TravelingMel

I've mentioned in a couple posts that I am taking a horseback riding class. Beginning western equitation, to be precise. I found out about the class while working on a story about MSU's equine science program. Turns out, MSU has a herd of more than 30 horses and offers beginning and intermediate western and English equitation as well as colt breaking and how to be an instructor (I forget what that one is called).

Since I get a tuition waiver as an MSU employee I thought I'd take a class. It's nice to do something brand new and totally out of my comfort zone once in awhile. I am the only person in the class who has never been on a horse and am at least 15 years older than everyone else.

(H took all the photos including the ones on Flickr (see below))

Riding around the arena.

Putting on the halter.

My buddy, Kid.

I get to ride Kid for the first half of the semester and then we switch it up.

You can see more pictures of me and Kid on my new Flickr photostream.

We really thought we made the big time when we were on the Billings news. Two people contacted us to tell us they saw it.

But we didn't know what big time was until we found out that one of my articles I wrote for MSU ended up in Manure Manager magazine. I don't want to ruin anything for the folks who haven't received their most recent issue, yet, but you can check it out online.

Looking for something to do the first week in September? Why not plant winter canola? That's right, this oilseed has many uses and might be a great crop for Montana growers.

OK, not something that most of you care about, but it is the first story I've had on the web as MSU's Ag Writer. I've had several pieces in newspapers, but this one looks pretty and shiny.

Photo by Kelly Gorham

Surf on over and check it out. Then tell me you don't want to plant canola!

I started my new job last week. Normally on July 2nd I like to attend the big Livingston 4th of July parade (see Henry's pictures--he attended with Anders and his parents.) Sadly, I had to miss the parade this year so I could check out one of MSU's Agricultural Experiment Stations.

Not that I didn't want to go--I did--but, I hate to miss the parade. Everyone in town is either in the parade or watching. And tons of folks come from out of town to take part.

But it was the second day of a new job, I couldn't say no.

The Southern Agricultural Research Center (SARC) near Huntley, Montana, is one of seven facilities that make up the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station Research Center System. The mission of the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station, as defined by state statute, is "to conduct and promote studies, scientific investigations and experiments relating to agriculture, natural resources and rural life and to diffuse information thereby acquired among the people of Montana". The Montana Agricultural Experiment Station fulfills this mission as the agricultural research component of Montana State University-Bozeman's Federal Land Grant mission of teaching, research and extension. SARC conducts agronomic research and education programs for agriculture in the dryland and irrigated areas located in nine counties of south central Montana as part of the MAES mission.

I rode out to Huntley (about 15 miles east of Billings) with some folks from the College of Agriculture's Dean's Office which gave me some insight into the COA and a chance to get to know them.

We took tours and listened to speakers, had a BBQ lunch then more tours and speakers. It was pretty interesting to find out what was going on out there.

A speaker tells us about the results of several different irrigated winter wheat trials.

I'm not a huge fan of GMO foods, so it is somewhat ironic that I get to cover the first Roundup Ready sugar beets.

Dryland Winter Wheat