Upcoming Events
We take pride in our work and feel strongly that conservation and technical assistance are best delivered with partners.
Check out the events below to see what’s going on in your neck of the woods!
The Spring Greenup Celebration
The Spring Greenup is a seasonal celebration of spring into summer, of the return of lush pastures and new life. It is about connecting people to the land through celebrating agrarian skills, land stewardship, transhumance, and cooking up the bounty of the land.
Montana Range Tour
Tour Leopold Conservation Award Recipient Thomas Herefords to hear about their innovative on-the-ground grazing practices and watershed improvements.
Old Salt Festival
The Old Salt Festival honors that tradition, gathering people who are preserving what’s worth keeping. Every summer, we gather on the Mannix Family Ranch to create an event that brings together Montana’s best ranchers, chefs, musicians, makers, and the people who love supporting food, sustainable agriculture, music, and life outdoors.
For three days, the Old Salt Festival creates space for what endures – land stewarded well, food raised right, conversations that matter, and community that’s built deliberately. You know, the components of a life that’s worth its salt.
Ideal & Invasive Rangeland Plants
Hosted by Stewardship Through Agriculture, this tour of Lance Heggem’s will leave from the Suffolk Grain Elevator and be led by Emily Stanley, who serves as the Range Monitoring Group coordinator.
Marketing Workshop with Jenni Harris of White Oak Pastures
Strengthen your agricultural business and learn from Jenni Harris of White Oak Pastures.
Join Western Sustainability Exchange for a marketing workshop presented by our Director of Sales and Marketing, Jenni Harris. Discover the major considerations that shape product lines and customer mix. Get a behind-the-scenes view of how White Oak Pastures went from a wholesale company to a resilient blend of wholesale and retail. In the last five years, White Oak Pastures has dramatically shifted focus to direct-to-consumer sales through e-commerce. Whether you have perishable goods or craftsman products to sell, this workshop will help you understand some of the key do’s and don’ts as we share what we’ve learned over the years.
Cost: $350.
Montana Range Days
Phillips County Conservation District is hosting Montana Range Days June 22nd -24th.
The Ranchers Stewardship Alliance is assisting the Adult Tours.
Tour Schedule
June 22nd- Range Trivia at Blue Ridge Brewery
June 23rd- Matador Ranch History and Grassbank Tour
June 24th- Virtual Collars: Vance and Halter at Barthelmess Ranch
Please contact moxarart@ranchstewards.org for questions.
Young Ranching for Profit
A Business Intensive for Young Ranchers
3-day, hands on intensive training for young adults wanting todevelop business management skills in agriculture.
This program is only open to young adults ages 18-25 years old.
West River South Dakota Soil Health School
The West River Soil Health School, June 24-25 in Caputa, SD, is the perfect opportunity to learn more about regenerative agriculture!
Get your questions answered by experts, researchers, and experienced producers!
Class size is limited, so don't wait!
Adaptive Grazing Workshop
If you're looking for practical ways to increase pasture productivity, improve profitability, and build healthier land, this workshop is for you.
Join the team from Understanding Ag, LLC for a two-day, hands-on Adaptive Grazing Workshop designed to help ranchers, farmers, and land managers implement real solutions that work in the field.
You'll learn directly from world-renowned regenerative agriculture educators Burke Teichert, Gabe Brown, and Fernando Falomir as they share practical strategies that have helped producers across North America improve both their land and their bottom line.
The workshop will be hosted at Sacred Pine Ranch, owned by Scott Farquhar, providing a real-world setting to see regenerative principles applied on the ground.
Meals featuring regeneratively raised food will be provided.
Space is limited to ensure an interactive learning experience.
For questions or more information:
Phone: 701-425-1295
Email: info@understandingag.com
Women in Ag: Pasture Tour + Noxious Weed ID
Come learn about regenerative dairy grazing and so much more!
Matador Ranch & Cattle Field Day
From Pasture To Plate: The Ranchers Role In Feeding America
How today’s successful ranchers deliver profitability, environmental value, and nutrient dense beef - now and for the future.
