Wednesday, May 28th ~ Rocking Z Ranch north of Helena
Friday, June 20th ~ Bob Quinn Farm southeast of Big Sandy
Thursday, June 26th ~ Leonard Stone's farm near Geraldine

The first tour is at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, May 28th at the Rocking Z Ranch north of Helena. This free tour will highlight:

• Zack Wirth's bio biodiesel processor, and oil and biofuel storage on the Ranch.
• A stationary engine that can burn straight vegetable oil (SVO), biodiesel or petrodiesel. This engine runs the Ranch's irrigation pump.
• Hosts Zack and Patty Wirth's story on how they developed this system and the problems and benefits they've seen.

Pre-registration is encouraged. Call Al Kurki at 406-449-0104 or e-mail alk@ncat.org by May 22nd to confirm your attendance.

Directions to the Rocking Z Ranch: The Rocking Z is 1.8 miles west from Interchange 216 (known as the Sieben Interchange) on I-15 24 miles north of Helena. The Ranch is across the stream and RR tracks. The County Road is paved to the Ranch, however if the road has turned to gravel, you've gone too far. [MAP]

The second tour is on Friday, June 20th starting 10:00 am at the Bob Quinn Farm southeast of Big Sandy.  The morning portion of the tour will focus on camelina production and crushing oilseed using a new German crusher. Following lunch, the tour will focus on dryland cropping systems (small grains, oilseeds and legumes), dryland vegetables and heritage turkeys.

The $15 registration fee covers the tour costs and a catered lunch. Pre-registration is required. For more information or to register for either of these tours, contact Jim Barngrover at 443-7272, (jbarngrover@aeromt.org). You can read more about the Quinn Farm tour at www.aeromt.org.

Directions to the Quinn Farm: To get to the Quinn farm, take Highway 236 south out of Big Sandy 12 miles, turn right onto Kamut Lane and go to the second house on the left. [MAP]

Friday, June 20th starting 10:00 am at the Bob Quinn Farm southeast of Big Sandy.  The morning portion of the tour will focus on camelina production and crushing oilseed using a new German crusher. Following lunch, the tour will focus on dryland cropping systems (small grains, oilseeds and legumes), dryland vegetables and heritage turkeys.

The $15 registration fee covers the tour costs and a catered lunch. Pre-registration is required. For more information or to register for either of these tours, contact Jim Barngrover at 443-7272, (jbarngrover@aeromt.org). You can read more about the Quinn Farm tour at www.aeromt.org.

Directions to the Quinn Farm: To get to the Quinn farm, take Highway 236 south out of Big Sandy 12 miles, turn right onto Kamut Lane and go to the second house on the left. [MAP]

Thursaday, June 26th at 10:30 am at Leonard Stone's farm near Geraldine. See Leonard's 4th year of growing camelina and wheat following camelina. We'll also have updates on oilseed crushers and biodiesel processors -- what brands to watch for.

Call Sandy Courtnage at Montana Farmers Union, 452-6406 for more information. Pre-registration is encouraged.

Directions to the Stone Farm: [MAP]

From Stanford
Travel to Geraldine
At Geraldine, turn Right (East) approximately 3/8 mile
Turn Left (North) onto Geraldine Road North -- travel 11 miles
Turn Right (East) onto Graceville Road North -- travel 1/2 mile to Stones -- house is on the Right

From Fort Benton
Travel on MT 80 toward Geraldine to Mile marker 17 (Grass Lake Road)
Turn Left (East) onto Grass Lake Road 6.5 - 7 miles to Geraldine Road North
Turn Left (North) onto Geraldine Road North -- 2 miles to Graceville Road North
Turn Right (East) onto Graceville Road North -- travel 1/2 miles to the Stone Farm

Co-sponsors of these tours include the National Center For Appropriate Technology (NCAT), the Alternative Energy Resources Organization (AERO), the Montana Department of Agriculture, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Montana Farmers Union.