Ranch Boot Camp blends practical training with deep connection to people, place, and purpose.
WINNETT, MT – What does it mean to be “ranch ready”? For participants in the first-ever Montana Ranch Boot Camp, held May 13–16, 2025, in Petroleum County, it meant getting their boots dirty, asking questions, and learning from ranchers with decades of on-the-ground experience. Through real-world exposure to Montana ranching, they gained practical skills, a deeper understanding of the land and lifestyle, and the confidence to keep moving forward—one fence post, one cattle move, and one shared meal at a time.
Led by Winnett ACES in collaboration with the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance, Ranch Boot Camp is a new hands-on experience designed to meet beginning ranchers and agricultural students where they are. That might mean someone still deciding whether agriculture is the right fit, someone new to the industry who didn’t grow up around livestock, someone raised on a ranch who just didn’t get the chance to learn every skill along the way, or even someone with experience who’s eager to explore new approaches.
“We often assume people already know how to do things like fix fence or drive a gravel road safely, but the truth is, everyone starts somewhere,” said Haylie Shipp, Communications Director for the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance. “This camp gave participants the space to learn without judgment, to ask questions, and to build real skills in a welcoming and working environment.”
Participants included college students from the Montana State University Dan Scott Ranch Management Program, interns with the Montana Department of Natural Resources Conservation Service raWorking Lands Internship Program, and apprentices in the Quivira Coalition’s New Agrarian Program. Over the course of four days, they explored fencing, grazing systems, irrigation, fire and vehicle safety, water systems, cattle handling, and branding, guided by ranchers, conservation professionals, and educators who generously opened their gates and shared their time.
A special thank-you goes to the ranchers in the Winnett area who turned a typical day of work into a chance to teach. Some opened their gates and shared their ranches as living classrooms; others carved out time to offer their knowledge and encouragement. Their generosity and willingness to guide made this experience not only possible, but deeply meaningful.
“The first Montana Ranch Boot Camp was a true success,” said Laura Nowlin, Executive Director of Winnett ACES. “Participants immersed themselves in building skills while generous ranchers shared their knowledge with pride and purpose. It was more than a training; it was a meaningful exchange between generations.”
That exchange left a lasting impression. “Being part of Ranch Boot Camp was truly inspiring,” said Hayden Vandeberg, Northern Plains Manager for the Quivira Coalition’s New Agrarian Program. “The community opened their hearts, time, and knowledge so freely. It reminded me that this work is about more than skills, it’s about people showing up for each other.”
The 2025 event was made possible by sponsors including Central Montana CattleWomen, Montana Farmers Union, Fergus/Petroleum County Farm Bureau, Montana Stockgrowers Foundation, North 40 Ag, MSU Dan Scott Ranch Management Program, Ag West Farm Credit, Montana Grazing Lands Coalition, Petroleum County Conservation District, Ballyhoo Printing & Design, Agri Best Feeds, Valley County Conservation District, and the World Wildlife Fund. Partners included the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Quivira Coalition, MSU Dan Scott Ranch Management Program, and the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance.
Plans are already underway for the next Montana Ranch Boot Camp, which will be hosted in 2026 by the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance in Malta, Montana. The camp is set to rotate between RSA and ACES in future years, bringing practical skills and lasting community to the next generation of Northern Great Plains ranchers.
For more information or to support future events, visit www.winnettaces.org or www.ranchstewards.org.
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About Winnett Agricultural Community Enhancement & Sustainability (ACES): Winnett ACES is a grassroots-led 501(c)3 non-profit organization addressing rural vitality issues that affect agricultural communities in central Montana. The ACES began in 2016 as a group of Winnett area producers joining together to address the most important issues facing their agricultural community. The group began exploring proactive, positive solutions to support agriculture, conservation, and address strengthening the existing community through education, out- reach, conservation, and civic projects.
About the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (RSA): RSA is a rancher-led, grassroots organization, dedicated to improving the quality of life for rural communities throughout the Northern Great Plains. Through collaborative conservation projects, rancher education events, and local community outreach, RSA works to strengthen our rural community, economy, and culture for generations to come.
