MidYear Meeting
The MidYear Meeting is one of two meetings that is held to set association policy that guides the Association through the year.
While the main focus of the meeting is for the setting of interim policy we also use the meeting as a networking opportunity for the MSGA membership. Ranchers and allied industry professionals gather together from across the state of Montana for two days filled with meetings, entertainment, education, and fun!
Registration
Online registration closes Friday, May 23, 2025 at 11:00 pm.
All Inclusive Pass
$150 Members | $224 Non-Members*
(Includes Opening General Session, Committee meetings, Coffee Talk, Closing General Session, Breakfast, and Sunset Banquet)
Meeting Registration
$75 Members | $150 Non-Members*
(Includes Opening General Session, Committee meetings, Coffee Talk, Closing General Session, and Breakfast – Does NOT include ticket to the Sunset Banquet)
Sunset Banquet
$75/attendee
(Includes access to Sunset Banquet only)
*Non-Member registrations will receive a complimentary MSGA membership until Sept 30, 2025.
Schedule Highlights
Download Full AgendaWed,
May 28
2025
Thu,
May 29
2025
Band: Kyle Shobe & the Walk ‘Em Boys
Fri,
May 30
2025
Meet Our Speakers
Opening General Session
As part of MSGA’s exclusive member benefit, the MSGA Ranch Weather Radar, Brian Bledsoe will present weather modeling and forecasting for the upcoming summer season and beyond.
I believe that my extensive background in agriculture and meteorological communication (spent 28 years as a broadcast meteorologist) makes me unique. My goal is to take complex weather forecasts and make them meaningful and actionable to agriculture producers, insurance companies, event planners, and any other businesses. Whether you need a forecast for a specific day or for months in advance, I can provide the accuracy that you need to properly manage your risk. I started consulting for my family farm and ranch over 20 years ago and continue to do so today. That means I have skin in the game. So while you can get weather information anywhere today, I believe that it is the personal touch that I provide that truly sets me apart from the rest.
Opening General Session
Kim Brackett and her husband, Ira, operate Brackett Ranches Limited Partnership, a cow-calf and stocker operation based in southern Idaho on the Idaho/Nevada border. The ranch participates in third-party verification programs to provide consumers with more information about how their food is raised. The primary goal of her operation is to produce superior quality calves, while also improving the range of health on the ranch.
Brackett has a long history of service in the cattle industry and has chaired the 2020-2025 Beef Industry Long Range Plan Task Force, served as president of the Idaho Cattle Association, chair of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, chair of the Beef Quality Assurance Advisory Group. In 2018, Brackett was awarded an Eisenhower Fellowship which provided her the opportunity to study abroad and research sustainability issues affecting the cattle industry.
Coffee Talk Presentation
Chris Fisk was raised in Dillon and attended college at the University of Montana Western, and MSU Billings where he received a B.S. and master’s degree in education. Fisk’s concentration in teaching was that of Montana and Butte history, which he retired from in 2022.
In 2010, Fisk received the National American History Teacher of the Year award presented by the Daughters of the American Revolution, receiving his award in Washington D.C. He was also awarded the Heritage Keepers award by Montana Historical Society and was inducted into the Educators Hall of Fame in 2013 from the University of Montana Western.
Most recently, Fisk has been seen on national TV with the likes of Haunted Collector, The Dead Files, Codes and Conspiracies, as well as numerous documentaries and most recently finished a Series for the Travel and Discovery Chanel called “The Ghosts of Devils Perch.” Fisk has a wife and two daughters Hunter, Rosie, and Rebbeca.
Closing General Session
Florida native, Matthew McQuagge, completed his bachelor’s degree in animal sciences at the University of Florida. While at UF, Matthew was a member of the meat animal evaluation, livestock, and horse judging teams. After graduation, he went to work for Cactus Feeders in southwest Kansas for two years. Following this, Matthew moved to Colorado to pursue a master’s degree in animal sciences with an emphasis on reproduction at Colorado State University. He is now finishing up a Ph.D. in the beef systems group, still within the Animal Sciences Department at CSU. His research focuses on profitability indicators in Colorado beef cow-calf operations. Matthew joined CattleFax as an analyst in August of 2023. His primary responsibilities include research and analysis on the cattle markets with an emphasis on the cow-calf and stocker segments.
Closing General Session
As the vice president of agriculture, Bajwa oversees the teaching, education and research network that stretches across Montana with seven agricultural research centers, five academic departments and five Bozeman-based campus farms and ranches. The College of Agriculture and Montana Agricultural Experiment Station collectively conduct research to address production challenges to benefit the agricultural industry in Montana.
