400th Blog Post

Celebrating my 400th Blog post with a new name, new look, some self-reflection and a giveaway! Read on!

What does celebration look like?

When you live on a farm, sometimes confetti comes in the form of freshly harvested wheat berries spilling and jumping out the back of the grain truck as it dumps into the augur.

We don't drink a ton of champagne around here, either, but sometimes a light beer at the end of a hard day tastes as good as bubbly. Celebratory balloons are the kind of puffy clouds you see dotting this part of the Big Sky State on a clear day.

The cheering section is comprised of curious cow faces, tongue-out farm dogs, and our farmer family members' crooked grins.

No matter what form it comes in, I'm celebrating my 400th post to this blog.

Yes, this is it. I've been blogging for 4 1/2 years and 400 posts. I started writing as an outlet for sharing about the unique lifestyle of living on a dryland wheat farm and ranch in North-Central Montana. Over the years, and the posts, I've learned a lot about what being here is all about. I've learned about the day-to-day operations of farming and ranching, how everyone contributes, how I contribute, and how we get things done. I've learned about family, legacy, sustainability, and pride. I've learned about the unique ways of small town communities. I've learned what it means to have and to be a neighbor. I've learned about myself- my own strength and ability to adapt. Writing in this blog has been a means to explore all of those topics, and to share them.

I think I've grown a lot as a person over the past four and a half years. Growing up in Iowa, I never would have guessed I'd end up here. At first, it was hard to see my future here. How would I eventually figure out who I am in this place? First off, how do I figure out WHERE I am when all the landscape is so similar- flat and treeless? Now, I see and appreciate the nuance of the land, and I feel like I have found more of who I am and what my role can be in this place. It has taken time, but I think I have found my spirit, my voice, and my identity here. The blog, as an outlet for my thoughts and feelings, has been an invaluable tool in this discovery process.

As for the new name, Prairie Sun Life, and the new look, well, it was about time. I found that I was tired of using canned Blogger themes and I wanted something more representational of this place and also of my spirit. The new name and new URL come from the corporation name that Tom and Carol chose many years ago- Prairie Sun Farms. I've always loved the optimism and cheeriness that name implies. The new name and new look of The Prairie Sun Life are not a complete departure from the old Prairie Ponderings MT, but rather I think build on that foundation and move forward. Just like I've grown and changed, it was time for the blog to grow and change, too. The new graphic, expertly done by my friend Joellyn, embodies exactly the spirit I was hoping for: optimism, cheerfulness, sunshine, and a strong sense of place.

And now, let's talk about YOU. If you're reading this, thanks for coming along on the ride. Sure, there have been ups and downs and long breaks. There have also been high times of many posts. If you've stuck around this long, thanks for continuing to read, learn, and discover along with me what this Prairie Sun Life is all about. If you're new, welcome! Please stay!

I did mention there was a giveaway involved, didn't I? Here's the part where I explain it. Currently, I'm reading a wonderful young-adult fiction book called Hattie Big Sky, by Kirby Larson. It's about a young woman who moves from Iowa to Vida, Montana to homestead in the 19-teens. (Hmm...why do you think this book piqued my interest?!) There is much in this historical fiction piece that I find I can relate to and many passages that stand out, including this one about getting to know the land:

When I first arrived, I thought this country flat and dull. Now, I see each roll and dip, each cutbank and coulee, through fond eyes. (p. 271)

I'm giving away one copy of this book, and YOU could win it! First, you can enter by commenting. I've got three discussion questions below. Answer one of the questions below in the comments section on the blog OR by leaving a comment on Facebook. Second, you can enter the drawing by SHARING the link to this post or to my blog on Facebook. I'll give until Tuesday, March 8 at midnight for the contest and then I'll pick a winner at random and announce on Wednesday, March 9.

Here are the discussion questions-

• What have been some of your favorite blog topics?
• What would you like to see more of on the blog?
• What is a book you really connected with that you would recommend?

Again, comment below or on Facebook to be entered to win a copy of Hattie Big Sky, and/or share this post on Facebook to be entered! 

Thanks everyone for reading, and for celebrating 400 blog posts with me! Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go great my cheering section of curious, pregnant cows and their calves! 

Montana Magazine Celebrates Centennial Farms

Almost a year ago now, we had a visit to our farm from a photographer who was doing a story on farms and ranches in Montana that had been in the same family for 100 years. Our farm was homesteaded in 1910, so our centennial was celebrated four years ago, but it was still cool to be included in the story, which was printed in this most recent issue of Montana Magazine.

Here's a link:

http://montanamagazine.com/portfolio-century-stories/

The web article isn't as good as the print article, so if you're in Montana, pick up a copy of Montana Magazine at your local independent book store and check it out. The photography is pretty good in the story, even if some of the details aren't 100 % correct. They do mention our involvement in Farmers Union, and that our farm was homesteaded by Jeff's Great-Grandmother (rare for women to homestead!), but then they never mention that we are from Inverness.

Here's another link to a blog post I did a few years ago that talks about our farm being homesteaded: https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8925967694042657102#editor/target=post;postID=3473278006020582098;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=135;src=postname

All the same, it's cool to be featured and even more cool to be part of this great family tradition of farming and ranching. This is a unique lifestyle and each and every farm is unique. We are lucky to carry on the family business in this beautiful place!

This photo was taken back in May I think. 

Homesteading

Jeff and I got married in June. We moved all my belongings up here and are now starting a life together raising wheat, barley, cattle, and hay.

But that's not where our story truly begins.  We would not be here and this place would not be what it is if not for the homesteaders that started it all, and the family tradition of farming and land stewardship that continues to pass down.

A tremendous synopsis of the homesteading history of the Hi-Line and the connection to that history that keeps people around (or coming back) is found in the most current issue of National Geographic.  The story, by David Quammen, and photographed by William Albert Allard, is titled, "Riding Out Another Season."  Copies of the magazine are scarce around here, with so many people sweeping them off the shelves. If you have not read the article, I strongly suggest you pick up a copy, or read it here: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2012/01/northern-montana/quammen-text.

One of my favorite photos from the article, by William Albert Allard.
As with most National Geographic articles, the photos were tremendous. 

Many of the farms and ranches in this area were formed in the early 20th century.  The Bangs farm was homesteaded beginning in 1910 when Laura Etta Smalley, Jeff's Great-Grandmother, filed her claim.  She "proved up," or earned her patent to the land in 1914.  That was the same year she married Will Bangs, who was a neighboring homesteader.  They combined their land and passed it down through the family to their son, Ken Bangs, who succeeded the land to his son, Tom, who is Jeff's dad. Jeff and I are now working on the farm with Tom, in addition to working some of our own leased land.

The National Geographic article is great as a broad overview.  A more personal account by Laura Etta Smalley Bangs can be found in the book Montana Women Homesteaders: A Field of One's Own.  Again, I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a little more history about Montana, or anyone who wants to read about some strong and persevering women, or anyone who wants a little bit of Bangs family history, or if you're just looking for a good read.

Jeff and I feel very lucky to be able to continue the family tradition of farming and ranching.  Many family's succession stories are not so great as our own has been.  We are privileged to be in the position we are, and hope to carry it on into the future.