Land Trust News

Kelly Kountz Photo / Courtesy of Gallatin Valley Land Trust

Montana Neighbor Awards Set for Sept. 17 at the Capitol

Mark Machler of Lewistown and Jim and Laurel Hagenbarth of the Big Hole area are being saluted by Governor Bullock and others during a Montana Neighbor Award ceremony in the Governor’s Reception Room at 11:00 AM on Monday, Sept. 17. The Montana Neighbor Award recognizes Montana landowners for their stewardship, community engagement and neighborly access, and both the Montana Association of Land Trusts and The Nature Conservancy in Montana are part of the Montana Neighbor Award committee. Brian Kahn leads the effort. Mark Machler farms near Lewistown and near Roy, and has been instrumental in the restoration and conservation of Big Spring Creek. He is also a recognized community leader through his cooperative work with the NRCS, the local conservation district, and others. Jim and Laurel Hagenbarth are well known and well respected landowners and agriculture industry leaders in southwest Montana who have been active in the Big Hole Watershed Committee’s water management and grayling conservation efforts, and much more.