What Montana Farm Bureau Is
Montana Farm Bureau Federation is the state's grassroots farm and ranch membership organization, built on county Farm Bureaus. Its own materials say the organization develops policy from the ground up, so a rancher's idea at a county meeting can end up in front of the Legislature. The Farm Bureau article The Voice of Agriculture says Montana has 30 county Farm Bureaus, and that only a county Farm Bureau can forward resolutions to the state.
How Policy Starts at the County
Policy begins with members. The 2026 county meetings announcement says 30 county annual meetings kick off the grassroots process. Members raise challenges they face on farms, ranches, businesses and communities, discuss solutions, and propose and vote on policy recommendations. The meetings are called "listening sessions and decision-making meetings."
Some meetings combine counties, such as Carbon-Stillwater, Rosebud-Treasure, Dawson-Wibaux, Wheatland-Golden Valley, Powder River-Carter, Custer-Fallon and Hill-Liberty-Blaine. The 2026 list also includes regional meetings such as Southwest, Northwest and Front Range. Meetings ran from August 25 in Judith Basin to September 30, and the event list shows locations such as the Sweet Grass County Fairgrounds, the Miles City Club and the Montana Roadhouse.
From County Resolution to State Policy
The step-by-step process is explained in the article 18 ways county Farm Bureaus impacted Montana ag policy directives:
- A member proposes new policy or an amendment at the county's policy development meeting, or at the annual meeting if the county has no policy meeting.
- Members debate and refine the language, and the county must vote to approve a resolution at its annual meeting before sending it to the state office. Resolutions were due by October 1.
- The state Policy Development Committee reviews the resolutions and prepares them for the delegate floor.
- At the annual convention, voting delegates from each county spend two days debating, amending and passing or failing each resolution.
- Adopted changes go into the policy book, with changed or added lines in bold.
The article gives 2015 numbers as an example: county Farm Bureaus proposed 32 state resolutions (16 new policies and 16 amendments or deletions), 18 of 30 counties proposed policy, delegates passed 22 and failed 10. Another article, The Voice of Agriculture, says delegates at the 2018 Billings convention considered 83 resolutions and passed 60, covering topics such as plant-based "fake meat" labeling, a fire-preparedness assessment fee, agricultural valuation of parcels under 160 acres, aquatic invasive species and water rights changes.
A real example
The 2026 announcement cites a Cascade County proposal to extend livestock loss reimbursement to black bear losses. It passed through the county and state process and became law in 2025 as HB 356.
Delegates and the Annual Convention
Voting delegates are chosen by fellow members at the County Annual Meeting. The voting delegation page says a voting delegate is a voting member nominated by the membership at the county annual meeting, and an alternate delegate replaces a seated delegate if the delegates on the floor choose to seat them. A county must approve a resolution at its annual meeting before it can be considered on the convention floor, and each county's number of voting delegates depends on membership size, according to a Farm Bureau feature on county annual meetings.
The event list shows the 107th Annual Montana Farm Bureau Convention and Trade Show set for November 15-17, 2026 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Billings. Other listed events include the FUSION Conference on February 6, 2027 and Calling on the Capitol on February 8, 2027, both in Helena.
Membership and Dues
The join page lists three membership types:
- Voting members, $85: for people actively involved in production agriculture who earn part of their business income from it.
- Associate members, $50: for people interested in agriculture who are not actively farming.
- Student members, $25: for people enrolled in a higher or vocational education program, not available with a Mountain West Farm Bureau Insurance package policy.
The membership article says dues include local involvement with your county Farm Bureau and its policy process, leadership opportunities such as the Annual Convention and Young Ag Leadership Conference, publications and full-time staff working with state and federal government. The pages do not say how dues are divided between county and state, so ask your county Farm Bureau.
How to Get Involved
- Find your county meeting on the Farm Bureau event list each late summer.
- Bring a problem and a proposed fix; resolutions begin as ordinary member ideas.
- Volunteer to be a delegate or alternate.
- Ask your county leaders about local activities and fall events.
The delegate page says to contact your area's regional manager, listed on the Montana Farm Bureau staff page, for details on serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many county Farm Bureaus does Montana have?
Montana Farm Bureau says there are 30, though some hold joint annual meetings.
Can a member send a resolution straight to the state?
No. Only a county Farm Bureau can forward resolutions to the state office, after approving them at its annual meeting.
How much does it cost to join?
Voting membership is $85, associate $50 and student $25, according to the join page.
Montana Listings Covered by This Guide
- Montana Farm Bureau Annual Convention and Trade Show
The 107th annual convention of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Billings, November 15 to 18, 2026.
