Background

Established in 1991, the Montana Grazing Lands Coalition was the first of its kind - a convening of industry partners with the goal of increasing the availability of technical assistance resources for agricultural producers. Over the years, the mission has continued even as the group of stakeholders has evolved.

Today, Montana GLC is working to serve more producers than ever before by building strong partnerships, forging new paths toward innovation and advanced grazing management planning, and facilitating conversations between landowners and agencies to better understand everyday needs and fill gaps in technical assistance and resource delivery.

At the core of our mission is sound grazing management planning, technical assistance delivery, and community-based collaboration resulting in the protection and preservation of the Treasure State’s most valuable resource: grazing lands.

Beyond technical assistance, we’re building strategic partnerships, collaborating on new, innovative grazing solutions, and working toward a bigger, more connected network of producers, agencies, NGO’s, and other stakeholder groups interested in conserving Montana’s working lands and preserving the state’s ranching heritage.

Our Territory

The Montana Grazing Lands Coalition covers the state of Montana, from Eureka to Baker and everywhere in between! We recognize the value our regionally-led partners bring to the conversation and seek opportunities to collaborate on projects whenever possible.

Our Priorities

Montana GLC exists at the intersection of education, collaboration, and technical assistance - the three priorities which shape our organization’s mission and vision. Through these 3 focus areas, we serve agricultural producers, students, and rural communities across the state.

Technical Assistance

Education

Collaboration

Meet the Team

Megan Terry

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Megan holds a degree in Wildlife, Sustainability, and Ecosystem Science from Tarleton State University. Following several years with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Megan went to work for a west-wide non-profit, facilitating the upstart of GLC’s across the west and other place-based collaborative efforts. As Executive Director of Montana GLC, Megan leads the Coalition in carrying out their strategic plan and develops partnerships to further implement conservation on grazing lands in Montana. In addition to her work with MTGLC, Megan also serves as chair-elect for the Society for Range Management GLC committee. Megan, her husband Tyler, and their two sons, Quaid and Hardy, reside in Roundup, MT.

CONTACT MEGAN
Rick Caquelin

COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
Rick graduated from Montana State University with a degree in Range Science and built a 30+ year career with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), prior to retiring in 2020. He and his wife run a cow/calf operation just south of Stanford, MT. Rick finds immense value in the principles of sound grazing management and leads Montana graziers by example. As head of the Steering Committee, Rick’s main focus is identifying ways in which the organization can better the lives and the lands of Montana ranchers. In addition to serving as head of the MTGLC Steering Committee, Rick is also on the board of the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (RSA) and is an active member of the Range Monitoring Group (RMG).

CONTACT RICK
Ben Lehfeldt

COMMITTEE VICE CHAIRMAN
Ben, with wife Jamie and sons Luke and Cade, live in Lavina, Montana and run a family sheep operation. The Lehfeldt family has been in the sheep business for nearly 140 years and take great pride upholding the family legacy. Ben is currently the Vice-Chairman of Montana GLC and represents the American Sheep Industry on the National GLC board. Ben is the current Vice-President of American Sheep Industry (ASI), Vice-chairman of Sheep Genetics USA, and a board of director on the Montana Woolgrowers Association Board. Locally, Ben is the president of his county Farm Bureau group and Chairman of the Lavina School Board.

CONTACT ME

Steering Committee & Technical Advisors

Todd Barkley

Committee Member | Baker, MT
Todd is a fourth-generation rancher and farmer, raising the fifth generation alongside his wife, Molly. As an early adopter of “regenerative ag”, Todd leads by example, stewarding the land utilizing non-traditional grazing and wintering systems alongside no-till farming practices. Todd and his wife also have a “Greenhouse in the Snow”, a geothermal greenhouse that produces citrus fruit and table vegetables. With soil health at the center of their management strategy, the Barkley’s are innovative operators, aiming to leave the land better than they found it.
Amy Driggs

Committee Member | Eureka, MT
Amy is a 4th generation rancher at Quirk Cattle Company, just north of Eureka, MT. For nearly 140 years, her family has operated under a cow/calf model, but recently introduced hair sheep to the family operation to more efficiently utilize their resources. As an early adopter of Management Intensive Grazing, Amy and her family are often experimenting with ways in which they can enhance the soil microbiology and increase forage productivity. Amy is a Holistic Management Institute Certified Educator and utilizes her knowledge and first-hand experience to provide valuable insight and perspective on all things grazing lands.
John Hollenback

