MSU Extension Sanders County

10/09/2026

Thanks to all who joined us on the fish ladder/dam tour in Thompson Falls today! And a special thanks to Noel and Mike of Northwestern Energy for leading our tour and providing such thorough information. If you are interested in joining us for a future tour, please let us know. If there is enough interest, we will plan on scheduling one again in the future.

10/09/2026

Grant funding can make the difference between a project that stays on paper and one that gets built. But the application process can feel overwhelming, especially for small nonprofits and community groups without a dedicated grant writer.

Sanders County Community Development is bringing Grant Writing 101 to four towns this year, starting in Thompson Falls on Thursday, October 15, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Bearfoot Bakery. It's free, and we'll have dessert and refreshments. If you can't make this one, the same workshop comes to Hot Springs, Plains, and the Noxon and Heron area in November, March, and April.

Register at sanderscountycdc.com/events/grants or call (406) 827-6935.

10/09/2026

The Montana Department of Commerce is taking applications for its Agritourism Grants Program through October 22.

Grants go up to $25,000, paid as reimbursement, and no match is required. They're for farms, ranches, and ag businesses that bring in visitors with things like farm stands, tours and classes, farm-to-table dinners, or farm stays. Funds can cover marketing, business planning, education and outreach, and safety and accessibility improvements. Day-to-day operating costs, vehicles, and land purchases aren't eligible.

Commerce is holding two webinars about the program, October 7 and October 20 at noon.

Thinking about applying? We can help you figure out whether your idea fits. Call (406) 827-6935 or reach us through sanderscountycdc.com.

Program details and application:
https://commerce.mt.gov/Business/Programs-and-Services/Tourism-Marketing/Tourism-Grant-Program/Agritourism-Grant-Program

10/06/2026

It's Taco Tuesday and National Taco Day (🙄)! To celebrate, why not try this tasty plant based version that is high in fiber, economical, and quick to put together with the help of an Instant Pot. Make it for dinner tonight and enjoy leftovers for lunch tomorrow- it reheats well!

10/04/2026

A quick and easy high-fiber breakfast!

10/01/2026

09/28/2026

Join Tracy McIntyre, Director of the Montana Cooperative Development Center, as she presents on what makes the cooperative business structure different from other types of business ownership and how communities across Montana have utilized cooperatives to meet community challenges (lack of rural grocery stores and housing needs as examples). Log-in Information can be found here: https://www.montana.edu/extensionecon/smallbusiness/

09/25/2026

We’re not talking cows in cyberspace. We’re talking virtual fencing!

Spend the morning with us—enjoy coffee and pastries while hearing from representatives of four virtual fencing companies about this emerging technology.

This roundtable panel has been assembled to answer your questions and explore how virtual fencing works, where it can be useful, and whether it might be a good fit for your operation.

Come curious. Bring your burning questions!
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