February 9, 2021 Ranchers Stewardship Alliance meeting agenda
5 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021
Ranchers’ Stewardship Alliance February 2021 Meeting Agenda
Download the full meeting packet with zoom call-in info here, or email Laura at [email protected] for more information.
Mission Statement: Ranching, Conservation, Communities – a Winning Team!
- Introductions/Roll Call (5 p.m., 25 minutes for next five agenda items)
- Agenda additions/changes
- Outreach: Has anyone presented to any groups pertaining to RSA this last month?
- Review and approve January minutes (attached)
- Review and approve financials (attached)
- Standing Committee Reports (5:25 p.m.; 15 minutes for questions, updates):
- Conservation Committee: Conni (attached)
- Phillips County Proud Committee (annual meeting): Kelli (attached)
- Workshop/Education Committee: Conni (attached)
- Communication Committee: Dale (attached)
- Fundraising Committee: Aaron and Vicki (attached)
- Expansion Committee: Sheila (December report attached)
- Beginning Ranchers Committee: Casey – Feb. 18, 1 p.m.
- Grassbank Committee: (attached)
- Old Business (5:40 p.m., 5 minutes for questions, updates)
- Two burger cows to go to Hi-Line Pack Monday, Feb. 22 for local food bank donation
- Set 2021 board meeting dates
- New Business (5:45 p.m.)
- Montana’s Master Hunter volunteer program – Kelly Beevers, OneMontana
- Fundraising Committee proposed fundraisers – Aaron & Vicki
- Soil Health Books for local schools? – Sheila
- Sierra Dawn Stoneberg Holt presentation in schools (attached)
- Learning agenda: What have we been curious about lately? What do we want to learn more about? Leo shares: I found an article in the WesternFarmPress.com about a program that facilitates the communication between livestock grazers and land managers. I went on the site and found some value in the information: https://www.farmprogress.com/disaster/uc-platform-launches-reduce-wildfire-fuel-feed-livestock > https://matchgraze.com/
- Announcements and upcoming events:
- Grassbank Committee: Feb. 11, 4 PM
- Beginning Rancher Committee: Feb. 18, 1 p.m.
- Fundraising Committee: Feb. 22, 6 PM
- Conservation Committee: March 4, 2 PM
- RSA Book Club Dates
- Feb. 23. 7 PM
- Mar. 16, 5 PM
- Rural Resilience Webinar Series:
- Tris Munsick, Feb. 16, 7 PM
- Nicole Masters, Mar. 16, 7 PP
- Dallas Mount, Apr. 20, 7 PM
- Leo Barthelmess + Todd Parker, May 18, 7 p.m.
- Nicole Masters in Winnett, Malta, Glasgow, Circle; June 28/29, July 10, 12, 14
- Adjourn meeting (6:15 p.m.)
Bring landowner voices to Dec. 1 Private Lands/Public Wildlife meeting
In 2018, Department of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke issued Secretarial Order 3362 to improve habitat quality and big game winter range and migration corridors for antelope, elk and mule deer. The order provides funding for research and restoration projects to improve habitat within important migration corridors across the West. In response, Montana’s Fish, Wildlife and Parks more recently identified five priority areas in our state with the most relevance to big game winter range and migration.
From my family ranch’s view in the heart of ‘Priority Area D: from the Canadian border to the Musselshell Plains’ in south Phillips County, this is no surprise. We’ve long been aware of these big game movements, although we may not have been able to articulate our working knowledge with the precision of the research that has more recently tracked and measured the extent of this land’s importance to big game movements. Still, we watch wildlife move through our pastures and fields with the same seasonal ebbs and flows that dictate our ranch’s calendar and daily work. We see when and where antelope pace alongside a fence line they fail to navigate, we recognize the impact a wildlife herd can have on our livestock grazing plans, and we mend the fences where their movements burst through.
On Dec. 1, the Governor-appointed Private Lands Public Wildlife Council will host a panel discussion to hear from landowners across Montana concerning how the state may better support working lands that support wildlife movements and migrations. The Council ultimately offers recommendations to the Governor and to the state legislature on issues concerning private lands and public wildlife. As the stewards of our working lands, ranchers can and must offer valuable working knowledge to this conversation. It’s important that we offer our insights and ideas early in the process and remain engaged in the conversation.
