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\rcsInfo $Id: economy.tex,v 1.10 1999/09/07 21:57:36 bernhard Rel $

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\begin{sffamily}
\begin{raggedright}
{\Large 	Geography Field Work (416-650) 
\\}
{\large		Summer 1999  \hspace{1cm} 
\\}
Instructor: Glen Fredlund\\
TA: Jean Kowal\\

\vspace*{3cm}
	
{ \Large \sffamily\bfseries
Final Paper and Report, Part I:\\
Alternative Economy in Carter County, Montana \\
}

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\end{raggedright}
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%\parbox{10cm}
{
\raggedright \large
Bernhard Reiter \\
Applied System Scientist \\
{\small\ttfamily 
	\href{mailto:bernhard@uwm.edu}{<bernhard@uwm.edu>}
	\href{http://www.uwm.edu/~bernhard/fieldcourse/}
	     {www.uwm.edu/\symbol{'176}bernhard}
}
}

\end{sffamily}
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\begin{flushright}
{\em
People just decide they want to stay\\
and then they find a way to make it work.\\
{\small M. Waterland, Ekalaka, MT}
}
\end{flushright}


\section{Introduction}
Jonathan Raban in his book \cite{raban:96} tells the story of homesteaders 
in the midwest mostly driven by optmistic dreams about an ideal farm 
life on land they will own.
Today the population in the south-east corner of Montana still lives in
a rural area with farming and ranching as most visible income source.

Being interested in the present situation of the area, I happily picked up
our instructor's ideas on a field course topic to look into alternative economic
models. Dinosaur and Game Hunting might be the new cash crops to
grow on the dry land. Tourist attractions and organic farming are in theory
methods to raise the value of the good old land.


\section{Context Review}
It is known that Carter county covers area, where a lot of interesting
fossils can be found. Tourist attractions connected with dinosaur hunting can
be found in neigbouring states, like HotSpring, South Dakota.


\subsection{Timeframe}
The field work was done from monday the 2nd August to friday the 13th, 1999.
Six days were spend in Ekalaka where the group stayed at Camp Needmore in the
Custer National Forest. 

\subsection{Location}
Carter County lies in the south-east corner of Montana. 
The county capital and biggest town with about 440 inhabitants is Ekalaka
(45°53'20"'N 104°33'8"'W).
Ekalaka is about 150 km south from the next big highway, Interstate 94.
The next largest town is Baker, Fallon county to the
north with about 1800 people. Distances are measured in drive time
and the 55 km to Baker are easily worth half an hour. To shop in a real city, 
about another hour to Miles City adds to the way. In \cite{lukkerman:91} 
the little shop in Ekalaka is classified as a Minimum Convenience Center,
Baker as Partial Shopping Center and Miles City with the only
Complete Shopping Center in 1989.
Ekalaka also has a little runways for small planes.

Carter County borders to Harding and Butte County in South Dakota in the East.
Extenting to the south is Crook County, Wyoming. Touristic brochures devide
Montana in six ``Countries''. ``Custer Country'' is the huge south west region
of Montana contaning the county of interest.

With the interstate the the north and the Custer Battle Field to the west,
Carter County itself has no outstanding tourist attractions. Notable are 
the Medicine Rocks State Park and the Carter County museum in Ekalaka.
The county museum supposetly is the first county museum founded in Montana
in 1936 \cite{montanaweb:museum}.


Only about 1500 people live in the county. It is expected that most of them
are ranchers and farmers, though the land is too dry to earn an easy living 
from this profession. To quote from \cite{lukkerman:91}, finding 
declining 47\% of Carter counties' population was living on farms in 1989:
\begin{quote}
	Bonanza [large scale] farms are typical in this area.
	Large farms are necessary because the dry climate will not support
	annual harvest of all the land [...]. Wheat and livestock are the 
	primary commodities produces. Barley is also a significant crop
	in this area.
\end{quote}

\subsection{Numbers}
Even in a short article like this having "'financial"' in the headline 
commits to give a few
rough figures about Ekalaka in Carter Country,Montana.
Most of them originate in Census Information or are estimated by the 
Montana Department of Commerce \cite{commercedept}.

