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November 2014 Volume 3, Issue 6 THE POST RIDER Marias River Livestock Association, 72 Sweetgrass Hills Rd, Sweet Grass, MT 59484 What Would Bison on INSIDE THIS ISSUE Bison on the Rocky Mountain Front 1 the Rocky Mountain Dave Rustebakke’s DVM thoughts 3 Annual Meeting and Election of Directors 4 Front look like? Membership Renewal 5 Dena Fritz Appointment to National Committee 6 Bull Bucks 7 By Maggie Nutter Musing of a Feed Salesman 8 Bobcat Angus –a cutting edge team 9 A few years back I received a call from a gentleman who Rib 10 lives in Canada. He had picked up our newsletter in Sweetgrass and wanted me to know that Canada was Save the Date & News Nibbles 11 planning on restoring bison to their National Parks and that Working for you 12 this action could directly affect us. How could that affect us?? So for the last few years my ears and eyes have been open to picking up little bits and BIG bits of info that all piece together to show a picture of how that may happen. A quick Google search “Bison Restoration” brings up the Wildlife Conservation Society’s slide show “Ecological Recovery of American Bison” by Keith Aune, Senior Conservation Scientist. http://www.nrmsc.usgs.gov/files/norock/media/Aune_Oct2 011_EcoLunch.pdf Slide #20 in particular caught my attention—“Where will we restore bison? Sanderson et al, 2007 map. Our area is very much on that map and WHAT??? Slide 21 “Priority Reintroduction Sites” wouldn’t you know there we are distinctly circled in black. Also circled was of course the CMR area in Eastern Montana. This very quick click through slide show had me awake and paying attention. A little more searching and sure enough there is a report, Reintroduction of bison into the Rocky Mountain Parks of Canada: historical and archaeological, by Charles E. Kay, Department of Political Science, Utah State university and Clifford A. White, Parks Canada, Banff National Park. Parks Canada is required by legislative statute to maintain the ecological integrity of Canada’s national parks, which includes restoring extirpated species (Parks Canada 2000a-b). To determine if bison (Bison bison) were Map above is slide #21 “Priority Reintroduction Sites” indigenous to the southern From the Wildlife Conservation. Society slide show- Canadian Rockies, we conducted a detailed analysis “Ecological Recovery of American Bison” by Keith Aune of first-person historical journals and reviewed existing archaeological data….. At the FWP Bison Discussion Meeting in Great Fall, Oct 9th Yep, restoration is planned and going through the processes the Rocky Mountain Front was mention multiple times as a of deciding where and getting the public comment which sight that already was being prepared and looked at. hasn’t been all friendly. People need to be prepared to speak to this. Also in 2008 the Department of Interior had come out with Continued on Page 13 Page 2 The Post Rider Third Annual Prime Rib & Rib Tickler Nov 15, 2014 Civic Center, Shelby The Social Time begins at 5:30pm With Prime Rib Dinner to follow There will be Door Prizes Rib Gustafson Bull Buck Drawing His impish smile and twinkling eyes will shine on Merchant Dollars as stories of Rib are retold. His mischievous rhymes, naughty songs and jokes MC- Art Taft from KRTV News in my mind will never grow old. May God greet him in Glory with mercy and grace Music by and laugh at the pranks Rib pulled. Rob Quist & Great Northern Here on earth we may mourn but should rejoice Band for all the memories of Rib we still hold. Full obituary pg 10 Coming right up Thursday, November 13th at the De Boo Ranch, Valier Montana. Lunch at 11:30am The Post Rider Page 3 Animal and Human Health Precautions Contrasted A friend sent me an e-mail containing the letter to the Editor of a Lewiston Idaho Newspaper. Being interested in what he had to say I Googled the name then dialed up Dave Rustebakke, the Vet who wrote this article. He is a very kind and friendly man and to tell you how small this world is when he first got out of Vet school he worked for late Rib Gustafson DVM who was a member of our Marias River Livestock Association (Rib is Wylie and Barr Gustafson's father, who are also members of our association) Dave relayed how he had come up to our country and visited Rib last summer. In the old days when he worked for Rib, Sweet Grass was a hot spot for activity and him and Rib would frequent there. Dave grew up on a farm and ranch near Scobey, Montana. In 1972 He graduated with a DVM from Washington State University. He specialized in equine reproduction. Hope David A. Rustebakke, DVM you enjoy Dave’s thoughts.