Cascade County

Cascade County, located in central Montana, is known as the "Electric City" due to its historical significance in hydroelectric generation plants and smelter activity. The MSU Extension office is in the county seat, Great Falls, which is on the Missouri River and is one of the pioneer cities in the state. The terrain is primarily gently rolling plains dissected by the Missouri River and its numerous coulees and tributaries. The Little Belt Mountains are found in the southeastern portion of the county. The population of the county is approximately 84,400, which includes the incorporated city of Great Falls and the towns of Belt, Cascade, Centerville, Fort Show, Monarch, Neihart, Sand Coulee, Simms, Sun River, Ulm, and Vaughn, many of which have complete K-12 school systems.

Cascade County's economic base includes agriculture, military, education, small manufacturing, food processing, and many service industries. Most agricultural income is derived from crop production. Great Falls is home to the Benefis Health Care system, Malmstrom Air Force Base, and many cultural attractions, including the Charles M. Russell Museum/Gallery, the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, the Paris Gibson Center, and the First People's Buffalo Jump. Great Falls is a primary destination point for tourism, with outdoor recreational opportunities, including fishing, hunting, boating, golfing, hiking, and historical exploration.

 

You've Got to Be Kidding?! Webinar Series

Learning how to raise livestock begins with the birth of a kid, piglet, lamb, calf, or foal, but knowing how to assist a nanny, sow, ewe, cow, or mare give birth seems daunting. There is a new wave of livestock producers who are raising a handful of livestock or breeding their favorite mare for the first time.

This webinar series helped livestock producers understand nutritional needs before birth, necessary vaccines to ensure strong offspring, early signs of labor, duration of labor, care for neonatal livestock, and care for the mother after birth. Extension Agent Rose Malisani developed the webinar series titled, “You’ve got to be kidding?! And farrowing, lambing, calving, and foaling” to educate new and established livestock producers about labor signs, birth, difficult or obstructed labor, and neonatal care. Speakers included Christopher Rademacher, veterinarian with Iowa State University; Brent Roeder, sheep specialist with Montana State University (MSU) Extension; Megan Van Emon, beef specialist with MSU Extension; and Carleigh Fedorka with Colorado State University.

Approximately 780 people from six continents registered for the webinars, which were live and recorded.

Evaluations collected data on value, operation changes, webinar quality, comments, and rated each webinar overall on a 5-point scale: Farrowing: 4.88/5; Lambing and Kidding: 4.76/5; Calving 4.60/5; Foaling: 4.80/5. Comments included:

• “Hands down, the best video resource I have ever seen on farrowing. Great for experienced, inexperienced, commercial, and small farm.”
• It's a great option for further education that works for those of us who don't have time or extra money for desk learning. Also allows for making connections in our community.”

The webinar series was developed to help livestock producers learn something new, ask questions, and be engaged. Evaluations confirmed an increase in knowledge gained, appreciation of the free webinars, value, and change in animal husbandry.

Caption: Flyer for the 'You've got to be kidding?!' webinar series

Credit: Rose Malisani

Cascade County Memory Cafe

As the number of people with memory issues continues to rise, there is a growing need for programs that provide a supportive environment for people with cognitive impairment. The Memory Cafe evolved from a model developed by Dutch psychiatrist Bere Miesen in 1997. MSU Extension in Cascade County partners with Great Falls Public Library to offer this valued program. The library receives a grant through the Montana Geriatric Education Center, University of Montana, that funds the activities and refreshments. The library is also the meeting site for the Memory Cafe.

Co-facilitated by Felicia O'Brien, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent, and Sarah Cawley, Community Education Director of the Great Falls Public Library, Memory Cafe provides a comfortable and safe environment for people with memory issues that allows them to enjoy mentally stimulating activities and social interaction. During monthly gatherings, 12–17 participants, including caregivers, enjoy activities that provide a respite from everyday routines and a format for information and support. Activities include arts and crafts, music, guest speakers, and social interaction. The participants' connections with others facing similar circumstances are a significant benefit of the program. The Cascade County Memory Cafe is integral to the Healthy Aging programs offered at MSU Extension Cascade County.

Caption: Memory Cafe at Gibson Park for a birdwatching event.

Credit: Sarah Cawley

Cascade 4-H

Cascade County 4-H traditionally sees a busy summer season as multiple disciplines showcase their work. The 4-H camp kicked off in June with 90 kids attending multiple workshops and team-building experiences. Early July brought the annual 4-H congress in Bozeman for 11 members. The county horse Judging team took first place in the state and will travel to the national competition in January.

The livestock show in July showcased 132 kids of all ages practicing animal care and showmanship skills in market and breeding projects with more than 160 animals (six species: beef, swine, lamb, goat, rabbit, and poultry). Highlights included our first-ever turkey project and the first-ever Old Goat/Pee Wee showmanship contest. Almost 150 animals were sold in the annual Fill Your Freezer sale.

Cascade County, in collaboration with Teton County, hosted a state-level Horse Show at the 406 Arena in mid-July, where 42 youth entered, and 30 were from Cascade County. The ranch horse show included multiple classes for each level and a colt division that included skills in Sorting, Knowledge, Pattern, Heading and Heeling. The event also included a doctoring event in basic horse health care. The performance horse show portion included categories in showmanship, western horsemanship and equitation, English horsemanship and equitation, colt to maturity and green horse, miniature horse, hunter hack and reining.

The state fair capped the summer 4-H season with 15 club booths and 64 members entering 274 projects. The weeklong event included the cat/dog show, rabbit and poultry show, and communication and cake decorating contests.

Caption: Cascade 4-H members at 4-H Camp.

Credit: Rose Malisani

Contact

3300 Third Street NE, #9
Great Falls, MT 59404
406-454-6980
https://www.montana.edu/extension/cascade/