Seven volunteer trustees, and one representative from the MSGA Board of Directors, are appointed by the MSGA Board of Directors to oversee the foundation.
Hometown: Townsend
A fourth generation Montanan, Della’s family homesteaded in Roosevelt County in the late 1800’s. In 1996, Della and her husband Mark bought land in Broadwater County and leased 60 registered Hereford cows and started our registered Hereford seedstock operation.
With the help of their daughters, Lacey and Jane’a, Ehlke Herefords has grown to 350 owned mother cows and over 5,000 managed acres. The Ehlke’s have been members of the MSGA for over 20 years. They also own and operate Montana Hydraulics, a metal fabrication and railroad field service operation with locations in Townsend and Helena and a staff of 47. Della was a contracted part time employee to the MSGA as the Montana Marketing website manager; a joint project between the MSGA and the MGGA. Della has served as MSGA Seedstock committee chair for the past several years, past director and president of the Montana Hereford Association, was instrumental in the origination of the MHA Feeder Calf Sale and ongoing management of such for over 10 years. Della currently serves on the Montana Chamber Association’s Montana Manufacturing Association board.
Hometown: Townsend
A fourth generation Montanan, Della’s family homesteaded in Roosevelt County in the late 1800’s. In 1996, Della and her husband Mark bought land in Broadwater County and leased 60 registered Hereford cows and started our registered Hereford seedstock operation.
With the help of their daughters, Lacey and Jane’a, Ehlke Herefords has grown to 350 owned mother cows and over 5,000 managed acres. The Ehlke’s have been members of the MSGA for over 20 years. They also own and operate Montana Hydraulics, a metal fabrication and railroad field service operation with locations in Townsend and Helena and a staff of 47. Della was a contracted part time employee to the MSGA as the Montana Marketing website manager; a joint project between the MSGA and the MGGA. Della has served as MSGA Seedstock committee chair for the past several years, past director and president of the Montana Hereford Association, was instrumental in the origination of the MHA Feeder Calf Sale and ongoing management of such for over 10 years. Della currently serves on the Montana Chamber Association’s Montana Manufacturing Association board.
Hometown: Bozeman
Ty is a financial advisor with Waddell & Reed. He concentrates on farm and ranch succession/transition planning and those industries allied with agriculture. His passion for next generation planning and production agriculture comes from personal experiences on both sides of his family.
He grew up as the 5th generation on his family’s 109-year-old beef cattle ranch north of Geyser, MT and continues to play an active role. Other hobbies include leatherwork, Bobcat football, western dancing, fitness, and spending time with his wife, Jyll, daughter, Kymber, and son, Lyam.
Hometown: Bozeman
Ty is a financial advisor with Waddell & Reed. He concentrates on farm and ranch succession/transition planning and those industries allied with agriculture. His passion for next generation planning and production agriculture comes from personal experiences on both sides of his family.
He grew up as the 5th generation on his family’s 109-year-old beef cattle ranch north of Geyser, MT and continues to play an active role. Other hobbies include leatherwork, Bobcat football, western dancing, fitness, and spending time with his wife, Jyll, daughter, Kymber, and son, Lyam.
Hometown: Dodson
Lesley Robinson was elected as the 2nd Vice President of Montana Stockgrowers Association in 2020.
Industry Involvement: Lesley is a fourth generation Phillips County rancher. She and her husband Jim have been married for 35 years and ranch near Zortman. They have a commercial cow/calf and yearling operation, and both she and Jim have ranched their entire lives. The family-run ranch has been in the Robinson family since moving from the Miles City area in 1958. Their daughter Kirsty and her husband John own and operate a ranch near Riverton, Wyoming.
Leadership Service: Lesley has served as president of the Phillips County Livestock Association and Phillips County CattleWomen, was on the MSGA Board from 1996-2000, served on the Montana Beef Council and as Education Committee chair, and was on the MSGA Foundation Board for 8 years. Other leadership positions include the Phillco Economic Growth Countil Executive Board, Bear Paw Development Executive Board, Phillips Transit Authority Board Chair, State Director for Congressman Greg Gianforte, Montana Board of Dentistry, Joint Powers Trust Board Executive Committee, Montana Assn. of Counties Public Lands Committee Chair, National Assn. of Counties Executive Board Western Region Representative, Nat’l Assn. of Counties Public Lands Committee, and Western Interstate Region Board President.
