Meet the Leadership Series – Chisholm B. Christensen

Meet the Leadership Series – Chisholm B. Christensen

Chisholm B. Christensen

Hometown

Hinsdale, Montana

About

I am a 5th generation rancher living and working on the same homestead my family settled over 100 years ago near Hinsdale, MT. Enterprises of the ranch include the cow/calf operation, small grains and hay production, as well as a loomix cattle supplement dealership. I graduated from Montana State University Bozeman with honors in the spring of 2013 where I earned a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Agricultural Education and was a member of the MSU Rodeo Team and Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity. I moved home when an opportunity arose for me to run my own cows close to home and my father was elected to a national position requiring his absence from and therefore my presence on the ranch.

Occupation

Self-employed rancher

What sparked your interest in agriculture?

I was lucky enough to have parents who really cultivated my involvement in the business from an early age and in a positive way. My dad taught school throughout my elementary years; so I rode to school with him every day and maybe we got to bucket feed bulls before school and tag calves after. They made it fun. I believe I was also extremely fortunate that my developmental years coincided with pretty good years for the agriculture industry as a whole. Having previously come through the mini depression era of the 80s, I think the people around me were quick to smile and I didn’t see the severe drought or price collapses that comes with the job and wasn’t subject to that degree of negativity or stress. I fell in love with the lifestyle; it wasn’t a job as much as it was an adventure.

What makes a great leader?

In my mind, a great leader needs mainly two things; those being purpose and ambition. He or she must have resolve in the topic of their interest as well as the motivation to take action towards directly influencing the times, people, and policy falling within the scope of that interest.

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?

I think if I could learn to do anything it would be to see things truly empathetically. People so often listen just enough to know when it is their turn to talk again or to “win” the debate. If I could have a complete understanding of how someone feels and look at issues from strictly their point of view and without any judgement real change and growth would be possible in both of us. People want to be understood but a lot less people really want to understand.

Where do you hope to be in five years?

Five years from now I hope to have grown my herd, holdings, knowledge base, and influence to a point where I can successfully provide myself and family with a comfortable, enriching way of life.

What do you hope to gain from the leadership series?

Through participation in the Montana Stockgrowers Association Leadership Series I hope to gain personal and professional growth while attaining skills and industry relationships that will help me in becoming a better producer and member of the agriculture industry community.