Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T L Y M O N T A N A M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 2 0 10 NEW BORN: MONTANA'S SANDHILL CRANE BABIES PAGE 16 CAROL POLICH has been a nature photographer/ writer for the past three decades with her world travels and teaches photography classes in Boz- eman. During her "down" time, she submits her nature photos and stories to various magazines in the USA and overseas. Her stories are featured regularly in Montana magazines, and she uses them for her keynote lectures when teaching. MONTANA'S BUZZING HONEY INDUSTRY PAGE 20 MAGGIE SLEPIAN is a full-time editor and writer living in Bozeman. When she's not in front of a computer, she's probably outside backpacking, climbing, shooting archery, wrecking her dirt bike, or attempting to skate ski. Writing and edito- rial projects can be found at maggieslepian.com. THE DESCENT INTO THE BIGHORN CAVERN PAGE 24 SCOTT SERY is a copywriter and outdoor enthusiast living in Billings, Montana with his wife and son. Breaking free from society, he enjoys rock and ice climbing, caving, backpacking, hunting, fishing, and all around loving what Montana has to offer. FIVE GORGEOUS SPRING BIKE RIDES AROUND WHITEFISH PAGE 28 ASHLEY ARCEL is a writer living and working in her hometown of Whitefish. She is the founder of Proline Creative and a graduate of Montana State University – Bozeman. FINDING THE BEAT OF MONTANA PAGE 32 LACEY MIDDLESTEAD is a Helena-based freelance writer and outdoor enthusiast whose first love is Montana. She blogs at bitofgracebitofgrit.blog- spot.com. Her work appeared Helena Indepen- dent Record, Distinctly Montana, and SnoWest. www.laceymiddlestead.com GEOCACHING IN MONTANA PAGE 36 A native Montanan, BRYAN SPELLMAN has lived all over the state, and now lives in the foothills of the Cabinet Mountains. A graduate of UC Berkeley, he is now retired from a career centered in the School of Fine Arts at the University of Montana. In retirement, he spends his time on weaving, photography, travel, writing, and, yes, geocaching. MODERN ROLLER DERBY IN MONTANA PAGE 48 BRIAN D'AMBROSIO is the author of more than 10 books and his articles have been published in local, regional, and national publications. D'Ambrosio's favorite journalistic topics or subjects: history, mu- sic, architecture, vernacular artists, boxing, photog- raphy, forgotten inventors, and obscure American poets and authors. Also a private investigator, he may be reached at dambrosiobrian@hotmail.com BOULDERING MONTANA: FIVE SPRING BOULDERING SPOTS PAGE 54 MARIA ANDERSON'S writing has appeared in Climb- ing, Alpinist, Outside Bozeman, and Best Amer- ican Short Stories 2018. She has recently been awarded fellowships from the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation and Joshua Tree National Park. MONTANA'S VINTAGE NEON SIGNS— AN ENDANGERED SPECIES PAGE 58 TERESA OTTO is a freelance writer, photographer, and retired pediatric anesthesiologist based in Billings. When she's not traveling around Montana or our big, beautiful world, she serves as a waitress and housekeeper for two rescued cats and a dog. Follow her travels at www.thenomadsdaughter.com. ARTISTS OF THE BLACKFOOT VALLEY PAGE 62 LEANNA "LEE" YORK is a freelance writer who writes fiction and nonfiction. She's from New York but has traveled the world. Currently, she lives and writes in Lincoln, where she has two horses, two dogs, and a fantastic husband. She is fascinated by people and their stories, and that is what she loves to write about. LEWIS: MONTANA'S FAVORITE LLAMA PAGE 69 SUSI HUELSMEYER-SINAY is originally from Germany. She moved to Montana in 1993 to be close to Yellowstone National Park and its wild country and creatures. She has lived and packed with, rescued, trained and loved llamas for 26 years. They are her preferred subject to write about though she has, on occasion, written about other critters and subjects. Susi is co-owner, manager and guide at Yellow- stone Safari Company and Yellowstone Llamas. CONTRIBUTORS CONTRIBUTORS CONTRIBUTORS OUR

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