92
D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A M A G A Z I N E
•
FA L L 2 0 2 4
Army built Fort Maginnis, the last of five forts built in Montana
following Custer's defeat at Little Big Horn. Maginnis, in oper-
ation for just ten years (1880-1890), protected the cattle ranches
and gold mines in the area, most notably Granville Stuart's DHS
Ranch, one of the largest Montana ranches in the 1880s.
Today, agriculture is the leading industry in Fergus Coun-
ty. The 2017 Census of Agriculture (the most recent available)
shows 845 farms in the county, covering 2,188,069 acres. Live-
stock is king here. Fergus County ranks first in the state in the
market value of livestock, primarily cattle. Not surprising in cat-
tle county, the primary crop is hay. What did surprise me is that
the county ranks fourth state-wide with regard to aquaculture.
G A R D I N E R , M O N TA N A 4 0 6 - 8 4 8 - 7 7 7 7 w w w. y e l l o w s t o n e r a f t . c o m
W
e have been taking families and friends through
the Yellowstone River's exhilarating whitewater
rapids since 1978. We were the first raft company to
take trips down this wild Montana river, and for over
40 years, we have been your first choice.
CELEBRATING 45 YEARS!
2023-24
of
B E S T
M O N TA N A
A S V O T E D B Y R E A D E R S O F
Y E A R S WO N
W
I
N
N
E
R
!
BEST
WHITEWATER GUIDES
IN MONTANA
