The Montana Stockgrowers Foundation (MSF) hosted its annual Raising the Steaks Environmental Stewardship Ranch Tour on May 12, at G&G Livestock and Cathey Cattle Company in Polson, Mont. The ranch is owned and operated by Greg and Lynn Gardner, daughter, Brittany and son-in-law, Wacey Cathey.

The Raising the Steaks Ranch Tour gathers an intimate group of thoughtful, creative individuals to put their boots on the ground and their heads in the game in facilitated diverse and informative discussions that highlight current issues and solutions to challenges ranchers and conservationists face when managing private and public lands for future generations.

G&G Livestock was awarded the 2024 Montana Environmental Stewardship Award (ESAP). The tour started with an introduction to the Gardner and Cathey families and a review of the ranch’s history.

Then, attendees visited various stops across the ranch in the Irvine Flats area to discuss water development, grazing and weed management, and Cathey Cattle Company, the family’s direct-to-consumer beef business. A highlight of the tour was showcasing the families effort to ensure sustainability for their ranch for the future generations.

Purchased in 1990, the Gardner’s began focusing on efficient range management on the ranch and participated in Montana’s Noxious Weed Trust Fund (NWTF), along with neighboring ranches. They have also worked in partnership with Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) to develop watering systems to encourage cattle to move throughout the pastures resulting in equal distribution of grazing along the landscape.

To conclude the tour, the family hosted a networking dinner serving beef from Cathey Cattle Company, to review topics discussed that day.

Attendees on the tour included local NRCS staff, fellow ranchers, media and Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) leadership and more.

MSF would like to thank the Gardner and Cathey families for welcoming the tour onto their ranch and hosting a diverse group of individuals to create a deeper connection between land, livestock, and conservationists. Thank you also to our sponsors, Montana Beef Council, World Wildlife Fund, Montana Grazing Lands Coalition and Weyerhaeuser.