Montana
Montana Premium Processing receives grant to accelerate smokehouse construction
HAVRE — Montana Premium Processing Co-Op in Havre is rapidly expanding. Founded in 2023, the co-op allows ranchers to process their livestock for retail without suffering a profit cut found with middlemen packing plants.
WATCH:
Montana Premium Processing receives grant to accelerate smokehouse construction
“MTTP was set up to where you join as a member. And that, membership gives you first rights to the hook space that’s available,” says Chief of Staff with the Montana farmer’s Union, Matt Rains. “Plus voting rights and the right to be on the board of directors. So, all the board of directors are members, and thus these individuals who drop off animals and have them harvested have a vested interest to make sure that MTPP runs smoothly.”
In 2024, its first full year, MTTP processed 398,918 pounds of protein, and is now on track for increased output thanks to a $50,000 Growth Through Agriculture Grant courtesy of the Montana Department of Agriculture.
The grant will be used toward accelerating the construction of an on-site smokehouse – think smoked sausages, salamis, hams and more.
The facility will be built at the rear of the building and measure 20×20 feet in space. It will also have its own cooler.
“We’ve had several hog producers and they’re desperate for it because there just aren’t very many smokehouse’s on the Hi-Line. There’s a few, but it’s very limited capacity,” says General Manager of MTPP, Bill Jones.
The co-op had originally planned to fund the smokehouse entirely themselves, which they expected would take up to three years.
This injection of $50,000 secured not only funding for the smokehouses’s construction, but also for the installation of its equipment.
“It’s going to shorten what we figured would be a two or three-year project down to literally probably under a year,” says Jones.
“It was definitely across the board, a guaranteed slam dunk win for the state,” adds Rains.
The added value of the smokehouse also includes the job sector, as MTPP anticipates a number of jobs will open as a result of the addition.
“We’ll add at least two, if not three employees immediately when we add the value added [smokehouse] room and then be able to add maybe another three beyond that,” says Jones.
He’s aiming to add between five and seven new staff.
Simultaneously, MTPP is constructing a new, larger cooler to drip their slaughter. The construction is funded by a USDA-backed loan from Bear Paw Development. The current drip cooler in use now, will become an aging cooler.
In total, the Growth Through Agriculture Grant program secured $915,360 for 25 agricultural businesses throughout Montana.
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at June 26, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from June 26 drawing
05-13-30-33-52, Mega Ball: 06
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from June 26 drawing
07-08-20-22, Bonus: 12
Check Big Sky Bonus 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.
Montana
EXCLUSIVE: 2 ‘Exceptionally Rare’ Ski-In, Ski-Out Montana Mansions Head to Auction in Big Sky—and Could Sell for a Serious Steal
A pair of stunning Montana ski homes are going under the hammer in the exclusive resort of Big Sky—where they could sell for well below their market value, having been offered up with no reserve.
Currently listed for a combined total of $13 million, the “exceptionally rare” dwellings are both located within the exclusive Spanish Peaks Mountain Club community—and come complete with full access to all of the incredible amenities that the private club has to offer, including “a Tom Weiskopf-designed 18-hole Championship Golf Course, a 10-hole Par 3 course, preferred access to Montage Big Sky, and a private clubhouse featuring dining, a bar, fitness center, pro shop, pool, and hot tub.”
Now, the properties will be sold off to the highest bidder when they are auctioned off with Trayor Lesnock, founder and president of Platinum Luxury Auctions, in cooperation with listing agents Greg Smith and Amelia Turbyfill of Engel & Völkers.
The larger of the two residences, which are both currently owned by Mark and Jennifer Kozubal, was placed on the market for $7.25 million in 2025, having been completed in 2023. It was more recently listed for the reduced price of $6.68 million.
Spanning more than 4,200 square feet, it features five bedrooms and five bathrooms, as well as a beautiful chef’s kitchen, ideal for hosting large groups. There are also “multiple living areas designed for entertaining and hosting family and friends,” according to the listing.