The Ranchers Stewardship Alliance hosted a local discussion in October with our Fish, Wildlife and Parks representatives to learn more about their research and understanding of big game migrations and to share our working knowledge of the land and wildlife they’re studying. The local ranching leaders who serve on our Ranchers Stewardship Alliance Board of Directors appreciate that FWP has made concerted and conscientious efforts to seek out local landowner perspectives in these wildlife migration issues.
The Private Lands Public Wildlife Council’s Dec. 1 virtual meeting will continue that conversation by asking: How does the state of Montana better support the working lands that support wildlife movement and migration? What is working? What do landowners need more help with, and what recommendations would landowners give? Information on the meeting, including call-in information, can be found at http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/hunterAccess/plpw/.
The technical knowledge and research provided by FWP, other agencies and wildlife experts helps me make decisions that can benefit my ranch, the public’s wildlife and my rural community. In turn, our ranching experiences and observational wisdom can help agencies make plans that are realistic, agile and meaningful. This kind of collaboration doesn’t happen by accident. It takes resources and relationships and constant communication. The door is open on Dec. 1, and I’m urging fellow ranchers and private landowners to tune in to the live stream, offer their input and be a part of the conversation.
– Leo Barthelmess, President, Ranchers Stewardship Alliance
Barthelmess Ranch, Malta, MT.
Ranchers Stewardship Alliance is a rancher-led, conservation-focused non-profit in north-central Montana. We help multigenerational and beginning ranchers build the collaborative, trusting relationships and community-based solutions they need to create healthy working landscapes and vibrant rural communities. We believe that ranching, conservation, and communities build the ultimate winning team.
Ranch Stewards November 2020 Meeting Agenda
We’re looking forward to having you join us at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10 via Zoom for our November Ranchers Stewardship Alliance meeting. The meeting information is below.
Been curious about RSA but not sure how to get involved? This would be a great time to get started by joining a committee! This is where you can really make a difference in guiding the application of our mission: Ranching, Conservation, Communities — A Winning Team!
- Workshop/education committee – Bring a speaker or topic idea you want to learn more about and help share it with the community.
- Phillips County Proud Committee – Plan the social event of the season to celebrate ranching, conservation and communities!
- Conservation Committee – Review and monitor the on-the-ground conservation work of RSA and our partners.
- Communication/outreach Committee – Help share the story of how ranching, conservation and communities make a winning team!
- Expansion Committee – Work with Winnett ACES leaders to find mutually beneficial relationships and grow RSA’s impact in rural communities.
- Fundraising Committee – Develop and execute fundraising plans to ensure a sustainable future for ranching, conservation and rural communities!
If one of those sparks an interest, but you’re unable to join us on Nov. 10, just email Laura at [email protected] and let us know you’d like to be notified of the committee’s work and meetings.
5 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020
Ranchers’ Stewardship Alliance November 2020 Meeting Agenda
Connect with VIDEO:
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85639528990
Connect with AUDIO ONLY:
One tap mobile: +16699009128,,85639528990#
Dial in: 1-669-900-9128
Meeting ID: 856 3952 8990
Mission Statement: Ranching, Conservation,
Communities – a Winning Team!
Introductions/Roll Call
- Agenda additions/changes
- Outreach: Has anyone presented to any groups pertaining to RSA this last month?
- Review and approve October minutes
- Review and approve financials
Standing Committee Reports:
- Conservation Committee: Sheila Walsh
- Phillips County Proud Committee (now focused on annual meeting): Kelli French
- Workshop/Education Committee: Conni French
- Communication Committee: Dale Veseth
- Fundraising Committee: Aaron Oxarart and Vicki Olsen
- Expansion Committee: Sheila Was
- Membership Committee: Conni (with Fundraising Committee)
- Beginning Ranchers Committee: Casey
Old Business
- NFWF NGP Phase V grant application submitted – Laura/Angel
(Submitted narrative and letters of support attached)
New Business
- Welcome new staff – Linda Poole, office administrator
- ACES updates – Brent Smith
- Conservation Committee requests – Sheila
Announcements/Upcoming Events:
- Oct. 25 – Nov. 20: REGENERATE Quivera Coalition Conference, https://quiviracoalition.org/regenerate/register/
- Nov. 12: 5 p.m., Grass Bank Planning Committee meeting
- Nov. 19: 1 p.m., Communications Committee meeting
- Nov. 30: 6 p.m., Fundraising Committee meeting
- Dec. 1: Expansion Committee meeting
- Dec. 3: Conservation Committee meeting
- Dec. 8: RSA Monthly meeting
- Jan. 12: RSA Annual Meeting
Adjourn meeting
Executive board session to follow
Ranchers Stewardship Alliance August Meeting Agenda
We’re looking forward to having you join us at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11 via Zoom for our monthly Ranchers Stewardship Alliance meeting. The meeting information is below.
