October Monthly: Harvest of the Month, Tradeshow Updates, and more!

MADE IN MONTANA

Made in Montana, Grown in Montana, Native American Made in Montana

Made in Montana Monthly

October 2020

Our logo is a badge of honor for artisans, growers, manufacturers and craftspeople working for something bigger than the bottom line


items Made in Montana

2021 Made in Montana Trade Show

Made in Montana Tradeshow

Many of you have asked about the 2021 Made in Montana Trade Show and we are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation in Montana and neighboring states. 

Health and safety guidelines necessary to keep our members and staff safe, including social distancing and limits on large gatherings, factor into planning the 2021 Made in Montana Trade Show for Food and Gifts, tentatively scheduled for March 12 and 13, 2021 in Helena. 

We will notify Made in Montana members by email, social media, and the Made in Montana Tradeshow webpage when we determine whether to move forward with an in-person show.

We recognize the importance of wholesale buying events and are actively exploring additional ways of promoting our members via virtual shows, an online marketplace, or networking groups.


Montana Harvest of the Month logo

Harvest of the Month

The Montana Harvest of the Month program showcases Montana grown foods in Montana communities. Montana Harvest of the Month is open to K-12 schools, afterschool programs, Summer Food Service Programs, early care and education facilities, and healthcare institutions in Montana. 

Learn more about the program, including details on how to register by visiting Montana Harvest of the Month.


Lightbulbs

Fearing Fallout from a Media Interview?  5 Do's and Dont's

With today’s rapid and often volatile news cycle, the risks and anxieties of being misrepresented in the media, despite your best intentions, are real. The good news is, you’re not alone. 

DestinationThink offers five tips that they use to help Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) that might help you ace your next media interview.

Tip #1: Do write down your talking points 

Tip #2: Do stick to the facts

Tip #3: Do stay cool under pressure

Tip #4: Don’t make it about you

Tip #5: Don’t feel obligated to be the industry spokesperson every time 

Read the entire article at destinationthink.com and gain confidence ahead of your interview.


Celebrating Made in Montana

Good news from the Made in Montana inbox! Check out these highlights from several Made in Montana members  - from launching new products to celebrating milestones.  If you have news you would like to share, please email the press release or publication link to madeinmontana@mt.gov

Red Ants Pants makes aprons, belts, and now masks in White Sulphur Springs.  NBC Montana recently featured their story; Montana Farm, ranch town is international headquarters for women's workwear 

Hi-Country Snack Foods offers a variety of snacks, seasonings, and treats made in Lincoln.  They also sell Made in Montana products at the Hi-Country Trading Post.  A recent Montana Standard article has more and a Bar-B-Que sauce recipe. 

Riverfeet Press, in Livingston, has a new book this fall from Montana author Jerry Bonnell.  Wake Up Montana highlighted Burnt Tree Fork in a recent broadcast.

Montana The Magazine of Western History, ​produced its first ever digital issue on African Americans in Montana and the West. It is available to all for free!  https://mhs.mt.gov/pubs/MMWHDigitalIssueSum2020

Montana Universities Celebrated Native American Heritage Day with campus events including fashion showcases featuring Native American Made in Montana members Della Big Hair-Stump (Designs by Della), an enrolled member of the Crow Tribe from Crow Agency, and Carrie Moran McCleary (Plains Soul), a Little Shell Chippewa tribal member who lives and works on the Crow Reservation. 

6 Made in Montana Companies to Produce Masks for Montana Aware Campaign The following six companies will produce the masks at their Montana-based facilities: Montana Robe Company in Belgrade, Glacier Clothing Company in Columbia Falls, Rebekah Jarvey in Havre, 406 Creative Vibe in Missoula, REcreate Designs in Polson, and Red Ants Pants in White Sulphur Springs. 


COVID-19 RESOURCES

  • Montana COVID-19 Hotline: 1-888-333-0461 or COVID19info@mt.gov 
  • Montana Coronavirus task force: COVID19@MT.GOV
  • If you are a business owner and have questions related to the the phased approach to reopening and how the plan applies to you directly, please call 1-800-755-6672.
  • If your question relates to unemployment insurance/benefits, please contact the Department of Labor and Industry at 406-444-2545. If you think you are eligible for unemployment benefits accessible to workers laid off due to COVID-19, you can apply for benefits online at: www.montanaworks.gov or contact the Unemployment Insurance Division over the phone at 406-444-2545.
  • CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html
  • Montana Aware Toolkit: Montana Aware is a statewide effort designed to help Montana’s tourism partners and local businesses slow the spread of COVID-19 by promoting safety measures for those traveling in the state. As part of this initiative, the Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development has developed a toolkit of resources to help you educate residents and visitors on safe travel best practices. The toolkit includes a web badge, printable posters and flyers, social media posts, and other customizable materials and is available at https://marketmt.com/ISO/Montana-Aware-Toolkit