Madison Malsam graduated from Chinook High School eight years ago, and since that time she has been one busy gal. She tried college for a year in 2013-2014, sampling both MSU-Bozeman and UM-Missoula for a semester a piece.

Although she was pursuing a degree in areas of interest: either Pre-Veterinary Science or Ag Business, the academic life wasn't a good fit, so she returned to the family ranch to continue learning while at the same time trying to make a living.

Independent business ownership is something that flows in the veins of this multi-talented young woman. "I grew up in a family of business-minded people. My dad, my mom, and my grandparents all own successful businesses. I wanted to take my acquired knowledge from both my school and my life experiences and put that information together to form my own business model," Malsam said.

Her life in ranching has helped her to learn about, understand, respect, and love all animals, so it is no surprise that she operates a business with animals as an extension of her ranch work: Hi-Line Border Collies. The business is based on the family ranch east of Chinook. According to Malsam, the dogs are not only an essential part of helping and working around the ranch, they are also family.

"I have been lucky enough to have a variety of breeds of dogs, but I continue to be amazed by the work ethic, physical ability, loyalty, and pure intelligence of the Border Collie. I absolutely love my Border Collies, and I cannot imagine a life without them. It brings me great joy to share my passion with others," Malsam reported.

Hi-Line Border Collies is a business that Malsam plans to expand locally as well as to build a clientele across the country through the use of social media marketing. She currently maintains a Facebook Page to help promote her dogs. Her goal with the business is to "raise quality American Border Collie Association (ABCA) registered Border Collie puppies for others to enjoy and cherish."

When asked what sets her dogs apart from others, she responded: "The breed in general makes them saleable and desirable. My black tri-color stud, Gunner comes from champion blood lines, as do my two females, so they're all royalty!"

Her youngest female, Trixie is a red merle, and Mia, a blue merle, is due to give birth on September 25. "People have commented that it's not that common to see working merles who are also health tested. I have all my dogs health tested through Paw Print Genetics, who are generally accepted as providing the highest industry standards and accuracy," Malsam explained.

Equipped with the latest testing technology, Paw Print Genetics offers a diagnostic-grade DNA analysis of a dog's genetic health. The resulting DNA panel delivers a blue print of any inherited conditions related to eye, hip, or joint health, for example.

According to Malsam, the greatest challenge in her line of work is finding the perfect home for each puppy that suits the client's needs as well as the puppy's personality. Once that has been achieved, the biggest reward, "hands down," is getting updates from the buyers about their new dogs. Some of her dogs have gone on to be working cow dogs, search and rescue dogs, or even comfort animals. "It absolutely melts my heart knowing that the puppies are in wonderful homes and that the owners are overjoyed to have them in their lives."

Malsam also admitted that owning a business is hard work. "There is so much to learn about accounting, marketing, social media, and business law that I had no idea!"

To fill these learning gaps, she reaches out to other breeders across the country. This network has made a positive impact in the amount of knowledge she has gained. "By connecting to these breeders, I can learn from their mistakes without having to make them myself," Malsam said.

Aside from taking care of her dogs and ranching/farming full time, Malsam also breeds, raises, and trains performance quarter horses. A member of the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), Malsam has been training horses since 2009. When she returned home from college (2013-2014), she decided to buy "sell-colts." She would work with these young horses for 30-60 days under saddle before selling them. Then, in 2017, she bought her first broodmare, Rap Sheet, from Mississippi.

"Ever since owning Rap Sheet, I've grown to absolutely love the breeding side of performance horses," Malsam exclaimed. She also hopes to eventually breed her barrel horse, Sage, a registered gray quarter horse.

"Sage comes from good bloodlines, too. She actually came from the race track, but she is bred to race, rope, or run barrels."

Rap Sheet's most recent colt, born in mid-May, is a male that Malsam has named Drago, but she isn't sure she wants a stallion on the place. "A stud can be quite unmanageable, so I don't know yet whether I'll keep him."

Related to her interest in horses, as a side business-or "my winter hobby," as she calls it-Malsam creates horseshoe art under the name Maddy's Metals. A welder and craftsman, Malsam makes boot jacks, crosses, earring holders, wine bottle racks, brand wreaths, Christmas trees, and playful critters.

"The crosses and Christmas trees are probably the most popular since that's what I seem to make the most of," Malsam stated.

Her specialty is hydro dipping the metals to produce unique patterns on her finished art. "I love hydro dipping because you never really know how it's going to turn out or what the finished product will look like. And you're never going to get the same pattern. It's just a fun and different way to paint metal."

Hydro dipping is known by several other names: immersion printing, water transfer printing, hydrographics, camo dipping, and hydro imaging. It is a unique process that allows an artist to apply graphics by transferring an image or pattern to almost any three-dimensional object or surface.

Also constructing functional art through her welding craft, Malsam fabricates entrance signs for ranches or homesteads, builds horse feeders, or fashions benches from wood, horseshoes, and antique wagon wheels.

When she's not surrounded by her animal interests, Malsam enjoys exercising and occasionally running half marathons. "I'm still working on that full marathon! Oh, and I also like to 'attempt' cooking," she laughed. "One of my all-time favorite attempts at cooking is Cheeseburger Soup! I am a critic of myself, especially when it comes to feeding other people, but that soup has always been a delightful meal that's super simple and easy to master!"

With her winter hobby, Madison Malsam creates horse shoe art and uses her welding craft to fabricate entrance signs like this one for ranches or homesteads.

About business ownership, Malsam offered this advice: "Find something you're truly passionate about. American musician Marc Anthony says it best, 'If you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life.'"