Experience the MRC Field Day — an immersive event bringing together the land, livestock, and leaders driving innovation in ranching. Each year, ranchers, partners, and innovators gather in Dillon, Montana, to learn, collaborate, and celebrate the future of agriculture through our annual Field Day.
RSA Ranch Tour at Webb Ranch Homestead
Join Ranchers Stewardship Alliance to tour Webb Ranch and learn about how they plan to serve the ranching community through the use of this agricultural property.
Grazing Strange - Bale, Windrow, & Strip Grazing Practices
Hosted by Stewardship Through Agriculture, this tour of both Matt Wickens’ and Dustin Kinkelaar’s ranches will feature insights from Rick Caquelin with Montana Grazing Lands Coalition.
The tour will start at CHS Big Sky in Winifred.
Low-Stress Stockmanship
Hosted by Eastern Montana Regenerative Agriculture and taught by Dan Hnatow of Cattle Up Stockmanship this workshop will have classroom time followed by small group hands-on time in the corral.
The cost is $25/person. Space is limited.
Northern Regional Bison Conference
Join the National Bison Association the foot of the Rocky Mountain Front, for a bison conference that brings our community together to learn, connect, and celebrate the herds we steward.
Registration Includes:
Friday dinner
Saturday snacks, bison lunch, bison dinner
Free shuttle bus Saturday to and from conference hotel to Deep Creek Ranch
Access to all meetings, educational forums and herd tours
Stage Stop Inn
1005 Main Ave. North
Choteau, MT 59422
Group rate for “Bison Conference” $175/ Night
Last Day to Book: Friday, June 19, 2026
The Schedule
Friday, July 17th
4:00 PM – Registration open at the Stage Stop conference hotel
5:00 PM – Leadership and Bison Presentation
6:00 PM – Supper
7:00 PM – Musical Guest and Social Time
Saturday, July 18th
8:00 AM – Shuttle bus loads at conference hotel
9:00 AM – Conference Welcome and Overview at Deep Creek Ranch
10:00 AM – Regenerative Ranching
11:00 AM – Bison Body Condition Scoring
12:00 PM – Lunch
1:00 PM – Bison Herd Tour
2:00 PM – Bison Working Facilities
3:00 PM – Ranch Hacks
4:00 PM – Bison Producer Panel
5:00 PM – Bus returns to Stage Stop conference hotel
6:00 PM – Social Hour followed by Bison Supper at Stage Stop conference hotel
NOTE: The schedule is subject to change as more great aspects are added to the lineup.
Registration Deadline: July 3, 2026
Scholarships available for this event. Click HERE to apply.
Southern Alberta Grazing School for Women
Celebrate women stewards in the International Year of the Rangelands and Pastoralist at the 23rd Southern Alberta Grazing School for Women at the Cassils Community Center near Brooks, Alberta.
For more information email mmuller@cowsandfish.org.
Flyer for grazing workshop in Alberta
Lamb Jam
Come have a Lamb-tastic time at the Montana Lamb Jam! Experience this Made in Montana culinary competition by sampling 3 different lamb dishes prepared by top Montana chefs. All lamb is sourced from local Montana ranches.
Attendees will get to vote on their favorites!
Tickle your taste-buds with delicious Pasture-to-Plate flavors of Montana raised lamb!
Where: Gallatin County Fairgrounds, Bozeman, MT
Cost: $40 for adults, $15 for Children 7-15; Children 6 & under are free
406 Grazing Academy: The Next Bite
Advanced level of 406 Grazing Academy where participants will take a deeper dive into grazing systems, water development, plant ecology, and economics of grazing.
For More Information: www.mtrangelands.org
2026 Grazing Expo
A conference hosted by the Montana Grazing Lands Coalition designed to empower land managers with new, innovative solutions while highlighting the impacts of sound grazing lands stewardship and collaborative conservation led by ranchers.
Registration opens June 1!
Interested in sponsoring? Reach out to info@montanaglc.com for more info on opportunities.
