even with their children, just so they can capture the “perfect image” from their family vacation. Those images won’t be worth it if you or the members in your family are attacked because you had to get your perfect shot. One such incident in 2019 includes a group that got too close to a bison and when the bison charged, the two adults ran away as the girl was thrown into the air by the bison.

Was getting the close up picture worth it when a little girl was attacked in order for that photo to be obtained? I don’t think so.

As a teenager who has lived in Montana all my life, and been to Yellowstone multiple times, I am used to witnessing at least one tourist—or “touron” as they are often referred to on social media—doing something against the rules, such as getting within 25 yards of a bison. They often make it out unarmed with no consequences.

A consequence is defined as, “A thing or circumstance which follows as an effect or result from something preceding.” Using this definition, we can see that a consequence is not necessarily a bad thing, which is often how people think of the word—with negative connotations.

If we use this definition against our example of tourists in Yellowstone making bad decisions, we can

For the visitors following the rules, the consequences of that one person’s action could be harm to the bystander, as with the little girl left behind by the adults, trauma if they witnessed an attack, or tighter restrictions within the park, diminishing the experience for all visitors.

Regardless, I don’t see many positive consequences to breaking the rules in Yellowstone because the leading action involved breaking a rule. While many claim some rules are meant to be broken, not the ones that protect you from getting attacked by a 2,000-pound, seven-foot-long animal. Don’t we owe it to each other to take responsibility and accept the consequences of our actions?

In theory, yes. But, it is easy for me to sit here and write this in the safety of my room rather than being in Yellowstone National Park at the risk of wildlife. Sometimes you just want to live in the moment, and while the sentiment is okay, the reality is not when it involves the wellbeing of others and real consequences in a wild place like Yellowstone.

Moral of the story is, consequences are always present, no matter the situation—good or bad. Accept the consequences for your actions, and never under any circumstances—no matter how fantastic the picture would be—get closer than 25 yards to a bison. It’s just not smart.

Eva Mitchell is a skier and artist in Big Sky, Montana, currently attending the School for Ethics and Global Leadership in Washington D.C.

LET’S

TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH: HARMONY IN THE DIGITAL AGE OF FITNESS STRIKING A BALANCE BETWEEN TECH AND WELLNESS HEALTH

BY EILEEN COIL GUEST COLUMNIST

In today’s dynamic fitness and sports training landscape, technology plays a pivotal role in aiding athletes and healthconscious individuals in their quest for peak performance. From state-of-the-art tracking apps to advanced wearables like watches and heart rate monitors, there’s an abundance of data available to finetune training regimes and gain a competitive edge. However, as we embrace the digital revolution, it’s important to meld technological advancements with mindfulness, focusing on listening to one’s body, prioritizing mental well-being and reconnecting with nature.

Reflecting on my journey training for a triathlon a few years ago, technology was crucial in helping me reach my physical training goals. However, I experienced a pivotal moment during a run with a friend when I forgot my watch, which I relied on for maintaining ideal training zones. I unnecessarily stressed myself out about accurately tracking my speed, heart rate and distance in my training log. One of the benefits I hoped to gain from training was managing stress, not adding more to my life. This experience has shown me how much I prioritized data over simply enjoying the run. The consistent pressure I put on myself to adhere strictly to training parameters, monitor heart rate, track sleep cycles, and use a metronome for pacing wasn’t always beneficial for my mental well-being.

“Paralysis by analysis” is a concerning trend in sports training today, especially with the abundance of technology available. For athletes and enthusiasts alike, it’s easy to get bogged down by data overload from wearables, video analysis and other tools. Instead of focusing on the joy of performance or the camaraderie during activities like hiking with friends, we risk getting lost in a sea of numbers.

Take skiing, for example. Setting a goal to beat your previous vertical record can be exciting, and tracking progress can be motivating. But constantly checking stats can pull us away from the sheer pleasure of skiing—taking in breathtaking views or sharing a warm hot chocolate moment with friends. While technology can be a great motivator and keep us accountable, finding a balance is key. It should complement our experiences, not dominate them. Taking breaks from technology

to fully immerse ourselves in the joy of skiing, riding, hiking or running is vital for our mental well-being.

After successfully meeting my goals and completing the triathlon, I set aside my heart rate monitor and redirected my attention towards overall health and wellness. I prioritized listening to my body and engaging in activities that brought me joy. This change in mindset resulted in a deeper connection with nature, increased awareness of my surroundings, and a newfound sense of grounding after exercising. It also highlighted the importance of nurturing social connections in my life.

Exploring practices like forest bathing, also known as “shinrin-yoku” in Japanese culture, where one immerses oneself in nature mindfully, can significantly reduce stress, improve mood, and enhance cognitive function. Originating in Japan in the 1980s, it has gained worldwide recognition for its therapeutic benefits. Dr. Qing Li, a Japanese physician and researcher, is renowned for his extensive work on Shinrin-yoku and its positive effects on human health. His studies have demonstrated its ability to reduce stress levels, boost immune function and elevate mood.

