2011 Montana Neighbor Award Winners

Travelers for Open Land and the Montana Association of Land Trusts congratulate Mike and Lisa Bay of Wolf Creek, Jim Dinsmore of Hall and John and Irene Weaver of Ovando for receiving 2011 Montana Neighbor awards. The award is recognition for their excellent stewardship efforts. http://helenair.com/news/local/wolf-creek-ranchers-honored-for-land-stewardship/article_2e0a9e1a-17fb-11e1-939f-001cc4c002e0.htm

National Land Trust Census Montana Fact Sheet

The 2011 Land Trust Census includes a two-page fact sheet about Montana private land conservation that shows the achievements of Montana land trusts, landowners and volunteers.

The Value of Wildlife Friendly Fences

A recent guest column in the Bozeman Chronicle by Kelly Pohl of Gallatin Valley Land Trust highlights the value of wildlife friendly fences. http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/opinions/guest_columnists/article_43a02244-0ee2-11e1-97d5-001cc4c03286.html

Montana Fourth Nationally in Conserved Lands

The Land Trust Alliance's 2010 Land Trust Census shows Montana is fourth nationally in total acres conserved through conservation easements. Check out the Census report at http://www.landtrustalliance.org/land-trusts/land-trust-census

TFOL Founder Receives Award

Mike Scholz was recently named Lodging Person of the Year by the Montana Lodging and Hospitality Association. Mike is owner of Buck’s T-4 Lodge in Big Sky and is also a founder of Travelers for Open Land. Mike has been on the Montana Lodging and Hospitality Association Board of Directors since 1989 and is active in many Big Sky area organizations and state tourism promotion efforts. In announcing the award, the Montana Lodging and Hospitality Association commended Mike’s commitment to the tourism industry and lauded his efforts to develop the Travelers for Open Land program. Congratulations, Mike, on a richly deserved award.

El Western Raises $664 for TFOL

Big Thanks to El Western Cabins & Lodges in Ennis for your $664 contribution to Travelers for Open Land. El Western owner Kris Hauck is a hospitality industry leader and major supporter of Travelers for Open Land.http://www.elwestern.com/

MLR Promotes Travelers for Open Land

Thanks to the Montana Land Reliance for promoting Travelers for Open Land in the MLR Fall 2011 Newsletter. The newsletter focuses on stewardship and on page 14 of the newsletter MLR reports that Travelers for Open Land is getting "bigger and better." Visit the MLR website athttp://www.mtlandreliance.org/

Popham Ranch will be there "for generations to come"

Very nice article in the Ravalli Republic about the Popham family and their historic ranch in the Bitterroot Valley.

http://ravallirepublic.com/news/local/article_2d3cc7c6-09bc-11e1-863d-001cc4c002e0.html

Plum Creek Foundation Supports Land Trusts

Jerry Sorensen of Plum Creek Timber Company (center) recently presented Plum Creek Foundation checks to Mark Schiltz of the Montana Land Reliance (right) and Glenn Marx of the Montana Association of Land Trusts for MLR and MALT projects. Plum Creek awarded a $3,500 grant to MLR’s Flathead Agriculture Forum and $3,000 to MALT for the Montana Conservation Easement Conference. MALT and MLR expressed gratitude to Plum Creek for the grant funding.

Belton Chalet Donates to Travelers for Open Land

Thanks to the great folks at the Belton Chalet in West Glacier for their contribution to Travelers for Open Land. The Belton Chalet collected $1,077 from their guests in 2011 to support Montana's open lands. Thanks very much! http://www.beltonchalet.com/