2026 Montana Angus Tour
From September 22-24, 2026, more than 250 visitors will make their way to the Hi-Line for the 2026
Montana Angus Tour, hosted by the North Central Montana Angus Association. Seedstock producers,
ranchers, industry leaders and Angus enthuisiasts will gather on the Hi-Line to experience the
unbeatable hospitality, wide-open views, and down-to-earth lifestyle that make the heart of Montana
so special.
Grazing the Heartland, 2026 NatGLC Bus Tour
Join National Grazing Lands Coalition for an exciting bus tour through the stunning landscapes of Sioux Falls, SD, as we explore innovative grazing techniques while journeying through three states: South Dakota, Nebraska, and Minnesota. This unique collaboration with the South Dakota Grasslands Coalition, the Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition, and the Minnesota Grazing Lands Conservation Association offers participants a chance to learn about sustainable land management practices and witness firsthand the diverse ecosystems that define the region.
The tour will stop at scenic locations that highlight the beauty of grasslands and the importance of conservation, making this not just a tour but an educational experience for nature enthusiasts and land stewards alike. This two day event, includes a welcome reception and the chance to network with like-minded individuals from across the country. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with experts and discover the remarkable landscapes in each state!
Early bird registration through April 30 - $485. General registration through Sept 7 - $525.
And check out Montana’s own, Bob Lee, in the video of 2025 NatGLC bus tour in Washington state to get a preview of what to expect at 2026’s tour!
3RD Governor's Summit On Local Food & Agriculture
MAXIMIZING MONTANA’S AGRICULTURE OPPORTUNITY
The 2026 summit aims to focus on designing a strategic plan to increase the Montana markets for Montana-produced food from their current state of 3% to at least 33% in the coming decade. Montana residents spent $5.2 billion on food in 2021, yet only $158 million (about 3%) was spent on food produced in the state1. Increasing that share to 33% would redirect hundreds of millions of dollars into Montana’s economy each year. Local food spending has a strong ripple effect: for every $1 spent, an estimated $0.47 of additional economic activity is generated.
According to the USDA, farmers can retain up to four to five times more of the food dollar when selling through local channels.
These gains would largely benefit rural communities and small to mid-sized producers, keeping more money and meaningful work rooted in Montana.
Institutional markets have the potential to generate significant economic returns. For example, if just one-third of the $76.6 million spent annually on MT school meals came from Montana producers, it would represent over $25 million in additional local food sales each year.
Increasing local food consumption complements Montana’s existing reach into global markets. It diversifies farm income and strengthens food security by creating shorter, more adaptable supply chains. During COVID-19, local markets like CSAs and food hubs proved more resilient and accessible than national distributors, helping communities access food when store shelves were empty.
Summit Themes include:
Healthy Soil: Supporting regenerative and climate-healthy agriculture ensures long-term productivity, land stewardship, and food security.
Resilient Markets & Economy: Growing local and regional markets creates good jobs, boosts farm income, and builds a more self-reliant and shock-resistant food economy.
Healthy Food & People: Expanding access to Montana-grown whole foods supports farmers, reduces food miles, and improves our health when included in our diets
Strong Communities: Investing in local food systems strengthens rural economies, fosters social connection, and builds resilient, place-based infrastructure
Regenerate: Stewardship in Action
Each year, Quivira Coalition, Holistic Management International, and the American Grassfed Association collaborate to convene ranchers, farmers, conservationists, land managers, scientists, and thought leaders to share knowledge, build community, and create a culture of resilience and regeneration.
Holistic Goat Harvest Workshop
The Holistic Goat Harvest Workshop will be an intimate and in-depth offering for people seeking to learn and participate in the process of humanely harvesting and butchering small ruminants. We invite you to reclaim the tradition of home butchery: building skills while creating celebration around harvesting local meat from the land.
Experience an extraordinary exploration of food and place, fostering self-reliance and community resilience. Led by Ivan Thrane, a Montana rancher with over 15 years of rotational grazing, raising thousands of goats, butchering, and cooking up goat meat. Inspired and supported by Chef Eduardo Garcia, participants will take part in the journey from the field, through the cooking and to the table. It will be challenging, visceral, reverential, stimulating, life-affirming.