Combining classic Alpine style with “sleek, modern finishes,” the property offers both comfort and elegance, as well as incredible privacy, thanks to its plum location at the end of a quiet street.
Boasting incredible proximity to both the club’s golf courses and the Big Sky slopes, the property features an array of amenities designed to create a relaxing sanctuary where owners and their guests can retreat after a busy day of sporting activity.
“After a day on the ski slopes or a round of golf, relax in your private hot tub, cozy up by the fireplace, or cook a meal in the chef-inspired kitchen,” the description states.
The second property offers just under 3,000 square feet of living space, including four bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms—as well as “direct ski-in, ski-out access with groomed connectivity to Big Sky Resort terrain,” according to its listing.
Much like the other residence, the second dwelling—which was brought to the market in January with an asking price of $6.25 million—has been designed specifically for those with a passion for outdoor living, providing the ideal setting in which to unwind after a long day of skiing or golfing.
“The residence includes open-concept living spaces designed for gathering after skiing, hiking, or riding, complemented by warm mountain finishes throughout,” the listing notes.
For those seeking to enjoy year-round life on the mountain, the property has been outfitted with a number of unique features that ensure a comfortable, luxurious experience no matter the weather, including “whole-home humidification and water purification systems.”
Beyond the impressive infrastructure, other alluring amenities include a “full-home audio and visual system,” as well as a dedicated eight-locker ski boot room that opens directly onto the nearest ski trail.
“Outdoor amenities include beautiful landscaping and a stone fireplace seating area positioned along the ski trail, with expansive views to the surrounding mountains,” the listing description continues.
However, perhaps the most tempting aspect of both properties is the fact that they could be sold for well below market value—presenting a truly rare opportunity for buyers to secure property in an area where luxury home sales are booming and price tags are regularly set in the seven-figure range.
“Opportunities like these are exceptionally rare in Big Sky,” seller Mark Kozubal explains. “These two Spanish Peaks Highlands homes offer true ski-in/ski-out access to a lightly used lift that connects directly into Big Sky Resort, creating an almost private ski experience with little to no wait.
“Combined with the privacy, beauty, and prestige of Spanish Peaks, these properties stand apart as truly unique mountain residences.”
Both properties are conveniently located within one of the most exclusive enclaves in Big Sky, offering proximity to both the area’s stunning ski resorts and the Yellowstone Club, which has long been one of the most star-studded neighborhoods in the area.
Among those celebrities who are rumored to have purchased properties at the Yellowstone club are NFL star Tom Brady, musician Justin Timberlake and his actress wife Jessica Biel, and Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates.
“Spanish Peaks is one of the premier private residential clubs in the West,” the club’s website notes. “Here, you can experience world-class skiing and golf, fine food and drink, spectacular natural beauty and so much more. This is mountain living at its best.”
Auctioneer Lesnock emphasizes that the opportunity to secure homes in such a luxury-leaning market for what could be a truly bargain price is not something that happens very often.
“Single-family homes within Spanish Peaks have solidly maintained an entry point of at least $5 million, so the ability for buyers to ‘name their price’ in these without reserve auctions represents a substantial purchase opportunity compared to this status quo,” he explains.
“In addition to the high caliber of each property, the community’s world-class golf, ski and wellness amenities are integral parts of the overall formula that continues to attract affluent, second-home buyers to Spanish Peaks from around the world.”
As for why the owners have chosen to pursue an auction, rather than waiting for the homes to sell in a more traditional manner, Lesnock says this process will help them to secure a sale in a timely manner, without having to hang around for months on end in the hopes that a buyer will come forward.
“Under the luxury auction process, we’re giving buyers not only that economic purchase opportunity, but also the guarantee of a seamless, non-contingent sale, free of the haggling and aggravations that can plague traditional, luxury property transactions,” he shares.
“The sellers also benefit in accord, knowing they have a date-certain sale and a clear path to their ‘Next Step.’”
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