Scott Gragg to be school administrator

[grizatwork]

He is not being hired as a principal unless he has the credentials to be the principal. He worked in the school system in Oregon before he came back to the griz. This is a huge get for Fort Benton. As a native of Fort Benton, I find it sad to see what has become of Fort Benton and for that matter all the agricultural communities. Family farms don't support multiple generations anymore and they are either being swallowed up by corporate farms or put into CRP. Scott will fit in very well in that town. In fact I think he will definitely be an asset. They are not very far from being a county school again. They co-opted with Geraldine for Basketball and Geraldine co-ops with Highwood for Football. Fort Benton couldn't field a varsity football team last year. Chouteau County High School might be making a comeback.

What do you consider a "corporate farm"? It is not uncommon for an average sized or even a small farmer to have a farm corporation established (e.g. Smith Grain Farms, Inc.) My job keeps me heavily involved in agriculture in NC Montana, and there certainly isn't a problem of large "corporate farms" sweeping in an taking over the small family farmer. Oftentimes, the small family farms leases the ground to the bigger, local operators because Junior doesn't want to come back and farm and the large operators have the bigger, newer equipment to actually make money farming the ground.
However, there is a growing problem of out of state trusts and LLCs coming in, buying ground, and then having local guys farm the acreage. I look at it as a new form of sharecropping that keeps the operator under the thumb of those out of state interests.
Also, a very significant amount of acreage has actually been taken out of CRP in the last 4 years and put back into production.

I should have been more specific. Every farm is a corporation now. I was speaking more in terms of the larger established family farms that have the means to buy out their smaller neighbors and add their land to theirs and not need to add the manpower to work it. Technology has allowed them to do more with less. Growing up there I remember there being 2 and sometimes 3 generations working on the farm, plus a hired man and his family. There was also all the local ag based manufacturing businesses as well. Many of these farms are run by one generation now. Their kids are shareholders in the corporation, but live in Seattle and work for someone else. Plus families are smaller now as well. We had 4 kids that went through the school and we are probably average. That is a big family now. Not to mention that the Hutterite population is increasing and they are buying up land, but not sending their kids to public school. There is a change in the economics and I don't see it changing.

But to get back to the point. I am happy for Scott. I had a couple of classes with him in College and he will do well in Fort Bention. It is a conservative devout community and it will fit him and his family well.

 

[biga75]

I'd say we're on the same page Grizatwork :thumb:

You make a good point about the hoots. It's terrifying how much ground they're swallowing up. Once it gets in their hands, it will never be farmed by a non-black coat ever again. Not only are they not sending kids to public schools, they're all on the Medicaid roles sucking up taxpayer funds even though the colony can go out and buy a new combine with cash. True communism at work.

 

[griz98]

Actually 75 that is a common misconception. I work in healthcare and I know for a fact that the colonies in the Great Falls area have private insurance.

 

[biga75]

Actually 75 that is a common misconception. I work in healthcare and I know for a fact that the colonies in the Great Falls area have private insurance.

It must be different from colony to colony as my wife who works in health care on the hi-line has told me Medicaid stories about them.

 

[tnt]

There are two different sects of Hutterites in the area that won't even acknowledge each other. About the only way to tell them apart is the aprons the women wear and occasionally their shoes. There is a difference in how they pay for health care between them. Also whether or not they use public schools or colony schools.

 

[Buttegrizzle]

Does anyone know if Scott's son plays football? My son played against him in basketball and the kid (Brian) is a very very big boy. But very good natured thankfully.

 

[Buttegrizzle]

Oh. And congrats to Scott. I am glad he found a good job. Expect 2 things. Few smart ass kids will want to mess with the Principal, and Ft Benton might get a little help on their O line.