\subsubsection{Population}
Montana's population in 1998 is believed to be 880 thousand unequally
distributed in 56 counties.
That denotes a little increase from the 800 thousand of the 1990 census.
About 48\% live in rural areas and only 2.3 person can be found per square 
kilometer($km^2$). They reside in 340 thousand housing units.
\cite{anding:90} is a nice resource for comparison to other states in the 
Upper Midwest.

Carter County is remote within Montana. Its population number stagnated
around 1550 people, a density of one person per 5 $km^2$.
It ranks among the last 10 percent counties regarding population in the state.

\subsubsection{Income}
Montanas GROSS State product is about 19 billion current US dollars, but only 
one billion is created by agriculture, foresting and fishing. The importance 
of this industry sector also declined from about 10\% in 1977 to the current
5\% GROSS contribution in 1998. 
Hotel \& logging and Amusement and Recreation both
contribute about 200 million in 1998.
%http://commerce.mt.gov/ceic/economic/bea/gsp/gspind97.htm

The personal per capita income\footnote{Based on county summaries and 
different from the PCPI. But the findings are generally the same.}
 in the state almost reached 20,000 \$ in 1997.
The average of the US lies 5,000 \$ higher. There is also a difference
over 3,000 \$ in the rural and urban portion of Montana. The latter regions
at least have an average per capita income about 18,000 \$. 
Carter County's 13,000\$ are significantly under the rural and the state
income figure.
%http://commerce.mt.gov/ceic/economic/bea/addtables/97ctymt.htm

In 1997 the earnings in Carter County only contributed 30\% to the
total personal income. 50\% were dividends, interests and rent and the rest
were transfer payments. 
%http://commerce.mt.gov/ceic/economic/bea/bearfacts/97011.htm



\section{Field Methods}
To find out about business sidelines and their impact, the general financial
situation about typical households has to be known. The diffuculties started
right here, as this kind of data of course is very personal and therefore
not easy to accquire. Questions towards the financial stability of the
family situation are delicate and not without reason impolite.

The most promissing strategy was to ask around for different kind of 
alternative businesses and find out who is involved. The second 
step was to informally interview persons, who are known to engage in this
kind of activity. Their perspective on the relevance of activity on making
a living for their family and for other families was asked for.

Therefore this short paper resembles more a report because 
it is largely based on personal observations and antectotal evidence.

The asked questions naturally adapted over the week, but all of them
touched:

\begin{itemize}
   \item Who has business sidelines and what their impact is.
   \item Magnitude of the potential for touristic activities.
   \item Is the Wagon Train financially working out.
   \item Outfitting.
   \item Is organic farming considered an alternative?
\end{itemize}


\section{Interviews and Visits}
\subsection{A start at NRCS}
First information about active persons willing to talk about alternative
economy were gathered \cite{cline:personal}.
About half of these people could be interviewed later.
Mentioned models were outfitting, wagon train, auctioneering, elk and buffalo
ranching. A few people in town run a wagon train each year and they thought
once about going commercial with it. Another wagon train is a comercial 
operation in Boys in the south west of Carter County.

It was perceived that the seventies were economical good, but in the eigthies
people needed a hobby. Like somebody, who grew into being a part time 
silversmith. 
Organic farming does not seems to be a big thing. Supposedly an ``Organic 
Farmers List'' exist.

A few weeks before the field course took place, the `Montana Ranch Days'
were taken place in Carter County. So we missed it. They were generally
considered a big success.

\subsection{Ekalaka Wagon Train}
Mr. Larson as one of the organisers of the Ekalaka Wagon Train, who also 
happens to manage Camp Needmore told me more about it\cite{larson:personal}. 
The Wagon Train is 
organised every year. Because of the risk for participating
persons, insurance had been the stumbling stone of further commercial
ventures. They still have approximately seventy people attending each year and 
a lot which are not from the county. They only charge for the food
and leave riding the wagon train as a free personal risk everybody can choose
for themselfs. 

As an interesting side note Mr. Larson told me that the Ekalaka Wagon 
Train group participated in shooting an Oklahoma Land Race for a big movie.
He also mentioned another person doing elk farming for game hunting.

