Granite County

Granite County is a rural natural-resource supported county in central Western Montana. Winter and summer recreation draw visitors to the scenic beauty year-round, while agriculture is the economic base. Georgetown Lake provides a variety of recreational experiences, and is next door to the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness. The population of the county is about 3,000, and the County Seat of Philipsburg has a population of around 900. The other incorporated town in Granite County is Drummond, with a population of around 300. Montana State University Extension in Granite County is supported by three strong and important partners. County, state and federal funding sources work together to assure that MSU Extension in Granite County has the resources to provide timely and relevant education addressing locally-identified issues. Montana counties provide about 40 percent of the funding to support local offices, state funding provides about 40 percent, and federal partners about 20 percent. Like many Western Montana communities, the Granite County area has a rich mining past, but agriculture has provided the base of economic activity through the boom and bust cycles associated with historic mining. Granite County . . . Montana at its best!

Horticulture programs return the Granite County

Following up on the Master Gardener course that was offered in April of 2022, Granite County Extension capitalized on the interest in horticulture with a series of yard and gardening programs in the spring of 2023. 3 seminars were held in Drummond, Hall, and Philipsburg on topics that gardeners had identified as areas of interest. Over the 3-week period, attendees learned how to identify and deal with common garden diseases, prepping the garden in the spring, the basics of utilizing greenhouses, and how to build pollinator friendly gardens and landscapes. As more people look to grow their own produce and care for their trees and lawns, there will be a continual need for horticulture programming in the county and Granite County MSU Extension is the primary outlet for these programs and information. To tie up the end of the gardening season, Granite County MSU Extension also hosted a food preservation hands-on workshop where people learned how to safely preserve produce that they harvest from their gardens.

Caption: A young Granite County gardener shows off his brussel sprouts

Credit: Holly Graybeal

Granite County 4-H

The Granite County 4-H program is comprised of 75 members and 16 leaders participating in various projects. The 4-H program in Granite County combines efforts to share the unique hands-on learning experience that is 4-H. Members in the Granite County 4-H program have the opportunity to share in hands-on learning at several different county events: Project Possibilities, Foods Fair, Stir-Ups, Quality Assurance, Countywide Demonstrations, IPYA Presentations, and the Skill-A-Thon. The Granite County 4-H Council wanted to emphasize Livestock Quality Assurance for all members and all species during the 4-H year. We integrated new curriculum to teach kids how to problem solve situations they might encounter with their project animals and have real world application for those looking to pursue animal husbandry as adults. In Granite County multiple workshops were held, and there was 100% participation from youth taking market animals. Kids with breeding projects and small animal projects also participated in their species-specific activities. Afterwards youth had learned about and taught each other proper feeding and nutrition, animal shelter design, and proper medication use among other things. And they also had fun! Some of the results we have seen is an increase in carcass quality from Granite County 4-H members. Granite County will continue to identify educational needs of the youth in the program while also providing educators and leaders to help them reach their goals.

Caption: Granite County 4-Her with her market chickens

Credit: Karen Palmer

Caregivers get a day of respite

Montana State University Extension Gerontology Specialist, Dr. Daniel Koltz, brought the Montana Caregiver Respite Retreat Program to Granite County on October 28, 2022, and December 1st, 2022. Ten caregivers attended the two sessions which provided over 60 hours of respite. Each retreat involves four modules focusing on social, mental health, nutrition/physical activity, and stress reduction for the participants. The modules allow the caregivers to be a part of a social group and learn new techniques to improve their mental health and well-being. The program impact on participants is multi-faceted, it provides caregivers a much needed day of relief from the full-time job as being a caregiver, but they also learn skills and build a support structure of other caregivers and specialists.

Caption: Montana State University Extension Gerontology Specialist, Dr. Daniel Koltz brings his Caregiver Retreat Program to Granite County

Credit: Kayleen Kidwell

Contact

220 N Sansome St.
Philipsburg, MT 59858
406-859-3304
https://www.montana.edu/extension/granite/