NEWS OF THE MADISON VALLEY MT as of October 1, 2013

Howdy Montana Fans!

Fall is coming, the snowbirds are going, and yet there are still people discovering Montana for the first time and finding their "dream" properties right here in this area.  The natural beauty is spectacular, but the hidden treasures of this valley are the people.  They are warm, friendly and welcoming.  Newcomers find they soon have more friends here than they did where they came from!  It's truly amazing.  Here are excerpts from my latest newsletter.  You can see it in it's entirety with photos and more on our website at http://www.arrowreal.com/pdf/newsletters/Arrow_Newsletter_152.pdf.

NEWS  of  ENNIS  and the MADISON VALLEY,  MT

for the month of SEPTEMBER 2013

Trout live in nice neighborhoods

MADISON VALLEY “HAPPENINGS” → September is always one of my favorite months. Most of the Snow Birds don’t leave until October or even November.  But more people must be staying around because, according to the Montana County Population Projections, Madison County has grown from 6,894 residents in 2003 to 8,020 in 2013.  The expected population in 2023 is 8,755!  I hope that doesn’t mean we will need our first stop light, somewhere in the county! Read the Madison Co. Comprehensive Plan at http://www.madisoncountync.org/downloads/zoning/Madison_County_Comprehensive_Plan.pdf.   →  The big event for the month was Willie’s Distillery put on their First Annual Fall Jamboree Pig Roast with music and Montana Moonshine in abundance.  Go to their website at www.williesdistillery.com for more information. → Moonlight Basin will continue offering access through Jack Creek for Madison Valley Ski club members. Contact mbart@moonlightbasin.com for info. → Talk of replacing the beautiful, old historic bridge over Blaine Spring Creek and the Varney Bridge over the Madison River has turned into an official project with local, state and federal funding.  The bridges may be put up for “adoption.”  Start of work on Blaine Springs will begin in 2015 at the earliest.  Read more about it at: http://www.madisoniannews.com/group-closer-to-bridge-replacement-construction/. 

COMING OCTOBER HAPPENINGS → Hunting Season begins!  The bow hunters have already been out in the woods, but the general season is October 26 – December 1. Check it out at http://fwp.mt.gov/ and click on General License Cheat Sheet. → And remember to come hungry to our 28^th annual Hunters Feed and Chili CookOff held the Friday afternoon before the start of hunting season.  → Not much else happening except for the start of football season and the Ennis Mustangs are going for the state championship if they keep up their winning streak. You can follow the team at http://www.maxpreps.com/high-schools/ennis-mustangs-%28ennis,mt%29/football/home.htm.
                                                                                                               

MONTANA NEWS →  Energy costs in Montana may be going down soon if deregulation is reversed.  NorthWestern Energy Corp. made its pitch Friday to investors on its plans to spend $900 million to buy back 11 hydroelectric dams that were sold off to PPL Corp. during deregulation. Read more at: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/montana-utility-undo-deregulation-woes-20399137. → If you’ve ever wondered what to do with the animal you’ve hit and killed with your vehicle, the recently passed Road Kill Law takes effect Tuesday.  Later this month the Montana FWP Commission will meet to start finalizing new rules to allow people to salvage road kill for meat. The Legislature authorized the panel to allow law-enforcement officers to issue permits to salvage animal carcasses of certain species that are struck and killed by vehicles.  Supporters argued it would help clean up road kill that can impede traffic and simply rot on the roadside. The commission is scheduled to meet Oct. 10 to discuss it.  Yum! → U.S. Senator Max Baccus hosted the 6^th Montana Economic Development Summit in Butte where several thousand business leaders gathered. Keynote speaker, Safra Catz, president and CFO of Oracle Corporation said they began doing business in Bozeman in 2011 after being drawn to Montana in part because of the national exposure of past Summits.  Oracle purchased Right Now Technologies who was a leading provider of cloud-based customer service, based in Bozeman, and now Oracle plans to make Bozeman its “global cloud center.”

