Ranching in the Heart of Montana

By Andi Anderson

Traveling through central Montana’s rolling hills, with mountains surrounding golden wheat fields, visitors joined the National Association of County Agricultural Agents’ Animal Science pre-tour from June 27-28. This event was part of a professional conference highlighting livestock operations and Montana’s agricultural legacy.

Historically, sheep dominated south-central Montana. Shepherds still guide flocks into mountain pastures, living in traditional wagons until October. The Charles Bair family once owned over 300,000 sheep, supporting WWI efforts by supplying wool. Their legacy continues through the Bair Ranch Foundation, working with Montana State University (MSU) on wool research, livestock tracking, and virtual fencing.

Today, beef cow-calf operations—mainly Angus—are more common. In Montana’s wide grazing lands, 20-60 acres are needed per cow. Calves are born in spring and sent to background feedlots in fall. The Judith Bain Feedyard raises 35,000 calves annually, later finished in Canada. Cowboys on horseback still monitor the pens daily, although four-wheel vehicles are now replacing horses.

Horse prices are rising, limiting cattle-handling training. At Birdtail Ranch, young horses and their mothers galloped across pastures, showing the beauty of equine breeding. Bison, once widespread, now lives mainly in national parks or private ranches. At Big Sky Bison, a lesser-known ranch, raises bison for hunting, meat, and tours, demonstrating rural entrepreneurship.

Wildlife like deer and pronghorn antelope roam freely, sharing space with U.S. intercontinental ballistic missile sites. At Great Falls, the group visited the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, learning about their historic journey.

Water remains vital in Montana. One ranch uses a mountain water drop to generate hydroelectric power, though only for part of the year.

The conference fostered learning, new ideas, and lasting connections—proving knowledge is a lifelong investment.

Photo Credit: michigan-state-university-msu