Liberty County

Liberty County, known as the “Heart of the Hi-Line” in north-central Montana, covers 1,458 miles of prime agricultural land. Liberty County MSU Extension partners with organizations at the county and state levels to help people learn and grow in the fields of agriculture, family and consumer science, 4-H and community development. Liberty County MSU Extension focuses on providing programs with positive impacts for the lives of residents. Teaching about mental health awareness and suicide prevention in school, making sure county residents are aware of current agricultural issues, giving recommendations for yards and gardens, working with youth as they develop lifelong leadership and communication skills, and helping in community development projects, Liberty County MSU Extension’s mission is about helping people and community.

Liberty County Variety Plot Tour

MSU Northern Agricultural Research Center and Liberty County MSU Extension hosted their annual field day in July. Speakers included Suchismita (Sue) Mondal, Montana State University Winter Wheat Breeder; Peggy Lamb, Research Scientist with the Northern Agricultural Research Center; and Doug Holen, Montana State University Foundation Seed Program Manager. Topics covered spring wheat variety performance and research, winter wheat variety performance, research for enhancement of future varieties and an update on foundation seed production. Sixteen local producers attended and learned about current and upcoming spring wheat and durum varieties that could prove to be economically important. Producers had the opportunity to network with each other and regional and state specialists to ask questions regarding farming practices and crop varieties.

Caption: Liberty County producers listen intently as Sue Mondal, MSU Winter Wheat Breeder, gives an update on winter wheat varieties.

Credit: Jesse Fulbright

Liberty County Hosts 2023 MSU President's Bus Tour

Liberty County MSU Extension hosted the MSU President's Bus Tour, themed "Follow the Food Systems," in 2023. Fifty-one members of the MSU Administration team visited Liberty County where attendees learned about the development of food systems in the county, toured a local dryland farm with variety plots, enjoyed an alumni luncheon featuring locally grown ingredients, toured a pulse processing plant, and visited a new meat processing facility. Speakers in between stops included Toby Tabor of the Bureau of Reclamation, Maureen "Morb" Wicks, State Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency, and Jesse Fulbright, Liberty County MSU Extension agent. Attendees gained a greater understanding of the food system process from beginning to end and gained a greater appreciation for the vital role that agriculture plays in Liberty County and throughout Montana.

Caption: MSU President Waded Cruzado toured Liberty County's agriculture as part of her "Follow the Food Systems" Bus Tour in 2023.

Credit: Jesse Fulbright

Liberty County 4-H Teens Take Advantage of Leadership Opportunities

Liberty County 4-H youth attended several statewide 4-H events this year, including Citizenship Seminar, Rec Lab and Congress. At 4-H Citizenship Seminar, youth learned more about the legislative process by participating in a mock legislature using bills they crafted. Student participants gained valuable insights and knowledge into how the legislative process works in Montana. 4-H Rec Lab gave youth opportunities to network with 4-H’ers from across the state while engaging in various team building activities. Youth also learned life skills that can help them be more independent and proficient as teen leaders in their 4-H clubs. 4-H Congress allowed youth to develop further leadership skills through participation in classes and events with members from across the state. These youth had the opportunity to develop confidence in themselves by taking part in statewide contests and interacting with peers.

Caption: 4-H teen leaders, such as these young men pictured at the Montana Capitol, had the opportunity to be a part of several leadership opportunities in 4-H in 2023.

Credit: Jesse Fulbright

Question, Persuade, Refer Suicide Awareness Program Taught in Liberty County

Liberty County MSU Extension offered Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Gatekeeper training classes to the senior class and Chester-Joplin-Inverness high school staff in 2023. QPR Gatekeeper training is meant to offer hope through positive action and review with participants about how to recognize suicide warning signs and clues. The training taught people how to ask the suicide question, how to persuade someone to stay alive, and how to refer them to someone who can provide help. Thirty-eight staff and students completed the gatekeeper training and now better understand how difficult it is to ask someone if they are thinking of killing themselves. They are better prepared to ask difficult questions of others about suicide and are better equipped to understand the clues to a potential suicide. Staff and students are better prepared to help students and others if they are potentially thinking about suicide or are in a mental health crisis.

Caption: These are a few examples of mental health resources available to Liberty County residents through the QPR class facilitated by Liberty County MSU Extension.

Credit: Jesse Fulbright

Contact

111 First Street East Suite #5
Chester, MT 59522
406-759-5625
https://www.montana.edu/extension/liberty/