Sports + Recreation

The Wilderness Within

How a veteran hunter navigates both the external and personal terrain Article by Kate Heston | Photography by Leah Lamberson Photography & Provided Eric Bachofner harvested his first deer when he was 12-years-old. A Kalispell native on his father’s annual hunting trip to Central Montana, Eric secured a small four point whitetail after some time in camouflage, quietly roaming across the landscape. It’s one of many prominent memories from his childhood, he said, as he reminisced on his early...

Local Services

A Legacy For Life Guarantee

Inside the three-generations craftsmanship of Rucker Knives Article by Marko Capoferri | Photography by Nikity Nak Creatives Peruse the Rucker Knives website and in the “About” section you’ll come across a stunning sentence, equally moving for its sentiment as for its poetry: “We build for meaning over momentum.” It’s a statement that contains layers. TJ Rucker, current owner of Rucker Knives, a family knife-making outfit based in Kalispell, is, in his own words, an “expat” from the world of...

Auto + Marine

Fueling Our Hometown

How a longstanding local dealership prioritizes giving back Article by Summer Zalesky | Photography by Nikity Nak Creatives Chris Rembaugh - General Manager   What is an organization that you give back to that is close to your heart, and why?   Oh, that’s a hard one. I’m going to say Land to Hand. They provide healthy and sustainable food for the community. They have a backpack program where they provide food for kids during holiday breaks or on weekends. They not only feed them, but...

Education

All Things in Common

How a 16th-century vision outlasted European persecution and forged a lasting communal refuge in the West. Article by Diana Dalke | Photography by © Laura Wilson The year is 1536. An Austrian hatmaker’s strong pillars of faith have bound him to a stake—pillars like the belief in separation of church and state, pacifism, and a refusal to swear oaths. It’s hard to imagine in our age—and especially in our country—this type of religious persecution, but the Anabaptists in sixteenth century Europe...

Food + Beverage

Edible Oddities

A round up of the valley's most eccentric eats Article by Summer Zalesky | Photography by Nikity Nak Creatives & Rachel Jobst Photography Did you know you can get escargot in the Flathead? Or order a bloody mary that constitutes a full-on meal? Our area might not be known for its culinary anomalies, but for the more adventurous eaters, we’ve dug a few out just for you. Our staff photographer Nicole and I had the opportunity to go on a self-guided food tour last month and talk with some of the...

Food + Beverage

Kids Eat Free

Treat the whole family to these six restaurants Article by Summer Zalesky As a mom of two littles, it's nice to have a break from cooking and cleaning the kitchen every single night. On the other hand, taking the kids out to eat can be chaotic, especially when they take two bites of their ten-dollar burger. On days like these I'm thankful for the restaurants in our community who provide a 'kids eat free' menu. Here is a list of all the eateries where you can bring your kids for a night-off...

Food + Beverage

How Far He’ll Grill

A pitmaster’s journey to the Moana red carpet Article by Summer Zalesky | Photography by Disney and Food Network The hot Montana sun isn’t the only thing baking the alligator to a crisp. The asado, an Argentine grill, cooks the exotic meat alongside racks of ram and mountain lion. I step under the canopy for some shade and space away from the cowboy boots kicking up torrents of dust. With the rodeo happening in the backdrop, the alligator jaws gleaming up at me seem strangely juxtaposed. How...

Food + Beverage

Where the Bread Shed Grows

Supporting local through pop up farmstands Article by Summer Zalesky | Photography by Nikity Nak Creatives "Is it Saturday?!" My kids jump into bed, excited as can be at the possibility of driving down the road and picking up some freshly baked English muffins for breakfast.  "It's Saturday," I laugh, snuggling them closer. "But it's only seven in the morning. We still have to wait a couple hours." They groan because, of course, waiting is the hardest part, and it's even harder when you're...

Food + Beverage

Liquid Gold

A history of brewing in the Treasure State Article by Diana Dalke Long before Montana became the Big Sky State, beer was already finding its place in the communities taking root across the territory. From the mining camps of the 1850s and 1860s to the craft breweries that now dot the state, brewing has evolved alongside Montana’s communities, economy, agriculture, and culture. As miners and settlers moved west in search of opportunity, breweries soon followed, providing fresh beer to workers...

Food + Beverage

A Very Pleasant Pheasant

Local insights for the best way to cook wild game Article and Photography by Julie Schnieders There is something wonderfully untamed about pheasant. Leaner and more deeply flavored than chicken, its meat carries the essence of the fields where it lived, slightly gamey and enticing to all the senses. It rewards tender care in the kitchen by filling the home with a warm, savory scent as it roasts, and the result is a dish that feels both rustic and refined through its delicate texture whether...