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Annual Homeowner Weekend

Each summer GRR hosts a fun weekend for the owners, usually the second weekend in August. Friday afternoon is a Rodeo for owners and their kids. It’s always fun, and includes some barrel racing, relays on and off horses, and several other fun events. Winners of events were recognized and rewarded with ribbons at the BBQ Saturday night. The top two event winners were Kathy Duncanson and David Nice.

Friday evening, one of the developers (Langel’s) hosted a social buffet dinner at their home. It was a fun get-together and owners met new homeowners, and renewed friendships with others who have not yet built at the ranch. Some folks came quite a ways in order to be here for this weekend. Eating, drinking and socializing primarily took place on the deck, overlooking the beautiful Gallatin River and the valley beyond.

Saturday afternoon was the Annual HO Meeting, and Saturday night brought the Annual BBQ and Barn Dance. Everyone danced to the music of T.J. Casey and the Roughrider Band — wonderful old-fashioned cowboy music. The pulled pork and smoked chicken and trimmings were delicious, served up by Bar 3 BBQ.

Sunday morning we had a chuck wagon breakfast by the river's edge at the GRR picnic area.  Many owners rode horses down to the river, and several drove their vehicles down.  Everyone had a good time and feasted well on a hearty breakfast and that wonderful “cowboy coffee”. Why is it that food cooked out on an open fire always tastes better?

We’ll look forward to this fun weekend next summer. For those of you who plan ahead, the date will be the second weekend of August again – August 12, 13, and 14, 2005.

The Equestrian Center would like to thank Down Under Horsemanship and Clinton Anderson for putting on an outstanding horsemanship clinic during Homeowner’s Weekend. The clinic was well attended and the response from the participants was outstanding. We look forward to hosting another event for Clinton in the near future.

September 11 and 12 we will be hosting the American Barrel Racing Regional Finals in the indoor arena. Volunteers are always welcome. There will be an awards ceremony and barbecue following the final race Sunday afternoon.

October 25-27 we will be hosting a Parelli Natural Horsemanship Clinic with instructor Dave Ellis in the indoor arena. Spectators are welcome. Call the EC for more information.

As a result of the great spring rains we had, we've enjoyed the wildflowers and green meadows this summer, and are looking forward to a beautiful fall. Please stop by and see us if you are interested in trail riding or signing up for some lessons.

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We always enjoy the deer and antelope here at GRR, but this summer we have seen wildlife not usually found in our area. We had a black bear wandering the ranch for a couple of days earlier in the summer, and now we have bighorn sheep on the northern section of the ranch. They are beautiful, and we’re hoping they might be here to stay. We are hoping to attract even more wildlife as we complete our ponds and streams projects here on the ranch. After all, isn’t that what it’s all about? Everyone here at the ranch loves seeing the wildlife, so we’d like to have more species here permanently.

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As most of you know, Montana is very often referred to as “Big Sky Country”. But do you know where that phrase came from? One of Montana’s favorite authors, A.B. Guthrie, published a book in 1947 entitled “The Big Sky”. Then in 1967 (with Guthrie’s blessing) the state began stamping license plates with the words “Big Sky Country”, thus replacing the older phrase “Treasure State”, which had been the slogan of choice for 16 years. Having claimed this phrase, Montanans weren’t inclined to share their motto with anyone. When in 1967 Redbook magazine had the audacity to assign the name “Big Sky Country” to Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah, Montana tourism promoters were outraged. The mayor of Billings wrote a letter to the magazine’s editor, passing himself off as a Native American leader known as “Chief of the Big Sky Country”, warning that raiding parties were being formed to deal with Redbook’s plagiarism and theft. “Guthrie gave this name – The Big Sky Country – to our Montana land; it was ours for keeps, and we have no intention of letting anyone steal it. I might also advise you,” he goes on to say, “that only four times has the American Army ever been truly licked, and all four times it was Montanans who administered that thrashing – at the Big Hole, the Rosebud, the Fetterman Massacre, and the Custer-Sitting Bull Battle. And as Custer can attest – when we lick ‘em, they stay licked. If you think we will take such sneaking thievery lying down”, the mayor concluded, “you grossly underestimate our resolve”.

Here at GRR some of the homeowners say that “watching the sky” is one of their favorite pastimes! It’s hard to imagine claiming this to be a “pastime”, until you have lived here, seeing the constant changes in this sky. Seeing the thunderheads loom and build over the mountains on a summer afternoon, or watching with caution the wild mix of lighting and storm clouds as it approaches, double rainbows after the rains are gone, and of course the incredible sunsets that continue to awe us with their magnificent colors and beauty. If you haven’t yet ventured out to see this “Big Sky Country” – start making your plans today! We’d love to have you join us at Gallatin River Ranch.

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Ken Vidar	Project Manager	.....284-3400
Mary Ellen Vidar	Ranch Sales/Marketing	.....284-3200
Michael Libster	Ranch Sales	.....284-3200
Judy Doerr	Ranch Sales	.....284-3200
Suzanne Cross	Office Manager	.....284-3200
Scott Tracy	Assistant Project Manager	.....284-3400
Jeff Gates	Ranch Security/Manager	.....580-5144
Marlin Sprow	Ranch Operations Manager	.....284-3200
Brandie Elfland	EQ Manager	.....284-3782
Joe Vasarella	GRR Fire Chief	.....284-4380

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