Ravalli County

Ravalli County is the lifeblood of the Bitterroot Valley. Coined the production valley by Marcus Daly, Ravalli County is home to the only Agriculture Research Center focused primarily on horticulture research. The Bitterroot Valley is beautiful yet rugged by design. The Bitterroot River winds its way through the Bitterroot Mountain Range to the west and the Sapphire Mountain Range to the east. The county seat is Hamilton, Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population is 44,174. Ravalli County’s primary industry is agriculture, with 241,233 acres, primarily small acreage, and high commodity crop operations, however the tourism industry a close second. According to MSU Extension’s economic report, Ravalli County farms and ranches generated $33.1 million of value-added, or 3% of the county’s total gross domestic product of $1,059 million in 2017.  According to IMPLAN, $20.2 million was directly contributed by farmers and ranchers.  An additional $12 million was generated by businesses supporting agricultural production and $1 million was generated by other related businesses. Agriculture will remain strong in Ravalli County because of its commitment to the diversity of products produced, innovative marketing techniques attracting today’s consumers, and collaboration with MSU Extension and the Western Agriculture Research Center to experiment with research-based novelty horticultural crops.

Ravalli County 4-H Junior Camp

Welcoming our new 4-H extension agent Sophie Kolb to the county’s annual junior 4-H camp, she successfully managed our weeklong camp with unforgettable campfire memories, long lasting friendships, and fun activities designed to promote positive youth development experiences. Each summer the Ravalli County 4-H Camp is offered to 4-H youth as well as county youth not enrolled in 4-H currently to spend a week at an outdoor camp. Success of the camp is dependent upon the preparedness of the planners and facilitators of the event. Sophie was an integral component to encouraging interested teen leaders to apply for camp counselors, inviting motivated adults for camp chaperones, and capitalizing on the talents of dedicated volunteers including office staff for new and old workshops. Through creative leadership Sophie created a camp that is age appropriate with educational workshops, activities and situations that enhance positive youth development. One camp counselor expressed, “Camp Counselor leadership has taught me the importance of having a plan and using that plan to ensure that the tools, people, and skills necessary to conduct a county wide event are prepared ahead of time to make camp as effective as possible especially when the weather conditions change. I realized how critical it is for us to have plans in place, especially a plan B to make sure that campers are having fun and camp activities that are promised actually occur.” To respond to the current needs of more camp counselors to safely accommodate the continuing increase in participating campers, Sophie is planning to engage more participation from older 4-H youth members in camp and camp counseling by reorganizing the teen leadership in Ravalli County. Through Sophie’s motivation and dedication, Ravalli County’s Junior 4-H camp will continue to be one of the most fun activities hosted by the local 4-H program.

Caption: Sophie at the Helm.

Credit: Kimberly Richardson

Ravalli County Initial Private Applicator Training

Initial Private Applicator Training supports New and existing county landowners with the knowledge, skills, and tools for mitigating noxious weeds on their landscapes for a healthier ecosystem county wide. Ravalli County MSU Extension hosted the Initial Private Applicator Training in April of 2024. This full day, intensive course included classroom instruction, guest speakers, and hands on opportunities to learn how to calibrate a tank mix and accurately utilize weed spraying equipment for successful integrated weed management. Topics of instruction included pesticide safety, reading pesticide labels, weed management, calibration, and integrated pest management. Hand spraying and calibration demonstrations were provide by Amy Bowser from the MSU Extension Pesticide Education Program. Each land owner familiarized themselves with the hazards and benefits of pesticide application, demonstrated their abilities to read and understand pesticide labels and at the end of the training passed a group exam to receive their private applicator license. Rick, a tree farm land owner said of the class, “Wow, that was a lot of information packed into one day. I learned a lot, and it really helped me focus on which pesticides I should utilize for my property and the safety measures I need to consider before treating any pest on my property. I have a new respect for how chemicals should be used and stored.”

Caption: Private Applicators learning calibration and using spray equipment.

Credit: Kimberly Richardson

Bitterroot Chamber of Commerce New AG Committee

Ravalli County MSU Extension partnered with the Bitterroot Chamber of Commerce and the MSU Western Agriculture Research Center to develop a new agriculture committee committed to serving the farmers, ranchers, producers, and businesses of Ravalli County. The growing demand for fresh and locally produced food in Ravalli County provides a promising future for local smaller farms to produce a desirable income from a small footprint of land. In February 2024, a countywide meeting was held in Hamilton with 30 interested collaborators in attendance. After the initial meeting the New Ag Committee was formed and the committee members began working on a comprehensive mission statement and continue to meet monthly. With support from Montana Farmers Union and the Ravalli County Economic Development Authority meetings consist of field trips to local businesses and farms that are integral contributors to the buy, shop, and eat local initiative. Producers and business owners requested the formation of a local county growers guide for both the north valley and the south valley for produce and commodities that would increase public awareness about farmers, growers, and businesses in the county and their marketable products. The Ravalli County agriculture agent has been an fundamental resource to the Ag committee based on her knowledge of local producers and agricultural and horticultural communities and commodities. The Ravalli County extension office has both north and south growers maps available for all Ravalli County constituents.

Caption: Logo for Ag Committee

Credit: https://bitterrootchamber.com/bitterroot-chamber-agriculture-local-foods-committee/

Contact

215 S. 4th St. Ste. G
Hamilton, MT 59840
406-375-6611
https://www.montana.edu/extension/ravalli