Romain country. Upper photo is a nice crop of barley... the only crop and field that had decent yield due to lack of rain and a couple hail storms. Bottom photo is the grain leg used to store and move grain.

My cousin Brian's place is called 97 Homesteads as that is the number of homesteads originally in this area. It was incorporated in 1973.

Here are some more facts about the Homesteading Act:
• About 18 percent of homesteaders in Montana were women.
• Railroads played a major role in getting people to come to Montana to homestead, with promotions like Great Northern Railroad's: "Montana, Free Homestead Land." The cost of a one-way train trip from Minneapolis to Billings was $12.50.
By 1910, agriculture production had surpassed mining as the state's biggest industry.
• World War I increased demand for high-protein wheat and growing conditions were good with wheat selling for $2 a bushel.
. In 1918, 14,178 homestead claims were filed on 3.2 million acres, the peak in Montana.
• When it was over, an estimated 300,000 people had filed for homesteads in Montana with 151,000 successful homestead patents.
. In 1918, 14,178 homestead claims were filed on 3.2 million acres, the peak in Montana.
• The Homestead Act excluded Native Americans because they were not officially granted the opportunity to become U.S. citizens until 1924.
Yet some Indian reservations were opened to homesteading due to homesteading pressure, reducing their size.
By the time the it was all over, the government had given away 270 million acres.