\subsection{National Forestservice Bureau}
The few developed sites in the National Forest in that area do not generate
much money. People prefer the west. If you charge people for touristic 
services, you also have to pay money to the National Forestservice
\cite{clark:personal}.


\subsection{Downtown Ekalaka}
The saddle shop employs a well known artist in the county, John Brown.
Their customer radius is about 150 Miles. They use the internet to
advertise. The shop seem to generate a living for the owner pretty well, 
because of its unique products. They sell various art and leatherworks. 
A basic saddle starts selling for about 1,300\$ \cite{lehmann:personal}. 

In the County museum reportetly not many people drop by who actually 
plan to dig for dinosaurs. Still their little bookshelf 
features two books with titles ``Digging for dinosaurs'' and 
``Dinosaur Digs''.

A short visit ad the ``Wholesale Hardware Store'' revealed that they 
are pretty busy all week. Selling gas and other vehicle and machine hardware
equipment to the farmers.

Information about alternative economy was sparse in the library.
Almost nobody does organic farming around here, because
it seems especially dificult on the dry land \cite{library:personal}.
One person is knows to try organic growing methods that for produce. 

The relativly spacious bar was full with Milwaukee students. 
The bartender confirmed that the bar is as full as in hunting season.


\subsection{Montana Ranch Days}
The Montana Ranch Days are an educational event in montana. It stays
two years in the region which wins the bid. It might be possible to get it
about every 15 years, but not more often. Part of Ekalaka's budget of 
over ten thousand 
US-Dollar comes from the state, but still everybody including the neighbouring 
cities had to help to make it work for the town and the county.
For Ekalaka this is a major success, but only consisting of two events 
distributed over this two years.
\cite{waterland:personal}..

Mrs. Waterland told me that she does not know, how people could make a 
living just out of farming. The Waterland's farming business contributes about 
half of their household budget. And the cost of living are at least a bit 
lower as in metropolian areas.

Hunting is big in the region. Though being mostly a male thing, female hunters
are on the raise.
The Waterlands also operate a "bunkhouse", where they provide a little
service for hunters. They participate in the state's ``Blockmanagemant''
program, which is designed to give normal persons a chance to hunt.
Participates have to let hunters on their land without charge. And the 
government reembursts the land owners for that a 
bit \cite{waterland:personal}. 

Mrs Waterland also brought another income method for the county to my
attention: Foreign exchange students, which bring in some money for the
school. Four foreign exchange students might even support a teachers
salary. 

\subsection{Outfitting}
The Byrnes run a sucessful outfitting business in Carter County and they
employ a few guides for the season and operate from three different locations
in Mill Irons, Calf Creek and Morgan Ranch. 
They are not part of the Block Management program, but leased 
exclusive hunting rights from several privat ranches and exclusive
guiding rights on over 100,000 acres of the Custer National Forest.
They offer whitetail, mule deer and antelope hunts and specials, like
Elk Archery Hunt or Spring Turkey. It is a full service, the
hunters only bring their licenses and personal gear. There are three different 
methods to obtain a deer tag for hunting in montana. You can enter a drawing 
for about 250\$ or you are guarenteed a license tag for about 750 \$.
Antilope tags can be applied for with a 150\$ fee. 
Outfitting service for one antelope starts at
1000\$ a person and hunting a deer starts at about 2250\$ per hunter.

The hunting season is relatively short from the start of Archery season
in the beginning of september to th end of November. Therefore the Byrnes 
also run a ranch in the other parts of the year. The few weeks of hunting 
season can only carry a certain number of hunters. Some will drop out, because
they will not get the license and overbooking would not working out good,
ether. With two other outfitters the hunting capacity of the region seems
be reached in a way that everything is sustainable in the present situation
\cite{byrne:personal}.

Mrs Byrne also stated that it is hard to make a living with just ranching.
The neighbours make some extra money sheering sheeps. One of
their friends once found a dinosaur fossil.


\subsection{Local Press}
In the perception of the local press it is common for people to have
a second job. People try all different sort of ideas. The US economy
boom does not reach the region. One rancher once formed an alliance with
Remmington and now they bring in hunters and new equipment.

