What a proud legacy our pioneering Montana ancestors bequeathed to us. Our forebears were resilient, determined, hardworking and tough. Tough as in Western cowboy tough; they had the sort of strength books have been written about. Hardy souls who never have accepted being told, “you can’t make that happen,” “don’t bother trying,” or “that idea won’t work here.” Discouraging words that implied, “you don’t have what it takes.”
They created ranches and farms, introduced untried breeds of cattle, battled droughts, suffered losses of herds, crops and even many of their children. They didn’t quit without giving it everything they had. Pioneers’ hardships were nearly incomprehensible by today’s standards. By working in unbelievable conditions, and helping each other whenever they could, they succeeded in bending this land to their purposes. Because of them, we’ve been instilled with determined free thinking, fiercely independent natures and the will to go after what matters to us. There was no tolerance for “can’t” or “don’t try”.
Full page announcements in the Monitor back in September invited residents to participate in the “Reimagine Rural” program, hosted by Montana State University Extension. And it was amazing! If you weren’t able to attend, the article written by Keith Hammonds in the September 12 issue of The Monitor provided a wealth of information about what it is and how it works. Here’s a recap:
