Ravalli County

The majestic Bitterroot Valley encompasses 1.5 million acres in Ravalli County from north to south, amidst the Bitterroot Mountain Range to the west and the Sapphire Mountain Range to the east. The county seat is Hamilton, Montana. As of the last census (2023), the population is 45,800, which increased by 2.07% since the previous year.

As a result, Ravalli County has seen significant increases in growth and development making agricultural acres in the county more rare and valuable. Ravalli County’s primary industry is agriculture which is also secondary as the highest paying industry ($71,845) in Ravalli County.

Ravalli County is known as Montana’s production valley and produces a variety of crops including haskaps, apples, lentils, wheat, alfalfa, and corn. The county’s top crop is hay and haylage consisting of 35,334 acres. Ranches and farms in Ravalli County have generated $33 million in value added agriculture commodities. Although Ravalli County is developing rapidly, the tax paying constituency passed a $10 million continuation of the Open Lands Bond Program with an overwhelming majority of 71% in favor. In Ravalli County the Open Lands Board partners with the Bitterroot Land Trust to preserve Ravalli County’s open spaces and agriculture heritage. To date the program has conserved over 12,585 acres of beautiful Ravalli County landscapes.

Contact

215 S 4th Street, Ste G
Hamilton, MT 59840
406-375-6611
https://www.montana.edu/extension/ravalli/

Epic Sons and Daughters Program by Team Ravalli County

The National Association of County Agriculture Agents (NACAA) is a professional Extension association whose roots are embedded in aspects of agriculture, horticulture and natural resources. Every year NACAA holds its Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference (AMPIC). In July of 2025 NACCA brought the AMPIC to Billings, Montana.

Montana previously hosted the conference in Billings, MT in 1982, so after a 43-year hiatus, NACAA and Montana Association of County Agriculture Agents (MACAA) were thrilled to host in 2025. NACAA AMPICs offers diverse learning, with a program especially for the Sons and Daughters (SADP) of association members. To ensure youth were given a true Montana experience, Ravalli County MSU Extension provided an epic SADP experience.

Highlights of the program included horseback riding in Red Lodge with Elk River Outfitters, white water rafting on the Yellowstone River with Absaroka River Adventures, educational nature walks, games, and canoeing at Montana Audubon Society and outdoor activities with Oasis Water Park. The SADP had a record 115 registered participants, the largest number ever attending at an NACAA AMPIC conference. Three Ravalli County staff members were the primary volunteers who collaborated with five volunteers from across county and state borders. Ravalli County MSU Extension also partnered with local Jason Cardullo from The Screening Room to create a custom t-shirt for participants and volunteers.

One participant, Reed Graham, from Kentucky Extension stated “I just wanted to tell you thanks for all the work you put into the sons and daughters’ program, we sure appreciate it and John Henry made some lifetime memories.” Colby Griffin from North Carolina Extension shared “Thank you to Montana, Kimberly, Sophie, and Taylor for a great event! See you around at some point in the future.”

Caption: NACAA AMPIC 2025 conference in Billings, featuring a Sons and Daughters Horseback Ride with Elk River Outfitters.

Credit: Kimberly Richardson

Teen Leaders in Action

In 4-H, youth learn important life skills such as responsibility, goal setting, self-motivation, and leadership. During the 2024-2025 4-H year, the Ravalli County 4-H Teen Council was revamped to help teen 4-Hers put these skills into practice. Teen Council is a group made up of several motivated 4-H members wanting to make a positive impact on their 4-H club, the 4-H community, and Ravalli County. In monthly meetings, youth participated in skill development activities such as learning their leadership style, leading icebreakers, creating charcuterie boards, and parliamentary procedure.

Part of the requirement to join Teen Council in Ravalli County was to enroll in the 4-H Leadership Project and complete a Teen Leadership Project. To learn more about what other 4-H members were accomplishing in Montana, Teen Council members became participants at state 4-H events including Fall Leadership Training, Citizenship Seminar & Legislative Breakfast, Rec Lab, and Congress. Teen Council members then shared about their experience and ideas for projects in Ravalli County.

