By Alan Sorensen
The 2000 Montana Agriculture Calendar and its 12 framable Don Greytak prints bring country life past and future together today.
Greytak's prints depict north central Montana farm life of yore in explicit detail, while the calendar dates all of the year's important agricultural events at the local, state, regional, national and international levels.
The calendars sell for $10 each and are available from 4-H Club members around the state or Tom Welch at Montana State University-Northern. Call Welch at 265-4159 or send $10 per calendar plus $1.50 postage to Welch at MSU-Northern, Havre, MT 59501.
The information in the calendar was assembled by Welch, agriculture technology teacher at MSU-Northern.
The calendar was created as a partnership between Montana 4-H and Montana Aggies. Profits from the sale of each calendar benefit club and county 4-H programs, Montana 4-H Foundation funded programs, and agriculture education in Montana through the Aggies.
Montana 4-H reaches more than 27,000 youths through 4-H clubs, school enrichment programs, camps, and special study. More than 4,000 volunteers help MSU Extension staff in delivering this youth development program in every Montana county.
Montana's 4-H club membership exceeded 11,000 youths. Nationally, more than 6.5 million students participate in 4-H, making it this nation's largest youth organization.
The mission of the Montana 4-H program is to educate youths and adults for living in a global world. 4-H assists in this process by developing five critical life skills:
- Fostering positive self image;
- Learning decision making and responsibility for choices;
- Developing an inquiring mind;
- Relating to self and others;
- Acquiring a concern for communities, local and global.
The Montana Aggies is an organization for all concerned with the well being of agriculture, including those interested in farming, ranching, forestry, agribusiness, academia and government. The purpose of the Montana Aggies is to focus mutual interests on improvement of the overall agricultural economy and culture. Activities include supporting agricultural education, recognizing outstanding agriculturalists, sponsoring agriculture promotional efforts and other activities related to improving Montana agriculture.
The organization is non-profit and is affiliated with Montana State University college of agriculture and MSU's Alumni Association. Membership is open to all who share the interest of the Montana Aggies. The yearly membership dues are $10 and additional funding is derived from donations and special events and projects such as the calendar.
For those who may not be familiar with his work, Don Greytak of Havre is one of the foremost pencil artists in the West. He has produced more than 320 signed limited edition prints that are distributed throughout the United States. His work depicts many typical farm and ranch situations that are considered part of everyday farm and ranch life.
Don Greytak's original work and signed and numbered prints can be seen and purchased at the Old Library Gallery, 439 Fourth Ave., Havre, MT 59501. Call 265-8165.
