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We breezed through Montana in August, 2007. We could feel the weather starting to turn and we

wanted to get to Yellowstone while it was still fairly warm, so we didn't stay long. We visited Glacier

National Park.

We didn't return to Montana until August, 2009 when we snuck into the southwest corner below

Missoula and spent time with RVing friends at their home. Their neighbor invited us to see some

cattle ranching in action: cow and calf inoculations and a "cattle drive" (more like a leisurely stroll). A

mountain bike ride to inspect the damage from a summer-long wildfire capped off a wonderful stay.

Over Labor Day Weekend, 2009, we immersed ourselves in the annual Helmville Montana Rodeo.

Camped in a pasture alongside horse trailers, horses and ranching families, we watched kids riding

and romping and we saw both locals and professionals roping steer.

The Helmville Rodeo is a celebration of the ranching lifestyle with lots of competitive events based on

actual techniques cowboys have used to manage their cattle. From team roping to steer wrestling to

calf tie down roping, the professional cowboys showed us how it is done. Ladies barrel racing, kids

"mutton busting" and a wild team cow roping and milking contest rounded out a fantastic weekend.