As the seasons change in Big Sky, there’s a palpable excitement among locals and visitors alike as they gear up for summer adventures, including summiting peaks and participating in events like the Big Sky Community Organization’s Fourth of July 5k, The Biggie and The Rut. In addition to preparing for these

events, there’s a plethora of weekly recreational opportunities to connect with nature and engage with fellow fitness enthusiasts of all activity levels.

BSCO is gearing up to host a range of outdoor fitness classes and community activities this summer, including Hike Big Sky, Bike Big Sky and Run Big Sky. These weekly outdoor programs are designed to be social and emphasize non-competitive fun, highlighting Big Sky’s beautiful parks and trails.

BASE community center offers indoor activities that promote wellness and encourage social connections. Participating in dynamic fitness classes like indoor cycling, kickboxing or Zumba, embracing relaxing yin yoga sessions, or joining a pick-up sport can significantly enhance your mental well-being, especially during the offseason when trails may be muddy.

One of the most rewarding aspects of organizing classes and activities at BASE is witnessing the vibrant community spirit as participants socialize and form relationships after classes. It’s truly uplifting to see everyone connect and build meaningful bonds, which greatly contributes to our community’s overall wellness.

Eileen Coil is the recreation and wellness manager for BSCO. She participates in Big Sky’s Health and Wellness Coalition and Be Well Big Sky’s Navigator Network. Visit BSCO.org or contact eileen@bsco.org to learn more about BSCO’s spring and summer activities.

ADOBE STOCK PHOTO

HEALTH BUZZ STRESS AND GUT HEALTH

BY KALEY BURNS EBS COLUMNIST

According to the American Institute of Stress, 55% of Americans report feeling stressed daily. Stress can be caused by various factors, even seemingly positive factors, including finances, family, extreme workouts and career pursuits. Most people know that stress induces changes in our bodies, such as a faster heartbeat or tense muscles, but it also has a profound effect on our gut health.

Gut health is a term for gastrointestinal functioning. The GI tract’s main function is digestion but it does much more than this. An optimal GI balance also has a profound effect on our brain. More than 90 percent of our serotonin, the chemical that makes us feel happy, is produced in the gut. Food cravings often originate from this connection which is why psychological stress can negatively affect our digestive health, causing inflammation and emotional eating.

Optimal health starts in the gut

An optimally functioning digestive tract is the cornerstone of good health. In addition to supporting the digestion and absorption of nutrients from food, the gastrointestinal tract protects the body by supporting detoxification and immunological processes.

In order to assure digestive wellness, the gastrointestinal tract must function properly in the following essential areas.

Gastrointestinal secretions must be produced at adequate levels (e.g., hydrochloric acid, pepsin, amylase, lipase).

Integrity of the intestinal mucosa must be maintained for proper absorption of nutrients and to stop absorption of undesirable substances that cause inflammation.

Gastrointestinal motility must ensure proper elimination of waste and toxins.

Liver function must be sufficient for proper assimilation of fats and detoxification of toxins.

Finally, healthy intestinal microflora must be present to assure healthy pH, immune response and microbial defenses.

When gut health is compromised, we can experience various health concerns. Digestive issues can affect the body as a whole, contributing to everything from allergies and acne to irritable bowel syndrome and even some forms of cancer.

A distressed gut can’t act in our defense. Stress aggravates our immune response, which can do significant damage to our gut lining. Over time, the weakening of our intestinal lining causes this integral boundary to act more like a sieve. You may have heard of this intestinal permeability referred to as “leaky gut.” When there are significant gaps in our intestinal lining, the whole body is impacted.

If your gut could talk, what would it tell you? Are you eating on the run, overconsuming cold or raw foods, skipping meals or consuming large amounts of fluids with meals? These can all be areas where digestive upset is giving you a signal to alter your lifestyle.

Substantial evidence provides support for the role of diet in the prevention and control of mental health concerns. Artificial sugar, sweetened beverages and processed foods may lead to several health issues such as indigestion, bloating, restless sleep and agitation. A balanced diet rich in a variety of foods can promote better sleep and improve overall mood. As you consume a more balanced and diverse diet, energy increases and stress hormones become more optimally balanced.

Gut health testing

There are comprehensive stool tests available that can evaluate the specific bacteria, digestive strength and inflammatory status of the digestive system. These can be helpful to detect unwanted pathogens as well. This specific testing can assess all of these mechanisms, allowing for insight into the impact of stress on the individual. From there we can help create personalized, comprehensive treatment plans to alleviate the effects of stress and optimizing digestive function.

Dr. Kaley Burns is a licensed Naturopathic Physician providing a wide range of services for her clients, including: Naturopathic Medicine, IV Nutrient Therapy, Regenerative Injections, Rejuvenation Therapies, Vitamin Shots, and Nutrition Counseling. She embraces a natural approach to health and aims to similarly inspire and guide others on their health journey.