Montana
Best of Montana Moment: Barns of the Big Hole, land of 10,000 haystacks
JACKSON, Mont. — They call the Big Hole Valley “The Land of 10,000 Haystacks.”
The Big Hole Historical Society wrote a book called “History of the Big Hole Valley-Montana Pioneers of the Old West-1806-1930.” It was a mammoth undertaking.
In its 448 pages, the book recounts Lewis and Clark’s visit, the Battle of the Big Hole, stories of the Native Americans who inhabited this land for thousands of years and histories of the Big Hole ranches and their families.
Some of that ranch history focuses on the unique barns that stand on this vast landscape.
We spent time with two of the book’s contributors, Ruth Nelson Little and Bruce Denny, who took us on a tour of some of the majestic barns that frame the large ranches that make up this famous valley.
Along the way, we met Max and Debbie Lapham, who ranch near Jackson.
From its beaverslides for stacking hay, to its cattle and sweeping vistas, the Lapham Ranch offers an ideal picture of the Big Hole Valley.
We met the couple at their ranch and talked to them at their barn.
“The ranch started in about 1888 from homesteads,” said Max. ” My grandfather and my great-grandfather ended up buying out homesteads.”
In about 1910, the Lapham family built the barn that Max and Debbie and their children still use today.”
It’s a haven for all animals.
“When we’ve got cold calves, we put them in the barn and cover them with straw,” said Max.
Debbie said, “We can usually put seven, eight, 10 cows in here on a blizzard night.”
The original support braces holding up the barn’s roof were placed at an angle to keep it sturdy.
“If you have any kind of wind or snow,” said Max, “nothing bothers it.”
“I’ve had a love affair with barns all my life,” said Ruth Nelson Little. “I love barns. Everything about them.”
Ruth was born and raised on a ranch in the Big Hole Valley. She traces her ancestors back to pioneers. Cecile and Frederick Hirschy came to the valley in 1894.
“They were from Switzerland, and they came to make cheese,” said Ruth. “They did that for several years and finally decided to start ranching. Today, several of their great-grand kids are still ranching in the valley.”
Ruth and Bruce Denny brought us to see a beautiful white and blue horse barn in the valley that’s unique for its colors. It’s been in the same pioneer family for more than 100 years.
Ruth said every barn is unique, the workmanship of many cultures.
“Barns from Sweden,” she said. “From Switzerland and Denmark.”
Bruce took us to one of his favorite barns on what he remembers as the old Sparrow Ranch. This huge, unpainted barn is weathered and majestic — a straight-standing granddaddy that’s stood the test of time.
“It’s beautiful,” said Bruce. “It’s in good shape and it’s so big.”
This barn served draft horses, dairy cows, even chickens.
“They did it all in this huge barn,” said Ruth.
“Look at the floor planks,” said Bruce. “You couldn’t find trees that big anymore.”
In the dairy barn, Bruce sat down an old milking stool.
“I’m at the Sparrow Ranch in this monster of a barn,” he marveled.
We climbed into the hayloft where Bruce looked up and all around.
“This has got to be the biggest barn I’ve ever been in,” he said.
On the John Eliel Ranch, now owned by Heidi Hirschy, Ruth and Bruce brought us to another Big Hole beauty. It’s a big red barn that overlooks much of the Big Hole Valley.
We climbed into its hayloft where Bruce showed us an old time hay basket.
“That’s how the hay in these barns,” he said.
Then he opened the loft doors to expose a grand vista.
“Here’s the famous Big Hole right here,” he said. “If you want to know why we love it.”
Barns have always been caregivers, protectors of livestock and ranchers. They’re always there when you need them.
“It’s what keeps the animals alive,” said Debbie Lapham. “It’s where they eat. It’s where they sleep. It’s where they get in out of the cold.”
The Big Hole is magnificent country. But it can also be harsh, and a challenge to those ranchers, past and present, who make their living here.
“I think you can feel that,” said Max Lapham. “After generations on these ranches somebody sacrificed an awful lot.”
“There’s little babies in the cemetery up here on the corner,” he said, “that were only just a few days old.”
Every corner of the Laphams’ hard-working barn holds a story.
“Max talks to his grandparents a lot,” said Debbie.
“Yeah,” said Max. “I think my granddad is riding with me. I always think that.”
“I have a feeling that he’s here,” he said. “And I’m taking care of something he took care of.”
“The barn takes care of us,” said Max. “It’s part of our life,” ranch life in the Big Hole Valley.
Carrie Gilbertson has been executive director of Cancer Support Community Montana for just under two months, stepping into the role in April with more than 15 years of nonprofit experience and a lifetime of Montana roots.
