Land Stewardship Award
Landowners and residents throughout Missoula County take stewardship of land and water seriously. Many embark on projects and practices that make a difference. We aim to celebrate these exemplary stewards in our annual Land Stewardship Award program. This program is a part of the Open Lands Citizen Advisory Committee's efforts. Nominations open annually each spring.
Who is eligible?
Private landowners, managers or volunteers conducting outstanding stewardship practices, activities, or projects on private lands can be nominated for the award. Land must be within Missoula County. We are looking for stewardship practices that provide lasting benefits to the landscape and natural resources. We are interested in how these stewardship efforts provide community benefits such as open space, clean water, flourishing riparian areas, healthy soils, preservation of historic agricultural structures, or improved wildlife habitat. There are many ways to practice outstanding stewardship. We’d like to see creative and beneficial practices from which others can learn.
Award recipients are recognized by Missoula County Commissioners in both a special public meeting and at a celebration event that takes place in the awardee’s local community. The awardee also receives a an individual award plaque for their outstanding land stewardship, and a nameplate on an award plaque that lists all other past award recipients.
Nominations are are open now through June 15.
Landowner Resources
In many ways the success of the land stewardship awardees is built on assistance from local organizations for financial and technical support -- see the list below to learn more about how these organizations may be able to help you as well!
- The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
- Missoula County Weed District
- Trout Unlimited
- Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
- The University of Montana
- The Blackfoot Challenge
- Montana Tree Farmer Program
- Montana State University Cooperative Forest Stewardship Program
- Missoula County Conservation District
- Stewardship Incentive Program
- United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service
- Swan Valley Connections
- The Vital Ground Foundation
- Montana Land Reliance
- Various state and county landowner training including Master Gardener and Invasive Plant Management classes.
- University of Montana’s Lubrecht Experimental Forest
- Clark Fork Coalition
Awardees
- 2025 - Anne Dahl (Swan Valley)
- 2024 - Bert Lindler (Grant Creek)
- 2023 - Kim Grenager (Lolo)
- 2022 - Barb and Joe Raible (Condon)
- 2021 - Iverson Family Ranch (Potomac)
- 2020 - Becky and Denny Anderson (Miller Creek)
- 2019 - Bart and Wendy Morris, OxBow Cattle (Miller Creek)
- 2017 - Mark Vander Meer (Gold Creek)
- 2016 - Land Lindbergh (Greenough)
- 2015 - Chuck and Mary Erickson (Piltzville)
- 2014 - Bud Moore (Swan Valley)
- 2013 - David and Kathryn Owen (Swan Valley)
- 2012 - Bill and Betty Potter (Greenough)
- 2011 - Ralph Thisted, Bruce Thisted (Nine Mile Valley)
Through this annual award program, Missoula County:
- Recognizes the critical role that private landowners and residents play in resource conservation through their stewardship activities.
- Captures the stories of the successes and challenges met along the way and identifies key elements that helped achieve project outcomes.
- Showcases the successful, voluntary stewardship efforts happening in Missoula County. Over time, the county will use these stories to highlight tools and programs that are being employed by landowners and residents for restoration, enhancement, and protection of land and water resources.