Training the Next Generation on Real-World Ranches
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.
Building Trust, Growing Impact: Shaun McCabe Receives RSA’s 2025 Gold Star Award
McCabe’s work exemplifies what happens when conservation is rooted in community. MALTA, MT – The Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (RSA) is proud to announce Shaun McCabe, farm bill biologist for Pheasants Forever in Chinook, MT, as the recipient of the 2025 Gold Star Award. This annual recognition honors individuals who demonstrate exceptional commitment to collaborative conservation […]
July 1 Ranch Tour to Spotlight Peer-to-Peer Learning
Featuring the Murdock and Hammond ranches, this tour offers a chance to learn from the land and the people who know it best. Malta, Montana — After a much-needed rain delay earlier this month, the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance has announced a new date for the 2025 North Phillips County Ranch Tour: Tuesday, July 1. Hosted […]
A View from the Hi-Line
On the high plains of northeastern Montana, Ducks Unlimited and a scrappy group of pragmatists are working to help farmers and ranchers stay in business while conserving some of the continent’s most important wildlife habitats.
Valley County Conservation District Hosts Outdoor Classroom
Processes of our prairie (POOP) – RSA – RSA was a first-time presenter, and they provided a fascinating and slightly smelly presentation. Students were provided with the opportunity to learn about dung beetles and the importance they have on soil health. The RSA team brought cow pies that included dung beetles. Several students dedicated some […]
Ranchers Stewardship Alliance to Receive Gift of Historic Webb Ranch Homestead
The property will serve as a space to cultivate new ranchers while emphasizing mentorship, community involvement, and stewardship of working lands. Malta, Montana — One year after announcing a collaborative vision for a ‘grassbank campus,’ the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (RSA) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) are proud to share a significant step forward with the […]
Save the Date: North Phillips County Ranch Tour Set for June 16
Explore working lands, share ideas, and build connections at the Hammond and Murdock Ranches. The Ranchers Stewardship Alliance invites you to join us for a day of stewardship, innovation, and community during the North Phillips County Ranch Tour on Monday, June 16, 2025. Registration is now open at www.RanchStewards.org/events. This free event welcomes anyone with […]
Conni French Continues Steadfast Leadership of Ranchers Stewardship Alliance
Taking the reins in January, French is carrying forward RSA’s mission while advancing a grassbank opportunity and navigating funding challenges. Malta, MT — The Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (RSA) is celebrating its first quarter under the leadership of Board President Conni French, who stepped into the role in January following the dedicated tenure of longtime leader […]
Cattle Grazing Expands Habitat Diversity on Wildlife Refuge
Nestled in the sweeping plains of north-central Montana, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge is a 15,551-acre sanctuary that provides beneficial habitat for an array of wildlife. From the greater sage-grouse to shorebirds, waterfowl, and pronghorn antelope, the refuge serves as a haven for species that rely on the unique sagebrush […]
Water Weary Rancher Resourcefulness
How community and the internet set one rancher’s capacity to create ablaze. Birds chirp in no-man’s land. A tall red barn, weathered paint but no hint of a lean, stands as the beacon welcoming you into the yard of Paul Williams, military veteran and newly invested Montana landowner. For all the silence, his yard is […]