Ron Rabou, Rabou Farms

Ron Rabou is a Wyoming native, whose roots run deep in American agriculture. He is passionate about his own farm as well as working with farm families in transition and succession planning. Rabou’s farm was featured as one of three national finalists by Farm Journal for Top Producer of the Year. He is co-host of the AgInspo Podcast, a columnist, and a nationally known author and speaker. His newest book “Make Your OWN Way” shares his personal story of breaking the mold and creating independence in American agriculture. He is a member of the Cheyenne Rotary Club, on the National Board of Directors for the American Society of Agriculture Consultants, a board member of the University of Wyoming’s College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources, and is a graduate of the University of Wyoming with a BS in Agricultural Business. He resides on his farm near Albin, Wyoming with his wife and 3 sons.

Christy Clark, Director, Montana Department of Agriculture

Christy Clark, Director at Montana Department of Agriculture, is committed to strengthening Montana’s number one industry and expanding value-added opportunities for producers and businesses. A fifth-generation rancher from Choteau, Christy understands the challenges and opportunities producers face as she advocates for robust markets and promotes Montana’s high-quality ag products domestically and abroad. Since 2015, Clark has served Montana producers at the department in various roles, including deputy director, agricultural sciences administrator, and agricultural development and marketing bureau chief. Christy served three terms in the Montana House of Representatives before choosing to follow her passion for agriculture by working for the Montana Department of Agriculture. She graduated from California State University Sacramento and raised three children on the family ranch alongside her husband.

Dr. Mary Miles, Professor & Associate Dean of Research, Montana State University

Dr. Mary Miles is a Professor in the Department of Food Systems, Nutrition, and Kinesiology, and Associate Dean of Research in the College of Education, Health, and Human Development at Montana State University in Bozeman. Dr. Miles research focuses on interactions between metabolism and health, with the goal of developing therapeutic strategies to reduce the risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes and CVD. 

Jane H. Smith, M.D., Co-owner, Aspen Island, LLC

It is an honor to once again speak at the MOA conference. I am an overcomer who refuses to accept that pain and suffering are the best life has to offer, which is one of the big reasons my husband, Mark, and I started raising grass-fed organic beef eighteen years ago in Montana. As a retired Integrative medical doctor and former bed-ridden patient, I have seen plenty of suffering and understand that organic food is the key to health, while ultra-processed food destroys it. The world is changing; organic food will be the mainstay of our country’s food supply in the not-too-distant future. The sooner we help those around us understand this, the sooner we all heal. At this year’s MOA conference, I invite you to come talk with me about the nutritional superiority of organic food, the need to produce as well as eat it, and the ethics of clean food production.

Mihail Kennedy, Production Manager, B Bar Ranch

From a young age Mihail was interested in where food came from and spent a great deal of time with a local ranch family that sold beef to his parents’ restaurant in Billings, Montana. In college he worked at ZooMontana while completing his degree in environmental studies and this is where he fell in love with ecology. After graduation he went on to work as the environmental restoration manager for Montana Audubon, charged with restoring an old gravel mine to various native ecosystems. At some point it became clear to him that the best use of his restaurant and ecology backgrounds was in raising food and when the opportunity to work at B Bar arose, he jumped at the chance. Mihail approaches agriculture with his ecology background and believes that without a healthy functioning ecosystem, you can’t raise high quality food. Throughout the last ten years he’s been able to learn a great deal about regenerative agriculture and see the results of these processes as he manages the day to day and beef production of the ranch. Ecosystems are in a constant state of flux and therefore one needs to be able to adapt their management to the present and future conditions.

