Musselshell-Golden Valley Counties

During the 2025 program year, MSU Extension in Musselshell and Golden Valley Counties provided education and support that met critical needs in agriculture, youth development, and community life.

MSU Extension licensed new pesticide applicators, delivered recertification credits, and prepared producers for upcoming regulatory changes. Youth programs were strengthened through Agricultural Youth Quality Assurance trainings, volunteer education, and leadership support for 4-H members and families. MSU Extension also partnered with the Watershed Coalition and the Lower Musselshell Conservation District to advance conservation and resource management goals, while contributing to community initiatives such as caregiver respite.

Throughout the year, MSU Extension remained a reliable source of research-based information, responding to numerous agriculture, horticulture, and pest management inquiries. Together, these efforts highlight MSU Extension’s role in providing practical knowledge and fostering resilience across Musselshell and Golden Valley Counties.

Contact

204 8th Ave East 
Roundup, MT 59072
406-323-2704
https://www.montana.edu/extension/musselshell-goldenvalley/

Initial Private Applicator Training

In April 2025, Musselshell-Golden Valley MSU Extension hosted an Initial Private Applicator Training at the Roundup MSU Extension office. This full-day program drew local farmers and ranchers seeking their first license as well as experienced applicators needing credits. By the end of the training, 18 new applicators were licensed and 11 received recertification credits.

The agenda featured expert instruction from MSU Extension specialists, Montana Department of Agriculture staff, and local Weed District personnel. Topics included calibration of spray equipment, reading and following pesticide labels, integrated pest management, pesticide safety, environmental stewardship, and legal regulations. Participants gained hands-on skills and left with the knowledge required to make safer, more effective decisions in their operations.

Caption: Learning to calibrate a hand sprayer at a Private Applicator Training. 

Credit: Reed Cooley

Fairgrounds Coordinator & Fair Board Revitalization

A significant county organizational change this year was the re-activation of the Musselshell County Fair Board and the creation of a new Fairgrounds Coordinator position.

The coordinator provides year-round part-time oversight of facilities, scheduling, budgeting, and communication between the public, the Fair Board, and county leadership. This step has brought structure, consistency, and accountability to the fairgrounds, ensuring that facilities are maintained and events such as the county fair, 4-H activities, rodeos, and rentals run smoothly. This new capacity strengthens local governance and safeguards the fairgrounds as a hub for youth and community life.

Private Applicator Recertification Program

In September 2025, MSU Extension delivered a recertification program offering three continuing education credits to private applicators. Sessions featured local and state experts addressing noxious weed identification and management, vertebrate pest rodenticides, and cold-weather pesticide storage practices.

A special focus was placed on the new EPA and MDA rules effective January 1, 2026, including the upcoming Private Applicator categories and non-certified applicator training requirements. Participants left with up-to-date knowledge, tools to minimize risk of off-target exposure, and a clear understanding of how to maintain compliance under new regulations.

Agricultural Youth Quality Assurance (AQA) Trainings

In early summer 2025, Musselshell–Golden Valley MSU Extension hosted two Agricultural Youth Quality Assurance (AQA) trainings to prepare 4-H members for their livestock projects. These sessions covered animal husbandry, nutrition, biosecurity, record keeping, and food safety–emphasizing the direct link between how animals are raised and the quality of products entering the food system.

Youth gained hands-on skills, engaged in discussions about daily care practices, and learned the ethical responsibilities tied to showing and marketing livestock. As a result, local 4-H members entered the fair season better prepared to manage their projects, demonstrate proper animal care to the public, and represent the county with pride.

Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) Workshop

In spring 2025, Musselshell-Golden Valley MSU Extension facilitated a talk on Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) to help ranchers better understand risk management tools available through USDA-RMA.

The program introduced local cattle producers to the mechanics of LRP, including how coverage is purchased, how indemnities are triggered, and how the program compares with other insurance options. Discussion emphasized the role of LRP in protecting against sharp market downturns, particularly relevant given cattle price volatility. By connecting producers with specialists and providing a forum for local questions, the session helped participants evaluate whether LRP could be integrated into their own operations.