The process will begin Thursday June 11th at 2 pm when we will gather and meet our herd of goats in their element, witnessing the positive role they can play in promoting the health and resilience of the land. Beginning Friday morning and continuing the full day we will experience, hands-on, the specifics of butchering and utilizing the whole animal with minimal waste. Participants will explore the different ways to break down an animal, as well as timeless traditions of cooking meat over fire and in the ground. Meals will be created during the day and feature regionally inspired and sourced ingredients. You will gain an understanding of an animal in context as a part of a healthy ecosystem, learning about the incredible complexity of the body and appreciate all the resources that one animal has to offer. This is an immersive, hands-on opportunity on our home ranch offered to empower, inspire and equip you with skills to take home. Participants are welcome to camp on the ranch, and 2 main meals will be provided each day.
Join us for a multi-day experience of hands-on learning, philosophical inquiry and nourishing meals, and stay for the weekend of festivities. Your ticket includes an invitation to join us for both the Saturday and Sunday of the Spring Greenup Celebration June 13-14th - while this portion is optional, it is an extension of the butchering workshop and we promise it will be worth staying for. Saturday will be a relaxed but purposeful day of further processing the organs, fat and hides of the animals we harvest, as well as preparing meat to be cooked in various ways for the Sunday community celebratory day of fun, festivities and feasting. Attendees will gain new skills, create lasting memories and receive a take-home gift bundle - more than anything, we hope you take home the feeling that you are a positive participant in a beautiful and dynamic world.
ID'ing Ideal & Invasive Rangeland Plants
Plant ID walk on Lance Heggem’s Pasture East of Suffolk led by Emily Stanley, Range Monitoring Group Coordinator.
Meet at Suffolk Grain Elevator.
SRM Northern Great Plains Section Summer Gathering
The two days hosted in Glendive & Wibaux, Montana will include:
Ranch tour
Plant walk
SRM business meeting & social
And will have conversations and demonstrations regarding:
Virtual fence for goats & cattle
Targeted grazing
Grazing management.
South Dakota Rangeland and Soil Days
Rangeland and Soil Days will take place June 9-10, 2026. Rangeland and Soil Days offer a unique opportunity to learn more about South Dakota’s important resources, our rangelands and soils. Learning activities have been designed for a variety of age groups. Topics covered include: plant morphology and identification, habitat suitability for cattle and wildlife, soil quality, erosion and much more!
Registration is $50 per person, which includes lunch and supper on June 9 and lunch on June 10. The deadline to pre-register is May 22. Registration fees can be paid during check-in, or mailed ahead of time to: Butte Conservation District, Attn: Yvette, 1837 5th Avenue, Belle Fourche, SD., 57717.
Agritourism Day at Mahlstedt Ranch
Agritourism is a growing industry in Montana.
At Mahlstedt Ranch, agritourism is a way for us to share the agriculture story. By sharing our life and our story, we make friends for agriculture one person at a time. In the current trying economic conditions, agritourism also gives us an added enterprise to help meet rising costs. For us, agritourism is as a way to help keep the next generation on the ranch.
If you are:
interested in offering Agritourism
already offer Agritourism
a member of local, state, or federal government
seeking a public office
tourism personnel
just curious about what we are doing
You can expect information on what Agritourism looks like, the challenges & rewards of offering agritourism, what insurance & waivers are recommended, how legislative decisions have affected those offering agritourism, and get to experience agritourism as we offer it.
Members of the Montana Agritourism Association will be available to talk about how agritourism looks on their operations and how it varies with each operation.
406 Grazing Academy
A hands-on workshop for ranchers wanting to sharpen their grazing management skills. This 3-day workshop features educational speakers, ranch tours, and learning opportunities geared toward providing participants new skills to apply on their operations. The 406 Grazing Academy also provides attendees the opportunity to network with others in the field to share personal experiences of management techniques they’ve implemented with success or failure.
The 406 Grazing Academy is a collaborative event spearheaded by the Rangeland Resource Program within Montana Department of Natural Resources Conservation Service (DNRC). Guest educators include faculty from Montana State University, Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) range professionals, local landowners, and may include county agents from Montana State University Extension.