Organic Farming seems to be not feasible on a large scale. 
Dinosaur hunting also is not big. Sometime a university will come out and
do some digging and some might even give the farmers some compensation.
And this is not because of the lack of fossils. There are enough
fossils in the ground \cite{lambert:personal}.

One farmer is a part-time sculptor.

\section{Discussion}

\subsection{It's not ranching and farming alone}
All results point in the direction that ranching and farming generally 
do not provide a living. A second job is mandatory and people tend
to get creative on what to do. Sometimes it might not even called 
a business, but sidework or even nonmonetary household exchanges.
The difficulties to make a living in small towns is further 
illustrated and analysied in \cite{nelson+smith:99}.

The variety of activities seems to be rather broad, as 
silversmith, sculptor, investor, auctioneer are mentioned.
All kind of different livestock was at least tried on the land, such as
elk, buffalos, Emus and more uncomon cattle races.

\subsection{Hunting is big}
Hunting for sure is a big in the region. It also brings in people to 
town but all of that only for a short season of about two or three month.
I guess that a significant amount of incoming for the region is brought
in by the hunters. 


\subsection{Dinosaurs rest in peace}
Though several stories of fossils founds and possible payments for them
exist dinosaur hunting is not an attraction to bring money in on
a regular basis. The county museum might attract a few visitors but probably
is not worth the tour if you are not going around that part of the country
anyway. I found no tendency to make more use of the fossil resources in the 
future. It might as well be that some of the farmers got lucky once in a while
and actually found something or had a third party finding something 
and caring about paying the landowner.
There also remains some doubt on the precise
legal condition under which someone can charge for letting people hunt 
for fossils and geek them. This might fall
under the mining subject and was not further researched as it does not play
a major role in the subject area anyway.

\subsection{Organic Farming not an option}
In other regions organic farming might be an approach to add value to
grains, produce or even livestock and leverage the harvest in times of
declining prices. For south-east montana this is not an option most people
consider. It is said to be too difficult, because of the dry land farming
conditons. It is also not entirely clear, how big the benefits would be as
organic farming is not widely branded or perceived big enough in the US.

\subsection{Wagon Train rolls slowly}
Two Wagon train operations were brought ti attention in Carter County and 
they both
seem to be established. The one headquatered around Ekalaka is
not a huge income source and though a partial success, could not be turned 
commercial. Apart from that this seems to be the second most sucessful
tourist attraction of the region, after the Outfitting business.
The other wagon train is commercial and based in Boyes.
It seems to work out, because it is done there for about 5 years.


\subsection{Special Education impacts}
Two big private employers in the region seem to be the Trail's End Ranch 
\cite{trailsend} and
the Sky Ranch. The former is a christian hide-out ranch and the latter
a ranch for deliquent boys. Not much information was collected about them,
but they probably employ more than the average number of people.

The Montana Ranch Days seem to be pretty sucessful as an exceptional event.
They only last for two consecutive years.

Surprisingly enough at first
thought is the fact that foreign exchange students bring in some money, which
can almost supports a teacher. All in all the educational efforts are a
factor in the economy of the region.


\subsection{No tourists on horses}
Horsepack riding or other recreational activities are not what most
farmers in Carter County dream of. Beside from being a bit apart major
travel routes, the entertaining part of this kind of tourist service 
is the part that some interviewed people did not feel familiar with.

The landscape certainly would be intersting and beautiful enough to
support nice experiences for tourists, but the remoteness which is
partly responsible for this also raises the level for anyone to just
drive out there to have fun. More touristicly developed places are certainly
without most potential customers' vicinity.


\section{Conclusions}
All signs show us that farming and ranching is still done in the area,
but they are not the only income source for people living on farms.
The scope of this study is to small to really grasp enough understanding
of the details how these people make a living and only in-depth interviews 
and case studies might cure this. 

The variety of sideactivities is large. Recreational offers with the 
exception of hunting are not a focus in the area and probably never will be.
Ekalaka is too remote and in a way surrounded by more developed recreational
regions. So almost no horsebackriding or dinosaur digging. A bit of wagon train
riding and more local events take place. A lot sidelines therefore target
fellow farmers or customers living in vicinity. 

