The 2008 Governor’s Range Tour will be held Thursday, September 4^th and Friday, September 5th in Alder, Montana. The event will be hosted by the Ruby Valley Conservation District and the Ruby Watershed Council in cooperation with the Rangeland Resources Executive Committee (RREC) and the Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation (DNRC). 

The Governor’s Range Tour is an annual event, which rotates around the state.  The two-day event features field tours to view rangeland management practices installed by ranchers and to recognize landowners that are excelling in their natural resource management activities.  The tour is an excellent opportunity for landowners, agency personnel and anyone interested in agricultural topics to discuss rangeland issues and share experiences and expertise. 

The first day will take tour participants to the Upper Ruby Valley, featuring a stop at the Ruby Dam to discuss the upcoming restoration and rehabilitation project. The next stop will be at the Snowcrest Ranch to discuss bison grazing management, teaching bison to eat weeds and riparian restoration. Lunch will be provided by the Montana Outfitters & Guides Association at Upper Canyon Outfitters. Following the meal, the tour will go to the junction of Lazyman Creek and the Ruby River to view comprehensive Arctic Grayling habitat restoration with grazing and irrigation practices. The tour will conclude with the Kelly Springs Project; a 43-mile stockwater pipeline with multiple landowners and funding sources.

A banquet at Bandito’s in historic Virginia City will finish off the day. Governor Brian Schweitzer (invited) will be the keynote speaker, followed by live entertainment.

The second day of the tour will begin with the Sauerbier Ranch to discuss a feedlot restoration project. The next stop will be at the Silver Springs Project; an NRCS Wetlands Reserve Program success site. Following that, the NRCS will showcase on-going grazing trials on the Woodson Ranch. Lunch will be provided by the Ruby Habitat Foundation. The tour will conclude with a tour of the Woodson Ranch and the Ruby Habitat Foundation.

The public is invited and encouraged to attend.  For more information about the 2007 Governor’s Range Tour or to register, visit the DNRC website at:  www.dnrc.mt.gov or contact Heidi Olbert, State Coordinator, DNRC Rangeland Resource Program at (406) 444-6619 or Ann Schwend with the Ruby Watershed Council at (406) 842-5741 ext. 106.