Nancy Beech, Owner/Operator, Mountain Spring Farms, LLC

2014 -2024 Owner/Operator – Mountain Spring Farms, LLC. A Montana Certified Organic farm specializing in Montana Certified Seed Potatoes, Seed Garlic and Blueberry fruit production. 2000 -2014 Business Owner – Horseshoe Grove Nursery and Landscaping installing residential and commercial landscape plantings, hardscapes, water features and ponds. 1993 -2002 Paradise and Somers, MT Superfund toxic waste site subcontractor installing and maintaining large area vegetative plantings. 1984 -2000 Business Owner – Horseshoe Grove Nursery wholesale grower providing conifers, native plant species transplants and grafted fruit trees to nurseries across Montana and the upper NW. 1998-2002 Montana Nursery and Landscape Association Board of Director Member and Association President. 1982 -2020 Elected, appointed and volunteer positions including school boards, refuse district board, community development board, 4H leader/superintendent, NW Regional RC&D member, Regional Carbon Offset Coalition member.

Brandon Tillett, Graduate Research Assistant Montana State University

Brandon is a PhD candidate in genetics and plant bioscience. Research focus is on flowering time, dormancy, tillering and head metric genes in common and durum wheat.

Len Wunderly, Plant Manager, Bay State Milling of Montana

Len has a degree in Milling Science from Kansas State University. He started working for Bay State after graduating and this June will mark 25 years in the industry. He worked at 5 out of our 6 wheat flour mills and was the Corporate Milling Technical resource before accepting the Plant Manager position in Belgrade 2 years ago to help grow Sow Naked gluten free oat business.
Participating on the Montana Processor Introductions panel.

Keela Deaton, State Soil Health Specialist, Montana NRCS

Keela has been with NRCS for almost 20 years starting out as a Soil Conservationist and most recently for the last 13 years as the District Conservationist in Sundance, WY prior to switching to the State Soil Health Specialist for Montana NRCS in June of 2024. She graduated from Purdue University, where she found her passion for soil and healthy soils as she worked side by side with some of the industries top researchers studying the dynamic properties of soil. She lives with her husband and two children on a small ranch near Alzada, MT. If she’s not tromping around with her shovel, you can find her horseback on the prairie.

Jed Eberly, Associate Professor, Montana State University

Dr. Jed Eberly is an Assistant Professor in Agronomy & Soil Microbiology at the Montana State University Central Agricultural Research Center. Dr. Eberly graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2004 from Montana State University – Billings with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. He graduated from Oregon State University in 2010 with a Ph.D. in Biological and Ecological Engineering. His research is focused on plant-microbe interactions and understanding the role of microorganisms in improving soil health and crop performance.

Clain Jones, Professor and MSU Extension Soil Fertility Specialist, Montana State University

Dr. Jones has worked in the area of nutrient management at MSU since 1999, and has been the Extension Soil Fertility Specialist since 2004. His research has focused on nutrient management in both conventional and organic systems, and currently he is studying soil acidification, sulfur fertility, and the effects of long-term cropping systems on soil health. His Extension work uses a range of delivery methods to reach as wide an audience as possible.

Charlotte Vallaeys, Organic Expert, General Mills

Charlotte Vallaeys is the Organic Expert at General Mills, one of the largest producers of certified organic packaged foods with brands including Annie’s, Cascadian Farm, and Muir Glen. Within the company, she leads the sustainability strategy and initiatives for the organic brands, advances the perspective of the organic community, and represents General Mills with the organic industry. Charlotte has been deeply engaged in the organic community for nearly 20 years, working at The Cornucopia Institute and Consumers Union prior to General Mills. She earned master’s degrees from Harvard and Tufts.

Sandy Sands, Foreign Labor Program Manager, Montana Dept. of Labor and Industry

Sandy Sands is the Foreign Labor Certification Program Manager and State Monitor Advocate for the State of Montana and DLI. He has been with the State of Montana for 20 years, spending 10 years at DPHHS working in Emergency Preparedness, as the Tribal Liaison and Special Populations Coordinator and in the HIV Prevention Program. At DLI, he has worked in Registered Apprenticeship and his current role since 2018. He is an avid cribbage player and enjoys traveling and playing competitively around the US and abroad, as well as hosting and directing tournaments in Montana.