 

HUNTING REPORT → Hunters are optimistic about their chances of filling their freezers this year, as more elk have been spotted lately.  But FWP states, “The odds of killing an elk in Montana: Over the past two decades, the statewide average combined annual success rate for bulls and cows has been roughly 20 percent. That means that each year, one of five hunters kills an elk. On average, successful hunters in Montana spend 10 to 12 days hunting before killing an elk.” →  And now, if the FWP get their way, grizzly bears will be reintroduced into the Tobacco Root mountain range.  Read more on this controversial plan at: http://fwp.mt.gov/fishAndWildlife/management/grizzlyBear/default.html.  Sportsmen, ranchers, outfitters, home owners, recreationalists and media were invited to a public meeting held in Twin Bridges on September 23^rd to let their voices be heard.  What did we learn from the wolf reintroduction? → On a happier note, they are also preparing an environmental assessment for the proposed release of bighorn sheep in the Madison Range at Indian or Wolf Creek.

FISHING REPORT →  The latest fishing report is from John Way, The Tackle Shop, as of October 1, 2013, “October is here and the last blast of good fishing is upon us. There is no more beautiful time in the Madison Valley than fall.  The leaves are turning colors, the first covering of the white stuff lies on Sphinx Mountain, and the brisk mornings just beckon anglers to the river.   Most of the crowds of  the summer madness are long gone and those you do see on the river keep their distance as solitude is just as important to them as it is to you. 

Streamers and nymphs are the name of the game right now.   The larger brown trout are making their yearly trek up the river to spawn.    The silver sided browns of spring are replaced with the butter yellow spawning colors of fish headed to the party.    Most of the larger fish become aggressive and will readily attack any intruder into their space.   The streamer game is a fickle one and one that rewards those that experiment.   On any given day the fish are looking for Olive, black, yellow, white or natural colored streamers either dead drift, twitched or stripped fast.   If you’re not getting the response you want change up the size, color, or retrieve.    Some of our favorite’s streamers of fall are the Exasperator Sculpin, Sculpzilla, or Shelia.  Most fish these with a floating line on a short stout leader say 7ft 2X.   To double your chances try two streamers of different colors or a trailing nymph of a copper john or prince.  

For those nymph-a-holics out there feed it to them and they will eat it.   We have been having the best luck lately with a large Pats rubber leg in size 6 or 8 with a Present tail or copper john trailer in size 18. This rig should catch fish all month long.   By the end of the month try an egg pattern.  Along with the browns, the whitefish are spawning as well and they are a broadcast spawner so the eggs are readily available to waiting trout.   We like peach or flesh colored egg patterns in size 14. 

For your dry fly guys there is still fish to be had.   On overcast days expect a blue winged olive hatch about mid-day.   A parachute BWO or even a purple haze in size 16 should do the trick.   Also midges will be hatching in large numbers.  A high-vis parachute midge in size 20 should get any risers.  Concentrate on calmer water behind boulders or on the inside of turns.   Right now the fishing is as good as it gets and you will not see fishing like this till next spring so get out and fish.   The largest fish of the year are always caught in October.  Stop by the shop for the latest info, a cup of coffee as well as great end of season deals.   Right now 30% off all in stock waders, boots and Costa del Mar sunglasses. ”  John Way

The Tackle Shop’s report at http://www.thetackleshop.com/fly-fishing-report-Madison-River.asp.

Check out other fishing reports at:

       Madison River Fishing Company at:            
       http://www.mrfc.com/MadisonRiverMontanaFishing/MadisonRiverReport.aspx.

       Dan Delekta, http://beartoothflyfishing.com/flyfishingreports/uppermadisonriver.htm.

       The Madison Valley Ranch at http://www.madisonvalleyranch.com/blog/

       Joe Dilschneider’s Montana Trout Stalkers at http://www.montanatrout.com/

       Yellowstone Fly Fishing at http://www.yellowstoneflyfishing.com/madisonreport.htm.

