Continues 56 County Tour in Dawson and McCone counties

GLENDIVE, MT – On his 56 County Tour this week in eastern Montana, Governor Greg Gianforte highlighted community support and the impact of small businesses and organizations in Montana’s rural communities.

“It’s great to visit with folks who are investing in their communities and bringing vibrancy back to rural Montana,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Whether it’s the equine therapy programs that help those in need, or the linemen who work tirelessly to power homes and businesses, neighbors are helping neighbors and making our communities stronger.”

Yesterday in Dawson County, the governor stopped by Big Shires Equine Services & 7 Mile Hampshires to hear from owner Leanne Hoagland about the equine therapy services she provides to Montanans recovering from addiction or trauma.

Visiting with some of Leanne’s clients who’ve graduated from drug treatment courts and participated in the therapy program, the governor heard of the impacts of the treatment on their battle with addiction and how its aided their recovery.

“Say this horse is your addiction. We had to control the horse without touching it and walk it around the pen, so we had to rely on our teammates. It’s a reminder that you can’t control your addiction by yourself – you gotta have a support system, teammates, mental health counselors, and community,” said a graduate of the Dawson County drug treatment court and equine therapy participant.

Treatment courts help non-violent offenders rebuild their lives through treatment, recovery, counseling, education, and job placement services, costing a fraction of incarceration.

Since taking office, the governor proposed and secured funding for 13 treatment courts across the state.

Before heading out of Glendive, the governor heard from Dawson County FFA members on their latest projects they are raising for the fair later this year. Visiting with the students, the governor met their lambs, goats, and well-groomed cows ready for the sale.

To support Career and Technology Student Organizations (CTSOs) like FFA, the governor last year tripled the funding for CTSOs in Montana and expanded internship and work-based learning opportunities.

While in McCone County earlier this week, the governor heard more about the McCone Electric Co-Op in Circle that serves over 2,300 customers in nine of Montana’s rural counties.

With nearly 4,000 miles of line, the company employs 11 linemen with half serving as apprentices. 

In 2022, Montana added more apprenticeships to the Registered Apprenticeship Program than ever before, many of which were added following a rule change championed by the governor that went into effect that year.

While preserving workplace safety and training standards, the rule change revised the previous journeyman to apprentice ratio of 2:1 to 1:2, allowing one journeyman to supervise two apprentices.

“There were times that we’ve struggled to have enough journeymen on hand. McCone is a remote area, and if you’re not from around here it’s hard to get someone to stay here – they come, get their journeyman, and leave for somewhere else. So this ratio change is really beneficial for us, it helps us maintain more apprentices and get a lot more work done,” said the McCone Electric general manager, Steve Tilton.

“Not only does this rule change help companies like McCone Electric, but we have a housing shortage and if you want more houses, you need more carpenters, plumbers, and electricians. So, it’s helped everyone in the building trades as well,” the governor concluded.