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 Executive Director

Residing in Lewistown, Montana, Kelly Beevers leads the Montana Grazing Lands Coalition as their Executive Director. For over 11 years, Kelly has been based in Montana working in and beyond the state formerly as the Rancher Network Strategy Lead with The Nature Conservancy’s North America Agriculture Regenerative Grazing Lands, as a strategy consultant focused on working lands-based organizations and businesses at her own company Topos & Anthros while also within the team of Pfister Land Company as a ranch salesperson, and as an investment associate in private equity and conservation at Beartooth Group. Professionally, Kelly’s work has focused primarily on engaging, strengthening, and supporting collaboratives and communities throughout the Great Plains and Western US. But really that’s just how Kelly is all the time, drawing constellations out of the stars, approaching connections and conversations as strategy for seeing and celebrating people and what they have to offer this world. Kelly also serves as a Co-Chair on the multinational non-profit Women in Ranching board and as the Texas A&M Club Montana President. Beyond her community-building-based volunteer commitments, she spends her time enjoying the challenges of fly fishing and gardening, the chill of camping, and the thrill of live music. Originally from Texas, Kelly has undergraduate and graduate degrees from Mays Business School at Texas A&M University, and had a career prior to conservation and agriculture in urban infill real estate development in San Antonio - another expression of her penchant for community building.

Contact Kelly

Board of Directors

Todd Barkley

Board 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.
Rick Caquelin

Board Chairman | Stanford, MT
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 Board of Directors, 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 Board, Rick is also on the board of the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (RSA) and is an active member of the Range Monitoring Group (RMG).
Amy Driggs

Board 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.
Ben Lehfeldt

Board Vice Chairman | Lavina, MT
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.
Lane Nordlund

Board Member | Belt, 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.
Tyrel Obrecht

yrel Obrecht is a 5th generation Montanan, raising the 6th with his wife, Lindsey. He works with his dad and grandpa on their cow/calf operation in Turner, MT. Graduating in 2013 from Montana State University with a degree in Ag Economics, Tyrel spent 4 years in the finance world before returning back to the family ranch. A holistic management speaker in 2015 opened Tyrel's eyes to a different way of land management, and since then he has found himself trying new things, focusing more on soil health, and managing cattle with as few inputs as possible. When not working on the ranch, Tyrel can be found in the garden, wood shop, or cheering on the MSU Bobcats.
Jeff Pattison

Board 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.
Dean Wang

Board 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

Board 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.