WEATHER → September is a magnificent time to be in Montana.  In her speech this week in Butte, Oracle President Safra Catz claimed that “There are no better working conditions than Montana in September.”  In late August, the weather experts claimed that the lack of rain combined with hot, dry weather had resulted in severe drought conditions and that Madison County was the driest in the state.  Many creeks and ditches were drying up and the Ruby Reservoir was way below normal.  But then September brought the clouds and showers, giving us 2.38”of precipitation – the average is just .97”! The recorded high for the month was 90° with a low of 28°.  The average high was 72° and the average low was 36°.  We’re hoping this cold spell is just a “tease” before our beautiful Indian Summer shows up.

FEATURED PROPERTY OF THE MONTH:  ONE-OF-A-KIND, UPSCALE, RUSTIC, MONTANA LOG “CABIN” on 20 acres, with end-of-the-road privacy, spectacular views and a private creek-fed, 3-acre lake full of trout!  This beautiful, remodeled 2,310 SF home has 3BR, 2 BA, rock FP, landscaping, greenhouse and is offered FURNISHED for $1,150,000.  (MLS #193736). Watch the amazing aerial drone video at http://youtu.be/uAzaoJ4FmBw.

LOCAL REAL ESTATE MARKET STATISTICS → September continues to bring new people to town and buyers are more serious as we head into winter.  Maybe it’s a “nesting” thing and they want a home before winter.  Hunters don’t usually take time to look at real estate when they come here to fill their tags, so we focus on a broad range of buyers in the fall.  The Southwest Montana Multiple Listing statistics for the Madison Valley area (including Ennis, Cameron, McAllister, Norris, Virginia City, Harrison, Pony, Whitehall and Cardwell), through the month of September 2013 are as follows:

LAND:  313 vacant lots listed ($7,350 to $2,490,000), 8 pending sales ($54,900 to $1,500,000), 43 lots have sold in 2013 ($28,800 to $400,000) for a total value of $4,689,209.  

HOMES:  170 homes listed ($67,000 to $3,350,000), 15 pending sales ($105,900 to $450,000), 50 homes have sold in 2013 ($61,200 to $825,000) for a total value of $14,743,197. 

RANCHES:  5 listed ($695,000 to $14,999,000), 0 pending sales, 1 ranch sold in 2013 ($2,290,000).  

COMMERCIAL:  19 listed ($42,400 to $2,950,000), 0 pending sales, 8 commercial properties sold in 2013 ($75,000 to $1,150,000) for a total value of $2,737,500.

TOTAL # OF PROPERTIES CURRENTLY LISTED:  507, VALUED AT $176,256,723.

YOU KNOW YOU’RE FROM MONTANA WHEN … you head for the local bar to find out what’s going on in town, to find your friends, to find a local subcontractor, and in many cases, to find the best food in town.  It’s a place where people get together, along with their kids and dogs (and sometimes horses!).  Like the English pubs, local bars in Montana are the focal point of the community.  Many people may object, but I can find no law on the books in Montana restricting people younger than 21 from hanging out in a bar, so long as they aren’t drinking.  It is an extension of people’s living rooms and for some folks, bars take the place of church.  Amen.

MONTANA TRIVIA → Did you know that Helena (pronounced “Hell-a-na”) is the capital of Montana?  While nearby Virginia City was our territorial capital for 10 years, Helena prevailed and has been the capital since 1875. Like Virginia City, it was founded by miners during the gold rush days.  Helena's glorious past can also be seen in the spectacular 19th-century mansions, historic Last Chance Gulch businesses, and restored pioneer dwellings. The Last Chance Tour Train features informative, entertaining tours of the city. A one-hour train ride provides a spectacular tour of the Capital City, complete with a lesson in Helena's colorful history. Other impressive historical landmarks include the St. Helena Cathedral, an imposing edifice, overlooking the downtown area, modeled after the cathedral in Cologne, Germany. Go to http://visitmt.com/listing/categories_NET/City.aspx?City=Helena to read more about this beautiful and historic capital.

Toni and Don Bowen, both broker/owners with nearly 75 years of real estate experience, between them - covering residential, commercial, land and ranches.  They are in the business of "match making," where the perfect fit of buyer and property is the most important goal.  The Bowen's pride themselves on being the quality "boutique" of local real estate, providing personal attention and professional service. 

