A poetic exploration of community as I experience it in rural Montana.

The opportunity to celebrate a friend realizing their dreams holds a particular kind of undeniable joy. Being able to do while also experiencing a transformative experience, now that’s down right the best. My trip to the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness as a participant of Wide Sky Retreats encompassed all of this and more.

At Topos & Anthros, we work with non-profits on strategy and engagement. Currently we are working with One Montana on a number of strategic initiatives including the landowner recruitment and retention component of their signature Master Hunter Program. Launched in 2018 to field more ethical, educated, and effective hunters, the Master Hunter Program provides landowners opportunities to build relationships with hunters in an effort to manage wildlife on their property.

Though there are countless ways to enjoy natural and wild places, the USFS cabin rental program provides a unique experience to convene with some of the most beautiful places throughout our country. Maintained by the USFS, the cabins are available on a first come, first serve basis by booking through the National Recreation Reservation System. Almost every aspect of staying in a USFS cabin or tower requires a bit more work than a typical vacation rental or cabin-getaway. In our experience, the reward is well worth the (mostly enjoyable) work.

As the average age of working landowners increases and younger generations increasingly choose jobs and lives in more urban or populated areas, the rural landscape is changing. And just as often as these changes present challenges, they present opportunities. While in Maine this spring, we visited two working farms that have addressed these types of challenges with creativity, making each challenge an opportunity to build community and connection around working lands: Wolfe’s Neck in Freeport and Aldermere Farm in Rockport.

As part of the Grassfed Exchange conference in Santa Rosa, California, we had the fortunate opportunity to learn more about the business of dairies that graze cattle in pasture and sell organic milk while touring two family-owned dairies, McClelland Dairy and Beretta Dairy.

Reducing Conflict with Grizzly Bears, Wolves and Elk, A Western Landowner’s Guide is now available. This informative landowner’s guide produced by Western Landowners Alliance features case studies from ranchers across the west that address the challenge of how to share and manage a wild, working landscape that sustains both people and wildlife.

For the second year, the Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) and Montana Stockgrowers Foundation (MSF) are holding their “Cattle Drive” feeder calf program, which raises funds for MSF. The program allows folks to contribute toward the efforts of MSF beyond the more traditional cash donations.

The Forest Service has multiple programs to promote healthy forests on public and private forests including the Community Forest Program, the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program, and the Forest Legacy Program.