What happens when ranchers, conservation partners, and local communities all pull in the same direction?

In this episode of the Ranch Stewards Podcast, we pull back the curtain on the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance’s Conservation Committee.

Host Haylie Shipp is joined by Martin Townsend, Conservation Director for the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance, and Leo Barthelmess, rancher and RSA Board Member currently serving as Co-Treasurer, for a conversation about how this committee came together, why it matters, and how it has become one of RSA’s most impactful efforts.

What started as a small, relationship-driven idea has grown into a powerful model for delivering conservation projects that keep ranches productive, improve wildlife habitat, and strengthen rural communities. Through collaboration with more than 30 partners, including conservation organizations, agencies, and academic institutions, the Conservation Committee has helped bring millions of dollars into north central Montana and put those funds to work on the ground.

From the committee’s early days to the way projects are identified, mapped, matched with funding, and implemented, this episode offers a firsthand look at the people and partnerships behind the work. Martin shares how the process functions today, while Leo reflects on the rancher perspective and RSA’s growth over the past decade.

In this episode:

• How the Conservation Committee got its start
• Why ranchers wanted a seat at the table
• The role of partners in expanding opportunity
• How conservation projects move from idea to implementation
• The growth of RSA’s impact across working lands
• Why mutually beneficial solutions are key to long-term success

This is more than a conversation about funding. It is about building a model where ranching, conservation, and community all move forward together.

Support the show

The Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (RSA) is a rancher-led, grassroots organization, dedicated to improving the quality of life for rural communities throughout the Northern Great Plains. Through collaborative conservation projects, rancher education events, and local community outreach, RSA works to strengthen our rural community, economy, and culture for generations to come.

For more on the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance, head to www.RanchStewards.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Your feedback is always welcome. Email info@ranchstewards.org. Want to support our mission? Visit www.ranchstewards.org/support.