The Montana Farm Bureau Federation held their 105th annual convention in Billings this week. Members developed the grassroots policy of the organization, elected officers and celebrated another successful year of advocating on behalf of Montana’s agriculture community.
During the officer elections, 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.
Iola “Olie” Else received Montana Farm Bureau Distinguish Service Award during convention. 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.
Upon accepting her award, Else noted, “We need to attract and keep young people involved in agriculture. Montana Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Program is so important to keep young people active in agriculture. There are challenges, but many of my students have been able to go back to be an integral part of their family farms and ranches.”
Nick Courville won the MFBF Young Farmer and Rancher Discussion Meet. In doing so, he received the keys to a Polaris Ranger® and will be eligible to compete in the national competition which will be held during the American Farm Bureau Convention in January in San Antonio.
The three other contestants were Jeremiah Peterson from Bozeman, John Walker from Glasgow and Tienna Canen from Glendive. The Discussion Meet, which is open to Farm Bureau members ages 18-35, is meant to simulate a committee meeting with ideas discussed and solutions developed.
###
MFBF
