"When I get married I'm going to use sage for my flowers."
Forty Mile Hutterite Colony in Montana sits about 80 miles south of Billings within the Crow Reservation. The former stagecoach stop gets its name for being a halfway point between Sheridan, Wyoming and Hardin, Montana, approximately 40 miles from each. The colony, part of the Dariusleut sect of Hutterites, is somewhat isolated within the foothills north of the Bighorn Mountains. The next closest colony, Mountain View, is roughly two hours away, north of Billings. The community of just over 30 members make the majority of their income from ranching. Their herd of around 1800 cattle are grazed throughout the foothills and Bighorn Mountains. Every spring, after calving, the new calves are rounded up from the hills to be vaccinated, castrated and branded. Montana requires that cattle sold have a brand signifying the ranch they belong to. The brand keeps cattle from different ranches from getting mixed up and prevents theft. The work requires more people than the colony has so men and women from other colonies come to help out. This year included Hutterites from colonies in Montana, Washington and Saskatchewan. The day starts at 4AM with the rounding up and saddling of horses before the sun comes up. The women do all the same work as the men, including riding, roping and wrestling calves, while also doing the cooking and cleaning.
Forty Mile Hutterite Colony in Montana sits about 80 miles south of Billings within the Crow Reservation. The former stagecoach stop gets its name for being a halfway point between Sheridan, Wyoming and Hardin, Montana, approximately 40 miles from each. The colony, part of the Dariusleut sect of Hutterites, is somewhat isolated within the foothills north of the Bighorn Mountains. The next closest colony, Mountain View, is roughly two hours away, north of Billings. The community of just over 30 members make the majority of their income from ranching. Their herd of around 1800 cattle are grazed throughout the foothills and Bighorn Mountains. Every spring, after calving, the new calves are rounded up from the hills to be vaccinated, castrated and branded. Montana requires that cattle sold have a brand signifying the ranch they belong to. The brand keeps cattle from different ranches from getting mixed up and prevents theft. The work requires more people than the colony has so men and women from other colonies come to help out. This year included Hutterites from colonies in Montana, Washington and Saskatchewan. The day starts at 4AM with the rounding up and saddling of horses before the sun comes up. The women do all the same work as the men, including riding, roping and wrestling calves, while also doing the cooking and cleaning.
