Local students receive awards in Helena

The mission of Agriculture in Montana Schools (AMS) is to share the importance of agriculture in Montana's education system. This organization creates, collects, and provides lesson material to Montana educators, and provides continuing education classes to those teachers on how to integrate AMS material and resources into their current curriculum.

They also provide opportunities for Montana students to learn more about exciting careers in agriculture. Locally, the face of this organization is seen in our community as the Ag in Montana Schools bumper sticker contest.

Two local students recently received recognition for placing first out of all students statewide in their grade level for their drawings and slogans this year. Each grade level winner, plus two overall winners, were invited to Helena to stay for two days to sight-see, meet the lieutenant governor, and attend an awards banquet.

This year Heidi LaBree was the sixth grade statewide winner and Selby Mulder was the first grade statewide winner. Jed Dixon from the Custer/Carter County area was the kindergarten statewide winner. He attends Riverview country school in Custer County.

Their activities began at the Jorgenson Inn where all the winners stayed with lunch and conversation, followed by a guided tour of the remarkable St. Helena Cathedral. From there the procession moved to the Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks Wildlife Center for a scavenger hunt.

Parents, students, and siblings alike were all quite entertained at this stop. Their adventure included everything from identifying fish and counting the ribs in a bear's skeleton, to weighing a moose antler and measuring the length of a mountain lion's tail.

The Wildlife Center was not only a fun and educational stop, but the center also rehabilitates orphaned and injured wildlife for the purpose of releasing them back into the wild. The students were able to visit the rehab area housing a bald eagle and a golden eagle, and while there were black bears present also, they could only be viewed via a camera that plays 24-7 on a screen in the exhibit hall.

From the FWP Wildlife Center, the students and families finished out their day at The Carousel, with indoor carousel rides, a pizza dinner, ice cream, and door prizes.

Trolley rides to the Capitol complex kicked off the second day's activities. Once there, participants began a tour of the Homeland exhibit at the Historical Museum, which included a treasure hunt for each family. There was also an opportunity to visit the Charlie Russell museum exhibit to view some of his paintings and the gift shop for those interested.

Next, everyone headed across the street for a guided tour of the Capitol building that ended in the governor's reception room. Each winner had the opportunity to meet and take pictures with Lieutenant Governor Mike Cooney and Miss Rodeo Montana.

Following that, everyone rode the trolleys back to Jorgenson's for a luncheon with guest speakers and presentation of awards. Among the speakers were Elsie Arntzen, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Sarai McCollaum, Miss Rodeo Montana, who also presented each student with their award.

Heidi LaBree was also asked to give an interview to a local Helena TV News station, which aired part of her interview as well as a few shots of the group at the Capitol building, with the Lt. governor, and at the awards banquet on that evening's news.

The Agriculture in Montana Schools program provided an amazing opportunity for all of the students, families, and teachers that were able to attend. Participants were very thankful for the blessings and opportunities provided to the students of the community.