The Blackfeet Nation is located in northwestern Montana, adjacent to the Canadian border, east of Glacier National Park. At 3,000 square miles, it is larger than the state of Delaware.

Activities

Agriculture is the primary economic industry on the Blackfeet Reservation with some 800 producers managing 1.5 million acres of land. Limited access to credit, capital and lack of a credit history has prevented beginning farmers and ranchers from returning to family farms, which threatens the sustainability of agriculture on the reservation. The extension program offers lifelong learning to individuals through unbiased, research-based education and information that integrates learning, discovery, and engagement. This, in turn, strengthens the social, economic and environmental fabric of the communities.

Highlights

Agriculture as a pathway for youth

As farmers and ranchers age, it is becoming more important for Blackfeet youth to acquire the knowledge about agriculture and natural resource programs that will help them to be successful farmers and ranchers in the future. Extension specialists are an integral part of that educational process, providing research-based knowledge to an audience who may not otherwise have that learning opportunity. Support from, and engagement with, the tribal government and elders is integral to growing agriculture on the Blackfeet Reservation as is collaboration with the tribal business counsel to help stimulate economic development.

4-H program

The 4-H program was established on the Blackfeet Reservation over 20 years ago and has grown from four participants to more than 100. With the assistance of partners and local volunteers, tribal extension designed 4-H programs that were a good cultural fit. This included the establishment of a unique local fair where every youth’s accomplishments could be recognized. The students soon became more engaged and, as a result, they are staying involved in 4-H through graduation rather than dropping out in middle school.

A valuable resource

FRTEP is considered a valuable, trusted community resource. Community members recognize that the Blackfeet Extension office serves an important function in the community with the capacity to connect people to other programs and services. FRTEP has utilized a dedicated cadre of volunteers who design innovative programs specifically for youth, helping them to forge a connection between the land and its natural resources. These volunteers have managed a natural resource youth camp for the past 16 years.

Montana Junior Ag Loan Program

The Montana Junior Ag Loan Program, administered by the Montana Department of Agriculture, assists and encourages youth and new farmers and ranchers in financing agricultural projects. The program has helped revive agricultural traditions on the Blackfeet Reservation and given participants the opportunity to build their capital and credit. They can continue to borrow through other loan programs such as the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI’s). Many have built up their cattle herds and collateral and have been able to establish cattle operations. Several participants have used the profits from those operations to fund their college education.

Located in North Central Montana near the Canadian border, the 675,000-acre Fort Belknap Indian Reservation is home to 7,000 members of the Gros Ventre (Aaniiih) and the Assiniboine (Nakoda) Tribes. The primary industry on the Reservation is agriculture.

Activities

The Fort Belknap FRTEP extension program has operated on the Reservation for more than 30 years and has played an integral role in helping tribal members to acquire skills and knowledge through the program’s education and outreach efforts that serve the needs of families, producers, businesses and industry. The program has more than 40 partnerships with other agencies, specialists and tribal programs.

Highlights

MEASURING IMPACT

FRTEP programs have had a major impact on individuals, families and tribal communities. Just how much impact has now been quantified thanks to a research project that used Ripple Effects Mapping (REM) and content analysis. The Indian Land Tenure Foundation (ILFT) engaged in a joint collaboration with an evaluation team and the Western Extension Risk Management Education Center to measure the long-term impacts of the Federally Recognized Tribal Extension Program (FRTEP) serving the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. Click the link below to read the report.

Read the report

Healthy lifestyles

Montana State University extension classes in cooking, sewing, gardening and other healthy lifestyle topics are always well-attended. Extension has done produce safety training to help local growers learn good agricultural practices, food safety and environmental management. Direction and resources have been provided to local businesses on planning for healthy lifestyles. As a result of efforts by extension agents, families that previously had little access to vegetables now have more fresh options sold locally.

Food sustainability

Fort Belknap extension’s efforts toward food sustainability have continued to increase in scope and participation. Many more people have started home garden plots, the community gardens are thriving and food preservation programming has been expanded. An effort is under way to develop high-density fruit growing, including apples, grapes, pears and plums. The school has begun work on cultivating a large squash and corn plot. Horticulture training has been popular and young people have received training in safe canning techniques for meat preservation.

Rancher Roundup and Producer Outreach

Fort Belknap extension conducts educational outreach workshops for cattle producers on a variety of topics in conjunction with local agriculture leaders and outside experts. Topics include business management and finance, marketing, farm planning and renewable energy. The goal is to provide producers with opportunities to resolve their everyday challenges and obstacles by providing knowledge and resources that can improve their farming and ranching techniques.

Youth Development

Youth and families have opportunities to participate in learning activities year-round. The Mid-Winter Fair has been held annually for 50 years and it offers youth the opportunity to share their dancing, singing, storytelling, drumming and art. From cooking contests to Fiddle and Jig Night, the Stick Game Tournament and a traditional pow wow, the Fair is a popular event every year.

