

Montana Forest Stewardship Foundation
2026
16th Annual Montana Forest Landowner Conference Agenda
Held Friday, May 15th, 2026
Location: Carroll College Campus Center Rooms (Downstairs)
1601 N. Park Ave, Helena, MT 59601
The Forest Stewardship Foundation invites you to attend the Annual Forest Landowner Conference.

"Becoming a Better Forest Steward"
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
Sawmills and Small Scale Logging Equipment
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:

Forest Stewardship Foundation
A huge thank you to our many sponsors for supporting our event over the years:









