The Nature Conservancy in Montana - Ranchers Stewardship Alliance leads effort to plan for Phillips County future

This scenic ranchland owned by Kevin and Brenda Koss borders land now owned by the American Prairie Foundation.

What the ranchers are saying...

Ranchers won’t survive in the 21st century if we keep riding our horses backward, wishing only for what used to be. We’ve got to adapt to the new world.
– Leo Barthelmess, rancher and RSA member

...we need to find ways to bring back our young people, and to pass our hard-earned lessons onto the next generation so they can carry into the future our culture and traditions, and this land that we have given our lives to care for.
– Janet Veseth, rancher
and RSA member

No "Keep Out" signs here. Ranchers in South Phillips County, Montana, know their piece of the prairie is something special. Now the rest of the world is discovering it, and with that comes big change.

But these ranchers are not just pining for the good old days. Instead they've formed a non-profit called the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance that is embracing the future and leading efforts to adapt to changing times.
Download the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance fact sheet (.pdf, 214 kb)

On February 20, 2007, the RSA hosted its third community meeting in Malta, the county seat, that attracted dozens of people representing ranching, local commerce, government and conservation. Among the conservation groups were The Nature Conservancy, the World Wildlife Fund and the American Prairie Foundation.

In the past few years, these major environmental groups have taken a keen interest in northcentral Montana, because of its treasure trove of native grasslands and abundant wildlife. The Conservancy purchased the 60,000-acre Matador Ranch in 2000 and in recent years has been operating it as a grassbank. The goal is to provide grazing opportunities for ranchers in exchange for conservation practices on the ranchers' home operations. (The RSA formed in part due to the relationships built by ranchers participating in the grassbank.)

Since then the Prairie Foundation has purchased land in South Phillips County which they intend to operate as a preserve for bison and other wildlife.

These efforts have created questions and concerns among the local community, so the RSA has been leading in efforts to bridge the communications gap and encourage understanding among all the parties. The RSA has also developed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Prairie Foundation to clarify their mutual roles and operations.

During the most recent day-long meeting, participants shared their ideas and came up with a plan to work on three major initiatives. They include agreements to work together on joint projects dealing with weed control, youth education and studies looking at the economics of ranching, conservation and tourism in the local area.

Thanks to the efforts of the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance, these community meetings are helping the various groups understand and learn from each other. Joint projects should help to further promote trust and good working relationships.