Hempster Social Feb. 22 in Havre
HAVRE, MONT - Farmers, ranchers and anyone who wants to learn about the hemp industry are invited to the HAVRE HEMPSTER SOCIAL Feb. 22.
Hemp farmers in Montana (all 54 of them) form the backbone of hemp production for the Montana State Hemp Program. According to Ian Foley, Montana Department of Agriculture hemp manager, Montana planted 22,000 acres of hemp in 2018, more than any other state in 2018.
Hemp in Montana is often irrigated, except on organic farmer Bob Quinn’s farm near Big Sandy, Montana. “It turns out organic hemp can grow just fine in dryland conditions”, Quinn said to a group of tribal leaders recently when discussing hemp as a grain crop. Quinn’s former calving barn has now transformed into The Oil Barn business, which produces safflower oil for restaurants to purchase.
He then gets the used safflower oil back, cleans it, and reuses it a second time in his farm tractors. Trevor Wilkerson, manager of The Oil Barn in Big Sandy, a sponsor for the Hempster event, said, “Now we can produce another high quality oil, green Hemp Seed Oil, which is very different than our golden Safflower Oil. Hemp Seed Oil is packaged in colored bottles, and refrigerated to keep from spoiling, whereas Safflower Oil is packaged in clear bottles, and can be stored without refrigeration for years."
The Montana Hemp Program is managed by state and federal regulations. All hemp seed for the Montana program comes from USDA approved sources. Hemp products are tested to offer an element of consumer protection. Andre Umanski with Fidelity Diagnostics, the leading cannabis testing lab in Montana, said his company provides the required tests for hemp farmers to comply with state and federal regulations, including no pesticides, and no more than .3% THC.
John Porterfield of Hemp Holding Company, sponsor of the event, said, the social gathering will give organic and conventional hemp farmers, new hemp farmers, new young farmers, suppliers, tribal leaders, educators, community leaders, delegates, and sponsors a chance to mingle and share experiences.
Hempster Social events have been happening for a few years in the Rocky Mountains however this Feb 22 evening in Havre will be the first in Montana’s golden triangle – Great Falls and Shelby forming the other two points of the triangle.
Justin Loch from Montana Farmers Union will be on hand to lead discussions over the direction of the hemp industry in Montana.
Hemp farmers will be sharing their growing techniques, challenges and successes from the past two years.
No sign up is required in advance and there is no cost to attend. If your company wants to sponsor the event or get involved in the hemp industry contact Porterfield at 406.270.6797, e-mail johnp@hempholdingcompany.com or online at https://www.hempholdingcompany.com/contact
THE BASICS
EVENT HAVRE HEMPSTER SOCIAL
LOCATION TRIPLE DOG BREWERY – HAVRE, MT
DATE February 22, 2019
TIME 5:00 pm – 8:30 pm
COST No Entry Fee – purchase craft beer from Triple Dog Brewery staff
CONTACT John Porterfield
EMAIL johnp@hempholdingcompany.com
PHONE 406.270.6797
ONLINE https://www.hempholdingcompany.com/contact
Sponsored by: Montana Farmers Union, Hemp Holding Company, The Oil Barn, MontanaGrow, MontanaLiving.com, Fidelity Diagnostics, and Triple Dog Brewing Compan
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