Montana Stock Growers Association 2026 MidYear Meeting
The MidYear Meeting is one of two meetings that is held to set association policy that guides the Association through the year.
While the main focus of the meeting is for the setting of interim policy we also use the meeting as a networking opportunity for the MSGA membership. Ranchers and allied industry professionals gather together from across the state of Montana for two days filled with meetings, entertainment, education, and fun!
Featuring headliner Dougie Hall!
Worms, Weeds, & Waste
EMRA is hosting a hands-on workshop that includes everything from worms to extraction, application, production, and soil test results and recommendations. The event will take place in Wibaux, MT from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, followed by dinner.
Coffee + Cow Collars
Joins us for coffee and learn about Virtual Collars with Leo Barthelmess. Leo will be showing us his Vence collared cows.
Bring your questions and see if this is an option for your operation.
Please note this will be during our Ranch Boot Camp and because of interest in virtual collars we are opening this section to the public.
Meet us at the Old Armory- 1008 Us Hwy 191 South, Malta, MT 59538 at 8:00 am and we will caravan together.
Low Stress Livestock Handling with a Bud Box
Hosted by Stewardship Through Agriculture, a rancher-led organization based in Winifred, this event will be led by Casey Willmore from Lewistown Livestock Yards.
The event will be held at the Winifred Stockyards.
When Trees Take Over: Hidden Costs for Ranchers and Watersheds
Come hear from Dr. Scott Morford, Associate Director of the Working Lands for Wildlife Science Team at University of Montana about how woody encroachment impacts two of the most critical services that Montana’s rangelands provide - forage and water. Though data shows that the threat of woody encroachment is accelerating, effective solutions are still within reach. Join other ranchers and community members from across the Smith River watershed to learn more.
Dinner and beer provided by 2 Basset Brewery.
Presented and hosted by Meagher County Stewardship Council.
Montana Nutrition Conference & Livestock Forum
Tradition Meets Innovation: 75 years of Stewardship, Science, and Shaping Tomorrow!
The Montana Nutrition Conference will be held April 15-16, 2026 at the Best Western Plus GranTree Inn in Bozeman, MT.
A room block is reserved at the hotel under Montana Nutrition Conference. To make a reservation, contact the hotel at 406-587-5261.
View the conference agenda at Montana Nutrition Conference & Livestock Forum .
Winter Grazing Workshop
The Sieben Live Stock Winter Grazing Workshop by Western Sustainability Exchange offers ranchers a unique opportunity to learn firsthand from decades of real-world experience in managing livestock through harsh Montana winters using regenerative principles. Sieben Live Stock’s holistic approach focuses on working with nature not against it, by optimizing grazing patterns, animal behavior, forage availability, and land health to achieve maximum cattle performance even in mountain country. Participants see how thoughtful grazing strategies and stewardship improve soil, forage, and herd outcomes while strengthening long-term ranch resilience and productivity.
Lunch is provided.
$100 per personLearn more here https://westernsustainabilityexchange.org/sieben-winter-grazing-tour/
Grazing Strategies for Drought
Join Rocky Mountain Front Ranchlands Group and Western Landowners Alliance for our upcoming webinar, “Grazing Strategies for Drought.”
Hear from Rick Caquelin, a retired NRCS range scientist, and Mark DeBoo, a forward-thinking livestock producer using rotational grazing and virtual fencing, as they share proven, real-world strategies for managing drought.
This is a great opportunity to learn practical tools, improve resilience, and gain insights you can apply directly to your operation.
Sustainable Ranching Workshop
Hosted by the Southwest Sage Brush Partnership, this two-day event in Dillon, MT includes one day of presentations + discussions (April 7) followed by one field partial day (Aug 8).
