HeyJaredMike Jopek: Flathead farmer
Flathead farmer. Former state legislator. Columnist for Flathead Beacon. Active in Montana. Local control
- Indexed issues, last 90 days
- 7
- Latest publication
- Sep 30, 2026
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- Earliest in this view
- Jul 8, 2026
Latest issues
Last Six Years (opens the original)
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The first freeze of the growing season finally arrived at the end of September. It feels early but it’s not. It just seems that way given how mild and frost-free this season was on the farm.The hungry ghosts of fall arrived and began to devour the crops as temperatures dipped into the teens. Our growing season is rapidly ending. Fall chores and planting await. It’s been a good year, plenty of challenges, likely more ahead.At least it feels safer at home. The world off the farm is sure chaotic. S
These Times (opens the original)
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The road veered right, went down the hill and turned sharply left. We took Whitefish Stage to Birch Grove, driving through the heart of the valley. Fields and barns were visible on the side of the road to the event.Driving up to the Fritz Corn Maze, we saw rigs everywhere. As we parked, a farmer stood by his pickup and was training his two cow puppies to wait in the back of his flatbed.The Montana Farmers Union always puts on a good spread, and we were ready for some good old-fashioned food, fel
Old-Fashioned Handshake (opens the original)
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I extended my hand to shake his. His grip was firm yet gentle. A good shake, I thought to myself. On his left hand he wore a 1990s silver Timex watch complete with a traditional expansion-style stretch band. The digital Timex was set on military time and displayed the right date.Behind his ear was a ballpoint pen. In his right pocket was a black notebook, which he’d pulled out several times during the evening when talking to locals to jot down some ideas someone mentioned.He wore faded, straight
Dog Days of Politics (opens the original)
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The hives stood tall. Workers added supers to the stack as bees produced more honey over a hot summer. Wildfire smoke seemed to have stalled activity, but fresh rains produced a stream of bees headed toward the farm and the puddles left by recent downpours.Honey works better than vinegar. Kindness and gentle persuasion remain more effective than bullying and hostility when trying to change a mind.Benjamin Franklin wrote in the Poor Richard’s Almanack that tart words make no friends; a spoonful o
State Power (opens the original)
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I sat down in seat 86 and leaned back. I took a deep breath. I was a local farmer. Grew a lot of garlic and raised poultry. Earlier, the community bought me a suit coat to look the part.Behind me sat my mentor from Kalispell. Flanking me on each side sat a Democrat, a woman from Browning and a man from Butte. The chair felt rock hard. It must’ve been from 1912 or when the Capitol was built or when Charles Russell painted the mural behind the Speaker. All the Republicans sat on the opposite side
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