27 N 27th St, Billings, MT 59101 | Organizer: Montana Farm Bureau Federation Official event details - Big Horn County Farm Bureau
Grassroots Farm Bureau chapter for Big Horn County, a member of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation sending delegates to its annual meeting to set farm and ranch policy.
MT - Broadwater County Farm Bureau
Broadwater County members of Montana Farm Bureau, an ag advocacy chapter that takes part in state policy debate and the annual delegate session.
MT - Carbon-Stillwater County Farm Bureau
County Farm Bureau serving Carbon County farm and ranch families as part of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation network of local chapters. The chapter covers more than one county.
MT - Cascade County Farm Bureau
Grassroots Farm Bureau chapter for Cascade County, a member of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation sending delegates to its annual meeting to set farm and ranch policy.
MT - Chouteau County Farm Bureau
Chouteau County members of Montana Farm Bureau, an ag advocacy chapter that takes part in state policy debate and the annual delegate session.
MT - Custer-Fallon County Farm Bureau
County Farm Bureau serving Custer County farm and ranch families as part of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation network of local chapters. The chapter covers more than one county.
MT - Dawson-Wibaux County Farm Bureau
Grassroots Farm Bureau chapter for Dawson County, a member of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation sending delegates to its annual meeting to set farm and ranch policy. The chapter covers more than one county.
MT - Fergus County Farm Bureau
Fergus County members of Montana Farm Bureau, an ag advocacy chapter that takes part in state policy debate and the annual delegate session.
MT - Gallatin County Farm Bureau
County Farm Bureau serving Gallatin County farm and ranch families as part of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation network of local chapters.
MT - Hill-Liberty-Blaine County Farm Bureau
Grassroots Farm Bureau chapter for Hill County, a member of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation sending delegates to its annual meeting to set farm and ranch policy. The chapter covers more than one county.
MT - Judith Basin County Farm Bureau
Judith Basin County members of Montana Farm Bureau, an ag advocacy chapter that takes part in state policy debate and the annual delegate session.
MT - Lewis and Clark County Farm Bureau
County Farm Bureau serving Lewis and Clark County farm and ranch families as part of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation network of local chapters.
MT - McCone County Farm Bureau
Grassroots Farm Bureau chapter for McCone County, a member of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation sending delegates to its annual meeting to set farm and ranch policy.
MT - Meagher County Farm Bureau
Meagher County members of Montana Farm Bureau, an ag advocacy chapter that takes part in state policy debate and the annual delegate session.
MT - Montana Farm Bureau Spokesman
Quarterly member magazine of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation, with policy news, county Farm Bureau updates and member stories.
Bozeman, MT - Park County Farm Bureau
County Farm Bureau serving Park County farm and ranch families as part of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation network of local chapters.
MT - Phillips County Farm Bureau
Grassroots Farm Bureau chapter for Phillips County, a member of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation sending delegates to its annual meeting to set farm and ranch policy.
MT - Powder River-Carter County Farm Bureau
Powder River County members of Montana Farm Bureau, an ag advocacy chapter that takes part in state policy debate and the annual delegate session. The chapter covers more than one county.
MT - Prairie County Farm Bureau
County Farm Bureau serving Prairie County farm and ranch families as part of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation network of local chapters.
MT - Ravalli County Farm Bureau
Grassroots Farm Bureau chapter for Ravalli County, a member of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation sending delegates to its annual meeting to set farm and ranch policy.
MT - Richland County Farm Bureau
Richland County members of Montana Farm Bureau, an ag advocacy chapter that takes part in state policy debate and the annual delegate session.
MT - Roosevelt County Farm Bureau
County Farm Bureau serving Roosevelt County farm and ranch families as part of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation network of local chapters.
MT - Rosebud-Treasure County Farm Bureau
Grassroots Farm Bureau chapter for Rosebud County, a member of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation sending delegates to its annual meeting to set farm and ranch policy. The chapter covers more than one county.
MT - Sweet Grass County Farm Bureau
Sweet Grass County members of Montana Farm Bureau, an ag advocacy chapter that takes part in state policy debate and the annual delegate session.
MT - Valley County Farm Bureau
County Farm Bureau serving Valley County farm and ranch families as part of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation network of local chapters.
MT - Wheatland-Golden Valley County Farm Bureau
Grassroots Farm Bureau chapter for Wheatland County, a member of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation sending delegates to its annual meeting to set farm and ranch policy. The chapter covers more than one county.
MT - Yellowstone County Farm Bureau
Yellowstone County members of Montana Farm Bureau, an ag advocacy chapter that takes part in state policy debate and the annual delegate session.
MT
Guide checked Nov. 11, 2026. Rules and dates change; confirm with the organizer.