Ag program seeds producers' futures with innovation, creativity

Montana has deep roots in agriculture, and an organization, Growth Through Agriculture, is looking to sprout new ways to help farmers forge new paths for a productive and diverse future. 

“The history of Montana is agriculture,” said Angie Nelson, manager of the Growth Through Agriculture program, noting how cattle, wheat, barley and other crops shaped the direction of the state. 

To help agricultural producers realize new projects, the Montana Legislature in 1987 approved the Growth Through Agriculture program to provide loans and grants for original or expanding endeavors. In the 2000s, the program expanded with a renewed interest in creating more value-added products that can potentially increase profits significantly. 

Not only do Montanans want to buy homegrown products, much of what the state grows is desired beyond its borders. 

And while there’s no question Montana producers are renowned for their ability to grow or raise some of the best agricultural products in the country, changing times make conventional agriculture more challenging. With an economic landscape where commodity prices often do not meet budgetary realities of many farmers and ranchers, searching for a different route to increase the bottom line is a logical means of survival. 

“It’s difficult for people to stay on the family farm,” said Nelson pointing out that there is typically not enough income to support more than one family without expanding acreage or changing what or how a farm grows its crops. 

As an answer to this dilemma, she said, “Young people are trying to make a living off of different crops. They are really adding a lot of value to Montana products.” 

“We’ve seen so many successful projects,” she said. An early project that came to mind was  that of a young entrepreneur, Bob Quinn, who was one of the first producers to receive funding from the new program. In 1989, he received $4,750 to register the unique, ancient grain he and his father, Mack Quinn, grew on their Big Sandy farm. 

As a result, Kamut Khorasan wheat is practically a household name today.

“It’s pretty mainstream. You can buy Kamut in Indonesia now,” said Nelson.

Quinn is now using the Kamut to make his first manufactured product, Kracklin Kamut, a snack taking it one step further to add even more value while also employing more people on his farm. 

Jacob and Courtney Cowgill of Prairie Heritage Farm are another example of the benefits realized years after the formation of the Growth Through Agriculture program. 

Nearly a decade ago they received a grant from the program to help purchase specialized equipment to clean the heritage and ancient grains they were experimenting with because they realized the process was too much to do it by hand, yet not feasible to outsource. It also helped them purchase the stone mill they use to grind the grains. 

“The purchase of the equipment has been absolutely critical,” explained Jacob Cowgill. “I don’t know where we’d be without that support.” 

At that time, they didn’t realize they would be nationally recognized in the heritage grain world, nor was baking with the grains on Cowgill’s radar. Now Great Falls’ residents delight in the offerings from Blue Truck Bread every week at the Farmers’ Market. 

Never to remain in a comfortable area very long, Cowgill recently acquired certification to wholesale bread to markets, including special events and in retail stores. 

“We will sell some of the bread through 2Js and Electric City Coffee,” said Cowgill. “We’ll do that through this winter and consider other possibilities.” 

Some of those possibilities include potentially holding a monthly pizza night at Cowgills’ beautiful farm in Power. In addition to the grains, they also grow every vegetable needed for an awesome pizza, it will be a truly Montana experience. 

“It all started by wanting to grow some grain in 2009,” he said, noting that there are so many other entrepreneurs who want to try something new, but they need a little assistance to move forward with their goals.

“This kind of program is so critical for that,” he said. 

In Chester, Stricks Ag also is a recipient of the program. 

“We are a commodities company located in northcentral Montana that was formed by two young farming families,” explained Chief Financial Officer Jilien Streit, who founded the company along with her husband, Tyler, and their friends and partners Whitney and Patrick Wicks. 

Coming from a long line of farmers, they considered what crops were needed and how best to handle them for local producers. This is why they’re guiding statement is “We’re Your Farmer.” 

 “We had a grandiose idea to put in a pulse processing plant,” explained Streit. Pulse crops are a growing concern in Montana, yet for a state geared so tightly to wheat and other grains, producers needed resources. Stricks Ag stepped up to provide them but required support in order to accomplish what was needed. 

Nelson explained, “When you are processing pulses, you need different equipment than what you use with just wheat.” 

Through grant funding, as well as a loan with the Growth Through Agriculture program, Stricks Ag was able to purchase key pieces of equipment to expand their pulse-processing facility.  

“We’re working on vertically integrating ourselves to go from farm to user. We’ve had exponential growth in the last four years, but we have a long ways to go,” said Streit. 

Part of this success includes hiring 30 people within the small town, not only positively affecting their family business but the entire community. 

Using the support from the Growth Through Agriculture program is not limited to the financial support for those who are awarded the loans or grants. The Food and Agriculture Development Network, including small business development centers, guide producers to make the best decisions for each of their unique situations. Many of these agricultural endeavors have never been done before, so having economic professionals in your corner is an enormous benefit. 

“With the Growth Through Agriculture program, having to work through economic development groups opens up the opportunities for other grants and resources,” said Streit. “They are very good at making sure you have your ducks in a row. Accountability is never a bad thing.”

The Growth Through Agriculture program illuminates the talent and dedication of Montana farmers. So many times, these producers are taking what others see as setbacks, such as changing markets, into solutions. 

“It’s fun to see Montana growing,” said Tyler Streit, chief executive officer of Stricks Ag. He is encouraged to watch the Growth the Agriculture program, the Department of Agriculture, as well as the developmental authorities, such as Bear Paw Development Corporation, support producers to branch out beyond the conventional processes. 

While a loan or grant from the Growth Through Agriculture program will not fully fund a project, it is a piece of the economic puzzle required to fuel a new direction in agriculture.  The application deadline for the next round of loans and grants is Nov. 15, 2017. 

“You do need to have a solid plan. They want to make sure they’re wisely spending peoples’ money,” said Tyler Streit. 

And despite a myriad of exceptional ideas, not everyone is guaranteed backing. Each request is carefully considered by a seven-member panel consisting of experts in the agricultural and commerce arenas in order to provide well-rounded insight into the applicants’ plans. 

Nelson said that typically there are two to three times more requests as there is funding available. 

The goal of the program to continue supporting innovation to provide more opportunities to Montana growers. And the returns far exceed the money spent. For the Growth Through Agriculture program, every new grant or loan is a seed of potential not only for the producers, but everyone who is proud of what Montana can grow.