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Farm Bureau Annual Meeting Features 1970's Video of Townsend
Author: mt43news staff reporter

Farm Bureau Annual Meeting Features 1970's Video of Townsend

MT43 News Staff Reporter

If you remember Green’s Market, Ward Garage, and the Rex Theater, you would have enjoyed Broadwater County Farm Bureau’s showing of a black and white video titled “Dun Movin’” made by Frederick VanVoast of his parents, Shirley and Zeal VanVoast, longtime residents of Townsend. The video was unique in that Frederick did an oral history, then arranged it to videos of downtown Townsend, the VanVoast Homestead on Cottonwood Road, mixed with very old-time still shots of Townsend and Broadwater County. Among those stills were photos of Shirley and Zeal’s wedding in St. John’s Episcopal church on North Cedar Street. It also included photos of the Townsend Train Depot on Front Street, an open lot now a spot where semis park across from Good Ol’ Boys Cafe.

President Chuck Plymale opened the formal meeting by introducing the keynote speaker, Karli Johnson of the Montana State Farm Bureau representative for Government Affairs. She focused her discussion on the status of exempt wells as they effect farmers and ranchers.

The meeting included a potluck meal, open to the public, and concluded with reelection of officers: President Chuck Plymale, Vice President Virgil Henke, Secretary-Treasurer Carole Plymale, and Women’s Leadership Missy Cox. New member elected to the board is Shirley Wilson.