MFU announces Carly Griffith Hotvedt, Melinda Anakalea as keynote speakers for Western Women’s Conference

Attendees at Montana Farmers Union’s Western Women’s Conference can expect a full slate of hands-on workshops, development of useful skills, and to hear from keynote speakers Carly Griffith Hotvedt and Melinda Anakalea during the Conference planned Feb. 6-8 at Fairmont Hot Springs.  

“Attendees at the Western Women’s Conference can look forward to being inspired by speakers, uplifted by other Ladies Who Ag, and leaving with relevant skills and deeper insight for immediate impact in their communities and on their farms and ranches,” said Jodi Koterba, who serves as MFU’s education director and is helping organize the conference.   

Hotvedt, a citizen of Cherokee Nation, is a seasoned legal professional, admitted to practice in Oklahoma, Cherokee Nation and Muscogee (Creek) Nation, with an affinity for government law, agriculture, tribal policy, and public administration. In her previous role as Director of Tribal Enterprise with the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative, she worked with tribes and in tribal policy to advance food security and tribal agriculture enterprise development. She also is 2025 National Elite Ms Agriculture USA. 

Anakalea owns and operates Harlow Ranch Bison Company near Thompson Falls. She and her family purchased bison for their generational ranch in 2020 and use regenerative practices to build resiliency for the land and their herd, which they sell directly to consumers.  

In addition to the keynote speakers, attendees will have the opportunity to build community, access resources, and learn or hone skills from digital defense to communication to mental and physical health to metal stamping to line dancing.  

Learn more, check out the agenda, and register at https://montanafarmersunion.com/news-events/womens-conference/.