Thanks to the Firehole Ranch

Big thanks to owner Lyndy Caine and the great staff at the Firehole Ranch for their efforts to collect $2,150 from guests for Travelers for Open Land. Thanks to the Firehole Ranch and many other participating properties, Travelers for Open Land will celebrate its best year ever in 2011. Thanks to everyone who made that possible! http://www.fireholeranch.com/

Great Conservation Easement Conference

Thanks to the supporters, funders, speakers, partners, presenters and attendees who made the Montana Association of Land Trusts Conservation Easement Conference in Missoula yesterday such a success. Great presentations and a great turnout for a great conference!

Silver Forest Inn Joins TFOL

Travelers for Open Land welcomes the Silver Forest Inn, located in the Bridger Canyon outside of Bozeman, to the list of business properties participating in Travelers for Open Land. Welcome! http://www.silverforestinn.com/

RMEF Reaches Six Million Acres of Protected Lands

Congratulations to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation for reaching six million acres of protected or enhanced lands. http://www.rmef.org/

Forum Highlights the Importance of Agriculture

Flathead Beacon article about an agriculture forum sponsored by the Montana Land Reliance illustrates the importance of agriculture to the Flathead economy and quality of life. http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/agricultural_innovation/25064/

Popham Family Conservation Easement Approved

Congratulations to the Popham family, Bitter Root Land Trust, the Ravalli County Commission and everyone who helped maintain Ravalli County agriculture by making the Popham Ranch conservation easement a reality.http://ravallirepublic.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_2454d466-f60f-11e0-8519-001cc4c002e0.html

Future Bright for Flathead Agriculture

Nice article in the Kalispell Daily Inter Lake about the Montana Land Reliance Agriculture Forum, held Oct. 11 at the Flathead County Fairgrounds. The good news is that agriculture is and will continue to be a key part of the Flathead's economy. http://dailyinterlake.com/news/local_montana/article_2ebba44c-f53e-11e0-935a-001cc4c03286.html

Conservation Easement Workshop is Well Attended

Thanks to the landowners who attended the workshop on conservation easements in Dillon yesterday. We had a good turnout and excellent presentations from the speakers. Thanks to the presenters and to JP Tanner for helping arrange the workshop. Here's a workshop photo of Rock Ringling from the Montana Land Reliance.

GVLT Helps Dedicate New Climbing Boulder

Gallatin Valley Land Trust helped dedicate the new climbing boulder in Bozeman. http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/city/article_289569ea-f142-11e0-bf42-001cc4c03286.html

GVLT Helps Improve Trailhead

Thanks to Gallatin Valley Land Trust and others the Sourdough Canyon Trailhead is being expanded and improved. Sourdough Canyon Trailhead to close next week for new improvements

What is a Conservation Easement?

Thanks to Montana Standard for publishing a guest column about an Oct. 11 landowners workshop in Dillon on conservation easements. http://mtstandard.com/news/opinion/editorial/conservation-easements-what-are-they-what-do-they-do/article_edf5f88e-ed6f-11e0-8751-001cc4c002e0.htm

Land Trust Volunteers to Improve Trail

Prickly Pear Land Trust was one of the groups that received a pat on the back for volunteering to improve the Wakina Sky Trail during National Public Lands Day. http://helenair.com/news/opinion/readers_alley/happy-trails/article_5f69f29c-eb2f-11e0-b98c-001cc4c002e0.html

Open Lands Legacy

The Oct. 2, 2011 Bozeman Chronicle op-ed salutes Chris Boyd and his legacy of open lands in the Gallatin area.http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/opinions/article_f7100e0c-eb9c-11e0-900b-001cc4c03286.html