Building What's Possible: Ten Years of Winnett ACES

Many of us who live here share the same vision for the future: that the Winnett area remains a place where families make a living on the land and where our community continues to thrive. This vision led a group of local producers to form Winnett ACES (Agricultural and Community Enhancement and Sustainability) in 2016. This belief, that Winnett is a place of community and opportunity, became a call to action —rather than watch rural communities decline, we could work together to strengthen the future of agriculture, land stewardship, and community life here in central Montana.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.

Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” 

- Margaret Mead

These words hung in the Winnett Methodist Church, where our first meetings took place, before the construction of the new Petroleum County Community Center. ACES work centers around a commitment to keeping family ranchers on the land. When ranches stay in production, they support our local economy, maintain healthy grasslands and wildlife habitat, and help keep our schools, businesses, and civic organizations strong.

In the beginning, ACES identified a Ranch Incubator, or Grassbank, as one way to keep family ranchers on the land. The idea revolves around making grazing land available for multiple ranchers—especially younger or transitioning producers—who need access to grass to keep their operations going or growing. This model encourages mentorship between experienced and beginning producers while keeping land locally managed and in agricultural production.

Our work quickly began to reach far beyond the ranch incubator. In the ten years from 2016 - 2026, ACES evolved into a community-driven organization that connects healthy landscapes, thriving ranches, strong families, and vibrant communities. Community members got busy tackling some big issues and demonstrated that when people work together, they can create lasting change. Adapting to the needs of our rancher and rural communities lies at the heart of what we do. Since our inception, we have worked to identify needs and how we might meet them. This work falls into two broad categories: Working Lands and Community Enhancement.

Supporting Working Lands

ACES works alongside landowners and producers to build resilient ranching operations and healthy grasslands through several initiatives:

Rangeland Improvement Program – Cost-share funding helps ranchers complete projects such as water developments, fencing improvements, and other infrastructure that strengthen grazing management, drought resilience, and wildlife habitat.

Soil Health Program – Technical assistance, education, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities help landowners better understand soil function and management practices that support long-term productivity and profitability.

Range Monitoring Group – A collaborative effort that helps producers collect and share data across the landscape, improving understanding of grassland health and supporting informed management decisions.

Ranch Incubator - Still underway. Winnett ACES is searching for the right property to create a ranch incubator to provide another tool in the toolbox for access to grazing and keeping families on the land.

These programs have supported more than: 

• 55 range enhancement projects 

• 25 ranches engaged in soil health and range monitoring efforts. Through workshops, field days, school

  programs, and community events

• 25 educational opportunities offered through workshops, field days, school visits, and community events.

• Over 400 people connected each year.

Supporting the Community

ACES believes that strong communities support strong agriculture and vice versa. When families have access to childcare, housing, jobs, recreation, and community gathering spaces, they are more likely to stay, invest, and build their futures in rural Montana.

That belief has guided ACES involvement in a variety of community development efforts, including:

• Fiscal sponsor and partner for Sweet Peas Daycare.

• Owner and redevelopment partner of the 55 Main Building, home to Punchy Paint Coffee Shop and workforce and partner housing.

• Support for the Petroleum County Courthouse redevelopment, creating office space and housing opportunities.

• Fiscal sponsor for the Winnett Times.

• Support for community events that bring people together.

Along the way, ACES has become the third-largest employer in Petroleum County, helping attract talent, create jobs, and build local capacity for long-term success.

More Than Projects

ACES houses a space where ideas turn into action—and where people feel supported in doing meaningful work. Each year, ACES helps facilitate more than 1,600 volunteer hours and reaches over 400 people through educational programs and events. Those numbers represent something deeper: stronger relationships, greater collaboration, and a growing belief that rural communities can shape their own future.

Over the past decade, ACES has helped support childcare, housing, business development, education, conservation, outreach about agriculture, and community gathering spaces. These investments are connected. Healthy land supports successful ranches. Successful ranches support families. Families support schools, businesses, and community organizations. Strong communities create opportunities for future generations. That is why ACES focuses on people, place, and opportunity.

Looking Ahead

As ACES enters its second decade, the organization remains committed to its founding vision while continuing to grow its impact. Priorities for the future include expanding technical support for producers, advancing soil health stewardship, strengthening ranch succession and beginning producer opportunities, growing educational programs, investing in community amenities, and supporting projects that improve quality of life across the region. Many exciting projects are on the horizon, with funding already secured to rehabilitate Flatwillow Hall, replace more sidewalks on Main Street, and help business owners on Main Street with storefront modifications to become ADA compliant.

Most importantly, ACES will continue working to build confidence in rural communities and empower local people to pursue new ideas and opportunities. Ten years ago, ACES was founded on the belief that rural communities could create the change that they want to see. Today, that belief is visible in our community. The work of the Winnett community proves that when neighbors work together, small communities can accomplish big things.

And we're just getting started.