The Montana Society of American Foresters
and
the Montana Forest Stewardship Foundation
jointly present:
The 2025 Montana SAF and Forest Landowner Conference
Thursday, May 15 through Saturday, May 17, 2025
Delta Hotels Helena Colonial, 2301 Colonial Drive, Helena, MT 59601
To receive the block room discount rate use this link by March 25
or call (406) 443-2100 for reservations with “Montana Forest Landowner Conference” group.
Member rate: $150
Non-member rate: $175
Student rate: $50
"The Future for Forest Stewards and Land Managers"
Agenda
Thursday, May 15th
4:00 - 6:00 PM Montana SAF member meeting - Location TBD
Friday, May 16th
8:00 - 8:30 AM Registration - Delta Colonial Front Lobby
8:30 - 8:45 AM Welcome - Executive Room
- Ed Levert - Montana Forest Stewardship Foundation
- Duane Harp - Montana Society of American Foresters
8:45 - 9:45 AM Opening Session - Executive Room
Montana Wood Products and Infrastructure Update
Sam Scott, University of Montana Bureau of Business and Economic Research
Gordy Sanders, Retired Forester
9:45 - 10:00 AM Break with Refreshments (Visit Silent Auction) - Capital/State Room
10:00 - 11:00 AM Round 1 - Morning Breakout Sessions (Choose one)
Session A: Executive Room
How Markets Help You Attain Your Goals as a Landowner and Land Manager
John Ottman - Private Forestry Consultant
Matt Arno - DNRC Representative
Dan Rogers - DNRC Trust Lands and Forestry Assistance
Steve Marks - Owner, Marks Lumber
Session B: Legislative/Judicial Room
Riparian Restoration: It's Important for Ecological Resilience
Wendy Weaver - Executive Director, Freshwater Partners
11:00 –12:00 PM Round 2 - Morning Breakout Sessions (Choose one)
Session A: Executive Room
Road Design, Maintenance and Repair Using Best Management Practices
Mark Vessar, DNRC Forest Practices Program Manager
Session B: Legislative/Judicial Room
Site Preparation for Successful Reforestation
Rick Moore - DNRC Service Forester, Retired
12:00 - 1:30 PM Luncheon with Speaker - Capital/State Room
Lore, Legends, and Outright Lies: Tales of the Early Region One Foresters
Rich Aarstad, Archivist, Montana Historical Society
1:30 PM Close Silent Auctions
1:45 - 2:45 PM Round 3 - Afternoon Breakout Sessions (Choose one)
Session A: Executive Room
Fire, Fungus, and Beetles! Co-starring a Bird and A Tree.
The Rapid Decline of Whitebark Pine and How we can Rescue It.
Mike Giesey - Retired USFS, Board Member of Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation
Session B: Legislative/Judicial Room
Seedling Resources for Montana Landowners
Michael Butts, Montana Conservation Seedling Nursery
3:00 - 4:00 PM Round 4 – Afternoon Breakout Sessions (Choose one)
Session A: Executive Room
Wildland Sourced Goods From the Woods!
Dave Atkins - President, Montana Forest Owners Association
Session B: Legislative/Judicial Room
Bear Habitat Expansion and Safety in Montana
Bill Cook - Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks
4:00- 4:20PM Closing Session - Executive Room
Announce Silent Auction Winners - Closing Comments
6:00- 8:30PM Banquet Dinner
Saturday, May 17th
7:30 -9:00AM University of Montana Alumni Breakfast
9:00 - 12:45PM Mount Helena Field Trip
Sam Gilbert - USFS Retired, Consultant
Brad Langsather - Open Lands Manager for the City of Helena
This field trip is a premiere opportunity to view different approaches to fuel reduction and to see how the forest changes with time. Before and after forest conditions will be viewed with the first work completed in 2000, and a second entry in 2020. A rare opportunity to view the results of the fuel reduction and different slash disposal methods. This will give you a window into how the trees, shrubs, and grasses change over time. Several methods of slash disposal were utilized, and the results can be seen and assessed to help you determine your best option. And just like your property.... what are the next steps? Great place to get ideas for your projects.
See below flyer for more info.
