A program of Montana Stockgrowers Association

M Bar Academy

Creating Community Leaders

Leadership-Series-Logo-web_800x800px

The Montana Stockgrowers Associations M Bar Academy fosters and grows leaders in the Montana ranching industry and provides individuals the opportunity to improve leadership skills, gain understanding of industry issues, and develop the expertise needed to provide leadership in Montana Stockgrowers, its partner organizations, public service, and in the cattle industry.

Graduates will gain skills to advance their proficiency and competency in the following areas:

  • Communication and Advocacy
  • Connecting with Others 
  • Coaching and Mentoring
  • Industry Knowledge
  • Leadership knowledge and application
  • Public Policy awareness and decision making
  • Self Awareness

PROGRAM INFORMATION

Approximately fifteen participants will commit to attending six in-person sessions and three MSGA events during a 18-month period, starting June 2024 and ending December 2025. Throughout the series, class participants will broaden their understanding of all aspects of industry, economic, political and cultural issues, expand their network, and participate in group and individual projects that reinforce learning and have direct applications.

2024 - 2025 COHORT


Lacey Clark – Twin Bridges, Mont.
Lacey is the owner/operator of Rockin’ LP Custom Leather, LLC, and worked for 15 years as a licensed mental health counselor. In addition to building her cattle herd, she also kickstarted the Super Stars 4-H Club in Madison County.


RJ Fitzgerald -Dillon, Mont.
RJ serves as a commercial account executive for First West Insurance who specializes in risk management for farms and ranches. He also works alongside his family’s cattle and sheep operation in Beaverhead county and is a member of MSGA’s tax and agriculture policy committee.


Garrett Harshbarger – Whitehall, Mont.
Garrett is the owner/operator of Z-E Fencing and has been growing a portion of his family’s ranch since 2019. While attending Montana State University, Garrett obtained a degree in agricultural business and participated in various agriculture related groups including the MSU Collegiate Stockgrowers, Alpha Zeta Agriculture Honors Fraternity, and Collegiate FFA.


Heidi Kool – Toston, Mont.
Heidi serves as the program coordinator for the Montana Stockgrowers Foundation (MSF) which invests in Montana’s ranching community through leadership, education, and conservation. Heidi is involved on her family’s ranch operation, Thousand Hills Angus, in Toston.


Wyatt Lesh – Miles City, Mont.
Wyatt currently works as a real estate salesperson at Lesh & Company Real Estate as well as his family’s cattle operation, Lesh Cattle Company, in Miles City. Wyatt holds a member position on the Miles City Ag Council.


Asha Malcolm – Livingston, Mont.
Asha is currently enrolled in Syracuse College of Law’s Juris Doctor program. and is the owner/operator of Malcolm Mile Hi Ranch. Asha has built her herd from the ground up and has obtained clientele from around the country utilizing her herd’s genetics. She is also actively involved in her community and has coached many livestock clinics on showing, fitting, and feeding and helps 4-H members get animals ready for fair.


Celia Rigler – Helena, Mont.
Celia serves as the ag policy advisor under Governor Greg Gianforte and assists on her family’s cattle operation near Gardiner and Lodge Grass when not at the Capitol. As a policy liaison, Celia tracks and drafts comments pushing back against federal overreach, conducts outreach to constituents, and assists in gathering input for policies that affect agricultural interests in Montana.


Katharine Taylor – Jefferson City, Mont.
Katharine works under Governor Greg Gianforte as a special projects coordinator. She has held positions with multiple grassroots organizations such as a Collegiate Stockgrowers member and a Collegiate Young Farmers and Ranchers member at Montana State University, American Business Women Association Big Sky Chapter member, Lewis and Clark County Young Farmer and Rancher Chair, and the Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher State Committee.

M BAR LEADERS IN THE NEWS

Central Montana Producers Attend First Session of MSGA M Bar Academy

By Kris Descheemaeker, Lewistown News-Argus

Three area cattle producers have been chosen for the inaugural class of the Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) M Bar Academy. Stan Olson of Hobson, Leoma Wells of Roy, and Amber Sitz of Lewistown attended their first class for the M Bar Academy in Butte the second week in June along with 12 others from across the state of Montana.

ACADEMY GRADUATES

THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS

If you are interested in supporting the M Bar Academy Leadership Program, please contact Joey Berndt at (406) 442-3420 or [email protected].

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PROGRAM CONTACT

Questions regarding the M Bar Academy can be directed to:

Raylee Honeycutt
[email protected]
(406) 442-3420