Distinctly Montana Magazine

w w w . d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m 1 01 MY FAVORITE WESTERN MOVIE (OR BOOK) IS: The movie Open Range. I favor it because it depicts that time period when the West was changing as barbed wire, homesteading, and resident ranching were changing how the landscape would be used. It is especially poignant for me because the Department of Livestock was formed out of that change from the Wild West to ranching as it has become today. IF I'M GOING OUT FOR A NICE DINNER AND WANT A MON- TANA STEAK, MY FAVORITE CUT TO ORDER (OR PLACE TO ORDER IT) IS: Prime Rib or a good Ribeye cooked medium-rare. I like the flavor of the fat marbling and its tenderness. Of course, the great thing about beef is that it's a product that can fit almost anyone's health needs or budget. Breakfast Cowboy Cowboy MONTANA CRUNCH GRANOLA MIX [6 PACK] Don't saddle up in Yellowstone or Glacier without this essential guide to horseback riding on some of the most scenic trails in the world! Novice and experienced riders will love this ultimate guide to horseback riding in two of America's most beautiful national parks. http://bit.ly/glacierhorses THE THING I'M MOST THANKFUL FOR AS A MONTANAN IS: THE LIFESTYLE MONTANA PROVIDES. WHERE ELSE CAN YOU LIVE AND BE MINUTES AWAY FROM LAKES, RIVERS AND MOUNTAINS THAT ARE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT? I THINK WE TAKE FOR GRANTED THAT WE GET TO LIVE EVERY DAY WHERE MANY ONLY GET TO VACATION. MIKE HONEYCUTT currently serves as the Executive Officer for the Montana Department of Livestock reporting to the Montana Board of Livestock. Mike is a native of eastern North Carolina and grew up in a farming community. Mike attended North Carolina State University where he received Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Agricultural and Extension Education. Following college, Mike served five years as a local high school agricultural education teacher and FFA advisor in his native North Carolina. In 2003, Mike accepted a position with the National FFA Organization in Indianapolis, IN, where he served for over eight years. There he played a direct role in helping states develop student leadership and career development programs in agriculture. Following his time at National FFA, Mike worked for Cargill AgHorizons concentrating on helping local farmers manage price risk and volatility. In 2013, Mike returned to agricultural education to serve as Managing Director of the National Council for Agricultural Education where he led efforts to develop programs and policies to move agricultural education forward and work toward meeting future agriculture human resource needs through public schools, community colleges, universities and adult farmer and rancher programs. In 2015, Mike and his family moved to his wife's native Montana and in February of 2016 he was selected as the new Executive Officer at the Montana Department of Livestock. Mike is married to the former Raylee St. Onge, a native of Fort Shaw, and an alumnus of Montana State University. They currently reside in Helena with their two daughters. LEIGHTON SWITZER

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