New food and ag director starts at Bear Paw Development

Havre Daily News staff

Bear Paw Development Corp. has a new director for its Food and Agricultural Development Center.

Bear Paw announced it has hired Michael Peter, a native of Circle, as director of the center. 

Peter is a 2018 graduate of Montana State University-Northern with a bachelor's degree in agricultural operations and an associate degree in business, a release from Bear Paw said. He previously worked at the Northern Agricultural Research Station in Hill County, as the Farm Manager at Schutter Seed Farm in Manhattan and served as the president of Northern's Collegiate Stockgrowers.

"I have worked in agriculture my entire life, so serving in this capacity at Bear Paw Development is a logical extension for me and a great way to start my career following graduation from MSU-Northern," Peter said in a press release.  "I look forward to working with farm and ranch families in northern Montana, as well as other entrepreneurs, who want to take our commodities to the next level and help assure the ongoing profitability of their operations and to underscore the high quality of Montana's agricultural products."

He has gone straight to work - in a release Peter announced his office would help local agricultural producers impacted by tariffs with information about or help applying for U.S. Department of Agriculture assistance to offset those impacts.

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"Bear Paw Development is fortunate to have Michael on board as the Director of our Food and Ag Development Center," Bear Paw Executive Director Paul Tuss said in the release. "He comes from an agricultural background, completed his agricultural degree from MSU-N, and is passionate about assisting Montana's number one industry to become even more successful 

"Adding additional value to the high-quality commodities we raise and grow in our state will make farmers and ranchers more profitable and our rural communities more vibrant and economically viable," added Tuss, who is challenging incumbent state Sen. Russ Tempel, R-Chester, in the race for state Senate District 14,

Montana's Food and Agriculture Development Center Network comprises four centers located in Havre, Ronan, Joliet and Great Falls.  The regional FADC directors assist in finding the necessary resources for producers and other agricultural entrepreneurs interested in adding value to their commodities, starting a new business or expanding an existing product line. Specifically, the FADC directors help to secure funding from the Montana Department of Agriculture's Growth Through Agriculture Program and USDA Rural Development's Value Added Producer Grant Program, among others.  Peter will also be working with the Montana Cooperative Development Center to help individuals interested in using the cooperative business model as a way to start a business.

To contact Bear Paw Development's Food and Agriculture Development Center, call 265-9226 or e-mail [email protected]/.