Gov. Gianforte Wraps up Second Annual 56 County Tour

• September 27 2022

HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte yesterday wrapped up his second annual 56 county tour emphasizing the importance of active forest management in a press conference in Lewis and Clark County. Since launching the tour in March, the governor has met with Montanans in each of the state’s 56 counties.

“Sitting down with and hearing from hardworking Montanans in their communities are the best ways I know to do my job. These are the folks who make Montana the best state in the country to live, work, and raise a family,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Listening to Montanans about their successes and challenges guides me in Helena and helps me deliver them results.”

Gov. Gianforte has logged thousands of miles meeting with Montanans including parents, students, veterans, leaders of Tribal Nations, law enforcement officials, first responders, health care professionals, child care providers, tradesmen, nonprofit leaders and volunteers, farmers, ranchers, small business owners, and local leaders, among others.

At the tour stops, the governor talked with Montanans about a wide range of issues important to them, including jobs and the economy, inflation and rising prices, child care, housing, health care, the drug epidemic, crime and public safety, value-added ag, forest management, drought, the pandemic, and Tribal matters, among others.

Recap of Governor Gianforte’s 56 County Tour

Activities listed below are not a complete list of the governor’s events, but rather represent one tour stop per county. The governor has visited and held events in many counties more than once.

Anaconda-Deer Lodge County: Highlighted Montana’s record economic growth in Anaconda with the owners of three expanding businesses: The Forge Hotel, Montana Zipline Adventures, and Old Works Golf Course.

Beaverhead County: Hosted a town hall at Fetty’s with discussions covering jobs and the economy, the crisis at the U.S. southern border, and historic inflation, Wisdom.

Big Horn County: Promoted value-added ag and the state’s investments to increase meat processing capacity at S Ranch Meats, a growing meat processing plant, Hardin.

Blaine County: Met with a starting teacher at Harlem Elementary School Met who is benefiting from higher starting teacher pay through the TEACH Act.

Gov. Gianforte sitting down with a starting teacher in Harlem benefitting from the TEACH Act

Broadwater County: Visited the Broadwater County Sheriff’s office to thank three first responders recently recognized as Broadwater County’s firefighter, EMT, and law enforcement officer of the year, Townsend.

Butte-Silver Bow: Convened a roundtable with law enforcement officers, local officials, and treatment providers to discuss efforts to improve public safety, Butte.

Carbon County: Promoted the one-of-a-kind experiences Carbon County has to offer in the wake of the flooding disaster at the Red Lodge Rodeo and recognize Riverside Construction crews repairing the Beartooth Highway, Red Lodge.

Gov. Gianforte greeting a crew member reconstructing damaged portions of the Beartooth Highway

Carter County: Hosted a town hall with residents and agricultural producers with discussions covering the crisis at the U.S. southern border, inflation, and infrastructure, Ekalaka.

Cascade County: Convened a roundtable with law enforcement officers, local officials, and treatment providers to discuss efforts to improve public safety, Great Falls.

Chouteau County: Cut the ribbon to mark the grand opening of IND HEMP, a hemp grain and fiber processing facility, Fort Benton.

Gov. Gianforte touring IND Hemp prior to a ribbon-cutting ceremony

Custer County: Awarded the Sandhills Sewing and Vacuum Center a Spirit of Montana award for its 50 years of service to the community to kick off the 56 County Tour, Miles City.

Daniels County: Hosted a town hall with residents, discussing topics that included growing the local economy, investing in infrastructure, promoting value-added agriculture, and investing in trade education, Scobey.

Dawson County: Spotlighted the Plains to Porch program which helps agricultural producers capture more of the value they create, Glendive.

Fallon County: Toured Barkley’s Home Grown Greenhouse and met with Baker High School’s agriculture class.

Gov. Gianforte touring the Barkley family’s year-round greenhouse

Fergus County: Held a community forum to connect with residents and receive an update on rebuilding efforts in the wake of the West Wind Fire, Denton.

Flathead County: Convened a roundtable with law enforcement officers, local officials, and treatment providers to discuss efforts to improve public safety, Kalispell.

Gallatin County: Met with two starting teachers at Manhattan High School who are benefiting from higher starting teacher pay through the TEACH Act.

Garfield County: Promoted value-added ag and the state’s investments to increase meat processing capacity at Ryan Grocery and Processing Inc., a meat processing plant, Jordan.

