Support for Open Lands Bond Program

by Ravalli County Right to Farm and Ranch Board: Al Babel, Haydon Davis, Joann Hosko, Howard Lyons, Alan Maki, Jay Meyer, Darrel Sperry, Kimberly Richardson (ex-officio)

It doesn’t matter if your family has lived in the Bitterroot for generations or if you’re new to the valley, we can all see change occurring. Ravalli County is one of the fastest growing places in Montana, and we understand why. As farmers and ranchers, it offers some of the most productive land in Montana, not to mention pristine landscapes that offer endless hunting, fishing, and recreation opportunities. That’s why it’s so important for us to preserve the Bitterroot’s working farms and ranches and make sure that the generations that come after us have access to the same valley that we do. 

Every month, Montana loses another 1,500 acres of open land to developed uses. Growth like that especially impacts families who farm and ranch in this area, who make up the long legacy of folks who make their living off the land. Our operations are a pillar of our local economy and rely on healthy, open landscapes that have clean water and good soil. To keep that a reality for us and the generations that will come after us, our community needs to renew the Ravalli County Open Lands bond this November. 

The Ravalli County Open Lands Program is a voter-approved, landowner-driven, voluntary open land conservation program designed to manage growth, preserve open lands, protect water quality of streams and the Bitterroot River, maintain wildlife habitat, and protect drinking water sources. Since its inception in 2006, the Open Lands Bond Program has funded 38 projects across the Bitterroot Valley, conserving more than 10,367 acres, a majority of which has gone to protect family farms and ranches. Passing this bond honors our past ancestors who worked so hard to give us what we have today, our current generation that has worked so hard to keep it, and our future generations that will certainly cherish it! 

Calling Ravalli County home means living and working in one of the most beautiful places on earth. The Ravalli County Open Lands Program is our local tool to protect the Bitterroot Valley we all love and pass on a legacy of our local values. It’s about preserving the rural characteristics that make our community so special. It means knowing that no matter how much the rest of Montana changes, by voting “Yes” on November 8, our special way of life in Ravalli County will be carried on today for the benefit of tomorrow.