Reserve your spot at one of five exciting policy tours today, before room runs out.
Leave meeting rooms behind and explore NW issues first-hand during the Tuesday Afternoon policy tours on July 14 at the PNWER annual summit in Big Sky, Montana. The tours are complementary, but registration is required BEFORE you arrive in Big Sky.
Tour selections are first-come, first-served and space is limited. All attendees can join tours that will give in-depth looks into Montana agriculture, craft brewing and distilling, Bozeman's high-tech cluster, national park tourism in Yellowstone and recreation manufacturing.
If you have already registered for the summit but have not reserved a spot on a tour, use the link in your confirmation email to sign up for a tour or contact Jennifer Grosman at 206-443-7723 or jennifer@pnwer.org.
Meet up after the tours up at the Museum of the Rockies for a fun reception!
IMPORTANT: If you are not attending a Tuesday policy tour, you need to reserve a spot on the evening bus from Big Sky to the reception. Follow the link in your confirmation email to secure your seat.
Policy Tours: Tuesday, July 14, 2-5:30 p.m.
Developing Agriculture from Seed to Table:
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| | Learn about new developments in Montana agriculture during the Seed to Table tour. |
Agriculture is an economic mainstay in Montana that has perhaps the most widespread impact of all Montana industries. Understanding how to bring the best product to market begins in the field and the calving shed and ends at the dinner table. Explore MSU's "BART" Farm, dedicated to the service and support of research, teaching and extension activities relating to livestock, then visit the Wheat Montana farms, a model agriculture operation of the Northern Plains. Craft Brewing, Distilling and Malting:
Craft brewing has exploded in Montana and the state is second in the nation for breweries per capita. Craft distillers and cider houses are grabbing their share of the libation market and Montana's downtowns have found a new attraction for locals and tourists alike. The upstream end of the industry is also developing as craft malting is expanding here by the ton.
Bozeman's Hi-tech Industry Cluster and Bobcats Tour and MSU's Research and Commercialization Success: Bozeman's economy is thriving due to a surge in hi-tech industries such as IT, optics, photonics and more. Startups are choosing to locate in the Gallatin Valley due to a high quality of life offered there, as well as a tech talent pool provided by Montana State University and business environment with favorable tax policies and friendly people. The Gallatin Valley is rapidly earning the nickname "The Silicon Prairie."
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| Explore high-tech industries in Bozeman and
leading research at Montana State University |
See cutting-edge research at Montana State University, renowned for its science and engineering. From NASA rover applications to fuel-producing fungus, MSU not only produces top-notch talent, but commercialization and patent programs that have brought essential products and applications to the market. We will also stop at the Museum of the Rockies, home to one of the largest and most important dinosaur collections in the world.
Economics of National Park Tourism:
Most visitors to Montana come to see our two magnificent national parks; Yellowstone and Glacier. Travel on this tour to West Yellowstone to learn about the impact of national park tourism on Montana's economy from national park leaders, tourism advocates and local business owners.
Recreation Manufacturing - Building Upon What You Love:
Separating business from pleasure doesn't always prove to be good advice.
Many of the state's top entrepreneurs came to Montana because they loved the lifestyle and created businesses that supported their passions. Today, Montana is home to some of the top brands in recreational manufacturing. We will visit local businesses that manufacture a lifestyle.
Museum of the Rockies Reception:
6-9 p.m., Tuesday, July 14
Join Montana State University and your fellow PNWER delegates on Tuesday evening for food, drinks and wonder at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman. Known for its extensive collection of dinosaur fossils and permanent regional history exhibits, the Museum of the Rockies also thrills visitors with rotating exhibits from around the globe, the Martin Children's Discovery Center, the Living History Farm and the Taylor Planetarium, which features one of the world's most advanced digital projection systems.
Additional, elective tours are available Wednesday, July 15 from 2:30-5:30 p.m. Beehive Basin Hike: Resort Clusters and Expanded Economies:
Recreation in some of the most beautiful locations in the Pacific Northwest is treasured by all outdoorsmen. Many of these areas contain resort clusters with their own micro economies. Join Montana Director of Commerce Meg O'Leary on a moderate hike into the Beehive Basin just outside Big Sky to discuss how these clusters have developed and how future operations can benefit local communities.
Whitewater Rafting |
| | Rip down rapids on the Gallatin River. |
Experience whitewater rafting on one of Montana's most celebrated rivers; the Gallatin. Geyser Whitewater Expeditions will guide you down under the fantastic rock walls of the Gallatin Canyon, plunging through Screaming Left, around House Rock and down the Mad Mile. Rafters of all experience levels can't get enough of this incredible ride. Fun fact: This river is the site of the filming of "A River Runs Through It".
Availability limited.
Cost: $55.00
Open Space Fishing - Conservation:
Experience Montana's blue-ribbon trout fishing first hand. Learn about Montana's vibrant land trust community, how open space protection increases economic development and why the maintaining significant open space and agriculture land is so important to the region.
Availability limited
Cost: $75.00
Yellowstone Tour
Thursday, July 16
Journey through the heart of one of the world's largest volcanic calderas! Showcasing the largest concentration of hydro-thermal features in the world, Yellowstone National Park boasts over 10,000 individual attractions, including colorful hot springs, fumaroles, mud pots and over half of the world's geysers, including the most famous geyser of all - Old Faithful!
Cross the Continental Divide to see the largest alpine lake in the contiguous U.S. then spend some time in Hayden Valley, a favorite spot of wildlife watchers and a summer range for many of Yellowstone's bison. The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone will take your breath away as you complete the Lower Loop Tour with a sense of awe and amazement.
Time: We will leave Big Sky at 8:00 am on Thursday, travel two hours into the Park, tour the park for about 6 hours, and travel back to Big Sky Resort, arriving around 7:00pm.
Cost: $75.00. Registration fee includes transportation from Big Sky Resort to the Park, park passes, and boxed lunches.
Interested in exploring one of the largest coal operations in the world or see cutting edge industry first hand? Check out our exciting pre- and post-summit tours. | 
