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 viewing below. There are many experts that will present topics of great interest to anyone interested in forest stewardship.
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.
Registration Deadline: May 8, 2026
Come prepared to bid Silent Auction Items.
There is a Great Selection of Hotels
and
Restaurants in Helena
Visit the Helena Chamber of Commerce at HelenaChamber.com and select the Vacation Guide Tab at the bottom of the main page for a comprehensive guide to Helena. Pages 54 & 55 list places to stay and contact information.
Continuing Education Credits
are available for
SAF Certified Foresters
and
MLA 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
Presented by:
A huge thank you to our many sponsors for supporting our event over the years:
