Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T L Y M O N T A N A S P R I N G | 2 0 1 4 2 3 Gal Libby Burr owner, bridGer feeds in bozeman Libby's focus on quality feeds is a natural match for her clients. "I appre- ciate the caliber of customer in Montana. We care about quality of life and doing the right thing." She remembers doing right by one Labrador who had become deaf and torn at his foot pads. "Turns out, he had an intolerance to corn. That dog still inspires me to adapt to meet customer needs." For Libby, the biggest challenges can become her greatest joys. "I think one sign you're in the right field is when you can't wait to meet another professional who can teach you something new." www.bridgerfeeds.com Kavita Bay owner, hindu hillbilly apiary near missoul a Kavita works with her family to turn area foliage into liquid gold. "Beekeeping makes me feel like a kid. Every time I open a hive, the rest of the world disappears. I get to hunt for the queen, search for eggs, and witness bees hatching out of their cells. Not only do we have the opportunity to be stewards of these amazing animals, but we are rewarded with their raw honey and beeswax, which we sell at local markets." That full-circle concept is also what challenges Kavita. "The learning curve is steep. We have to work hard to prevent disease, and losses can be heartbreaking. Still, being able to make a living doing something I love is a gift." www.facebook.com/HinduHillbilly Deb Hill owner, cloud dancer alpacas in lewistown Looking for a way to support the country lifestyle she loves, Deb discov- ered Alpacas, from breeding to working with their prized fiber. Deb was at a county fair and saw what she thought was a small llama. "Six months later, I bought my first animal. They're a smaller animal, too, so that makes it easier for women to handle. I can arm-wrestle them into submission." www.clouddanceralpacas.com Connie Surb er and Laura Ginsburg owners, the Golden yoke dairy in saint iGnatius Montana dairy farming has found two fresh faces in Connie and Laura. "We're learning to run a sustainable farm with grass-fed cows and eventually want to cre- ate our own ice cream which showcases area produce." Think Flathead Cherry, Dixon Melon, or Paradise Peach. Their focus on local food started from different direc- tions. Laura worked on a dairy farm in New zealand. "It's really easy to love cows," she says. Connie origi- nally sought to escape her agricultural roots because she also loved being in the woods. But Laura and Con- nie found the Mission Valley and decided this is where they want to raise their animal family. "It's not just your family farm, it's also the cows' family farm." www.facebook.com/TheGoldenYoke shelby humphries writes about health, weight loss, and being true to ourselves at 100poundsin1year. JoHN ASHLEy FINE ART PHoToGRAPHy

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