Inhabitans of Carter County deliberately have choosen that spot as home and 
they are optimistic to survive there. There is no reason to believe that 
they cannot make it.


%\bibliography{fieldcourse.bib}
\begin{thebibliography}{[1]}

\bibitem{anding:90}
	Anding, Thomas L.; John S. Adams; William Casey; Sandra de Montille;
	Miriam Goldfein
	{\em Trade Centers of the Upper Midwest: 
	Three Case Studies Examining Change from 1960 to 1989},
	Publication No. CURA 91-4,
	Center for Urban und Regional Affairs, 
	Minneapolis, Minnesota

\bibitem{lukkerman:91}
	Lukkerman, Barbara; Miriam Goldfein; Sandra de Montille (1991)
	{\em Trade Centers of the Upper Midwest: 
	Three Case Studies Examining Change from 1960 to 1989},
	Publication No. CURA 91-4,
	Center for Urban und Regional Affairs, 
	Minneapolis, Minnesota

\bibitem{commercedept}
	Montana Dept. of Commerce, 
	{\em Census and Economic Information Center}
	\href{http://commerce.mt.gov/ceic/index.htm}
		{http://commerce.mt.gov/ceic}

\bibitem{montanaweb:museum}
	Montana Dinosaur Activities -- Webpage:\\
	\href
{http://kids.state.mt.us/db_engine/presentations/presentation.asp?PID=301}
{\ttfamily\small http://kids.state.mt.us/db\_engine/presentations/presentation.asp?PID=301}

	or
	Montana Travel Infos -- Webpage:
	\href
{http://travel.state.mt.us/categories/moreinfo.asp?IDRRecordID=11415\&SiteID=1}
{\ttfamily\footnotesize http://travel.state.mt.us/categories/moreinfo.asp?IDRRecordID=11415\&SiteID=1}
%http://travel.state.mt.us/categories/city.asp?CityID=102


\bibitem{nelson+smith:99}
	Nelson, Margaret K.; Joan Smith (1999)
	{\em Working Hard and Making Do: 
	Surviving in Small Town America}
	University of California Press,
	ISBN: 0-520-2157(4-3/5-3)

\bibitem{raban:96}
	Raban, Jonathan (1996) 
	{\em Bad land: an American romance},
	Vintage New York

\bibitem{trailsend}
	Trail's End Ranch \\
	Webpage: \href{http://www.ter.org/}{\ttfamily http://www.ter.org/}




\bibitem{cline:personal}
	{\em Personal communication} 
	4.8.1999 
	with Jerry D Cline and Wayne E. Yost,
	at the Natural Resources Conservation Service Office, Ekalaka 

\bibitem{larson:personal}
	{\em Personal communication} 
	4.8.1999 
	with Keith Larson, on the drive from Camp Needmore to Ekalaka

\bibitem{clark:personal}
	{\em Personal communication} 
	5.8.1999
	with Loris W. Clark,
	at the National Forestservice Bureau in Camp Crook.

\bibitem{lehmann:personal}
	{\em Personal communication} 
	6.8.1999 
	with Nelseena Lehmann,
	The Saddle Shop, Ekalaka \\
	Website: \href{http://www.puptown.com/}{\ttfamily http://www.puptown.com}

\bibitem{library:personal}
	{\em Personal communication} 
	6.8.1999
	at the Ekalaka Library, MT

\bibitem{waterland:personal}
	{\em Personal communication} 
	8.8.1999
	with Marlene Waterland, 
	Ekalaka, MT

\bibitem{byrne:personal}
	{\em Personal communication} 
	9.8.1999
	with Juanita Byrne,
	Mill Iron, MT \\
	Website: \href{http://www.huntinfo.com/jj/}
	{\ttfamily http://www.huntinfo.com/jj/}

\bibitem{lambert:personal}
	{\em Personal communication} 
	9.8.1999
	with Bryce Lambert 
	at Ekalaka Eagle, Ekalaka, MT
	
\end{thebibliography}

\end{document}