                

MADISON VALLEY HAPPENINGS

New businesses coming to the Madison Valley!  Lots of changes on Main Street Ennis:

1. The old Dairy Queen has sold, got a new roof and a new restaurant run by the Ennis school teachers is scheduled to open in that location, as the Ennis Sugar High! 
2. The Buckboard Mercantile building has sold and looks like it will continue doing business as an antique mall.
3. The former Subway Sandwich shop sold to a couple who plan to open Willie's Distillery and Tasting Room.  Now that should be fun!
4. The old Bowling Alley/General Store, etc. has sold and is supposed to be renovated and reopening as a bowling alley!  Maybe bowling is coming back as an "in thing" to do! 
5. Madison Valley Lumber was purchased by a lumber company in Dillon and will be reopening.  The new name is not yet public.
6. The Corral Creek Coffee Company sold to Jamie Schaufler and is still alive and doing well.
7. Rumor has it the Town of Cameron has sold to two couples from South Carolina and will be reopening.  So we'll have more fun times at the Blue Moon Saloon!

Madison County was in the running for the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame, but after nearly a yearlong selection process, trustees with the MCHF and Western Heritage Center recently announced that Big Timber will be the museum's new home.  The finalists were Big Timber, Big Sky, Livingston and Madison County.  But we know where the cowboys roam!  

Ennis is a "happening" place and that is the theme of the Fourth of July Ennis Rodeo Parade this year, along with celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Homestead Act, which built the west.  Be there or be square!

ARROW REAL ESTATE SAYS "SALES ARE UP!"

Don Bowen, Broker/Owner of Arrow Real Estate in Ennis, reports that 2011 has been a banner year for Arrow Real Estate, with year-to-date sales volume of over $12,000,000 for the office, and still another month to go.   Bowen gives credit for their success to their loyal clients and supporters, stating, “Most of our listings and sales are from referrals and repeat customers.  We really appreciate their continuing faith in us.”

Most of their sales this year have been residential properties with fewer land sales than in previous years, other than one large ranch sale.  Existing homes are a great value when the cost to reproduce them is so much higher than current home prices.  There are more distressed properties on the market than ever before in the Madison Valley, but they offer great opportunities for entry-level buyers who have been priced out of the real estate market for many years.  “Over 90% of our sales this year have been all cash transactions plus a few with owner financing.  Buyers have cash and want to take advantage of the high inventory and good bargains,” says Bowen. 

The commercial market in general has been stalled due to the economy, with fewer new businesses opening up and some closing their doors.  However, Arrow Real Estate was responsible for the successful reopening of one of the most prominent businesses in Ennis.  Restvedt’s Meats is now Deemo’s Meats, thanks to Don Bowen’s extensive background in commercial real estate and his expert negotiations with all parties.  Once again, this landmark is serving the community and visitors as well with quality meat products and game processing. 

The Property Management business is also booming and many renters are turning into buyers.  Jay Willett and Karen Swedman Willett, both Broker Associates with Arrow Real Estate also own Apex Management, handling long-term and vacation rentals throughout the valley.  They are finding that once people experience the valley as vacation renters, they decide to purchase.  This is a new and successful pipeline to expanding real estate sales in the valley. 

Toni Bowen wins the distinction as #1 Realtor in the area with her sales this year of the Hollowtop Ranch in Pony and a landmark property in South Meadow Creek, along with numerous other transactions.  The entire Arrow Team enjoyed a very successful year as a result of their hard work, diligence and customer service.  “It’s nice to see our efforts pay off,” says Bowen, “especially when we can help our clients achieve their goals, whether selling or buying their Montana Dream.”  

