Focusing on the History of Agricultural Education and Rural America
Today we have an invited guest columnist. I asked Eric Tilleman, who taught agriculture for 16 years at Cascade High School in Montana to write this column. Take it away Eric. I never set out to become a politician; I Continue reading From the School House to the State House (2/20/2026)
In an article published in the Montana Farmer-Stockman (March 1, 1931, p. 5) titled “Educating the Farmers’ Children” Fred Ward, Superintendent of Thompson Falls High School writes: The greatest single fact about Montana geography is distance. Someone has said that our state Continue reading The Montana Distance Problem—and the Solution is! (2/13/2026)
“…really wonderful work is being accomplished by the boys and girls of the Treasure state through their agricultural clubs.” Dawson County Review, December 6, 1917 What types of agricultural clubs existed in Montana during the first few decades of the Continue reading Student Agricultural Clubs in Montana (2/6/2026)
The title of this Footnote “Ag Students Up in the Air” could have several meanings. What do you think this Footnote is about? Here are four clues The setting is Montana The time period is the 1960s Ag Teachers are Continue reading Ag Students Up in the Air (1/30/2026)
Last week Dr. Conners educated us about “County Poor Farms.” This week we start exploring agricultural education in Montana. Would you believe there is a connection between a county poor farm and the history of agricultural education in Montana? The Continue reading The Future Farmers’ Folly – or Was It? (1/23/2026)