RSA receives Grant Award from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

LOCATION (June 26, 2017) – Ranchers Stewardship Alliance, Inc. (RSA) has been awarded a $300,000 conservation grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), RSA’s president Leo Barthelmess announced. Additional matching funds of $110,000 bring the total funds to $410,000.

The NFWF grant allows RSA to reach out to and engage landowners in Blaine, Phillips and Valley counties to achieve positive results for wildlife and the ranching community. Member agencies and groups have pledged to act cooperatively to support the mission statement of RSA – Ranching, Conservation, Communities – A Winning Team.

“The vast, native grasslands of the Northern Great Plains support a unique assemblage of wildlife,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. “Thanks to generations of stewardship by ranchers, tribes and public agencies, much of the Northern Great Plains remains productive for both people and wildlife.”

The Montana Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program (PFW) will work with RSA’s board and executive assistant, Kathy Bagley, to administer the funds. The funding can be applied towards three major project types: 1) grazing infrastructure for expiring Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands; 2) restoration of marginal cropland to native pasture; and 3) management of exotic crested wheatgrass. Project locations will be prioritized based on their benefit to the ranching economy, wildlife conservation and local communities in the project region.

RSA has formed a Conservation Committee which includes representatives of RSA, state and federal agencies, and conservation organizations. The purpose of the Committee is to establish collaboration and cooperation with partners of similar interests; develop long-term productive relationships addressing our common interests; and administer project funding from successful grants.

RSA meetings are open to the public. The next board meeting will be held on August 14, 2017 at 5:00 pm at the Malta Business Center, 46 1st St E, Malta, MT. Leo and the board encourage all landowners interested in more information to contact RSA through our website at http://www.ranchstewards.org or to leave a message on their voicemail at (406) 654-1405.