Experience is one of the most valuable resources on any ranch. But even experienced producers know that the only constant in agriculture is change. Markets change, weather patterns change, technology changes, and land management challenges evolve.
This is where the Montana Grazing Lands Coalition’s Grazing Expo comes in.
Held at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center, the Grazing Expo brings together ranchers, land managers, researchers, agricultural organizations, and industry professionals for several days of education and networking. The Expo typically takes place in the week following Labor Day, and will return in 2028 after a planned break in 2027 for the National Grazing Lands
Conference.
The event is not designed solely for those who are new to agriculture, despite an emphasis on the topic. Some of the most valuable conversations at the Expo are aimed at producers who already have years, or generations, of experience under their belts.
For experienced producers, attending a conference can provide an opportunity to step away from the day-to-day demands of an operation and take a broader look at the changing landscape of agriculture.
The Expo’s programming covers topics with direct implications for working ranches, including business management skills, livestock and soil health, markets, and other challenges. In 2026, sessions were split into four tracks: Business Basics, Stock Talk, Management Materials, and Shared Successes. Producers had the opportunities to explore practical management strategies and hear about others' experiences.
The Kick-Off Party, breakfast conversations, Rancher’s Night, trade show, and Land & Legacy Banquet create opportunities for producers to compare notes, ask questions, and reconnect with people working all across the state. These peer-focused events are particularly well-suited to informal conversations that happen when the stress of managing an operation begins to melt away.
The 2026 keynote, “Pull Out a Chair: Why Agriculture Needs New People (and Why a Seat at the Table Isn’t Enough),” addressed the importance of bringing new perspectives into agriculture while recognizing the value of the experience already present in the industry. For established producers, this topic fed into a variety of sessions and workshops focused on succession, both to family and to invested employees.
The Montana Grazing Lands Coalition encourages producers at every stage of their careers to consider the Grazing Expo an opportunity to invest in their operation, land, and legacy.
For more information about the Montana Grazing Lands Coalition and future Grazing Expo opportunities, visit the Coalition’s website, or reach out to its leadership, whose information can be found on the website.
Learn more: https://montanaglc.org/expo
About the Montana Grazing Lands Coalition: The Montana Grazing Lands Coalition is a rancher-led organization working to support healthy grazing lands, strengthen agricultural communities and promote collaborative conservation across Montana. The Coalition has been rancher-led since 1991.
By: Grazing Expo Intern, Graduate student Hannah Claxton
