Tomorrow will be three weeks that I have been in Montana. And honestly, it feels like I’ve been here for months. Not in a “I wish it was already time to go home” way, although I do miss Clemson so much. It’s more in a “it’s only been three weeks and look how much we’ve already accomplished” sort of feeling.
The first week, we travelled across the United States and saw so many parks, monuments, and wild animals together. The second week, we met the Frost’s and the Segar’s, initiated our project locations, and began working. Last week we also spent three days in the Charles M Russell Wildlife Refuge mapping burrowing owls. This week, Neill Cameron, the vice president of development for Clemson University visited the farm and we had the honor of taking his family horseback riding around the ranch. Needless to say, we have done SO much in a tiny bit of time.
Last night, Neill and his family arrived at the ranch house and proceeded to treat us to a great dinner in Roundup. It sure was nice to see a new group of people-the three of us interns do run out of things to talk about sometimes. The two grandsons are thinking about college-one will be attending Clemson in the fall! Mr. Cameron is also very involved in the management of donor money that flows into and out of the university, so he gave us updates on the campus construction, international relations between Clemson and other universities, and other important tidbits that we have been missing out on for the last three weeks. He seemed very proud of us and was excited to see what work we will accomplish before seeing him again in July. He left us with some very insightful advice: “It is acceptable to not know how to do something, but it is never acceptable to not work hard.” I think this is especially important to us because we are part of a project that the university is responsible for, as well as the Segar’s and the Frost’s. This opportunity was decided upon after careful consideration of each of us, and it is our responsibility to represent the school, the farm owners, our professors, and ourselves in a positive and effective way.
We have a new roommate, Elizabeth. She is a veterinary science major who drove out here to shadow extension agents in Yellowstone and work with large animal vets out in the West. So far she has had the ability to trap pocket gophers and sit in on soil regulation meetings. Just being around these people while they work teaches you so much.
In the upcoming weeks, I hope that we can continue to gain ground on our projects as well as get some experience at the CMR refuge, with the Frosts’ cattle operation, and more. Until then, we will continue to do our plant projects, work on things around the ranch, and ride horses!
marilynmeetsthewest 