Topics include:
Your Direct Sell Advantage: Nutrient Dense Meat Plus Ecological Service, Dave Scott
Innovative approaches to fall/winter uplands grazing, Chuck Petersen:
Winter Grazing Experience in the Cold Desert, Agee Smith
Sagebrush Ocean: Wasteland or Breadbasket?, Glenn Elzinga
Soil Health on Western Rangelands: What to Measure, How to Measure It, &
What it Means for Grazing Management, Megan Nasto
Sign up online or contact Pat Fosse at 406-660-2386
March Bull Session: Land Health
Explore the newly upgraded Land Health Dashboard with Western Sustainability Exchange. This bull session will showcase how this regenerative focused tool will simplify and enhance grazing management including map-based visualizations and streamlined data input formats. Learn how to plan using stock days per acre, precipitation, previous grazing events, season of use, and herd information- all in one place!
Watch Here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88281808229?pwd=tlKdhribm8JB3IBkhp3BhYkUkBlatl.1
Annual Invasive Grasses Workshop
The Central and Eastern Montana Invasive Species Team (CEMIST), Petroleum County Conservation District (PCCD), and Winnett ACES are inviting you to attend the Central Montana Invasive Annual Grasses Workshop on March 11th in Winnett.
Guest Speakers & Free Lunch Provided!
6 CE credits.
SVP are appreciated but not required. Please RSVP to Brent Smith at cemist.manager@gmail.com or 406-599-5120
Rural Resilience Webinar: Ranch Insights
RANCH INSIGHTS - Sheep Industry Takeaways for Beef
Thursday, March 5 • 7-8:30 pm mt
Over the past 75 years, the sheep industry has faced challenges that mirror pressures in the beef sector. From shifting consumer preferences and import competition to labor shortages and grazing losses, these experiences offer valuable lessons for cattle producers. Brent Roeder, MSU Extension Sheep Specialist, will share insights from the sheep industry’s history and what ranchers should consider in navigating changing markets and policies.
For More Information: www.ranchstewards.org
Rural Resilience Webinar: Ranch Water
RANCH WATER - Low-Tech, High-Impact Restoration
Thursday, February 19 • 7-8:30 pm mt
Sometimes the simplest solutions have the biggest impact. Paul Jones with Tomichi Creek Ecosystem Services will explore Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration, a hands-on approach to rebuilding natural water systems. Learn how mimicking beaver dams can improve water retention, restore riparian function, and boost drought resilience using minimal materials and practical techniques that bring lasting benefits to your land and livestock.
For More Information: www.ranchstewards.org
Rural Resilience Webinar: Ranch Help
RANCH HEALTH - Cattle Vaccination Best Practices
Thursday, February 5 • 7-8:30 pm mt
Dr. Katie Rein of Crazy Mountain Veterinary Service will share practical, hands-on guidance for livestock vaccination, covering needle size selection, proper injection sites, and the differences between subcutaneous and intramuscular methods. This session is ideal for ranch hands, interns, spouses, or friends who assist with livestock care, as well as experienced ranchers seeking a refresher or those who were never formally taught vaccination techniques.
For More Information: www.ranchstewards.org
Soil Health Symposium
Find the Agenda here: Agenda 2026 – Montana Soil Health Symposium
Register here: Registration 2026 – Montana Soil Health Symposium
Rural Resilience Webinar: Ranch Tech
RANCH TECH - GPS Tags & Drone Seeding
Thursday, January 22 • 7-8:30 pm mt
Technology is changing the way ranchers manage land and livestock. Join rancher Ryan Lankford as he shares how 701x GPS ear tags help him monitor cattle from anywhere, giving new meaning to “keeping an eye on the herd.” Then, rancher Steve Kenyon will demonstrate how fall frost seeding with drones can make forage establishment easier, faster, and more efficient.
For More Information, visit: www.ranchstewards.org
Virtual Classroom: Mapping with Maida
Maida, with Ranchers Stewardship Alliance, teaches attendees how to use RAP + StockSmart tools during the Virtual Classroom session.
For More Information: www.ranchstewards.org
Virtual Classroom: Mapping with Maida
Maida, with Ranchers Stewardship Alliance, teaches attendees how to use RAP + StockSmart tools during the Virtual Classroom session.
For More Information: www.ranchstewards.org