In this personal and heartfelt episode, host Haylie Shipp shares how a major health crisis in her family in 2024 changed the way she views wellness on the ranch. Ranchers plan for drought, markets, and succession, but rarely for themselves. Preventative healthcare is another kind of ranch insurance. It protects the most important asset on any operation: the people who keep it running.

Haylie visits with Dr. Kevin Ross of Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital, a critical access hospital serving northeastern Montana, and rancher and registered nurse Carmen Salveson. Together, they discuss what preventative care looks like in rural communities, how access to healthcare is evolving, and why taking care of yourself is one of the smartest investments you can make in your ranch’s future.

In This Episode:

• Why preventative care is essential ranch insurance
• How Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital supports rural health as a critical access facility
• The importance of early detection and regular screenings
• Addressing the stigma surrounding mental health in rural communities
• Building a culture of care that sustains families and operations
• If you're going to do the bare minimum, what are a doctor's suggestions?

Resources Mentioned:

• Depression Self-Assessment (Mayo Clinic): https://anxietycoach.mayoclinic.org/depression-coach/depression-self-assessment/
• Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital, Glasgow, Montana
• Aaniih Nakoda College “Grow Our Own” nursing program

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 https://ranchstewards.charityproud.org/Donate.

In this episode, Haylie Shipp sits down with eco-nutritionist Sara Keough and rancher Craig French to explore the surprising ways soil health and human health are connected. Sara shares what it means to look at people as ecosystems. Craig tells the story of meeting Sara at the Soil Health Symposium and the big changes he has seen since working with her, including weight loss, better sleep, and more energy. Together they talk about practical shifts in food choices and the parallels between soil microbes and the gut microbiome. The conversation also touches on the importance of mental health in agriculture and how preventative care can help keep people and operations strong.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Event: Gut Check: How Soil Health Shapes Human Health – Oct 11 in Malta, MT
• Sara Keough’s website: eco-nutrition.com
• Sara’s article: Meat is Medicine

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 https://ranchstewards.charityproud.org/Donate.

Today’s episode of the Ranch Stewards Podcast takes us underground, as we bring you a replay from our 2025 Rural Resilience webinar series all about vermicast. Vermicast is a soil additive produced by earthworms that can improve soil biology, boost plant health, and strengthen ranching systems.

You will hear from:

• Kendall Morgan, Land Health Specialist with Winnett ACES
• Adele Stenson, rancher and Western Sustainability Exchange staff member
• Conni French, RSA President and Phillips County rancher

Together, they share practical ways to raise worms, harvest castings, and put vermicast to work in a ranch setting.

Want the full webinar with visuals? Watch it on our YouTube channel here: Vermicast Webinar Replay. While you are there, explore more replays and subscribe to our channel: RSA on YouTube.

Looking ahead, our Rural Resilience 2026 webinar series will kick off in January. Dates and topics will be announced soon at RanchStewards.org/events.

The Ranchers Stewardship Alliance is committed to peer-to-peer learning and equipping ranchers with tools to stay successful and inspired.

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 https://ranchstewards.charityproud.org/Donate.

Winter grazing might sound like a risky gamble, but for Montana ranchers Cooper Hibbard and Leo Barthelmess, it’s a key part of building a more resilient—and affordable—grazing system. In this episode, we dig into how they manage livestock in the cold months, monitor forage quality and cow condition, and adjust plans in real time. From financial realities to grazing mistakes, they share what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what they’re still learning.

Plus: If you’re listening before August 21, 2025, don’t miss our Cold Season Grazing Clinic with Cooper in Malta, MT. Details at ranchstewards.org/events.

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 https://ranchstewards.charityproud.org/Donate.

We’ve said why the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance exists. But what do we actually do?

In this season-opening episode of the Ranch Stewards Podcast, host Haylie Shipp sits down with RSA Executive Director Angel DeVries, Conservation Director Martin Townsend, and Board President Conni French to break down the mission of this rancher-led nonprofit—and the real-world impact it’s having across the Northern Great Plains.

We’re talking about:

• The millions (yes, millions) in conservation investments RSA has brought to ranch country
• The nuts and bolts of our education and conservation cost-share programs
• Tangible support for ranchers and the landscapes they steward
• Building community, creating space for connection, and why that radical center matters

If you’ve ever asked, “What does RSA actually do?”—this is the episode for you.

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 https://ranchstewards.charityproud.org/Donate.

In this episode of the Ranch Stewards Podcast, we explore how one program is shaping the next generation of ranch managers and land stewards. The Dan Scott Ranch Management Program at Montana State University blends academic instruction with hands-on, on-the-ground internships—providing students with a well-rounded, real-world education in ranching systems.

You’ll hear from Dr. Rachel Frost, who leads the program; Montana rancher and mentor Billy Whitehurst; and student intern Major Harms. Together, they share how the program equips both seasoned ag kids and newcomers to the industry with the tools, experiences, and connections they need to succeed.

At Ranchers Stewardship Alliance, we believe education is essential to keeping working lands working. Tune in to hear how this innovative program is building a stronger, more resilient future for ranching.

🔗 Learn more about the Dan Scott Ranch Management Program at www.animalrange.montana.edu/danscott
🔗 Find more RSA stories, events, and resources at www.RanchStewards.org

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 https://ranchstewards.charityproud.org/Donate.

In this episode of the Ranch Stewards Podcast, host Haylie Shipp sits down with longtime ag journalist, rancher, and now multi-time author Rachel Gabel. You may know Rachel from her work with The Fence Post Magazine or Western Ag Network—but today, we’re exploring a different side of her story: her journey into the world of book writing.

It all started with a moment close to home—her daughter’s hesitance to head off to kindergarten. That spark led to Rachel’s first children’s book, and she hasn’t slowed down since. With eight books under her belt and a ninth on the way, Rachel shares how writing became an added enterprise to her family’s ranching life.

We talk about the team it takes to publish a book (from illustrators to copy editors), what the process really looks like, the income potential of writing, and how to pursue creative work that fits into the rhythm of ranch life.

Connect with Rachel Gabel:
📚 Website: www.rachelgabel.com
📰 Writing: The Fence Post Magazine
🎙 Podcast: Pro Ag Podcast – available on all major platforms
📻 Contributor: Western Ag Network
📱 Facebook: RachelWrites

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 https://ranchstewards.charityproud.org/Donate.

In this third and final bonus episode from National Ag Week on KLTZ Glasgow’s Live Under the Big Sky, we sit down with Jillien Streit, the new director of the Montana Department of Agriculture, to discuss her background, priorities for the department, and thoughts on agricultural trade. She also introduces the Beyond the Weather mental health campaign, a crucial initiative aimed at supporting the well-being of those in agriculture.

The conversation continues with Shayna Chupein, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with Frontier Psychiatry, who shares valuable insight into mental health resources available for farmers and ranchers.

If you or someone you know is struggling, remember—there is no shame in asking for help. Resources can be found at Beyond the Weather, and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7.

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 https://ranchstewards.charityproud.org/Donate.