From the Montana NRCS, “Been Around a Long Time” features historical photos and discussion with veteran conservationists, Art Christensen and Byron Martinell, from the Beaverhead Conservation District. As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, we remember the early days of the conservation movement and the importance of partnership to its success both then and now. We recall the hard times of the 1920s and 1930s and the hard work of conservation-minded Montana farmers and ranchers as they formed local conservation districts over the following decades. Voluntary conservation on private lands, supported by the local, state, and federal partnership, is still the most successful way to inspire stewardship in the hearts and minds of farmers and ranchers.
For anyone who enjoys history, this is a gem of an interview. Art has seen 90 year of Montana agriculture and lived through some of the toughest periods from the Dust Bowl, the Great Depression, survived the war, grasshoppers and army worms. Somehow he came out the other side still optimistic for the what the future will bring. The interview is peppered with great pictures provided by the Beaverhead County Museum in Dillon, MT and the Pioneer Museum in Bozeman, MT. Be sure to check out this video. You'll be glad you did.
© Northern Ag Network 2015
Jami Howell
