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Montana Dads the 3rd Least-Loved in the United States

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Montana Dads the 3rd Least-Loved in the United States


According to the latest internet search data, nobody cares about Dad in Montana. I admit I’m somewhat skeptical about this info, but the internet never lies, right?

The folks at RushOrderTees.com looked at Google searches using the keywords and phrases: “fathers day”, “when is fathers day”, “fathers day gifts”, “fathers day gift ideas”, “fathers day ideas”, and “happy fathers day messages.”

A twelve-month average search volume for each phrase was then totaled and calculated to give the searches per 100k residents. Montana ranked 48th in the US. Only Vermonters and South Dakotans care less.

Credit: RushOrderTees.com

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Credit: RushOrderTees.com

Who loves Dad?

The top 10 states searching online for Father’s Day-related gifts and ideas are ranked below. Residents in these states must care about dear old dad a lot.

Location

Searches per 100k

U.S Rank

Nevada

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747.92

1

Georgia

746.65

2

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Texas

735.23

3

California

711.38

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4

Colorado

706.69

5

Arizona

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691.75

6

Florida

689.01

7

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Virginia

674.12

8

Maryland

670.37

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9

Washington

667.73

10

Photo by Daiga Ellaby on Unsplash

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Photo by Daiga Ellaby on Unsplash

Meanwhile, at the bottom of the list.

We’re not sure what’s up with the states that aren’t Googling dad stuff, but Father’s Day appears to be an afterthought in states with the coldest climates. Interestingly, several states that don’t care about Father’s Day also have the highest percentages of single parents.

Here are the top 10 states NOT searching for dad stuff for Father’s Day

Location

Searches per 100k

U.S Rank

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South Dakota

434.21

50

Vermont

440.76

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49

Montana

445.37

48

Wyoming

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452.69

47

Alaska

455.63

46

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Idaho

458.93

45

Iowa

460.85

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44

Wisconsin

478.32

43

Minnesota

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486.46

42

New Hampshire

487.10

41

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Maine

489.60

40

What are you planning for dad?

Every dad is different, of course, but my spouse and kids always do an amazing job of making the day special. My perfect Montana Father’s Day usually includes the three B’s… Beef, Beer, and Bourbon. Sometimes there is a 4th B that I won’t mention on this family-friendly website. Father’s Day is Sunday, June 16 this year.

12 Perfect Movies to Watch on Father’s Day

Gallery Credit: Bobby G.

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40 Father-Daughter Dance Songs Country Fans Will Love

The greatest father-daughter dance song in country music history isn’t all that old. A legend sings a ballad he wrote for the occasion — that’s what separates good from great on our list of daddy wedding tributes.

Of course, every bride’s relationship with her father is unique, so we’ve worked hard to find a variety of stories. Stepfathers get some love, and there’s more than one lyric that’s less goodbye and more good advice. Click on a couple links you’ve never tried before, then choose your favorite father-daughter dance song in country music.





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Montana Lottery Mega Millions, Big Sky Bonus results for March 27, 2026

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The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 27, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from March 27 drawing

13-27-28-41-62, Mega Ball: 16

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from March 27 drawing

04-05-15-16, Bonus: 14

Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 27 drawing

06-09-28-33-46, Bonus: 04

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

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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.



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REAL Montana participants gain global perspective on agriculture during Morocco trip

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REAL Montana participants gain global perspective on agriculture during Morocco trip


GREAT FALLS — REAL Montana, short for Resource Education & Agriculture Leadership, is a two-year leadership development program through Montana State University Extension designed to strengthen the future of the state’s natural resource industries. The program combines in-state seminars, national travel, and an international study tour to expose participants to a wide range of perspectives.

Madison Collier reports – watch the video here:

Montana Ag Network: REAL group highlights international industry

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The mission is simple: build a network of informed leaders who can help advance Montana agriculture and natural resource industries in a rapidly changing world.

A global classroom

This year, participants traveled across Morocco, visiting farms, research centers, and food production facilities to better understand how agriculture operates on a global scale.

According to REAL Montana Co-Director Tara Becken, the trip is about more than just travel, it’s about perspective.

“We were able to see how Montana commodities fit into the global picture,” said Becken, who also attended the trip. “Wheat from Montana’s Golden Triangle ends up on a plate on the other side of the world.”

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Participants explored everything from citrus production to international trade, gaining firsthand insight into how food systems connect across continents.

Similar challenges, different landscapes

While Morocco’s environment and crops differ from those in Montana, participants said the challenges facing producers still felt familiar.

“Even though we’re worlds away, our challenges are very, very similar,” Becken said, pointing to issues like drought, labor shortages, and market pressures.

For Alice Miller, a participant in the program, those similarities stood out immediately.

“They’ve been dealing with drought. They’re working through input costs and labor… those are the same conversations we’re having here,” Miller said.

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From farm to global table

One of the most impactful moments for participants came from seeing food production up close and realizing how connected it is to back home.