Teen Council members ended the 2024-2025 4-H Year with several successful projects they organized, advertised, and implemented. One teen had a yearlong project where 4-Hers could explore non-animal project books, ask questions, and meet others. To continue showcasing non-animal projects, this teen member built permanent trophies to display top projects entered into the Ravalli County Fair. Another teen member created an event at the Ravalli County Fair titled Battle of the Barns, a relay race competition between the Beef, Dairy, Dog, Goat, Horse, Poultry, Rabbit, Sheep, and Swine Barns. The final Teen Leadership project was the planning and implementation of a 4-H & FFA dance on the final day of the Ravalli County Fair. It was the favorite event for many members and made the last day of the fair fun for all.

Through Teen Council, 4-H members were better able to connect with the community as a whole. They bring positivity and new ideas to the Ravalli County 4-H program. Members are already planning projects for the 2025-2026 4-H Year, looking forward to attending state 4-H events, and representing 4-H in Ravalli County.

Caption: Ravalli County Teen 4-H Members at 2025 4-H Rec Lab event. 

Credit: Sophie Kolb

Fire in the Root; From Grassroots to Non-Profit

Building strong community-based partnerships is a foundational component of any successful MSU Extension endeavor. Partnership between Fire in the Root Council (FIRC) and Ravalli County MSU Extension is an exemplary example of MSU Extension’s commitment to service. FIRC began as a program initiative in 2018, spearheaded by the Department of Natural Resources, Bitterroot National Forest, and All Valley Fire Council to entice landowners in Ravalli County to contribute in mitigating wildfire risk.

The MSU Extension agriculture, horticulture, and natural resources agent was invited to partner with FIRC in February of 2022. The initial focus was to provide guided facilitation for FIRC, since then the agent facilitates meetings and advises the council on best practices of decision making, board organizational structure, and leveraging university tools to aid in grant funding opportunities.

FIRC has been comprised of 20 individuals, with eight vested, voting representatives who dedicated 840 volunteer hours and generated $2,500 in grants and donated funds. FIRC has provided information and outreach events, wildfire risk home assessments, community mitigation and education.

With instruction and guidance from MSU Extension, FIRC has most recently transitioned their grassroots council into a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, with Judy Anderson and Ella Langer serving as co-chairs until FIRC votes for new board members in February 2026.

Kristen Mortenson shared: “While I was there, Kimberly was a great help at facilitating meetings when needed and moderating the diverse voices. She helped steer us through the growing pains of honing our focus and honoring all of our voices.” Judy Anderson shared: “We have very much appreciated Kimberly’s support as a facilitator in helping us navigate some challenges with former members who regularly disrupted meetings and fiercely fought to change our mission. She also provided valuable advice when the group needed to take a next step as an organization. Her history with helping other organizations take similar steps provided us with options that suited our particular organization. We will continue to rely on her expertise as we begin to assemble and organize a Board of Directors. The service she provides is invaluable to us.”

Caption: Fire In The Root members receive a grant from Ravalli Electric Co-Op.

Credit: Kimberly Richardson

Charcuterie Creations

Charcuterie Creations is a one-hour program designed to introduce individuals to food safety, knife safety, food combinations, menu planning, budgeting, and portioning food through the creation of charcuterie boards. Charcuterie boards have become an increasingly popular way to serve snacks and refreshments at events, as they are often artistically laid out and showcase a variety of food combinations. Funding for this program was made possible through the Montana Agriculture Wellness Mini-Grant.

4-H Teens were able to get hands-on experience with creating charcuterie boards. Two spring workshops were held in Ravalli County and at Montana 4-H Rec Lab for 25-30 participants. In both programs, only a few individuals had heard of Charcuterie Boards before and even fewer had made one.

Topics of food and knife safety and charcuterie board history were introduced through trivia and a pamphlet that included safety information, suggested portions, planning and budgeting, a supply list, and an example menu. Groups brainstormed a list of factors to consider when making Charcuterie Boards such as food sensitivities or allergies, theme, leaving food out at room temperature, and time required to make a board.

After trivia and questions, participants created their own group Charcuterie Boards for a given theme and with two different types of flavor combinations. Participants left the workshop with the intention of continuing to try new foods, new flavor combinations, and to make charcuterie boards for themselves and others!

Caption: 4th of July themed charcuterie board made by MT 4-H Teens

Credit: Sophie Kolb