The organization provides psychosocial and mental health support to anyone affected by cancer — not just those with a diagnosis, but also family members and others walking alongside them.
WATCH: Meet the new leader of Cancer Support Community Montana 🎗️
Cancer Support Community Montana names new executive director
“This mission of providing psycho-social supports and mental health supports for anyone impacted by cancer, not just that person who has the diagnosis, but also family members, anyone who is walking alongside someone as they experience that often scary diagnosis, that’s just something that’s important to me,” Gilbertson said.
Gilbertson’s role extends beyond the Bozeman office. Cancer Support Community Montana’s Missoula location is already up and running, and a Helena location is expected to be operating soon. Each presents its own set of challenges.
“Each hospital is different. They might have different resources. Their social workers might be connecting to things in a different way. So understanding what those hospitals need, what different participants need in each community, is going to be different just because the communities are different, resources are different,” Gilbertson said.
The Bozeman office has been operating for more than 20 years, providing a foundation that supports the organization’s broader statewide efforts.
“I think this is a crew that looks at what does this community need what do our participants need what are some of the changing landscapes in cancer care what things are the gaps that we see that we can maybe just jump right in and you know let’s see if we can provide that for people so that’s something I really love about this crew that I work with and just this mission that there is some flexibility in being able to adjust and adapt as we learn more,” Gilbertson said.
Those adaptations show up in unexpected ways. The organization converts its parking lot into a pickleball court every Friday morning.
“I didn’t know there was a pickleball court. I pulled in actually with my daughter pulled in and she was is that pickleball court and I was like oh, it kind of looks like it is so yeah that’s fun, every Friday morning we clear out the parking lot and put up the net and I haven’t played yet I’ve been watching just to kind of see how that game works but they take it pretty seriously,” Gilbertson said.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at June 17, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from June 17 drawing
03-26-49-53-61, Powerball: 12, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto America numbers from June 17 drawing
11-16-18-33-51, Star Ball: 09, ASB: 05
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from June 17 drawing
01-16-17-27, Bonus: 01
Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Montana Cash numbers from June 17 drawing
13-22-35-36-39
Check Montana Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
- Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
- Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 9:15 p.m. MT daily.
Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Death in detention: deported migrant woman describes conditions inside ICE facility
Deported migrant woman recounts harsh ICE detention conditions after her husband died from medical complications inside Camp East Montana.
The Department of Homeland Security told the El Paso Times that two suspected overdoses at Camp East Montana over Memorial weekend were related to an overdose of psychiatric medication and a “self-harm” incident.
In both incidents on May 23 and May 24, the detainees were taken to the Rio Vista Behavioral Health center, a DHS spokesperson said.
The 35-year-old detainee who overdosed on psychiatric medication on May 23 was returned to the immigration detention center the same day and is in stable condition. The 34-year-old who overdosed on May 24 is currently being monitored by ICE medical staff after being returned.
“When there are signs of a detainee self-harming, staff abides by strict prevention and intervention protocol to ensure the detainee’s health and wellbeing is protected,” a DHS spokesperson said in a statement. “ICE requires annual suicide prevention training and provides mental health service to detainees.”
The DHS spokesperson said that ICE provides “comprehensive medical care from the moment an alien enters ICE custody. This includes medical, dental, and mental health services as available, and access to medical appointments and 24-hour emergency care.”
The El Paso ICE detention center is the largest in the country, with a capacity to hold 5,000 people. Allegations of human rights abuses have plagued the site since it opened in August 2025.
At least three suspected overdoses have occurred at Camp East Montana, according to 911 emergency calls analyzed by the El Paso Times. The first suspected overdose was reported on Feb. 28, involving a 60-year-old male detainee.
Rising deaths, suicides in ICE detention
At least 50 migrants have died in ICE custody since President Donald Trump returned to office, with 18 deaths occurring in 2026. At least 10 of these deaths were suicides, an investigation by the Associated Press found, including Victor Manuel Diaz, a 36-year-old Nicaraguan migrant who died at Camp East Montana on Jan. 17.
U.S. representatives, including Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, Angie Craig, DFL (Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party)-Prior Lake, and other political leaders, have raised concerns about the conditions at the detention center following more than a dozen oversight visits. Congressional representatives have repeatedly raised concerns over detainees’ access to medical and mental health services.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, the ACLU, Texas Civil Rights Project, Human Rights Watch and the law firm Farella Braun + Martel LLP sued ICE on behalf of four detainees held at Camp East Montana over “horrific” human rights abuses in May 2026.
Jeff Abbott covers the border for the El Paso Times and can be reached at:jdabbott@usatodayco.com; @palabrasdeabajo on Twitter or @palabrasdeabajo.bsky.social on Bluesky.
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