Winnett ACES write letter to legislature

April 8, 2019

Dear Legislators;

While the 2019 Legislature is in session, we wanted to take the opportunity to share about our community. We are mostly ranchers, teachers, and local government staff and even without journalists, marketing agencies and social media consultants, we would like to tell our story. We love where we live, we connect with our neighbors to keep our communities going, and we are passionate about our work.

Winnett, population 180, is the county seat of Petroleum County, population 500. We are home to the Missouri River Breaks, core sage grouse habitat, and some of the last remaining intact grasslands in the northern plains. We are also home to approximately 33,000 cattle and 100 agriculture operations. We are part of the two percent of the population producing food for the other 98 percent. In Petroleum County alone, our 100 agricultural operations produce enough beef to feed 127,745 people for one year.

Through the years, our generational land stewards have been and continue refining best management practices for the benefit of the land, the wildlife, the cattle and therefore, our communities.

Care for our community is vital. In late 2016 a group of ranchers came together to discuss the many challenges facing our community and formed the Winnett ACES (Agricultural Community Enhancement and Sustainability). The ACES immediately began tackling these challenges with productive, locally driven solutions. The group's mission is, “to strengthen our community by sustaining the health of our land, economy, and traditions for future generations."

Since 2010, our community has grown by 5.9 percent, which is more than Park and Ravalli Counties. There are young people returning home and new people coming to the area. With this growth, Winnett is evolving as well. Currently the ACES are working to build a Community Center so our community will have a space to gather. In 2019, ACES will also test-run a grassbank - a grazing opportunity for 7 young producers. ACES spent over 1,500 hours developing this idea, which is modeled after The Nature Conservancy's Matador Ranch in Phillips County.

ACES is also committed to sharing our story and invites you to visit our community anytime - the lunch specials at the Winnett Bar are stellar! Petroleum County's public lands are accessible and we invite you to also visit our private lands. Contact any of our ACES Board members for more information.

Sincerely,

The Winnett ACES Board