Email: threelazyj@yahoo.com
Hometown: Dodson
Lesley Robinson was elected as the 2nd Vice President of Montana Stockgrowers Association in 2020.
Industry Involvement: Lesley is a fourth generation Phillips County rancher. She and her husband Jim have been married for 35 years and ranch near Zortman. They have a commercial cow/calf and yearling operation, and both she and Jim have ranched their entire lives. The family-run ranch has been in the Robinson family since moving from the Miles City area in 1958. Their daughter Kirsty and her husband John own and operate a ranch near Riverton, Wyoming.
Leadership Service: Lesley has served as president of the Phillips County Livestock Association and Phillips County CattleWomen, was on the MSGA Board from 1996-2000, served on the Montana Beef Council and as Education Committee chair, and was on the MSGA Foundation Board for 8 years. Other leadership positions include the Phillco Economic Growth Countil Executive Board, Bear Paw Development Executive Board, Phillips Transit Authority Board Chair, State Director for Congressman Greg Gianforte, Montana Board of Dentistry, Joint Powers Trust Board Executive Committee, Montana Assn. of Counties Public Lands Committee Chair, National Assn. of Counties Executive Board Western Region Representative, Nat’l Assn. of Counties Public Lands Committee, and Western Interstate Region Board President.
Email: threelazyj@yahoo.com
Hometown: Valier
Cheryl and her husband, Gene, have been engaged in ranching and farming in the Valier area since their graduation from MSU in 1971. Cheryl retired from the Pondera Regional Port Authority where she was Executive Director for nine years. Prior to that she had a 24-year career with the US Postal Service. Cheryl is a lifelong community servant and leader who is dedicated to improving life in her state. Cheryl continues to serve on several boards in her community, region, and state, including the One Montana and Valier Area Development Corporation, among others.
Hometown: Valier
Cheryl and her husband, Gene, have been engaged in ranching and farming in the Valier area since their graduation from MSU in 1971. Cheryl retired from the Pondera Regional Port Authority where she was Executive Director for nine years. Prior to that she had a 24-year career with the US Postal Service. Cheryl is a lifelong community servant and leader who is dedicated to improving life in her state. Cheryl continues to serve on several boards in her community, region, and state, including the One Montana and Valier Area Development Corporation, among others.
Hometown: Miles City
Hometown: Big Sky
Buzz joined the Foundation Board in 2018. He resides in Big Sky and still owns a small ranch in Texas where he runs a bred heifer operation. A ranch broker at Engel & Völkers who also teaches part time at MSU, he enjoys helping the Foundation affect future generations of Montana ranchers.
Hometown: Big Sky
Buzz joined the Foundation Board in 2018. He resides in Big Sky and still owns a small ranch in Texas where he runs a bred heifer operation. A ranch broker at Engel & Völkers who also teaches part time at MSU, he enjoys helping the Foundation affect future generations of Montana ranchers.
Hometown: Columbus
Originating from the high county straddling the border of Stillwater and Carbon Counties, John ranches on land his grandfather homesteaded after forsaking the forests of western Montana. He raises purebred Angus Cattle and has marketed cattle, embryos and semen nationally and internationally; additionally he has worked in sales management and private treaty marketing. Patterson has been active in local and state Angus Associations and is a past President of the Montana Angus Association. He and his late wife Pam were named National Junior Angus Advisors of the year in 2005. John has and continues to be involved in several Foundation Boards. A graduate of Montana State University, he was awarded the MSGA Scholarship his senior year. He has two married sons, Tom and Mark.
Hometown: Columbus
Originating from the high county straddling the border of Stillwater and Carbon Counties, John ranches on land his grandfather homesteaded after forsaking the forests of western Montana. He raises purebred Angus Cattle and has marketed cattle, embryos and semen nationally and internationally; additionally he has worked in sales management and private treaty marketing. Patterson has been active in local and state Angus Associations and is a past President of the Montana Angus Association. He and his late wife Pam were named National Junior Angus Advisors of the year in 2005. John has and continues to be involved in several Foundation Boards. A graduate of Montana State University, he was awarded the MSGA Scholarship his senior year. He has two married sons, Tom and Mark.
