An Open Letter to Ranchers
Ranching asks for strength, but also demands patience. You know how much of this work is unseen, unrecorded, and done simply because it needed to be.
18 March 2026
Ranching asks for strength, but also demands patience. You know how much of this work is unseen, unrecorded, and done simply because it needed to be.
In the Helena Valley, spring often arrives along the water. Snowdrifts recede from shaded banks, creeks swell with runoff, and willows begin to leaf out. Against the sound of moving water are the high, clear notes of migratory songbirds moving through the trees.
Since 2000, we’ve been gathering in the South Hills to kick up dust, chase personal bests, and celebrate the open lands that make Helena home. Whether you’re an alum who heard the first starting gun or a first-timer running for a cause, you’re part of the Happy Trails community.
No matter your politics, age, veteran status, or how much money you have – 96% of Montanans support public lands and those who take care of them.
Keystone Property in a Conservation Neighborhood Birdseye Ranch is one of the last large tracts of native grasslands in the Helena Valley. The 1,472-acre property
Saving America’s River The Missouri River’s blue ribbon trout fishing draws more than 150,000 anglers a year. Visitors have always delighted in the scenic open
Protecting Agriculture and Open Space in Broadwater County The Tri G River Ranch has over 1,000 acres of riverbottom land along the Missouri River. Located
Working Ranch Treasured by Family and Community The Potter Ranch is one of the last working ranches of its size in the Helena Valley. The
Prickly Pear Land Trust (PPLT) proudly announces the acquisition of Birdseye Ranch, a 1,472-acre property in the Helena Valley. The ranch’s preservation ensures the continuity of open spaces essential for wildlife habitat and military training.
Prickly Pear Land Trust completed a fifth conservation project in Broadwater County that protects ranching, wildlife, and national security.