One of the premier properties sold by Arrow Real Estate in 2011

FALL IN THE MADISON VALLEY

Trout live in nice neighborhoods.
ENNIS AND MADISON VALLEY “HAPPENINGS” → The big news this month is the reopening of the local meat market.  Locals and visitors alike were puzzled and disappointed when one of the most popular stores in Ennis closed its doors in April.  After 4 generations in the butchering business, the Restvedt family stepped aside and another local butcher, Chris DiMichele has taken over.  Chris has been butchering in this valley for about 18 years and had always wanted to open his own butcher shop.  He finally got his wish with Deemo’s Meats.  Once again, hunters have a place to have their game processed and former customers of Restvedt’s Meats can find quality meat products.  Don Bowen of Arrow Real Estate was instrumental in brokering this complicated transaction and insuring that all parties were well  represented. → Helping local businesses prosper during the recent economic challenges is a major goal of leaders in this community.  The Ennis Chamber of Commerce is promoting a grassroots program called the Buy Local Campaign, to support local businesses. → Moonlight Basin’s  12,800 SF office building in Ennis is officially for sale at $899,000.  It is a magnificient building that reflects the high quality and glamour of the exciting Big Sky Resort. → Migration is in full swing on Ennis Lake with several thousands of waterfowl taking a break from their travels south.  There is a great story in The Madisonian that states, “with a good pair of binoculars, you can see coots, Canadian geese, ruddy ducks, redheads, scaup, mergansers, buffleheads, golden eyes, mallards, common loons, various kinds of grebes, widgeons and gadwalls. And that’s just at the lake.”  Read more about it at www.madisoniannews.com. → Virginia City and Nevada City will play host to a national convention of living history and museum experts in 2013. The Association for Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums will hold their conference in these historic Montana communities for the first time ever, said Dan Thyer, living history curator at Nevada City.  The ALHFAM is the main sanctioning body for living history museums, like Nevada City.  Their willingness to come to Madison County speaks volumes for the importance of the cultural resources found in both Nevada and Virginia Cities. 

MADISON COUNTY→ MADISON RIVER → The biggest news in the county is that after more than a year of hearings, the county commissioners voted against the Streamside Setback Regulations!  The Madisonian reported that “The commissioners instead chose unanimously to use the planning board’s proposal as voluntary guidelines for landowners along the Madison River wishing to build on their property.  The decision comes after a drawn out process that started nearly four years ago, when the commissioners decided to initiate a streamside setback citizen advisory committee to look into the issue of setbacks along the Madison and Jefferson River and its tributaries.  The goal was to address land that didn’t fall under the scope of the subdivision regulations, which called for a 500-foot setback on the Madison River.  This citizen committee met for nearly two years on the topic and ultimately couldn’t reach a complete consensus on the issue. However they recommended a regulation to the Madison County Planning Board of a minimum of 75-foot setbacks on the Madison and Jefferson River and 50-foot setbacks on the tributaries.  The Madison County Planning Board took the recommendation, and dropped the Jefferson River from the regulation and increased the building setbacks to 300 feet. This included a 500-foot jurisdictional area and 150-foot streamside buffer zone.  Ultimately, the final decision rested with the county commissioners, who chose to take neither recommendation for a setback regulation, but rather go with voluntary guidelines, expressing deep concerns about infringement of private property rights.”  You can read more about the issue at www.madisoniannews.com.  It is unfortunate that they “threw the baby out with the bath” and we are left with no setbacks.  Most people seemed to accept the idea of the recommended 75’ setback but resisted the Planning Board’s 500’ and 300’ proposals.  If the Planning Board had implemented the regulation as proposed by the committee, there would probably be reasonable setbacks in place now.   Live and learn.

 NOVEMBER EVENTS → The Madison Valley Woman’s Club Annual Holiday Bazaar  will be held in the new Ennis Elementary School gym from 9 AM to 3 PM on Saturday,  November 26.  This is a very popular event that everyone looks forward to over the Thanksgiving weekend.  The gym is filled with local crafters offering an abundance of gift items for the holidays. → And since the November newsletter wouldn’t be out in time to plan for it, mark your calendars for the annual Spirit of Christmas 2011–Ennis Stroll through downtown Ennis on Friday, December 2^nd from 3Pm to 8 PM.  Merchants will be open late, featuring Christmas treats for all!  Pictures with Santa, Christmas stories for children, roasted chestnuts, live music, special gallery events and much more! The Lions Club Park by the Madison River will be lit for the holiday season. Something for the whole family! Make a festive, fun night of it with local hotels and restaurants, see a movie in our quaint downtown theatre, and visit our neighbors in historic Virginia City for their Christmas Socials. Please call the Ennis Chamber of Commerce @ 406-682-4388 or visit the Chamber website: www.ennischamber.com for more information.

MONTANA in the NEWS  → If you love beautiful old barns, you might be interested in a new book just published by the Montana Historical Society Press entitled, “Hand Raised: The Barns of Montana.”  It is a tribute to the farmers and ranchers who helped build this state.  Read about this new publication at, http://governor.mt.gov/news/pr.asp?ID=974.

HUNTING REPORT → The Montana State Legislature passed a new law—effective July 1, 2011—that establishes a preference point system to distribute "Class B-10" nonresident big game combination licenses and "Class B-11" nonresident deer combination licenses.  In a preference point system, licenses are awarded to those applicants who hold the greatest number of preference points.  Go to http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/licenses/nonresidentCombo.html#preferencePoints to get the details.  And once you get your animal, the new meat market is processing game and they are doing a booming business, already! 

FISHING REPORT →  The Madison River Fishing Company reports as of October 26th, “It’s getting to the point where you’d better either be really well dressed for the weather or pick your days very wisely if you’re going to fish. It’s not been really “casual” fishing weather lately.  It is, after all, almost November.  Daytime air temperatures haven’t been extreme yet but it’s been into the low 20s at night which makes early arrivals to the river kind of pointless. You’ll want layers too…probably lots of them.  It’ll be cold out there even if you get here at 10. Once you get acclimated you’ll be fine….maybe after and hour or two depending on the wind. Based on the current forecast it looks like the next several days may be about as pleasant as we’ll see for the next few months; they’re calling for highs in the mid 40s to low 50s with fairly light wind. Don’t let that fool you though…even with a 5 mph breeze it can feel 10 degrees cooler. Not much in the way of precipitation called for at the moment. It’s looking like it’ll be bright and cold…not particularly conducive to really good fall fishing. We much prefer at least some cloud cover.  Deep nymphing will likely be your best bet here until we get some weather back in. I’d probably throw a small Girdle Bug with a pheasant Tail or other mayflyish type bead head as a dropper. Of course there’s always the egg option. They’ve been eating those pretty well here for the past week or two. Some guys trail them behind Zonkers, others fish ‘em with another small nymph and still others run ‘em, two at a time. No matter how you do it, make sure they’re bouncing on the bottom, preferably slowly. This pretty much goes for anything you’re throwing right now in the bright sun. Once we get some clouds here again, we should be right in the thick of things streamer-wise. The browns are definitely fired up and looking for a fight. For whatever reason they much prefer to duke it out under cover of gray. I’m guessing we’ll see some of that before too long.”

…check out additional fishing reports at:

      Kelly Galloup’s Slide Inn at:

        http://www.slideinn.com/blog/category/fishing-report/.

      Dan Delekta’s report at http://beartoothflyfishing.com/flyfishingreports/uppermadisonriver.htm.

      The Tackle Shop’s Orvis report at http://www.orvis.com/fishing_report.aspx?locationid=5974

      The Madison Valley Ranch at http://www.madisonvalleyranch.com/blog/

      Joe Dilschneider’s Montana Trout Stalkers at http://www.montanatrout.com/

      Madison River Fishing Company at:

        http://www.mrfc.com/MadisonRiverMontanaFishing/MadisonRiverReport.aspx.

WEATHER→ Wild extremes this month.  Our Geraniums gave up last week (after the deer munched on them!)  and the valley is ringed with snow-capped mountains.  The weather is a little too mild for the hunters as they have to work harder to find animals holding higher up in the mountains.  The statistics show the October temperatures in Ennis as:  a high of 83° and a low of 14°, with an average high of 58° and an average low of 34°.   The average wind speed this month was just 9 mph!  Our recorded October precipitation totaled .25” which includes that white stuff. 

