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(upbeat music)

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- My backyard is a test for 
patience and persistence,

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and it's incredible.

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(upbeat music continues)

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- [Announcer] Jackie Nelson's 
backyard is a bit different

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from the yard that you 
and I might be used to.

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It includes a spring creek 
that's ideal for fly fishing.

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(upbeat music)

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(water splashing)

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But this backyard isn't just 
a place for family members

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to catch some trout and 
enjoy their Montana scenery.

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(cattle whining)

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For Jackie, her husband, Tucker,

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and his parents, Roger and Mary,

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it's also a working cattle ranch

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that's been in the Nelson 
family since the 1860s.

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- We run about 500 mother cows.

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500 cows sounds 
like quite a bit.

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Nowadays, it's not that 
big of an operation.

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And so, you need something 
on the side really

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for the ups and downs 
in the ag industry.

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- [Announcer] The 
Nelsons decided

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that agritourism could 
help address those

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ups and downs of agriculture.

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So, opening up their 
creek, they built a lodge,

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and began welcoming 
fly fishing enthusiasts

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from all around the globe.

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- I'm from Yarmouth, Maine.

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And I come out west 
about once a year

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to just enjoy the 
wonderful scenery

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and most especially to see 
if we can catch some fish

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on some of the gorgeous 
water that's out here.

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(upbeat music) 
(fishing line reeling)

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- The reason people like 
these creeks so much is

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the challenge, I would say,

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the challenge and the 
quality of fishing.

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- [Announcer] In addition 
to the naturally occurring

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fish populations in 
the ranch's waterways,

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the Nelsons also have a 
commercial fish operation,

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raising trout and providing fish

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to other locations in the West.

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- Some of them go 
to a group of guys

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that are processing them,

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going to Yellowstone Park 
and to restaurants locally.

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And we stock ponds around 
Montana that are licensed

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through fish and game 
for just private ponds.

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- [Announcer] The 
Nelsons have also

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done a good deal of 
conservation work,

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fencing off cattle to 
protect water quality,

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restoring creek beds,

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and stabilizing banks 
to control erosion.

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Add that to running a 
ranch and everyone is busy.

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- [Roger] It really 
is a family business.

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I mean, it's a lot of hard 
work, a lot of time spent,

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and we have a lot of 
different hats we wear.

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- Sure.

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When were you 
thinking of coming?

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- [Roger] My wife pretty much

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takes care of the fishing lodge

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and my son and daughter-in-law 
guide the fishermen.

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- [Announcer] Not only has 
the creek given the Nelsons

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an additional revenue stream,

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it's also given 
them an opportunity

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to share their 
ranching lifestyle

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with those who may not know 
much about agriculture.

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- Most times you 
go just to fish,

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but here you come 
and you see a family,

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you see a family doing farming,

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and it's a wonderful combination

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of agriculture in 
a natural world.

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- [Tucker] After you're 
done working cattle,

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at the end of the day, you 
don't wanna see another cow.

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But after you're done 
guiding for a whole day,

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you do want to go 
fish some more.

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- [Roger] It's a 
beautiful spot to live.

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You just feel good about it,

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and you feel like

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you're contributing 
something to the better,

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and it just feels good.