I’m Beth Blevins DVM, from Ronan and I’m a member of North West Counties Farm Bureau. I grew up in Cut Bank with my father, who was a jeweler, and mother, who was a high school English teacher. I went to veterinary school and met my husband, Craig Blevins, when his mare developed navicular syndrome. In 1997, we bought our own ranch and became involved in Farm Bureau at Bill Meadows’ invitation.

North West Counties Farm Bureau members Kris Fleming, Jody Wills and I prepared freezer meals for the Ronald McDonald House in Missoula on October 27. Jody Wills also represented Blackfoot Valley CattleWomen, who supplied the ground beef for the event. 

This is the fifth year we’ve prepared meals at Ronald McDonald House. North West Counties Farm Bureau has donated to the house for many years including beef, financial support and a small chest freezer. 

This event is important because we are showing our care for the community. Through interacting with residents and volunteers we have an opportunity to explain that we are ranchers and we care for our neighbors. We share what we do and why we care. We bring agriculture educational materials like Ag Mags for activities for the other children in the family who are staying at the House.

We enjoyed visiting with each other and with the residents and volunteers at RMH. The people there are extremely grateful for the food. Ronald McDonald House provides housing for people having medical issues with their children, from high risk pregnancies to grown children. Because Community Hospital has an advanced NICU unit and two doctors for high risk pregnancies, many of the people that stay there have those issues. They, and their families, need comfort and care. Providing these meals is one way we can do that and help make their stay easier. 

This is a great event to put together in other parts of the state.  There is a Ronald McDonald House in Billings, Montana that would appreciate the help. Perhaps there’s even a charity more local to you who would appreciate meal and food donations!