This Month

July, 2008 Arranged by date of first airing 11th & Grant with Eric Funk    Liza Hella & Ken Christensen   (No. 305 ) Liza Hella and Ken Christensen grace our studio with a stellar performance of duo piano classical music. Settle back in your chairs and prepare yourself for a wonderful evening of classical piano music presented on the heels of their recent triumphant Carnegie Hall debut. Airs Thursday 7/3 at 7pm, repeats Saturday 7/5 at 10pm     Backroads of Montana    Wheels and Wings   (No. 117 ) We're given a look at aviary art in Moccasin, an appreciation of Montana's first airmail service in Great Falls, a visit to a local history center and historic bridge near Sidney, a trip to Snake Butte near Ft. Belknap and a meeting with a wheelwright in Deer Lodge. Airs Saturday 7/5 at 5:30pm     Montana Journal    Where Are The Alternative Fuels?   (No. 1001 ) In 2005, the Montana Legislature passed incentives to encourage more biodiesel and ethanol production in the state. Has it made any difference to Montanans at the fuel pump? This program examines current production, future possibilities and whether these fuels really solve the problems that politicians say they will. Airs Saturday 7/5 at 5pm, repeats Sunday 7/6 at 10:30am     Montana Ag Live    Baa, Baa, Black Sheep   (No. 2903 ) For some of us, "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep" might be the limit of our knowledge about sheep. Have you ever wondered what's new in the sheep and lamb industry? Join us this week with MSU Extension Sheep Specialist, Rodney Kott for an update. Produced by Chris Seifert for KUSM-MontanaPBS, MSU-Bozeman, (406) 994-3437. Airs Sunday 7/6 at 11am     Remembering The Columbia Gardens         This program celebrates the now-vanished Columbia Gardens, in business from 1899-1973, in home movies, pictures, and first-hand accounts of people who remember the rollercoaster, the carousel, the biplanes and the cowboy swings. Airs Thursday 7/10 at 7pm     Backroads of Montana    Seeds and Weeds   (No. 118 ) This episode introduces us to an artist near Sidney whose medium is seeds, takes us to a weed roundup near Choteau, introduces us to the Loma woman who curates the House of 1000 Dolls, and examines what the folks at ZooMontana in Billings do to enrich the lives of the zoo's animals. William Marcus hosts from the Charles M. Bair Family Ranch and Museum near Martinsdale. Airs Saturday 7/12 at 5:30pm     Three Men, Three Rivers         This captivating, award-winning documentary by Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks explores the lives of three men and their influence on three rivers: George Grant (the Big Hole), Bud Lilly (the Madison) and Dan Bailey (the Yellowstone). Airs Saturday 7/12 at 5pm, repeats Sunday 7/13 at 10:30am     Montana Ag Live    Extending Montana   (No. 2904 ) Most of us have heard of the Extension service and County Agents, but just what do they do? Did you know that a huge variety of information and services for home, garden, farm and ranch are available, generally free or for a nominal charge? Don't miss this great opportunity to hear from Doug Steele, Vice Provost & Director of the Cooperative Extension Service about the future direction for Montana's Extension programs. Produced by Chris Seifert for KUSM-MontanaPBS, MSU-Bozeman, (406) 994-3437. Airs Sunday 7/13 at 11am     Seasons of the Otter         Otters are so proficient at capturing the fish they live on that they have lots of time left over for play. And they seem to play with reckless abandon, sliding down steep canyons in deep snow and swimming under the ice in Yellowstone Lake. They submerge us into the lake to find strange underwater spires only recently discovered by man. Other creatures sometimes survive bitter winter seasons by stealing fish from the otter. Actually, they're pretty good at defending themselves, and this program catches some astonishing action between them and coyotes, eagles, beaver, and even an occasional grizzly bear. Seasons of the Otter is produced by Bob Landis and Dale Johnson, and presented by KUSM/MontanaPBS, MSU Bozeman. Airs Sunday 7/13 at 6pm, repeats Monday 7/14 at 12pm     Montana Focus    Coming Home   (No. 503 ) The transition from a war zone in Iraq to back home in Montana isn't easy. Montana Focus looks at critical issues like post-traumatic stress disorder and other challenges facing war veterans in a rural state. Lee Newspapers' capitol correspondent Mike Dennison covers the 2008 political season. And, the Bridger high school band wins a top Grammy competition for music excellence. Produced by Gene Brodeur and Scott Sterling for KUSM-MontanaPBS, MSU-Bozeman, (406) 994-3437. Airs Thursday 7/17 at 7pm, repeats Saturday 7/19 at 5pm and Sunday 7/20 at 10:30am     2008 Governor's Awards for the Arts         The 2008 Governor's Awards for the Arts highlights the achievements of four distinguished honorees. Corwin "Corky" Clairmont is recognized for his achievement in the visual arts, Terry Conrad for media arts and service to the arts, Ed Lahey for his contributions in literature, and musician Allen Vizzutti as a Montana-raised artist working out of state. The Governor's Award for the Arts is a celebration of these outstanding individuals and their contributions. Airs Thursday 7/17 at 7:30pm, repeats Saturday 7/26 at 5pm and Sunday 7/27 at 10:30am     Backroads of Montana    Alder Gulch to Plentywood   (No. 119 ) Host William Marcus takes us along for a tour of the Christenot family mill near Alder Gulch and for a ride on the steam train between Virginia City and Nevada City. After a stop to tempt our sweet teeth at the Parrot Confectionary in Helena, we marvel at snow geese flocking in their thousands to Freezout Lake, near Choteau, and at the creations of Plentywood inventor Pat Tange. Finally, we tour the historic Northern Pacific railroad depot in Livingston. Airs Saturday 7/19 at 5:30pm     Montana Ag Live    Soil Fertility   (No. 2905 ) Clain Jones, MSU Soil Fertility Specialist, will be here to help us look at the rising costs of fertilizer and how it may impact Montana's agriculture. Can you afford to not fertilize? Produced by Chris Seifert for KUSM-MontanaPBS, MSU-Bozeman, (406) 994-3437. Airs Sunday 7/20 at 11am     Backroads of Montana    Augusta to Wisdom   (No. 120 ) We visit a Big Hole Valley family that's been haying together for generations, hear the sounds of fall as elk bugle near Moiese, meet a small-town guitarist who has criss-crossed Montana performing for more than 70 years, learn the history of a one-of-a-kind bridge near Augusta, and drop in on a woman who reports the news from Sweet Grass. Montana native William Marcus hosts the program from the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls. Airs Saturday 7/26 at 5:30pm     Montana Ag Live    The New Farm Bill   (No. 2906 ) Vince Smith, MSU Agricultural Economist, will discuss the new Farm Bill and its effects on Montana producers. Airs Sunday 7/27 at 11am     View Printable Monthly Highlights June|July|August