Montana
Smokey…Goat? Montana farm's grazing herd helps property owners reduce fire risk
When you think of fire control, you might think of something like firetrucks and sirens, but have you ever considered something like a grazing goat?
Watch the story here:
Smokey…Goat? Montana farm’s grazing herd helps reduce fire risk
Kim Stolte is the owner of Montana Goat Farm, a family-owned business that uses its herd of goats in a sustainable way.
“Well, the goats need to eat, that’s the main thing,” said Kim.
But these are no regular goats; for the past five years, Kim has rented her herd to members of the community for grazing as a way to prevent wildfires.
“They’re pretty darn efficient, especially when you have that number of goats. And that’s the thing—if you only take out two or three goats, they’ll just kind of pick and choose and not clear. But when you bring through 80 goats or 100 goats, they’ll just be kind of like locusts. They’ll clear the whole area,” said Kim.
Montana Goat Farm has gained a lot of popularity for its service. In the past year, the farm has rented its goats to several farms in the Gallatin Valley.
“They were gone all summer, so 60 to 80 goats from June until September,” said Kim.
Kim has even seen the effect in her own backyard.
“You can compare our property with the property next door that hasn’t had goats on it, and you’ll see a big difference. Like ours is just wide open, no underbrush, no debris, and the other ones are still just overgrown, where the fire is just going to suck right through,” said Kim.
I got to speak to one of these firefighters myself: Bob Dylan the Goat!
MTN News
“Hey Bob, what do you think about fire risk mitigation in the Gallatin Valley?” I asked Bob.
Bob continued to munch his hay with lots of enthusiasm.
Kim wants to continue to share her friendly firefighters with anyone who needs it.
“Whether it’s farmland or in the trees, or around people’s houses, that would be amazing,” said Kim.
POLSON, Mont. — Two motorcyclists crashed on Highway 35 near Polson after failing to negotiate a left-hand curve, leaving one man dead and another hospitalized, according to the Montana Highway Patrol.
Two motorcycles were traveling southbound on Highway 35 when both drifted into a guardrail. Both drivers were separated from their motorcycles and ended up on the other side of the guardrail.
A 58-year-old Polson man was confirmed dead at the scene. The second driver, a 45-year-old man, also from Polson, was taken to the hospital with injuries.
Alcohol is a suspected factor in the crash, according to the Montana Highway Patrol.
The crash is under investigation.
KALISPELL — A Flathead County man is turning a personal rock bottom into a lifeline for his community by starting a free, late-night ride service to keep drunk drivers off the roads.
Adam Bruzza started Big Sky Sobriety Shuttle LLC, a free ride share service for people who have been drinking, after realizing he was struggling with addiction.
Maddie Keifer reports – watch the video here:
MT man starts free, late-night ride service to keep drunk drivers off the roads
“I just wanted to give people who do still drink the option for a safe, sober ride home,” Bruzza said.
Bruzza said a devastating mistake behind the wheel became a turning point where he decided enough was enough.
“I was charged with a DUI October 22 of 2024,” Bruzza said.
After a few months focused on his sobriety, Bruzza channeled his energy into his community by starting the shuttle service.
He operates the shuttle in his personal pickup truck. Riders can reach him by phone, text or social media at any time of day or night at no cost.
“I just wanted to give others the opportunity to not get a life changing charge,” Bruzza said.
Bruzza works with bars to connect riders with his service. Although the Big Sky Sobriety Shuttle is a new endeavor, he has already seen a big impact.
“The community response without a doubt has been unconditional love and support that makes my heart all warm and fuzzy,” Bruzza said.
Bruzza also shared a message for others who may be struggling with addiction.
“Your life is worth it, there are people that care out there and it is okay to ask for help,” Bruzza said.
To learn more, click here to visit the Facebook page.
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at April 19, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from April 19 drawing
05-13-15-17, Bonus: 01
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.
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