Ron's Ramblings

Big Sky Country is one of the many nicknames for the state of Montana, the place the author calls home. While Montana is a diverse state in people and in geography, north-eastern Montana is characterized by soft rolling hills and sharp coulees; scrub grass, sage brush and wild flowers cover the prairie lands and tall cottonwood, ash and willow trees shade the waterways, all outlined against skies a magnificent shade of blue which make this countryside unforgettable and unique. The people that have and still do call this place home are just as unforgettable and unique as the skies. This is a collection of stories and tales, mostly centered around the rural area of north-eastern Montana; some are from the authors own experience, including family and local history, as well as stories of wildlife, hunting and farming, and some belong to others who have been kind enough to share their own histories and recollections. The author loves the history of the Milk and Missouri river area and its many memorable characters and he feels that these stories need to be kept alive for others to learn from and appreciate. Some of these stories are from the time of the building of the Fort Peck Dam, which changed the complexion of this area of Montana, and some of the stories are about homesteaders and farmers and ranchers, many of whom are classified as legitimate characters and even a few that could be called rednecks! Ron is a 3rd generation Montanan and has farmed, ranched, hunted and loved the land for his entire life in north eastern Montana and he hopes that you will enjoy this collection of stories that he has shared.

Big Sky Country is one of the many nicknames for the state of Montana, the place the author calls home. While Montana is a diverse state in people and in geography, north-eastern Montana is characterized by soft rolling hills and sharp coulees; scrub grass, sage brush and wild flowers cover the prairie lands and tall cottonwood, ash and willow trees shade the waterways, all outlined against skies a magnificent shade of blue which make this countryside unforgettable and unique. The people that have and still do call this place home are just as unforgettable and unique as the skies. This is a collection of stories and tales, mostly centered around the rural area of north-eastern Montana; some are from the authors own experience, including family and local history, as well as stories of wildlife, hunting and farming, and some belong to others who have been kind enough to share their own histories and recollections. The author loves the history of the Milk and Missouri river area and its many memorable characters and he feels that these stories need to be kept alive for others to learn from and appreciate. Some of these stories are from the time of the building of the Fort Peck Dam, which changed the complexion of this area of Montana, and some of the stories are about homesteaders and farmers and ranchers, many of whom are classified as legitimate characters and even a few that could be called rednecks! This collection of stories includes history of homesteading in the American West, including personal family stories as well as stories of neighbors and friends, some of whom traveled from other parts of the country to call this area home, and some who emigrated from overseas. It also includes stories of men and women who have left a mark on the local area, and many of these people can be considered colorful characters and a few cantankerous rednecks, and all of them are down to earth, hardworking and decent people. This book also includes stories about wildlife, hunting, fishing, the long-lasting effects of the construction of the Fort Peck Dam project, and conservation efforts to help maintain this beautiful countryside. Ron is a 3rd generation Montanan and has farmed, ranched, hunted and loved the land for his entire life in north eastern Montana, and he hopes that you will enjoy this collection of stories that he has shared.

Ron Garwood was born on a cold winter night, or so his mother told him. He was raised on a farm south Nashua, Montana, near the confluence of the Milk and Missouri Rivers in rural Valley County. The farm started with a homestead in 1920 and the next year his grandparents migrated from Ohio and placed roots in northeastern Montana. The farm was added onto many times over the years, and the operation was continued by his own parents and still remains an active family operation. Along with his own farmland which he has acquired over the years, Ron is active in local conservation groups. Besides a love of farming and ranching, he has an interest in wildlife, being an outdoorsman and exploring the countryside right out his back door. He has an interest in the history of the area and the characters that have called this area of rural northeastern Montana home.