The Prairie Star: Montana Ag Newspaper

Mako Sakaguchi from Japan, Mei Mei Wang from Taiwan and Montana State Representative Gary Matthews stop by a sale at the Miles City Livestock Commission during a tour of Eastern Montana.

MILES CITY, Mont. - Two Pacific Rim trade representatives recently took a tour of eastern Montana communities.

Mako Sakaguchi and Mei Mei Wang, representing the State of Montana Japan trade office and the Asia Pacific trade office, respectively, took in a cattle sale, toured the research station, visited a southeastern Montana trade show, shopped at the Miles City Mont., saddlery and visited the Miles City Community College during a recent trip to the Treasure State.

Lonie Stimac, marketing officer for International Trade & Relations Bureau of the Montana Department of Commerce accompanied the trade representatives on the eastern Montana tour.

The women began their Treasure State trip with a visit to Bozeman, Mont., and Billings, Mont., then traveled to Miles City on Tuesday, April 4. One of their first stops was the Miles City Livestock Commission where the Tuesday sale was in full swing.

"A livestock sale like this is so different than in Asia," said Wang. "It really makes you appreciate that the livestock sale is part of the whole system of producing beef. I feel it's important to see this part of the import/export business."

During an educational session at Fort Keogh Range Research Station, the women learned about the research being conducted to improve beef cattle nutrition and genetics. In addition, they attended a small trade show of local goods and services, where they visited with Quality Meats of Montana, a local packinghouse that develops a variety of beef products.

Sakaguchi liked what she saw, but expressed disappointment that the Japan-U.S. beef trade had again been halted. "I really enjoyed seeing the sale, as that shows the beef industry up-close. I trust U.S. beef in Montana 100 percent," she said. "However, Australia has taken such a large part of the beef market that the U.S. previously held in Japan that I'm afraid the U.S. is going to have a hard time getting the market back."

Montana Farm Bureau Federation hosted a dinner in Miles City where state senators and representatives had the opportunity to visit with the Montana trade representatives, establishing a stronger relationship with the state. Legislators included Speaker of the House Gary Matthews, Senator Keith Bales, Senator Lane Larson, Senator Kelly Gebhardt, Representative Carol Lambert, and Representative Alan Olson.

Both Sakaguchi and Wang were no strangers to Montana Farm Bureau as Sakaguchi had been the guide for the MFBF beef trade mission to Japan last October, and recently, Wang served as guide during the Follow the Grain tour to Taiwan in March.

MFBF Women's Committee Chair and board member Lillian Ostendorf and her husband, Tom, a former MFBF director, attended the dinner, along with Custer/Fallon County Farm Bureau member Mollie Phipps and Powder River County Farm Bureau Secretary Dora Huckins.

"This provided a great opportunity for our state leaders to meet with these trade representatives, and for Mako and Mei Mei to really see eastern Montana," said Ostendorf. "I am glad they came to Eastern Montana. It seems like this end of the state is overlooked as being part of Montana. Everyone thinks Montana consists only of mountains and Glacier National Park."

Matthews, who helped arrange the Miles City tour, explained how he became involved. "Last fall when I was visiting Japan and Taiwan, we realized that these trade representatives needed to come to Eastern Montana for us to promote trade and tourism here," he explained.

Wang and Sakaguchi appreciated the eastern Montanan's friendliness. "We have never had better hospitality than we had on this trip," said Wang. "I realize this is a great place to send students to study. It seems that everyone from Taiwan is welcome here."

In addition to Miles City, the women stayed at the Kasten Ranch in Circle. Mont., to experience the calving season, as well as spent time in Glendive, Mont., Fort Peck, Mont., Malta, Mont., Fort Benton, Mont., Helena, Mont., and Great Falls, Mont. , for the 2006 Governor's Conference on Tourism and Recreation.

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