Montana Forest Stewardship Foundation
16th Annual Forest Landowner Conference
Friday ,May 15th, 2026
Location: Carroll College Campus Center Conference Rooms (Downstairs)
1601 N. Park Ave, Helena, MT 59601
The Forest Stewardship Foundation invites you to attend the Sixteenth Annual Forest Landowner Conference.
Becoming a Better Forest Steward
The agenda is prepared and available for download and viewing below. There are many experts that will present topics of great interest to forest landowners and professional foresters.
Brochures will be mailed out in mid-March. You may register here and pay online, or by returning a mail-in registration. We look forward to seeing you soon. Professional foresters should register through the Montana SAF website.
Registration Deadline: April 30, 2025
Come prepared to bid Silent Auction Items.
Room Reservations
A negotiated room rate has been set for our Conference with the Delta Hotels Helena Colonial, 2301 Colonial Drive, Helena, Montana 59601 from $159.00 per night.
Attendees may now make reservations by calling the hotel directly at 406-443-2100 or by calling reservations at 1-866-211-4604 please mention the function, MT Forest Landowners Conference
Last Day to Book: April 25, 2025
Delta Hotels Helena Colonial for 159 USD per night
Here's your reservation link guests can use to make reservations:
Click here to
DELTA HOTELS HELENA COLONIAL
2301 COLONIAL DR , HELENA, MONTANA 59601
Please know that the field trip on Saturday is free and open to the public. If you plan on only attending the field trip and not the conference on Friday please let us know by emailing your information to foresteweducation@gmail.com. Thanks, and we hope to see you in Helena!
Continuing Education Credits
Friday will provide 6 CFE credits for SAF Members and 6 credits Accredited Logging Professionals.
Saturday field trip will provide 3.5 credits for SAF members and 2 credits for accredited logging professionals
2026 Conference Agenda
Friday, May 15th
8:00 - 8:30 AM Registration - Carroll College Campus Center Conference Rooms (Downstairs)
8:30 - 8:45 AM Welcome - Main Conference Room
- Gary Ellingson, Montana Forest Stewardship Foundation
8:45 - 9:45 AM Opening Session - Main Conference Room
Forest Conservation, Restoration and Ecology Research on the MPG Ranch
MPG Ranch Forest Ecology and Research Program Staff
9:45 - 10:00 AM Break with Refreshments (Visit Silent Auction) - Reception area
10:00 - 11:00 AM Round 1 - Morning Breakout Sessions (Choose one)
Session A: Main Conference Room
Uses of Prescribed Fire & MT's Prescribed Fire Manager Certification Program.
Jack Rinck, MT DNRC Prescribed Fire Coordinator
Session B: Breakout Conference Room
Montana Ticks: Habitats, Seasonality, Diseases, Life Cycle and avoidance.
Joel Hutchenson, PhD Entomologist
11:00 –12:00 PM Round 2 - Morning Breakout Sessions (Choose one)
Session A: Main Conference Room
Montana Owls and Key Forest Habitat Components
Hayley Madden, Owl Research Institute Wildlife Biologist
Session B: Breakout Conference Room
Key Legal Issues for Forest Landowners
Claude Burlingame, Attorney and Forest Landowner
12:00 - 1:30 PM Luncheon with Speaker
Re-introducing the Pine Martin to Central Montana Forests
Jay Kolbe, MT FWP Wildlife Biologist
1:30 PM Close Silent Auctions
1:30 - 2:30 PM Round 3 - Afternoon Breakout Sessions (Choose one)
Session A: Main Conference Room
Do Trees Compete or Collaborate? Mixed Species or Monoculture Forest?
Peter Kolb, PhD MSU Extension Forester
Session B: Breakout Conference Room
My Experiences Owning and Operating a Portable Sawmill
Jim Watson, Forest Landowner and Stewardship Foundation Board Member
2:30 - 3:30 PM Round 4 – Afternoon Breakout Sessions (Choose one)
Session A: Main Conference Room
Forest Insect Ecology in Response to Windstorm Damage
Rose Picklo, MT DNRC Forest Pest Management
Session B: Breakout Conference Room
Northwestern Energy's Wildfire Mitigation Plan & Considerations for Landowners
Nate Linder, NWE Director of Wildfire Operations
and/or
Max Rebholz, NWE Wildfire Public Information Officer
3:40- 4:00PM Closing Session - Main Conference Room
Announce Silent Auction Winners - Closing Comments
Forest Stewardship Foundation
Presented by:
A huge thank you to our many sponsors for supporting our event over the years:
