I just received an email from the Montana Department of Agriculture. Not that I’m any big special person in the farming and ranching communities in the state, but I am on a list for all the press releases issued by the various state departments. Turns out there’s something special coming up…

“An Agriculture Appreciation Day luncheon for legislators and a Montana products showcase are among the Montana activities scheduled in Helena to celebrate National Ag Week, March 15-21, 2009. ‘National Ag Day, March 20, is a time to recognize the importance of farming and ranching and to celebrate Montana’s No. 1 industry,’ says Ron de Yong, director of the Montana Department of Agriculture.”

Last year Montana’s agriculture industry was so important to the state that Governor Schweitzer was compelled to violate the state’s campaign laws in order to promote not only Ag Day and Ag Week but Montana Ag Month, by doing a radio PSA after filing for office.

Well, here it is a year later, the Gov’s not running for anything so it’s perfectly legal for him to do all the PSA’s he wants to do to promote whatever industry needs a little oomph from Montana’s main spokesman. So where is Big Bri? MIA?

Or maybe our agricultural industry is just so healthy and thriving that it only needs seven days of attention this year.

Yep. I’m sure that’s it.