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Thomas Herefords of Gold Creek has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Montana Leopold Conservation Award®. The award honors ranchers, farmers, and forestland owners who go above and beyond in the management of soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat on working land. Thomas Herefords, owned by Bruce and Tammy Thomas, and Richard and Shirley Thomas, will be presented with the award at the Montana Farm Bureau Annual Convention in November. They receive $10,000 for being selected.

Getting to visit Montana and see the open landscapes horseback is something many people dream of doing. At Mahlstedt Ranch near Glendive, Mont., Tienna Canen, 27, and her family are diversifying their horse ranch to offer that experience. Canen, who has worked as a trail guide in South Dakota and Arizona, came back to the family ranch that raises Quarter Horses, cattle, and feed grains. The ranch also added agritourism offerings three years ago.

Lane Nordlund visits Drange Apiary east of Billings with Jodie Drange and Dana Jansen. Jodie shares the story of her family’s 6,000-hive beekeeping business, the honey harvest, and challenges from foreign imports and urban growth. Dana highlights her family’s century-old cattle ranch, the opportunities in today’s cattle market, and her work directing Montana’s Ag Safety Program. Together, they discuss the Farm Bureau ACE leadership program and the power of advocacy.