Been curious about RSA but not sure how to get involved? This would be a great time to get started by joining a committee! This is where you can really make a difference in guiding the application of our mission: Ranching, Conservation, Communities — A Winning Team!
- Workshop/education committee – Bring a speaker or topic idea you want to learn more about and help share it with the community.
- Phillips County Proud Committee – Plan the social event of the season to celebrate ranching, conservation and communities!
- Conservation Committee – Review and monitor the on-the-ground conservation work of RSA and our partners.
- Communication/outreach Committee – Help share the story of how ranching, conservation and communities make a winning team!
- Expansion Committee – Work with Winnett ACES leaders to find mutually beneficial relationships.
- Fundraising Committee – Develop and execute fundraising plans to ensure a sustainable future for ranching, conservation and rural communities!
If one of those sparks an interest, but you’re unable to join us on Aug. 11, just email Laura at [email protected] and let us know you’d like to be notified of the committee’s work and meetings.
[sm_hr]
5 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020 — Zoom call-in ONLY
Ranchers’ Stewardship Alliance August 2020 Board Meeting Agenda
Connect with VIDEO: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83911169537
Meeting ID: 839 1116 9537
Connect with AUDIO ONLY:
Dial by your location: +1 346 248 7799
Meeting ID: 839 1116 9537
One tap mobile: +13462487799,,83911169537#[hr]
Mission Statement: Ranching, Conservation,
Communities – a Winning Team!
- Introductions/Roll Call
- Agenda additions/changes
- Outreach: Has anyone presented to any groups pertaining to RSA this last month?
- Review and approve July minutes
- Review and approve financials
- Standing Committee Reports:
- Conservation Committee: Sheila
- Phillips County Proud Committee: Kelli
- Workshop/Education Committee: Conni
- Communication Committee: Dale and Casey
- Fundraising Committee: Aaron and Vicki
- Expansion Committee: Sheila
- Membership Committee: Conni
- Ad Hoc Committee Reports
- Beef Donation Committee: Kelsey, Vicki, Laura
- Beef Donation Committee: Kelsey, Vicki, Laura
- Old Business
- Strategic Plan/BIG GOALS review
- Migration corridors public meeting potential, a follow up from Cole Mannix’s last report – Laura
- WWF’s re-seeding grant – Claire Hood, WWF
- New Business
- Overview of the Great American Outdoors Act – Bob Sanders, Ducks Unlimited
- Wildlife Crossing Program – Naomi Alhadeff, National Wildlife Federation
- ACES update – Brent Smith
- ACES/RSA partnership ideas
- Request for Proposal, Bear Paw Mountains ranch lease – Leo
- Conservation Committee requests – Sheila
- New project approvals: North Blaine Seeding Project
- New member approval: Jared Beaver, MSU
- Sponsor Tom Curtin Horsemanship Clinic – Kelli
- Announcements/Upcoming Events:
- Aug. 29-30: Nicole Masters workshop in Malta. Register at https://tinyurl.com/y57gyv9b – POSTPONED
- Sept. 4-6: Tom Curtin Quality Horsemanship Clinic, Glasgow. Contact Aimee Kirkland at 307-620-1100 or [email protected] to register.
- Sept. 8: RSA Monthly Meeting Sept. 8, 2020; _________ p.m.
- Sept. 9-10: Montana Range Tour, Malta, MT (POSTPONED to 2021)
- Adjourn meeting
- Executive board session to follow
July Ranchers Stewardship Alliance Meeting
We’re looking forward to having you join us at 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 14 at the Malta Business Center or via Zoom for our monthly Ranchers Stewardship Alliance meeting. The meeting information is below. Curious about what kinds of discussions happen at an RSA meeting? See highlights from our June meeting here.