Committee Member | Gold Creek, MT
John is generational rancher, living and working on the family place which he was born. A founding member of the Montana Grazing Lands Coalition, formerly known as the Montana Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative, John has been an instrumental part of the group’s success, helping to shape the mission and vision of the organization. In addition to his commitment to the GLC, John also serves on numerous other boards including the State Rangeland Resource Committee, Deer Lodge Valley Conservation District board, Fish Wildlife and Parks Committee, as well as several others.
Lane Nordlund

Committee Member | Bozeman, MT
Lane Nordlund is a respected agricultural broadcaster with deep roots in rural America. Raised in Central Montana, he has been immersed in production agriculture his entire life. He served as Montana FFA State President and later earned a degree in Agricultural Education-Relations from Montana State University. Lane co-anchors the Western Ag Network reports, heard on over 114 radio stations across ten western states, and reports on TV for WakeUp Montana NonStop Local. His podcast, the LaneCast Ag Podcast is enjoyed by listeners across the nation. He also hosts several national agricultural podcasts the "The Cattlemen’s Call" and "Eye on Potatoes." His personal experience in ranching and broadcasting helps him connect with his audience. Lane and his wife Julie run cattle with his in-laws south of Belt, MT.
Jeff Pattison

Committee Member | Glasgow, MT
Owner of Pattison Land & Livestock, Jeff and his family operate his family’s homestead acreage in Glasgow, MT. In addition to sitting on the MTGLC Steering Commitee, Jeff is also Vice Chair for the Valley County Conservation District and previously served as a State Legislator for Montana. Jeff is an active advocate for agriculture and is passionate about keeping the next generation of producers on the land.
Lon Reukauf

Committee Member | Terry, MT
Lon and his wife Vicki have been married for 42 years and currently reside on his family operation in Terry, Montana. Lon graduated from Montana State University in 1981 with a degree in Ag Production and is a long-time member of Montana Stockgrowers Association, Montana Farm Bureau, Masonic Lodge, and the Presbyterian Church. Lon has been a member of the GLC Steering Committee since 1992, shortly after the organization’s inception and is a valued member of the Montana agricultural community.
Dean Wang

Committee Member | Baker, MT
Dean graduated from Cal Poly (SLO) in 1991 with a degree in Finance. Currently, he oversees his family cow/calf and commercial yearling operation in Baker, MT where his ancestors homesteaded in 1909. In addition to his participation with MTGLC, Dean has previously sat on the board of the Montana Stock Growers Association (MSGA).
Jim Willis

Committee Member | Wilsall, MT
Jim currently manages a 24,000 acre ranch in the Shields Valley of Montana. Since beginning with the 4 Diamond Ranch, Jim has implemented a number of regenerative grazing practices. This has helped the 4 Diamond become one of the largest grass finishing operations in the state, finishing approximately 200-400 head annually. Jim’s career has included managing or working for a number of cattle operations in Montana and other western states that utilized a mix of both deeded and public lands grazing.
Kevin Derzapf

Technical Advisor - Bozeman, MT
As a graduate of Texas Tech University, Kevin holds a degree in Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management. Having served as a long-time employee of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Kevin specializes in rangeland and grazing lands management, now operating his own consulting firm, Sage Land Management Solutions, based out of Bozeman, MT. With previous experience leading a regional GLC, he has facilitated the growth and development of the Montana Grazing Lands Coalition and has been a valuable partner for the organization.
Rachel Frost

Technical Advisor - Livingston, MT
Rachel Frost is the Program Leader for the Dan Scott Ranch Management Program for Montana State University where she is responsible for developing curriculum, selecting students, and recruiting partner ranches as internship hosts for a Bachelor’s Degree in Ranching Systems. She combines her family ranch experience with a BS and MS in Animal Science from Angelo State University and a PhD in Rangeland Ecology from the University of Idaho. Rachel’s research and educational background is in livestock grazing for vegetation management and plant animal interactions.