‘Backroads of Montana’ Presents New Stories From Across Big Sky Country
MISSOULA – A new episode of the awarding-winning MontanaPBS series “Backroads of Montana” will premiere at 8 p.m. Monday, May 24.
“Family, friends and community are the themes of this program,” said host and Montana native William Marcus. “There’s something for every Montanan in this episode, which is titled ‘Eureka to Big Sandy.’”
Near the town of Big Sandy, “Backroads” heads to a ranch that still works on horseback. For five generations and counting, Tom and Rene Brown’s family has lived near the Bear Paw Mountains. During that time they have developed a special relationship with an unusual breed of horse.
Every Friday from Labor Day to Memorial Day, a group of Eureka women create and repair quilts to raise funds to maintain the Tobacco Valley Historical Village. Friendship and love of local history bring these ladies together one stitch at a time.
By 1913, the automobile was becoming very popular in Montana. As a result, old wagon roads needed to be widened and improved. Some of that construction was done by convicts from the Montana State Prison. Near Springdale, “Backroads” tours a few of those roads and sees evidence of their work – work so effective, it hasn’t been improved upon in over 100 years.
Montana’s hard-water fishing season brings dozens of families out to a frozen Smith Lake west of Kalispell for the Sunriser Lions’ family ice fishing derby. “Backroads” follows a Montana family from wake-up to weigh-in during the popular community event. From the biggest to smallest pike and perch, viewers will experience what gets the next generation of anglers hooked on the sport.
Marcus, the “Backroads of Montana” host, will take viewers on a tour of the historic Moss Mansion in Billings, which celebrates the influential entrepreneurial accomplishments of P.B. Moss and his family.
The program will have repeat airings at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 27, and 5 p.m. Saturday, May 29. Marcus, Gus Chambers, John Twiggs, Ray Ekness, Breanna McCabe and Anna Rau produce “Backroads of Montana” for MontanaPBS through the University of Montana Broadcast Media Center.
“Backroads” is made possible with support from the Greater Montana Foundation, a Big Sky Film Grant and UM. The program has received multiple awards, including being named the Montana Broadcasters Association noncommercial television program of the year numerous times.
MontanaPBS (KUFM-TV in Missoula, KUSM-TV in Bozeman, KUKL-TV in Kalispell, KBGS-TV in Billings, KUGF-TV in Great Falls and KUHM-TV in Helena) is a service of UM and Montana State University. For more information, visit http://www.montanapbs.org.
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Contact: William Marcus, “Backroads of Montana” host, william.marcus@umontana.edu.