Planning to join us in person? Please bring a light potluck item to share, if you’re able. If you’re Zooming in, know that we’ll have a short (5-10 minutes) break around the middle of the meeting to give you a chance to step away from your computer, grab a snack, stretch your legs, etc.!
Been curious about RSA but haven’t had a chance to come to a meeting yet? This would be a great time to join us! We’ll review committee assignments and find the right place for you to jump in:
- Workshop/education committee – Bring a speaker or topic idea you want to learn more about and help share it with the community.
- Phillips County Proud Committee – Plan the social event of the season to celebrate ranching, conservation and communities!
- Conservation Committee – Review and monitor the on-the-ground conservation work of RSA and our partners.
- Communication/outreach Committee – Help share the story of how ranching, conservation and communities make a winning team!
- Expansion Committee – Work with Winnett ACES leaders to find mutually beneficial relationships.
- Fundraising Committee – Develop and execute fundraising plans to ensure a sustainable future for ranching, conservation and rural communities!
If one of those sparks an interest, but you’re unable to join us on July 14, just email and let us know you’d like to be notified of the committee’s work and meetings.
___________________________________
5 p.m., Tuesday, July 14, 2020
Malta Business Center (in person) or Zoom call-in
Ranchers’ Stewardship Alliance July 2020 Board Meeting Agenda
Connect with VIDEO:
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85950236894
Meeting ID: 859 5023 6894
Connect with AUDIO ONLY:
Dial by your location: +1 346 248 7799
Meeting ID: 859 5023 6894
One tap mobile: +13462487799,,85950236894#
Mission Statement: Ranching, Conservation, Communities – a Winning Team!
View the full meeting agenda as a PDF here: 2020_07_14_RSA Meeting Agenda
Looking forward to seeing you July 14!
June 2020 Ranchers Stewardship Alliance meeting summary
When we gather together, we learn, share, plan and grow. Thanks to all who joined our June 9 meeting! Here’s a brief summary of our discussion and plans. Please plan to be a part of our July 14 board meeting at 5 p.m. at the Malta Business Center.
Notes and announcements:
- Conservation Committee member Kelsey Malloy was interviewed by the North American Bird Conservation Initiative’s podcast.
- RSA board member Connie French was interviewed by blogger Francie Berg
- Conservation Committee member Hunter VanDonsel was recognized as Pheasants Forever Acre Maker for the Western region. Hunter has worked on more than 40,000 acres for conservation.
Old Business:
EXPANSION COMMITTEE: ACES from Winnett and RSA will meet to discuss how we can better collaborate and work together. What will this structure look like? We’ll look at potential Memorandum of Agreements between us for educations workshops, sharing staff positions, staff capacity grants, strategic planning, etc.
BEEF DONATION COMMITTEE: The Beef Donation Committee reported that area processors are booked out until at least September, and the Malta Food Bank only has room to store about a quarter of a beef if we were to donate. Next steps will be to ask if they would need/have use for an additional freezer.
GLCI GRANT: Montana’s Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative awarded RSA $4,000 per year for the next five years to promote and share ideas about virtual fencing and other grazing innovations. This funding was available through GLCI’s Demonstration Projects funding award. We’ll use this money for speaking events, workshops, video production and possible website upgrades that would allow us to host videos and/or a podcast with discussions about innovative grazing techniques.
WWF’s WHOLE RANCH PLANNING: Claire Hood reported that World Wildlife Fund is moving forward with their plans for Whole Ranch Planning curriculum, which would provide workshops, technical assistance, grazing management plans, some peer-to-peer networking, etc., to interested ranchers. They are currently working with Dallas Mount to develop that curriculum.
New Business:
RANGELAND MONITORING GROUP: Rancher Bill Milton shared information regarding the Rangeland Monitoring Group. This initiative began four years ago, motivated by a desire to document how large community landscapes were changing over time. Ranchers who were investing in building soil health, resilience, biodiversity, etc., were asking, is our work making a different? Is the landscape getting healthier? How do we know?