LOCAL REAL ESTATE MARKET STATISTICS → Arrow Real Estate has been extremely busy this month, with 3 closings and two more pending transactions.  With all the showings, it could be January before we slow down and catch up!  The Southwest Montana Multiple Listing statistics for the Madison Valley (including Ennis, Cameron, McAllister, Norris, Virginia City, Harrison, Pony, Whitehall and Cardwell), for the month of  September  2011, are as follows:

·        LAND:  324 vacant lots listed ($8,400 - $2,490,000),  7 pending sales ($30,000 - $250,000), 21 lots sold, year-to-date ($1,000 - $252,500). 

·        HOMES:  151 homes listed ($84,900 - $3,250,000), 11 pending sales ($67,500 - $1,950,000),  37 homes sold, year-to-date ($50,000 - $950,000).  

·        RANCHES:  8 listed ($849,000 - $9,950,000),  0 pending sales,  2 ranches sold,  year-to-date ($925,000 - $7,215,794). 

YOU KNOW YOU’RE FROM MONTANA WHEN…you can see the stars at night!

MONTANA TRIVIA → Did you know that Montana holds the world record for the greatest temperature change in 24 hours?  On January 14-15, 1972, in Loma, the temperature went from minus 45°F to plus 49°F, a whopping 103 degree change!

COME VISIT!  Toni Bowen, ABR, Arrow Real Estate, Ennis MT  (406) 682-4290, arrow@3rivers.net, www.arrowreal.com

13th ANNUAL WEED FUNDRAISER IN THE MADISON VALLEY

What a blast it was!  We went early and got a tour of the Sitz Ranch and learned about their history and their extensive operation.  They are internationally known for their Black Angus cattle and Bob Sitz did a great job making it very interesting.  The barn was filled with tables displaying wonderful silent auction items donated by various individuals and businesses throughout the valley.  The bidding accelerated in proportion to the free flowing wine! The main reason this is such a popular event in the Madison Valley is that it is a perfect time and place to meet and greet.  All the summer people and their guests are here and it is possibly the one time a year to visit with some folks.  At 5:30, everyone stood in line for a great prime rib dinner.  John Crumley, President of the Madison Valley Ranchlands Group, welcomed everyone and thanked the sponsors of the event.  He introduced a few special guests and then the live auction began.  The auctioneer did a great job and generated a lot of money for the MVRG's weed program.  But it's pretty easy when you have great auction items and the audience is in a generous mood!
We are looking forward to next year's Weed Fundraiser which will be hosted by another big ranch in our area.  Put it on your calendar for the first Saturday in August 2012. 
Toni Bowen, Arrow Real Estate, Ennis MT

www.arrowreal.com

SUMMERTIME IN THE ROCKIES

It has been quite a while since I posted anything to my blog because we have been amazingly busy this summer, even with such a slow economy.  We have been busy listing property, showing property and even SELLING property!  So far this year is much better than 2010.  The weather has been great, lots of people in town and the fishing reports are great!

You know you're from Montana when..."waders" refer to fly fishing, not the guys who work in restaurants!

This is Spotted Knapweed - a common Noxious Weed in the Madison Valley, that many people just see as a pretty purple flower.  

This Saturday is the 13th Annual Noxious Weed Fundraiser, which is the biggest social even of the year in the Madison Valley.  A friend from the east asked me if they serve weeds at our WEED Dinner!  I know it sounds funny but weeds are a serious issue here in the west because they take over native grasses and the cattle and game have less food to eat.  So we never miss this event and we'll be there in appropriate western dressy attire - "clean jeans, boots, nice shirt and cowboy hat."  Well, at least that's what the guys wear!  Ladies wear long western skirts and beautiful western boots and tops.  It is a great excuse to meet and greet your friends and neighbors.

Toni Bowen, Arrow Real Estate, Ennis MT
www.arrowreal.com, arrow@3rivers.net