The 105th Annual Montana Farm Bureau (MFBF) Convention, held in Billings from November 18-21, brought together agricultural leaders, ranchers, farmers, and advocates from across the state to discuss critical issues facing Montana’s agricultural community, elect new officers, and celebrate key accomplishments in conservation and community support. Here’s a look at some of the major events and highlights from this year’s convention:
Young Farmer and Rancher Discussion Meet Winner – Nick Courville, Northwest Counties Farm Bureau
Collegiate Young Farmer and Rancher Discussion Meet Winner – Cadence (Cady) Brown, University of Montana Western
Delegates Elects MFB Leadership
Cyndi Johnson, a small grains farmer from Conrad, was re-elected as president. Casey Mott, a cattle rancher from Custer, takes over as vice president, succeeding Gary Heibertshausen who retired.
Jese Stetson, a cattle rancher from Fromberg, replaces Mott as District 4 Director. Re-elected to the board were District 2 Director J.M. Peck (cattle rancher, Melrose), District 6 Director Don Steinbeisser, Jr. (diversified farmer, Sidney), District 8 Director Ed Bandel (wheat farmer, Floweree), and District 10 Director Jim Willis (cattle producer, Wilsall).
Nick Courville, a Charlo rancher, remains the Young Farmer & Rancher Chair. Carla Lawrence from Boyd continues her role as Women’s Leadership Committee Chair.
Wickens Salt Creek Ranch of Hilger Receives 2024 Montana Leopold Conservation Award
Emma and Eric Wickens, Wickens Salt Creek Ranch in Hilger, received the 2024 Montana Leopold Conservation Award. The award honors ranchers, farmers, and forestland owners who go above and beyond in the management of soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat on working land. The Wickens received a crystal plaque and $10,000.
The Wickens returned home to take the reins of Eric’s family’s Wickens Salt Creek Ranch in 2007. They have since prioritized conservation practices to improve the health of their grasslands. Doing so nourishes their cattle and builds a more resilient ranch and rural community for their five children.
Rotationally grazing their Black Angus cattle contributes to nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration. With assistance from the federal Conservation Stewardship Program, prairies have been restored for livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. Elsewhere on their 4,700 acres they grow a diverse rotation of peas, barley, hay, and wheat using no-till practices. A mix of sunflower, turnip, sorghum, and radish cover crops maintains continuously living roots in the soil to improve water infiltration and increase soil health.
Lola “Olie” Else Receives MFBF Distinguished Service Award
Lola “Olie” Else received Montana Farm Bureau Distinguish Service Award. Else is a well-known, beloved adviser of all things agriculture at the University of Montana Western in Dillon. A member of the Southwest Counties Farm Bureau, Else started a Collegiate Young Farmers and Ranchers at University of Montana-Western in 2013.
Else has been an agricultural advocate, beginning with her year as Miss Rodeo Idaho and evolving into her pivotal role in establishing the Natural Horsemanship Programs and advising the Collegiate Young Farmers and Ranchers at the university. She became Head Rodeo Coach at UM-Western in 1994, a position she held until 2018.
Her Collegiate YF&R students have read Ag Accurate books to kindergarten students and first graders in the Dillon schools weekly, provided snacks of cheese and jerky, and discussed the origin of the snacks. The YF&R club also shared their knowledge about their horses, cows, pigs and an occasional dog with the same little people at the grade school to observe Heritage Day, a celebration of Montana’s statehood.
Several UM Western YF&R members have participated in the Farm Bureau Collegiate Discussion Meet Competition and gone on to compete at national Young Farmer & Rancher Conferences. Most of them had no idea they even wanted to compete at the local level until she ferreted out that little pocket of competitiveness and helped them prepare.
The long-time advisor owns 50 head of Angus cows that she feeds, breeds and calves by herself. She is the only woman and the only person to have been selected National Intercollegiate Rodeo Coach of the Year twice, in 2004 and 20018, an honor voted by student rodeo athletes.
Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee Donates $9250 to Montana Food Bank Network
The Montana Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) Committee presented a check for $9250 to the Montana Food Bank Network (MFBN) during their luncheon on Tuesday.
The donation came from proceeds raised during the YF&R Hoofin’ it for Hunger race September 21 in Dillon, thanks to generous local sponsors, participants and county Farm Bureaus. Although this marked the 14th year for the race, in 2020 and 2021 it was held virtually. This year, participants competed in a 5K or 10K. Virtual runners who opted not to run made up a portion of the proceeds to the Montana Food Bank Network.
YF&R Committee Chair Nick Courville said, “We had another successful year of Hoofin’ it for Hunger in Dillon. The community support is amazing and makes it enjoyable to hold our event there. The partnership with the Montana Food Bank Network is rewarding as we both strive to raise awareness for hunger relief in Montana and continue this incredible relationship.”
MFBN Chief Development Officer Bill Mathews noted, “The Hoofin’ it for Hunger event has created awareness for hunger relief in Montana since 2011, and it has raised $96,550 cumulative, including this year’s donation of $9250 for the Montana Food Bank Network. That amount has provided at least 386,200 meals for those in need. Montana Food Bank Network is grateful for the support and partnership with the Montana Farm Bureau Federation and Young Farmers & Ranchers, plus their dedication to the Hoofin’ it for Hunger event.”
Mathews added that this year, the donation is especially welcome. “Food insecurity continues to rise in 2024 across the state due to inflation and higher food costs. In Montana, one in nine adults and one in six children are food insecure. Donations like this have a significant impact on those facing food insecurity on a day-to-day basis.”
Montana Food Bank Network (MFBN) is Montana’s only statewide food bank and a member of Feeding America. MFBN distributes food to 360 partners that include community food banks, pantries, schools, senior centers, and shelters to end hunger in Montana. MFBN’s hunger relief programs include BackPack, Hunters Against Hunger, Mail-a-Meal, No Kid Hungry, Retail Food Rescue, and SNAP outreach. MFBN advocates for long-term policy solutions to strengthen public nutrition programs and address the root causes of hunger. For more information, visit https://mfbn.org.
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MFBF/Northern Ag Network
