Ag Labor Summit
The agricultural labor shortage continues to place significant pressure on Montana’s producers and the broader ag economy. Addressing this challenge requires open dialogue, shared expertise, and a collaborative approach. This two-day event will offer informative sessions designed for all cross sections of the industry.
The Summit is designed to bring stakeholders together for a focused conversation on workforce issues impacting our industry. The Summit will explore potential solutions including strengthening domestic labor pipelines, and improving access to non-immigrant labor programs such as H-2A.
Registration
Register NowAll Inclusive Pass
$75 / person
(Includes all events, sessions and meals during the Ag Labor Summit.)
Schedule Highlights
Download Full AgendaWed, Jan 21
Thu, Jan 22
Meet Our Speakers
Brian D. Pasternak
Administrator, Office of Foreign Labor Certification, United States Department of Labor
Brian Pasternak serves as the Administrator for the Office of Foreign Labor Certification in the Employment and Training Administration, United States Department of Labor. In this capacity, Mr. Pasternak provides executive leadership, management, and strategic direction over the operations of prevailing wage, permanent and temporary visa programs administered by the Department of Labor.
He also advises the Office of the U.S. Labor Secretary on legislative, regulatory, and policy issues affecting the organization and administration of employment-based immigration programs. Mr. Pasternak has served the Department of Labor as a senior manager for the last 23 years. He holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the College of William & Mary with a primary concentration in labor and international economics.
James O’Neill
Director of Legislative Affairs, American Business Immigration Coalition
More details coming soon!
Committee Meetings
2:30 p.m.
Welcome and Call to Order John Hagenbarth, MSGA Director
2:35 p.m.
Review and Approval of Minutes John Hagenbarth, MSGA Director
2:40 p.m.
Montana FWP Update Quentin Kujala, Policy Chief
3:00 p.m.
US Forest Service Update Shawn Heinert, Rangeland Program & Chris Savage, Renewable Resource
3:20 p.m.
Landowner/Rec and Wildlife Committee Colton Coffee, Chair
– Resolutions
3:30 p.m.
Land Use Committee Perri Jacobs, Chair
– Resolutions
3:40 p.m.
Water Committee Rich Roth, Chair
– Resolutions
3:50 p.m.
Endangered Species Committee Trina Jo Bradley, Chair
– Resolutions
4:00 p.m.
Other Business John Hagenbarth, MSGA Director
4:00 p.m.
Adjourn
2:30 p.m.
Welcome and Call to Order John Hagenbarth, MSGA Director
2:35 p.m.
Review and Approval of Minutes John Hagenbarth, MSGA Director
2:40 p.m.
Montana FWP Update Quentin Kujala, Policy Chief
3:00 p.m.
US Forest Service Update Shawn Heinert, Rangeland Program & Chris Savage, Renewable Resource
3:20 p.m.
Landowner/Rec and Wildlife Committee Colton Coffee, Chair
– Resolutions
3:30 p.m.
Land Use Committee Perri Jacobs, Chair
– Resolutions
3:40 p.m.
Water Committee Rich Roth, Chair
– Resolutions
3:50 p.m.
Endangered Species Committee Trina Jo Bradley, Chair
– Resolutions
4:00 p.m.
Other Business John Hagenbarth, MSGA Director
4:00 p.m.
Adjourn
2:30 p.m.
Welcome and Call to Order John Hagenbarth, MSGA Director
2:35 p.m.
Review and Approval of Minutes John Hagenbarth, MSGA Director
2:40 p.m.
Montana FWP Update Quentin Kujala, Policy Chief
3:00 p.m.
US Forest Service Update Shawn Heinert, Rangeland Program & Chris Savage, Renewable Resource
3:20 p.m.
Landowner/Rec and Wildlife Committee Colton Coffee, Chair
– Resolutions
3:30 p.m.
Land Use Committee Perri Jacobs, Chair
– Resolutions
3:40 p.m.
Water Committee Rich Roth, Chair
– Resolutions
3:50 p.m.
Endangered Species Committee Trina Jo Bradley, Chair
– Resolutions
4:00 p.m.
Other Business John Hagenbarth, MSGA Director
4:00 p.m.
Adjourn
What Is the Sunset Banquet?
The Sunset Banquet is an annual fundraiser that benefits the Montana Stockgrowers Foundation (MSF). Hosted in conjunction with MSGA’s MidYear Meeting, the event brings together livestock industry professionals and the local community for a night of entertainment and giving back! All proceeds from the event support the Montana Stockgrowers Foundation’s mission of investing in the Montana ranching community through education, leadership, and conservation.