Bajwa has an extensive background in agricultural engineering and developing technology for smart agriculture. She is a highly regarded researcher of precision agriculture and has provided international leadership into research and education for applying remote sensing and unmanned aerial systems to agricultural systems.
Committee Meetings
Land Use and Environment
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
Tax, Finance and Ag Policy
4:00 p.m.
Welcome and Call to Order | Monty Lesh, MSGA Director
4:05 p.m.
Review and Approval of Minutes | Monty Lesh, MSGA Director
4:10 p.m.
Trump Tax Update | Ryan Tangedal, WIPFLI
4:30 p.m.
Property Tax Update | Paula Gilbert, Dept. of Revenue
4:50 p.m
General Ag Committee | Todd Olsen, Chair
– Resolutions
5:10 p.m.
Tax Committee | Todd Olsen, Chair
– Resolutions
5:30 p.m.
Other Business | Monty Lesh, MSGA Director
5:30 p.m.
Adjourn
Beef Production & Marketing
9:00 a.m.
Welcome and Call to Order Keith Dynneson, MSGA Director
9:03 a.m.
Review and Approval of Minutes Keith Dynneson, MSGA Director
9:05 a.m.
Department of Livestock Update
Mike Honeycutt, Executive Officer
Jay Bodner, Brands Administrator
Dr. Tahnee Syzmanski, State Vet
9:40 a.m.
Cattle Health, Brand & Theft Committee Dusty Hahn, Chair
– Resolutions
9:50 a.m.
Marketing Committee Kirk Donsbach, Chair
– Resolutions
10:00 a.m.
Cattle Feeder Committee Andy Kellom, Chair
– Resolutions
10:10 a.m.
Seedstock Committee Update Leoma Wells, Chair
– Resolutions
10:20 a.m.
Other Business Keith Dynneson, MSGA Director
10:30 a.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
Silent Auction
Bid OnlineBids close on Thursday, May 29 at 8:00 pm. Bidders must create a DVAuction account to bid. Proceeds benefit the Montana Stockgrowers Foundation.
TOURS
MSGA will be offering tours of local area attractions for attendees. Please sign up for tours when registering online. Tours are free for MSGA MidYear Meeting attendees. Limited slots available.
World Museum of Mining – Underground Tour
The World Museum of Mining is one of the few museums in the world located on an actual mine yard – the Orphan Girl Mine. The “Girl” is the centerpiece of the Museum and is marked by a 100 foot high steel headframe. Once mined to a depth of 3200 feet, she produced silver, lead and zinc from 1875 until 1956. Visitors to the museum are able to see, feel and taste life in this mining camp by touring the massive steel headframe and venturing into the depths of the Orphan Girl Mine on the Underground Mine Tour. An experience so realistic, you can almost see their blackened faces and hear their exhausted sighs at the conclusion of the workday.
Location: 155 Museum Way, Butte, MT 59701
Old Butte Historical Adventures– Underground City Tour
Old Butte Historical Adventures was established in 2004 by a small group of local historians and property owners working together to preserve and display the colorful history of Butte, Montana – ‘The Richest Hill on Earth’ – we offer family friendly walking tours of this wild era from the outside of buildings to the inside of historic uptown Butte. The Tours cover every decade from the 1890s through the 1950s. The City Underground Tour includes the Roaring 20’s Rookwood Speakeasy, a replica of a 1950’s Barber Shop, and the Old City Jail.
Location: 117 North Main Street, Butte, Montana 59701
Headframe Spirits Tour
Recently named the 2024 Montana American Single Malt Distillery of the Year, Headframe Stills and Spirits is more than an award winning spirits company. They are a significant catalyst for change and community development, playing a pivotal role in revitalizing spaces throughout Butte.
Learn how they pair innovation with social responsibility to make products that are authentically Montanan, from still to spirit, while exploring reimagined spaces of Butte’s past.
This private tour includes:
- Tour of the Kelley Manufacturing facility, the Largest Single Malt Distillery West of the Mississippi
- Special viewing of the barrel rickhouse
- A complimentary drink ticket for the Tasting Room
Location: 341 Anaconda Rd, Butte, MT 59701
Lodging Information
Reservations must be made before April 28, 2025, to receive the discounted rate.
Reservations may be made by calling the hotel directly at (406) 533-6960.
Please mention the Montana Stockgrowers Association to receive the discounted rate of $189 + taxes and fees.
