Wheat Montana Bakery and Deli

January 27, 2018

I-90 West.  A light snow cover on the ground.  Chilly temperatures, but not extreme.  The Trucker stopped for fuel in Missoula, Montana.

Then, just past the Jefferson Rivers, where Route 287 crosses I-90, a lunch stop.  It was Trucker's idea.  A new place to try for lunch.  The Wheat Montana Bakery in Three Forks, Montana.  A part of Wheat Montana Farms, whose main office was a bit farther east, along Route 2 between the Missouri and Jefferson Rivers.

A bit about Wheat Montana Farms, from their website:

The Folkvord family has been involved in agriculture for three generations. Through hard work, determination and good fortune, Wheat Montana Farms has become the model agriculture operation of the Northern Great Plains. Our operations encompass 15,000 acres of the most productive soil in Montana. Located near the headwaters of the Missouri River near the town of Three Forks and surrounded by the majestic Elkhorn Mountains. At 5,000 feet above sea level, it is also the highest elevation grain is grown in North America. The low rainfall, high elevation and cool nights on our farm result in some of the highest quality grains in the world.

Today Wheat Montana is still Family owned and operated. Our staff consists of over 180 dedicated employees with some of the highest credentials in the field. Our facility includes grain cleaning, processing, flour milling and a full scale bakery that services a five state area. Our grains, cereal, and flour are sold nationwide.

The land owned and farmed by Wheat Montana today has a long history.  It was traveled and described by Lewis and Clark.  Again from Wheat Montana's website:

...describing the discovery of the Three Forks of the Missouri River.....The perch where Lewis penned his description happens to be only a few hundred yards from where we now farm acres of the "beautiful plains" he describes. There is no doubt that he was looking over some of the land that we now call Wheat Montana Farms. The view, save some power lines and farm roads is still intact, and to us, still rather spectacular. We can today, stand in this very spot and wonder what Lewis might have been thinking.

We are often sent into wonderment, when we see the old homesteads like the one on our farm. While it's usually a nuisance to navigate our machinery around these old buildings, where pioneers once toiled, it always sets the mind in motion. One can only imagine the adversity faced by these people, determined to succeed on these open prairies of Montana.

Around our farm today, there remain about twenty locations where farmsteads once existed. We estimate, at one time though, that there were probably 65 homesteads on the land we now farm. A review of the land abstracts reveals much about the ownership of what is now Wheat Montana Farms. Originally, most of the land was deeded to the Northern Pacific Railway. Then, slowly it was parceled out to homesteaders, where erstwhile farmers made a go at tilling and farming the land. The land documents chronicle a lively history of ownership changes and even foreclosures. During the late 20's and early 30's much of the ground was taken back by the County as the owners defaulted on tax debt. One 640-acre section was offered for $33.00 on the Courthouse steps and no one showed up to bid. Then during the post war 40's the demand for land returned, and a fresh crop of farmers took over and prospered.

It's really quite remarkable that today one family, and one farming operation, covers the same ground. It's a stark testament to the realities of this business, and the changes in agriculture during the past 80 or so years. 

But back to lunch.  

The entrance was a grain bin.  

Inside, wheat was available for sale by the bag.

All manner of wheat and related products for sale.

A coffee/sandwich shop, deli, bakery was available.

 
The sandwiches were delicious.  Think Isaac's with fresh, homemade, whole wheat bread.

The Passenger could have browsed all day.  She did photograph a few choice recipes from the books on sale, before realizing that the cookbook was also available for free online.

The Trucker enjoyed his sandwich as well.  Though he was not as "filled" when the meal was over.  And the prices were a bit high, though maybe not so much, considering the quality of the ingredients.  

A bag of hard Montana winter wheat was purchased and tucked under the bunk for later use.

Then it was back on the road again, on to Chehalis, Washington, with that herd of chocolate bunnies!