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FLATHEADBEACON.COM BUSINESS MARCH 12, 2014 | 33

Todd Ulizio shows a carrot weeding tractor, which was built in 1968, at Two Bear Farm.
GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON

“HE’S GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO RUN OUR BUSINESS,

WHICH HASN’T CHANGED AT ALL, BUT HE PLUGGED US IN

WITH A FOUNDATION AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE.” Todd Ulizio
Montana Cabinet

& Canoe LLC
With some reservation, Todd wrote Whiteish.
Goguen, whose streak of philanthropy For the Ulizios, who have no inter-
125 Marken Lane, Bigfork, Montana • [email protected] has transformed the community, and est in distributing outside of the valley,
406-837-4185 • www.montanacabinetandcanoe.com
explained Ten Lakes Farm’s predica- and believe they’re providing a valuable
ment, assuming that he had, at best, a service to local communities by selling
shot in the dark at receiving a reply.
organic food, Goguen’s investment will

But Goguen faced a predicament of see healthy returns. The couple grows
his own as the 65-acre hobby farm ad- carrots for the Whiteish schools as part
jacent to his Two Bear Ranch along the of the Farm to School program, and of-
Stillwater River was listed for sale, and fers apprenticeships to promote organic 7th Annual Northwest Montana
he feared that development would mar farming among a younger set of farmers.
the wide-open landscape and idyllic set- “We want to get more healthy food ROCK &
ting.
in the community and encourage other
He invested in the Ulizios and Ten young farmers. There was no way we

Lakes Farm, the name of which they’ve could have done that at the other farm,”
changed to Two Bear Farm. Instead of Rebecca said.
GEM SHOW
living in a 500-square-foot straw-bale Roughly 95 percent of their business
cabin more than a mile away from Ten is in the north Flathead Valley, with 75
Lakes, they now live directly on the Two percent of that coming from the CSA
Bear property, which is closer to their program and 20 percent at the Whiteish
prime market, and are surrounded by 35 Farmers Market. They also distribute Spring Fling!

acres of agricultural farmland, a green- wholesale to the Belton Chalet in West
house and a cluster of high tunnels.
Glacier and Pescado Blanco in White-
When Goguen agreed to inance the ish.
Come See What Nature Has Made!
expansion, he told the Ulizios to build “The idea of moving farther away
according to a 10-year plan, trusting from our community didn’t appeal to
their judgment and their commitment us,” Todd said. “We want to have a re- Saturday, March 15th • 10am - 6pm
to being good stewards.
lationship with the communities we
“He made a philanthropic donation serve.”
Sunday, March 16th • 10am - 4pm

to the community,” Todd said. “He’s giv- The CSA program allows small farm- at the Flathead County Fairgrounds
ing us the opportunity to run our busi- ers to market their products directly to
ness, which hasn’t changed at all, but he customers without interference by the
plugged us in with a foundation and the usual middlemen — sales, marketing,
infrastructure.”
distribution — with the added beneit Vendors $1
“There is no way we could have done of the customer getting to “know their
this ourselves,” he added.
farmer.”
Live Demos
Admission
Furnishing the Ulizios with the new The CSA enrollment period began Silent Auction
and improved farm is just Goguen’s lat- Jan. 1 with an early-bird special that u
est contribution to the Flathead Valley.
continues through March 15 and ofers a Door Prizes See Yo
To date, Goguen has spent more than discounted price. Weekly distribution of Jewelry Artists
$10 million in personal funds on an ex- the food boxes begins around mid-May.
There!
pansive state trust land plan that has “Right now it’s 100 percent potential. Kid’s Corner
spawned the popular Whiteish Trail. But it’s going to be great,” Todd said.
Millions more of his dollars have poured Sign up for the CSA program at two-

into an assortment of local causes and bearfarm.com.
community investments, particularly in
[email protected]