In this episode of the Wild Rockies Podcast, Dave Morris travels to the plains around Billings to visit Steve Charter, regenerative rancher, proud Montana, and advocate for sustainable food systems.

Steve is a third-generation cattle rancher based in Shepard, Montana, and is a leader in the world of regenerative ranching. He is a member of the Norther Plains Resource Council and strong voice for his community and family.

In this wide ranging conversation, Dave and Steve talk about Steve's life in Montana, changes in the cattle industry, indigenous land management, how to build power through people, and building a sustainable future for his family.

Special thanks to Martha Scanlan for the use of her song "Seeds of the Pine" from the album "The West is Burning" as the intro and outro of this show.

This podcast was produced and edited by Matthew Herbert, marketing coordinator for the Wild Rockies Field Institute.

The Wild Rockies Field Institute is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Missoula, Montana. Our mission is to foster the next generation of leaders and environmental stewards through field-based education in the American West.

Head to ⁠⁠www.WRFI.net⁠⁠ to learn more about our mission, work, and courses.

Want to join us in the field and have conversations like these? Apply Now: https://www.wrfi.net/admissions/apply/

Follow us on socials to see what we're up to!

Instagram: ⁠⁠@Wild_Rockies⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠@wildrockiesfieldinstitute8447⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠@wildrockies⁠⁠

\Facebook: ⁠⁠@WildRockiesFieldInstitute⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Wild Rockies Field Institute⁠⁠

This podcast may not be used to train AI models.

The Wild Rockies Field Institute acknowledges that our headquarters is located on the aboriginal land of the Selis Qlispe (Salish). Our courses visit traditional territories of many indigenous peoples including the Ktunaxa (Kootenai); Shuswap; Siksika, Piikani, Kaiani, and Blackfeet Nation (Blackfoot Confederacy); Nakota & Aaniiih (Fort Belknap Indian Community); Tsis tsis’tas (Northern Cheyenne Nation); Apsáalooke (Crow Nation); Anishinaabe & Metis (Little Shell Chippewa); Tukudeka (Shoshone-Bannock); Hopi; Dine (Navajo); Ashiwi (Zuni); Havasu ‘Baaja (Havasupi); Hualapai; Ute; Apache; Southern Paiute; and others that we may be ignorant of.

In this episode, Matt sits down with Brooke Reynolds, a water law attorney based in the Ruby Valley in Southwest Montana.

Brooke is a WRFI alumni, former WRFI board member, and proud Montanan working tirelessly to advocate for her clients in the complicated world of water law her in the Big Sky State.

Brooke graduated with a degree in Environmental Studies from Montana State University in Bozeman, got her J.D. from the University of Montana in Missoula, served as a Water Master in the Montana Water Court, and now practices law as a solo practitioner with her firm Reynolds Law based in the Ruby Valley serving her clients across the entire state of Montana. She currently serves as a board member of Beaverhead Animal Shelter and is a fierce lover of Montana, dogs, wildlife, and, of course, the world of water.

The Wild Rockies Field Institute is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Missoula, Montana. Our mission is to foster the next generation of leaders and environmental stewards through field-based education in the American West.

Head to ⁠⁠www.WRFI.net⁠⁠ to learn more about our mission, work, and courses.

Want to join us in the field and have conversations like these? Apply Now: https://www.wrfi.net/admissions/apply/

Follow us on socials to see what we're up to!

Instagram: ⁠⁠@Wild_Rockies⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠@wildrockiesfieldinstitute8447⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠@wildrockies⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠@WildRockiesFieldInstitute⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Wild Rockies Field Institute⁠⁠

The Wild Rockies Field Institute acknowledges that our headquarters is located on the aboriginal land of the Selis Qlispe (Salish). Our courses visit traditional territories of many indigenous peoples including the Ktunaxa (Kootenai); Shuswap; Siksika, Piikani, Kaiani, and Blackfeet Nation (Blackfoot Confederacy); Nakota & Aaniiih (Fort Belknap Indian Community); Tsis tsis’tas (Northern Cheyenne Nation); Apsáalooke (Crow Nation); Anishinaabe & Metis (Little Shell Chippewa); Tukudeka (Shoshone-Bannock); Hopi; Dine (Navajo); Ashiwi (Zuni); Havasu ‘Baaja (Havasupi); Hualapai; Ute; Apache; Southern Paiute; and others that we may be ignorant of.

In this inaugural episode, Matt sits down with Ash Sward (WRFI's Enrollment & Field Operations Coordinator) and Heather Upin (WRFI Instructor) for a wide-ranging conversation about geology, deep time, place-based learning, indigenous knowledge, and what it really means to teach outside. From licking rocks and translating the landscape to wondering about time and the spiritual dimensions of climate change, this conversation challenges you to consider your place in the world.

The Wild Rockies Field Institute is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Missoula, Montana. Our mission is to foster the next generation of leaders and environmental stewards through field-based education in the American West.

Head to ⁠www.WRFI.net⁠ to learn more about our mission, work, and courses.

Want to join us in the field and have conversations like these? Apply Now: https://www.wrfi.net/admissions/apply/

Follow us on socials to see what we're up to!

Instagram: ⁠@Wild_Rockies⁠

YouTube: ⁠@wildrockiesfieldinstitute8447⁠

TikTok: ⁠@wildrockies⁠

Facebook: ⁠@WildRockiesFieldInstitute⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠Wild Rockies Field Institute⁠

The Wild Rockies Field Institute acknowledges that our headquarters is located on the aboriginal land of the Selis Qlispe (Salish). Our courses visit traditional territories of many indigenous peoples including the Ktunaxa (Kootenai); Shuswap; Siksika, Piikani, Kaiani, and Blackfeet Nation (Blackfoot Confederacy); Nakota & Aaniiih (Fort Belknap Indian Community); Tsis tsis’tas (Northern Cheyenne Nation); Apsáalooke (Crow Nation); Anishinaabe & Metis (Little Shell Chippewa); Tukudeka (Shoshone-Bannock); Hopi; Dine (Navajo); Ashiwi (Zuni); Havasu ‘Baaja (Havasupi); Hualapai; Ute; Apache; Southern Paiute; and others that we may be ignorant of.