The goal is to combine ranchers’ experience on how their land is changing with scientific monitoring to create a deeper conversation about what’s really happening on the landscape. This is an opportunity to marry anecdotal experience and day-to-day observations with science and a more sophisticated deep dive perspective on what’s happening on the land. With this date, Bill said, they want to create more credibility and be able to prove ranching’s benefits to wildlife and rural communities. They believe there is an important public trust story to tell for ranching in this data.
Bill would like to find 3-4 ranches in the area who are tracking bird monitoring, soil monitoring, etc., to get involved. These folks share their data and information with one another and are compiling benchmarks and indicators of landscape health that will help them guide a conversation about what’s happening on a landscape over time.
His presentation was simply informational. If you’re interested in learning more, contact Bill Milton at [email protected]. A video about the Rangeland Monitoring Group, featuring Bill can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1zeqxClyqI
PC PROUD EVENT: This is typically hosted in September – could it be joined with the Range Tour event this year? Perhaps an outside social event in the park, or at a ranch? We considered a social hour and barbecue, with recognition of the past year’s successes and partnerships? Further planning was delegated to the PC Proud Committee, including Kelli French, Kelsey Malloy, Perri Jacobs and Angel DeVries.
FALL WORKSHOP SERIES: We’re open to topic ideas, perhaps focused on grazing management. In years past, this is the workshops that brought Dave Pratt, etc., to the community. Topic ideas are welcome, planning is delegated to the Education/Workshop Committee, including Connie French, Kelli French and Leo Barthelmess.
REVIEW STRATEGIC PLAN: We will review RSA’s mission, vision and strategic plan at 1 p.m., Wednesday, June 17. All board members and conservation committee members are invited.
RSA LIBRARY: We’ll be gathering books of interest to innovative ranching, conservation, rural resilience and leadership to hold and check out at the office.
MONTANA RANGE TOUR: Will be in Malta Sept. 9-10, 2020. RSA will donate $250 to sponsor the social. Learn more or register here.
NEXT MEETING: 5 p.m., July 14, Malta Business Center. Please join us! The next Conservation Committee meeting will be at 2 p.m., July 7 at the Malta Business Center. Both meetings will be offered via zoom video conference, too.
NOTE: this meeting summary does not serve as RSA’s official meeting minutes. For official meeting minutes, please contact RSA Secretary Sheila Walsh at [email protected].
June Ranchers Stewardship Alliance meeting
June 2020 Meeting Agenda
5 p.m., Tuesday, June 9, 2020
Malta Business Center (in person) or Zoom call-in
Connect with VIDEO:
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87959004482
Meeting ID: 879 5900 4482
Connect with AUDIO ONLY:
Dial by your location: +1 312 626 6799
Meeting ID: 879 5900 4482
Mission Statement: Ranching, Conservation, Communities – a Winning Team!
- Introductions/Roll Call
- Agenda additions/changes
- Outreach: Has anyone presented to any groups pertaining to RSA in the past month?
- Review and approve May minutes (see attachments)*
- Review and approve financials
- Standing Committee Reports:
- Conservation Committee: Sheila
- Employee Handbook: Connie
- Ad Hoc Committee Reports
- Expansion: Sheila
- Beef Donation Committee: Kelsey, Vicki, Laura
- Old Business
- Ducks Unlimited RCPP letter of support and funding – Leo (see attachments)*
- GLCI grant awarded – Laura (see attachments)*
- WWF Whole Ranch Planning. Does this fit into the proposed RSA coordinator position? – Claire (see attachments)*
- New Business
- Rangeland Monitoring Group – Bill Milton (see attachments)*
- Phillips County Proud event
- Fall workshop series
- Dates to review strategic plan – Leo
- Gathering of local/regional ag groups (ACES and MSU) – Sheila (see attachment)*
- RSA library at office – Leo
- Announcements/Upcoming Events:
- June 30-July 1: Livestock Marketing School, Jorgensen’s Inn & Suites, Helena: http://www.handnhandlivestocksolutions.com/calendar/marketing-school-helena-mt-june-30-july-1-2020/
- July 14: RSA Monthly Meeting July 14, 2020; _________ p.m.
- Sept. 9-10: Montana Range Tour, Malta, MT
- Adjourn meeting
- Executive board session to follow
*email Laura at [email protected] for attachments.