During the summer the community garden provides opportunities for youth to learn first-hand about agriculture. They participate in cooking classes and also engage in garden tasks through the summer youth employment program. Students in grades 4-6 at the Lodge Pole School participate year-round in 4-H activities which are connected with classroom learning.

The Blackfeet Nation is located in northwestern Montana, adjacent to the Canadian border, east of Glacier National Park. At 3,000 square miles, it is larger than the state of Delaware.

Activities

Agriculture is the primary economic industry on the Blackfeet Reservation with some 800 producers managing 1.5 million acres of land. Limited access to credit, capital and lack of a credit history has prevented beginning farmers and ranchers from returning to family farms, which threatens the sustainability of agriculture on the reservation. The extension program offers lifelong learning to individuals through unbiased, research-based education and information that integrates learning, discovery, and engagement. This, in turn, strengthens the social, economic and environmental fabric of the communities.

Highlights

Agriculture as a pathway for youth

As farmers and ranchers age, it is becoming more important for Blackfeet youth to acquire the knowledge about agriculture and natural resource programs that will help them to be successful farmers and ranchers in the future. Extension specialists are an integral part of that educational process, providing research-based knowledge to an audience who may not otherwise have that learning opportunity. Support from, and engagement with, the tribal government and elders is integral to growing agriculture on the Blackfeet Reservation as is collaboration with the tribal business counsel to help stimulate economic development.

4-H program

The 4-H program was established on the Blackfeet Reservation over 20 years ago and has grown from four participants to more than 100. With the assistance of partners and local volunteers, tribal extension designed 4-H programs that were a good cultural fit. This included the establishment of a unique local fair where every youth’s accomplishments could be recognized. The students soon became more engaged and, as a result, they are staying involved in 4-H through graduation rather than dropping out in middle school.

A valuable resource

FRTEP is considered a valuable, trusted community resource. Community members recognize that the Blackfeet Extension office serves an important function in the community with the capacity to connect people to other programs and services. FRTEP has utilized a dedicated cadre of volunteers who design innovative programs specifically for youth, helping them to forge a connection between the land and its natural resources. These volunteers have managed a natural resource youth camp for the past 16 years.

Montana Junior Ag Loan Program

The Montana Junior Ag Loan Program, administered by the Montana Department of Agriculture, assists and encourages youth and new farmers and ranchers in financing agricultural projects. The program has helped revive agricultural traditions on the Blackfeet Reservation and given participants the opportunity to build their capital and credit. They can continue to borrow through other loan programs such as the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI’s). Many have built up their cattle herds and collateral and have been able to establish cattle operations. Several participants have used the profits from those operations to fund their college education.

The Blackfeet Nation is located in northwestern Montana, adjacent to the Canadian border, east of Glacier National Park. At 3,000 square miles, it is larger than the state of Delaware.

Activities

Agriculture is the primary economic industry on the Blackfeet Reservation with some 800 producers managing 1.5 million acres of land. Limited access to credit, capital and lack of a credit history has prevented beginning farmers and ranchers from returning to family farms, which threatens the sustainability of agriculture on the reservation. The extension program offers lifelong learning to individuals through unbiased, research-based education and information that integrates learning, discovery, and engagement. This, in turn, strengthens the social, economic and environmental fabric of the communities.

Highlights

Agriculture as a pathway for youth

As farmers and ranchers age, it is becoming more important for Blackfeet youth to acquire the knowledge about agriculture and natural resource programs that will help them to be successful farmers and ranchers in the future. Extension specialists are an integral part of that educational process, providing research-based knowledge to an audience who may not otherwise have that learning opportunity. Support from, and engagement with, the tribal government and elders is integral to growing agriculture on the Blackfeet Reservation as is collaboration with the tribal business counsel to help stimulate economic development.

4-H program

The 4-H program was established on the Blackfeet Reservation over 20 years ago and has grown from four participants to more than 100. With the assistance of partners and local volunteers, tribal extension designed 4-H programs that were a good cultural fit. This included the establishment of a unique local fair where every youth’s accomplishments could be recognized. The students soon became more engaged and, as a result, they are staying involved in 4-H through graduation rather than dropping out in middle school.

A valuable resource

FRTEP is considered a valuable, trusted community resource. Community members recognize that the Blackfeet Extension office serves an important function in the community with the capacity to connect people to other programs and services. FRTEP has utilized a dedicated cadre of volunteers who design innovative programs specifically for youth, helping them to forge a connection between the land and its natural resources. These volunteers have managed a natural resource youth camp for the past 16 years.

Montana Junior Ag Loan Program

The Montana Junior Ag Loan Program, administered by the Montana Department of Agriculture, assists and encourages youth and new farmers and ranchers in financing agricultural projects. The program has helped revive agricultural traditions on the Blackfeet Reservation and given participants the opportunity to build their capital and credit. They can continue to borrow through other loan programs such as the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI’s). Many have built up their cattle herds and collateral and have been able to establish cattle operations. Several participants have used the profits from those operations to fund their college education.