--Maggie Rustebakke Veterinary Service ________________________ Clarkston, Washington The present Ebola crisis in the world is frightening. I have submitted the following letter to the editor of the Lewiston Morning Tribune: Editor, Lewiston Morning Tribune: If I am a resident of Liberia incubating Ebola, to enter the United States all I need to do is present a valid visa, and lie If I wish to import a horse into the United States from when asked if I have been exposed to Ebola. Within hours Liberia or any African country other than Morocco, the (no quarantine required) I can be walking the streets of horse needs to undergo a 60 day quarantine period at a any city in the United States. USDA approved quarantine facility prior to mingling with the general population of horses in this country. Africa I feel very fortunate to live in a country that values our has a disease called African Horse Sickness that does not animals so highly. exist in the US; this is the way we have kept it out of this country. African Horse Sickness does not cause disease in David A. Rustebakke, DVM people, only horses; our government has determined that it would be devastating to the US horse industry if it were to come here. The United States (and virtually all other countries) require a myriad of tests and often quarantine prior to bringing in a foreign animal. I can’t legally cross state lines in the United States with a horse or cow without a health certificate signed by a USDA accredited veterinarian stating that the animal has been inspected and found free of infectious disease. In most cases blood tests are also required. In fact I can’t legally cross the Snake River and ride my horse in Idaho without a health certificate and a negative blood test for Equine Infectious Anemia. I’m not complaining; the United States of America, the States of Idaho and Washington as well as the other 48 states take the health of our livestock very seriously, and we have a very good record at keeping foreign animal diseases out of our country. I am happy to do my part to maintain biosecurity in our animal population. Page 4 The Post Rider Lodging Options for Shelby, MT Comfort Inn & Suites 434-2212 455 McKinley, Shelby MT Room w/ 1 Queen 2 people aprox $82 John Youngberg, Executive Vice President for Crossroads Inn 434-5134 Montana Farm Bureau and Jack Holden, Director for 1200 US Highway West, Shelby Montana Stockgrowers gave members some insight Room w/ 1 Queen 2 people aprox $60 into the upcoming 2015 legislative session. Glacier Motel & RV Park 434-5181 744 Roosevelt Highway, Shelby Marias River Livestock Association Room w/ 1 queen 2 people aprox $64 Annual Meeting O’Haire Manor 434-555 and Election of Directors 204 2nd Stree South, Shelby Room w/ 1 Queen 2 people $49 The Annual Meeting was held at Ringside Ribs in Shelby, MT. Shelby Best Western Inn & Suites 424-4560 Reports were given by John Youngberg and Jack Holden on (also has RV Park) what to expect from the upcoming 2015 legislative session. 1948 Roosevelt Highway, Shelby Room w/ 1 Queen 2 people $83-$125 Officers and Directors gave a report on what they thought was significant achievements of the MRLA during the past year. Totem Motel 434-2930 730 Oilfield Ave, Shelby New Directors were voted on for Toole and Liberty Counties. Room w/ 1 Queen 2 people $39 Bob Thompson will fill another term as Director for Liberty County while Paul Turner will be the new Director for Toole Remember to mention the event you will be attending County. when you make reservations as there may be a block of rooms with discounts. See www.MariasRiverLivestock.com for more details on lodging. Jason and Pamala Enneberg and their newest family member, look on as Jack Holden gives an update on Stockgrowers information and the upcoming legislative session. The Post Rider Page 5 October and November Marias River Livestock are Membership Membership Application DATE_________________ Renewal Months NAME_____________________________________________________________ So what does your membership dollars do for you and the livestock industry?? Let’s first look at the goals in the Marias River Livestock Association By-Laws. MAILING ADDRESS_______________________________________________ 1. Education of the public of the benefits of agricultural production and the problems facing _____________________________________________________________________ livestock producers and those operating businesses linked with livestock production. TELEPHONE ______________________________________________________ 2. Promoting legislation that is favorable to persons EMAIL ADDRESS engaged in agriculture. _____________________________________________________________________ 3. Informing members of Marias Livestock Association of local, State and Federal issues MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: Marias River Livestock Association that may affect their livestock operations in a Carrie Sue Lerum timely manner. PO Box 56 4.