The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) concluded the final day of its 141st Annual Convention & Trade Show on Friday, December 12, celebrating three days of policy work, producer education, industry partnerships, and recognition of Montana’s ranching community.
The day opened with the Beef Breakfast, sponsored by Marsh McLennan Agency. Keynote speakers Gary Heilig, Jr. of Crop West Insurance and Tory Johnson of Marsh McLennan Agency shared insights into risk management strategies shaping today’s agricultural landscape.
During the Beef Production and Marketing Committee Meeting, members received updates from the Montana Department of Livestock on livestock brands and animal health.
Friday’s final set of Stockgrowers Colleges offered diverse educational opportunities, including topics on emerging issues in the livestock industry, genomic education through the 2024 Cattle Drive Program, an update on the Common Ground Coalition, and woody encroachment impacts on water and forage.
General Session II, sponsored by the Montana Ag Safety Program with speaker sponsorship from the Northern Hotel, featured keynote speakers Greg Hanes, CEO of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, and Gene Copenhaver, NCBA President-Elect. Both leaders highlighted national beef demand trends and organizational priorities.
At the President’s Lunch, sponsored by Silveus Insurance, keynote speaker and climatologist Brian Bledsoe shared with attendees that Montana will continue to see snowpack into early 2026. The session also included a special update from Montana Supreme Court Chief Justice Cory Swanson.
MSGA recognized outgoing board members Keith Dynneson of Sidney, Dean Lerum of Galata, John Hagenbarth of Glen, and Rich Roth of Helena for their years of dedicated service. The Montana Stockgrowers Foundation also honored the 2025 Heritage Scholarship recipients which included, Tyeson Gravenhof of Roundup, Taryn Martinell of Lima, and Andy Moore of Miles City.
The Young Stockgrowers Meeting featured Ken and Marni Gaskill of Horizon Marketing Agency, who shared strategies for getting started and building a successful future in the livestock industry.
During the Final Reading of Resolutions, MSGA members completed the association’s grassroots policy process, giving final approval to policies that will guide MSGA’s work in the coming year.
The Grand Finale Banquet, sponsored by the Producer Partnership, Little Belt Cattle Company, and the Montana Grain Growers Association, capped off the evening with celebrations and fundraising, raising over $100,000 for the association. MSGA and its sponsors raffled and auctioned multiple prizes during the banquet. Recipients included:
- Nutra-Lix Supplement: Tom Ostendorf of Powderville
- Producer Partnership 27 Tons of Hay Auction: Paul Deschmeaker of Billings
- Young Stockgrowers Cust Fire Pit Auction: Race King of Dillon
- Blue and Gold Massey Tractor Raffler: Dale Flikkema of Bozeman
- Agri-Best Feeds One Ton of SweetPro Feed: Gene Curry of Valier
- Agri-Best Feeds One Pallet of Redmond Natural Trace Mineral: Lane Nordlund of Belt
- Western Ranch Supply $500 Gift Certificate: Cheryl Curry of Valier
The celebration continued at the After Party, sponsored by Visit Billings, featuring live music from Fast Forward, sponsored by Bank of the Rockies. The evening provided a perfect close to the convention, highlighting the hard work and achievements of the past year as well as the members who drive Montana’s beef industry forward.
MSGA’s 2026 Annual Convention and Trade Show will be held in Billings, Mont. December 3 – 5, 2026. Visit www.mtbeef.org later this year for event details.
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Montana Stockgrowers Association
