New owner, same tradition - Vermedahl Ranch brings hundreds of students for two days of farm fun

IRVINE FLATS — Far be it from Mac Binger to end a long-standing Lake County tradition.

Every year in April, for more than a decade, Lake County fourth graders arrive at Vermedahl Ranch by the bus loads. There, ranchers, ropers, wranglers and rugged, wind-whipped cowboys show students just what it takes to work the land, and make the land work for you.

Binger purchased Vermedahl Ranch in 2006 with every intention of continuing Agriculture Days, just as the original owner Walt Vermedahl had for 12 years before him. The program, which took place Thursday and Friday last week, is put on as a cooperative effort between Lake County Conservation and the Western Montana Stockgrowers Association.

“Kids really enjoy it,” said Binger. “It gives them the experience of ruralness that they don’t get in town” — about 6,000 acres of sprawling, bucolic ruralness.

Located about 12 miles deep into a pastoral valley outside of Polson is the ranch that gives students the opportunity to smell the burning hide of a freshly branded calf. For sensitive students, it’s their least favorite part of the field trip.

“The branding is mean,” said Cherry Valley student Natayia McDougall.

Mean, but necessary, says Mike Meuli, a Proctor rancher.

“It’s the only permanent way to prove ownership,” he told students.

He likens branding to the sensation of burning your hand on a stove or curling iron.

“It only stings for a few days and then you’re fine, and that’s what it’s like for the calf,” he said.

Students rotated from station to station, learning the ins and outs of agriculture from milking a cow to identifying a breed of quarter horse. Joyce Norman, affiliated with Chief Cliff Quarter Horses, explained to students the difference between various breeds. She also allowed students to name her new filly.

Linderman students from Mrs. Hall’s class threw around several names before narrowing it down to two — Lady Bug or Clover. Every class got to contribute a name for Norman’s consideration, and at the end of Agriculture Days the horse was named Brook, as recommended by Mrs. Linsey’s class from K. William Harvey Elementary in Ronan.

“‘Brook’ just really jumped out,” said Norman.

Inside a large warehouse where half a dozen other stations were set up, each devoted to a particular aspect of ranch life, students learned how to read equine body language from horse whisperer Mark Vrooman.

“We have to teach ourselves to understand what a horse is telling us,” he told students.

Vrooman demonstrated the proper way to catch a horse on Brother, his gaited equine. He explained to students that a horse is extremely sensitive to body language. Approach looking aggressive, it’ll be skittish and unattainable. Slowly walk up to it with shoulders slumped and head down, give it a pat on the snout or chest and walk away, it’ll follow you like a faithful labrador.

“You want your horse to catch you. You want your horse to follow you just like your buddy,” he said.

Over in the corner was Jeff Nelson, of Nelson Dairy Service, with his automated milk extractor. He regaled students with facts about dairy products, and set up an opportunity for a joke.

“Where does chocolate milk come from?” he asked.

Chocolate cows of course, students replied.

As always, Nelson lets students place their thumbs inside the electronic suction device that extracts milk from cows. “Weird” was the common adjective used to describe how it felt.

“It feels like it’s cutting the circulation off to your thumb,” said Trevor Basler, giving students a big red thumbs up.

Nelson hasn’t missed a year of Agriculture Days. It’s his hope that when students go home for dinner and eat their meat and veggies and drink their milk, they’ll understand where it came from.

“They get a lot out of it for the most part,” he said. “And for me, it’s always rewarding.”