The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) and its partners concluded the first-ever Montana Agriculture Labor Summit on January 22, 2026, bringing together producers, agribusiness professionals, policymakers, and industry leaders for two days of focused discussion on labor, one of agriculture’s most pressing challenges.
The first day of the Summit centered on rebuilding America’s rural workforce and strengthening domestic labor pipelines. A producer panel including MSGA President, Lesley Robinson, Montana Grain Growers Association (MGGA) President, Steve Sheffels, and Montana Wool Growers Association (MWGA) Director, Ben Lehfeldt, discussed labor challenges producers face and how those challenges are changing the landscape of the agricultural industry and rural communities.
An agribusiness panel followed, which included Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) Executive Officer, Mike Honeycutt, Public Auction Yards General Manager, Corey Schultz, and Valley Farmers Supply CEO, Tyler Harker, who shared their unique labor needs in the agricultural industry and the workforce constraints they are facing.
Kendall Cross of Red River Ag Consulting delivered two sessions—Challenges and Opportunities in Domestic Ranch Labor and Things Every Employer Should Know—providing practical strategies and tools for employee recruitment, development, and retention. Topics included creating effective job descriptions, interviewing strategies, performance management, and creative approaches to workforce compensation.
Attendees also heard from Todd O’Hair, President and CEO of the Montana Chamber of Commerce, who presented Envision 2026: Workforce Readiness for Montana’s Businesses. O’Hair highlighted the Montana Chamber’s ten-year strategic plan focused on business climate, infrastructure, workforce readiness, and entrepreneurship, and shared how legislative progress and workforce-focused initiatives are helping strengthen Montana’s talent pipeline and overall economy.
Day one concluded with a facilitated open-floor discussion for participants to share their thoughts on workforce policy and solutions.
The Summit’s final day shifted focus to foreign labor policy and the role of foreign labor in agricultural sustainability. James O’Neill of the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC) opened the day with Immigration Policy and the Future of U.S. Agriculture, reviewing recent immigration enforcement, legal labor pathways, affordability challenges, and strategies producers can use to advocate for reform.
A panel discussion featuring Jillien Streit, a producer and the current Director of the Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA), Travis Choat, owner of Homestead Cattle Company, and Brian Aklestad, Montana Pulse Crop Committee Chairman, provided firsthand perspectives on the H-2A program, including challenges, successes, costs, and practical advice for navigating the program in Montana. Panelists also shared resources for producers interested in getting started with H-2A.
The Summit continued with lunch with the U.S. Department of Labor, featuring Brian . Pasternak, Administrator of the Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Pasternak provided a deep dive into the agricultural labor programs, historical trends, eligibility requirements, Department of Labor responsibilities, and recent actions aimed at improving the program.
The Agriculture Labor Summit concluded with a forward-looking discussion on reforming the H-2A program and agriculture’s path forward, wrapping up two days of solution-driven dialogue and collaboration.
MSGA is joined by several partner organizations committed to securing the future of agriculture in Montana, including the Montana Agribusiness Association, Montana Association of State Grazing Districts, Montana Farm Bureau Federation, MGGA, Montana Pork Producers Council, and MWGA. This conference is also made possible by generous support from the Browning Kimball Foundation, Livestock Marketing Association, MDA, MDOL, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Rangeland Resources Program, Montana Pulse Crop Committee, Montana State Fund, Montana State University Dan Scott Ranch Management Program, Montana Stockgrowers Foundation, Montana Wheat and Barley Committee, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Corn Growers Association, Northern Pulse Growers Association, and Western Ag Network.
Developed in response to feedback gathered during MSGA’s Producer Profitability Initiative listening sessions, the Agriculture Labor Summit was created to tackle one of the most pressing challenges facing Montana agriculture today: access to a reliable workforce. To learn more about the Initiative, visit www.mtbeef.org.
The Montana Stockgrowers Association is a grassroots membership organization and is the trusted voice of cattle ranchers. With over 140 years of history, MSGA advocates and ensures cattle ranching remains relevant, safe and a sustainable way of life for generations to come.
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Keni Reese Lairy
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