Helena, MT (April 25, 2025) – This spring, the Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) traveled twice to Washington D.C. to continue carrying the message of Producer Profitability to Congress. MSGA leadership and staff met with Montana’s congressional delegation, congressional staff, and agencies leadership sharing the work the association has been focusing on around Producer Profitability.
“MSGA’s time in D.C. has been successful. We continue to discuss challenges around labor, taxes, and keeping producers on the land,” said MSGA President Lesley Robinson, “These trips have allowed us to continue to cultivate valuable relationships with our delegation and federal agencies as we work toward increasing profitability and creating solutions for the challenges producers are facing.”
In early March, President Lesley Robinson was joined by First Vice President Turk Stovall of Billings, Second Vice President Monty Lesh of Miles City, and Executive Vice President Raylee Honeycutt for the trip. The leadership team from MSGA met with each of Montana’s congressional delegation members. In addition to congressional meetings, MSGA attended meetings with USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz, Bureau of Land Management Acting Director John Raby, and House Natural Resource Committee staff.
Conversations focused on the elimination of the estate tax, key tax policy provision, and the challenges ranchers are still facing regarding securing labor, and minimizing barriers to entry from young or beginning livestock producers. The group had the opportunity to meet with the Department of Labor Director of Program Services, Brian Pasternak, about H-2A programs. MSGA highlighted key areas and needed revisions to the H-2A program that would streamline the process, making it quicker and easier for ranchers to hire additional labor.
During the first full week of April, President Lesley Robinson was joined by Montana Public Lands Council (MPLC) Chair Vicki Olson, current MPLC board member and past MSGA district director Dusty Hahn, and MSGA Government Affairs Specialist Ellie Brighton.
On the hill, the delegation met with Senator Daines, Senator Sheehy, and Congressman Zinke. In these meetings the priorities included thanking them for their support and co-sponsorship of the Death Tax Repeal Act, discussing USDA Wildlife Services hiring freeze, and emphasizing repeals to harmful regulatory actions taken by the Biden administration.
In addition, the group attended meetings with USDA APHIS Wildlife Services, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Land Management and heard updates from the House Natural Resource Committee, Senate Energy and Natural Resource, and the Western Caucus.
While in D.C., the group had the opportunity to sit in two meetings of the Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee, of which Senator Daines is a member. One committee meeting included a mark-up of Senator Daines’ bill for the Bull Mountain Mine, which passed out of committee. The second day, the group attended what was scheduled to be BLM Director Nominee Kathleen Sgamma’s confirmation hearing. Unfortunately, it was announced at that hearing that her name had been withdrawn from consideration.
MSGA is committed to carrying Montana ranching families’ stories and messages to Washington D.C. These two very busy but successful weeks in Washington D.C. allowed MSGA to bring forward solutions to various issues, helping our delegation flag important priorities for the new administration and gain a better understanding of Producer Profitability.
To learn more about the Montana Stockgrowers Association and the organization’s work on behalf of Montana ranchers, please visit www.mtbeef.org.
The Montana Stockgrowers Association is a grassroots membership organization and is the trusted voice of cattle ranchers. With 140-years of history, MSGA advocates and ensures cattle ranching remains relevant, safe and a sustainable way of life for generations to come.
MSGA MEDIA CONTACT:
Keni Reese
Director of Marketing & Communications
406-442-3420
To view more MSGA news, visit https://mtbeef.org/news/