A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, the Foundation was established to ensure the future of Montana’s cattle industry through producer and public education, and promotion of MSGA programs. The Foundation supports the next generation by offering educational programs, academic scholarships and providing leadership opportunities.
Location: Copper King Convention Center, King Ballroom
5:30 pm Sunset Social
Cold Drinks
Yard Games
MSF Silent Auction
6:30 pm Sunset Banquet
Prime Rib Dinner
MSF Dessert Auction
8:30 pm Sunset After-Party
Live Music by Kyle Shobe & the Walk ‘Em Boys
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Tickets to the Sunset Banquet are $75/attendee
Not attending MidYear? You can still come to the Sunset Banquet! Tickets are available to the public so bring your family and friends for a night on the town. Registration includes a prime rib dinner, access to the Sunset Social, live music by Kyle Shobe & the Walk ‘Em Boys, drawings, auctions and more. Tickets will be available onsite and online.
All proceeds from ticket sales benefit the Montana Stockgrowers Foundation.
We are excited to announce that Kyle Shobe & the Walk ‘Em Boys will be headlining the Montana Stockgrowers Foundation Sunset Banquet!
For the past fifteen years, Kyle Shobe and the Walk ‘Em Boys have entertained crowds across the west with their unique brand of country music, born and bred in the middle of Montana. As an auctioneer, rodeo announcer, and country music artist, Shobe’s list of occupations is relatively diverse, but all of them circle back to a microphone and his ability to motivate, inspire, or otherwise persuade an audience.
Kyle Shobe and his family reside in Lewistown, Montana, where he and his wife, Jodie, own and operate Lewistown Livestock Auction. In addition to their weekly sales, Kyle sells nearly 50 production sales annually in the five-state region. In 2010, Kyle was named World Champion Livestock Auctioneer by the Livestock Marketing Association. His rodeo announcing experience includes Cheyenne Frontier Days, where he has worked as the rodeo’s track announcer for 18 years.
The Walk ‘Em Boys travel the region playing concerts and dances at fairs, conventions and community events. A seasoned recording artist, Shobe has released three studio albums, blending traditional country roots with his own Montana-inspired sound.
Provided by Rib & Chop House
The Hot Seat Hustle
How to Play: Ten numbers chairs will be sold for $50/chair. Buyers will sit in the purchased chairs. Then numbers 1 – 10 will be placed into a hat. Two numbers will be pulled out of the hat. The numbers drawn will be out of the game. One chair is removed and the other empyt chair is auctioned off to the highest bidder. The highest bidder takes the empty seat. This process is repeated until only two chairs remain. The individual seated in the chair of the next number drawn is out. The last person seated is the winner!
Price: $50/chair for initial buy in. Live auction for the rest of the game.
The Golden Ticket
How to Play: MSF will have one deck of cards for purchase. Buyers will select a card, rip it in half and keep one half. The other half will be put in a raffle box and the winner will be drawn prior to the dessert auction.
Prize: Your choice of dessert from the dessert auction.
Price: $20 per card
Plinko
How to Play: To play, simply drop a token into one of the holes at the top edge of the frame. Watch it bounce from peg to peg until it lands in a slot. If you land in the highlighted slots you get a raffle ticket to drop in a prize basket of your choice. Prizes will be announced after the live auction at the Sunset Banquet. Plinko tokens can be purchased for 1 chance for $5 or 3 chances for $10.
Price: 1 for $5 or 3 for $10
Ring Toss
How to Play: The object is to toss a ring around a bottle. Successful tosses will win that bottle. The game lasts until all bottles are gone. Rings can be purchased for 1 chance for $5 or 3 chances for $10.
Prize: Liquor Bottle
Price: 1 for $5 or 3 for $10
Heads & Tails
How to Play: Our Sunset Banquet emcee will ask all Heads and Tails participants to stand up. Then participants select either “heads” or “tails” by putting their paint stick on their heads—or their tails! The emcee flips a coin and announces whether the coin came up heads or tails. Those participants whose choice matches the coin flip get to stay standing—everyone else sits down. The emcee continues asking participants to select “heads” or “tails,” then flipping the coin, eliminating more players until only a handful are left.
Then the few finalists come to the stage for the last few coin tosses until only one player is left standing. The last player left standing will win a prize!
Buying multiple paint sticks gives you a second chance! Use your additional paint sticks to keep yourself in the game. Once you run out of paint sticks, you are completely eliminated. Paint sticks can be bought for $5/stick.
Price: $5/stick
