Montana Producers Selected to National Program

Three Montana farmers have been selected to National Farmers Union’s Beginning Farmer Institute.

Montana Farmers Union members Zach Didier, from Laurel, Beau Milton, from Ovando, and Kimberly Robinson, from Kila, will participate in the yearlong intensive program intended to improve the health of participants’ farm or ranch businesses.

“The level of commitment and willingness to challenge themselves to improve speaks for itself as to Zach, Beau, and Kimberley as farmers. Montana Farmers Union is proud to have three members selected for Beginning Farmers Institute, where they will build business and personal skills for their farms to thrive,” MFU President Walter Schweitzer said.  

Each cohort is selected through a competitive application process. Once selected, cohort members attend online seminars, network with peers, pursue independent learning activities, and receive one-on-one technical assistance.  

BFI will give her the tools to grow her small business, Run Dorper Run, which was started with the goal of providing high quality lamb meat and rental sheep for pasture and weed management, as well as selling hides for tanning education, Robinson said.

“Participating in the BFI program will help give me a leg up from a floundering small farmer to a thriving small farmer, from the beginning. The learning opportunities and collaboration with others will help me to learn from experts and others so as not to repeat the same mistakes and to become the prosperous small rancher I seek to be. I also want to be a voice to help others gain the confidence to follow their own dreams of becoming a small successful farmer,” said Robinson, who also works full-time as a Master Scheduler in the Semiconductor Industry.

For Milton, who works as a licensed commercial herbicide applicator and general contractor in addition to starting a regenerative farm and assisting with his family ranch in Joliet, the program provides an opportunity to become a better steward of his land, as well as gain business skills.

“I am participating in this program to make myself be the best land steward I can. I hope to gain necessary skills to successfully start and demonstrate profit in both a new regenerative farm and a heritage family operation while increasing soil health, local food sources, and community enthusiasm for Montana agriculture,” said Milton, who was raised in Joliet and now lives in Ovando.

Didier said he hopes to gain business skills from the BFI program. Together with his wife, Carah Ronan, he manages the family farm and started Rodi Farm, an 8-acre commercial cut flower growing operation. As someone who has a passion for farming and agricultural engineering, Didier said he looks forward to meeting other beginning farmers who bring different perspectives and backgrounds.

“I hope specifically to gain more information on the hiring options for agricultural labor and how to be a responsible employer. NFU and the BFI has given me the great opportunity to explore huge amounts of information and utilize the expertise of many qualified hosts on the Farmers Campus,” Didier said.