Montana Working Lands Program Brings Together Ranchers And Students

A college student from the University of Montana recently contacted us regarding her participation in the Montana Working Lands Internship Program. The state program, administered through the DNRC, connects beginning natural resource and range specialists, biologists, and soils majors with working Montana ranches, providing real-world hands-on experience at ranching operations throughout the state – connecting those who will work in natural resources with the ranches that help support those resources.

Here is the student's story in her own words about working on Otter Creek as a member of the Working Lands Program:

My name is Autumn Harris, and I grew up in Billings Montana. My whole life I grew up with a love of the outdoors that stemmed from my involvement in hunting, fishing, and camping. In high school I knew I wanted to do something outside and in college I decided to pursue a degree in Wildlife Biology.

I have always loved agriculture, but I wanted more experience, and I needed an internship. The only problem was I did not know how to combine my love for wildlife biology and agriculture. Then I received an email from my advisor discussing details about an internship called Working Lands. I applied immediately and was interviewed twice. After waiting for the results of who they picked I remember how excited I was to receive an email back from the state coordinator, Stacey Barta, telling me I got the internship!

The internship entailed going to a new ranch in Montana every two weeks to build the bridge between natural resources and agriculture.

My first stop for the summer was at Circle Bar Ranch in Ashland, Montana. Here I met Bill and Jan Stevens and their lovely family. Over my two week stay there they taught me so many new things.

I learned how to push cattle with horse and four-wheeler, to castrate bulls, to fence, and additionally I made connections between natural resources and agriculture. Most importantly, I made connections with my hosts, to whom I am forever grateful and fortunate for opening their home to me and teaching me their way of life.

If you are planning on going to school at the University of Montana or Montana State University for a career in natural resources, I recommend speaking to your adviser about this internship.

Harris is now working on a ranch near Goldcreek, and later this summer will work at locations near Boulder, Cohagen, Winifred, and Grass Range.