“Eating oranges right off the trees and then thinking about how that food ends up on our grocery store shelves… it just hits different when you’re there,” Miller said.

The experience reinforced a broader takeaway: Montana agriculture plays a role far beyond state lines.

“Montana really is feeding the world. That’s not just a phrase, that’s a reality,” Miller said.

Building the next generation of leaders

The international trip is just one part of the REAL Montana program, which includes eight in-state seminars and a national policy-focused trip to Washington, D.C.

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Participants are selected from across Montana’s natural resource industries, including agriculture, energy, and forestry, with the goal of building a diverse network of future leaders.

Program leaders say those experiences are critical as the industry faces ongoing challenges, from global trade to shifting consumer demands.

“Unless we can understand the world around us, it’s really hard to tackle our own problems,” Becken said.

As the current class prepares to graduate, the focus now shifts to applying those lessons back home.

“We hope they go out and make a difference for the state of Montana and their communities,” Becken said.

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Looking ahead

Applications for the next REAL Montana class are open through March 31. The program targets individuals working in Montana’s natural resource industries who are interested in growing as leaders and making an impact in their communities.

For Miller, the experience is one she encourages others to pursue.

“It’s an investment you won’t regret making, in yourself and in your industry,” she said.

The Montana Farmers Union is now offering a scholarship to help offset the cost of participation for eligible members accepted into the program. The support is designed to make leadership development more accessible to those working in agriculture and natural resource industries.

More information on scholarship opportunities and the application process can be found on the REAL Montana website.

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Montana’s measures to tackle housing crunch offer hope for Michigan

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Montana’s measures to tackle housing crunch offer hope for Michigan


News Story


State House considers reforms that allowed greater variety of construction in Big Sky State

Michigan could follow Montana’s lead after state House members introduced a bipartisan package of bills aimed at making housing less costly.

“The bipartisan Housing Readiness Package modernizes our development processes to reduce unnecessary costs and delays, making housing more affordable and available across the state,” according to a press release from the House Republican caucus. “This is about ensuring Michigan is prepared for growth and that more residents have access to safe, stable homes.”

The package draws on ideas Montana successfully enacted in 2023 and 2025 to ease the state’s housing shortage. It includes Michigan House bills 5529, 5530, 5531, 5532, 5581, 5582, 5583, 5584 and 5585. The package is intended to restrain cities and counties from restricting accessory dwelling units, duplexes, and other non-single-family units; to limit protests and impact studies on developments; and to reduce local red tape.

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Housing costs in Michigan have almost doubled in recent years, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Michigan has exceeded the pace of housing inflation found in other states.

The average price of homes in the state was about 75% of the national average in 2012, but it is roughly 82% of the average today, according to Jarrett Skorup, vice president of marketing and communications at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.

Inflation, interest rates, and rising construction costs have increased housing prices, Skorup told Michigan Capitol Confidential, but local government red tape is still making things worse.

“A lot of this is because of dumb, unnecessary, big-government policies at the local level,” Skorup told CapCon in an email. “This bill package protects the private property rights of citizens in a way similar to what Montana and many other states have done. It is good policy that will help people afford to live where they want.”

Montana made changes to legalize duplexes, allow accessory dwelling units, open commercial zones to housing, and permit taller buildings that can accommodate more housing units.

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The laws faced a legal challenge, but the Montana Supreme Court unanimously upheld the bipartisan legislation.

“There are a lot of similarities between what is being proposed in Michigan and what we accomplished in Montana,” Forrest Mandeville, a Republican state senator from Stillwater County, told Michigan Capitol Confidential in an email.

Montana enacted laws that call for freedom to build duplexes and accessory dwelling units by right (with no need for extra approvals) in many cities. The Big Sky State also streamlined review processes and simplified public participation.

“These reforms were necessitated by a housing market that was seeing prices skyrocket and existing zoning that created a lot of single-family-only development in large areas,” Mandeville said.

A broad coalition supported the changes: builders, real estate agents, free-market advocates and some local government groups, Mandeville told CapCon. Housing prices and rents have stabilized since the legislation was enacted.

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“We tried to get government out of the way to encourage building without red tape,” Sen. Jeremy Trebas, a Cascade County Republican, told CapCon in an email about the housing situation in Bozeman. With a population of 60,000 and slow growth, the city faced a housing crunch, with a large inventory of aging and obsolete buildings. Expensive housing and taxes, Trebas said, were driving people to move to Washington, California and other states.

“If we could change land-use policy, encourage development of higher density like duplexes as infill, allow for housing in commercial zones (as it was a 100 years ago), reduce minimum lot sizes, and allow by-right accessory dwelling units and such, we could let the market work to produce density and supply without spending government dollars to incentivize it,” Trebas said.

Opponents of Montana’s reforms expressed concerns about more people moving in from out-of-state, said Trebas. He countered that Montana natives were hurt by high costs that price upcoming generations out of the housing market.





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