Glacier County: Discussed the importance of closing the digital divide with Siyeh Corporation and Blackfeet tribal leaders and met with Cut Bank High School students participating in the school’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program, Browning and Cut Bank.

Gov. Gianforte viewing a welding demonstration by Cut Bank High School students 

Golden Valley County: Visited the Lavina Volunteer Fire Department to recognize members of Montana’s volunteer firefighting workforce.

Granite County: Joined the Vietor family at the Rocking Chair Ranch to brand 100 head of cattle and proclaim May as Beef Month in Montana, Philipsburg.

Hill County: Met with Sunnyside Elementary School’s first-year educators who are benefitting from the TEACH Act, Havre.

Jefferson County: Met with apprentices from McLean Plumbing and Heating, an employer sponsor participating in Montana’s Registered Apprenticeship Program, Cardwell.

Gov. Gianforte meeting with plumbers and apprentice plumbers with McLean Plumbing and Heating

Judith Basin County: Toured Wolf Creek Honey facility which provides jobs to the local community, as well as quality Made in Montana products, Stanford.

Lake County: Toured Mission Mountain Organic Eggs, a family-run business adding value to local ag supply chains and providing the community with fresh and healthy Montana-raised products, Ronan.

Lewis and Clark County: Hosted a press conference with officials from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and the City of Helena to emphasize the importance of active forest management, Helena.

Liberty County: Hosted a town hall meeting discussing topics that included expanding trades education and increasing apprenticeship opportunities, creating greater opportunity for veterans, growing the local economy, and bringing Montanans that have moved away back to Liberty County, Chester.

Gov. Gianforte answering a question from a resident during a Chester town hall

Lincoln County: Joined local leaders, staff from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, and U.S. Forest Service representatives to announce an expanded, decade-long agreement committing to treating priority wildland urban interface in the Kootenai National Forest, Libby.

Madison County: Hosted a teacher appreciation breakfast and welcomed students back to school at Twin Bridges School before leading the school in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, Twin Bridges.

McCone County: Visited residents and staff at Conroy Care Assisted Living Facility, the only assisted living facility within a 60-mile radius, Circle.

Gov. Gianforte visiting with residents at Conroy Care Assisted Living Facility

Meagher County: Met with local small business owners and artisans Calvin and Kathy Hochstrat, making leather products and producing raw whole milk, made possible by the Montana Local Food Choice Act signed by the governor last year, White Sulphur Springs.

Mineral County: Toured Superior Meats Inc, a state-inspected local meat processing plant, utilizing a $150,000 grant for its automated packaging equipment and composting system, Superior.

Missoula County: Met with trucking companies and apprentices participating in the Commercial Drivers License workforce training program through Accelerate MT, Missoula.

Gov. Gianforte discussing the importance of the trucking industry to Montana’s economy with employers participating in Accelerate MT

Musselshell County: Toured Rimrock Flower Farm, a small business growing seasonal blooms for weddings, special events, and purchase by residents, Roundup.

Park County: Promoted the one-of-a-kind experiences Park County has to offer in the wake of the flooding disaster by spotlighting a local fly fishing business, restaurant, and RV park, Livingston and Emigrant.

Petroleum County: Held a town hall over dinner at the Winnett Bar and Grill discussing the impact of inflation on Montana families, especially those in agriculture, as well as how the TEACH Act is helping to recruit and retain starting teachers in rural Montana, Winnett.

Phillips County: Joined business owners for breakfast to discuss local economic development efforts as well as the administration’s work to spur job creation and economic growth, Malta.

Governor and First Lady Gianforte sit down with Phillips County business leaders

Pondera County: Visited with Career and Technical Education (CTE) students at Conrad High School participating in the school’s Trades Academy.

Powder River County: Toured Gnerer Angus Ranch and sat down with local producers and residents as part of Montana Ag Week, Olive.

Powell County: Joined business owners for lunch at Stray Bullet Cafe to discuss Montana’s growing outdoor economy as well as efforts to bring Montanans who grew up in Powell County back home, Ovando.

Prairie County: Met with CTE students at Terry High School to discuss the value in acquiring career skills as high school students.

Ravalli County: Led a roundtable discussion on foster care in Montana with local foster care families and providers, Hamilton.

Gov. Gianforte hearing from foster care families and providers during a roundtable discussion

Richland County: Toured Mimi’s Kitchen, which owner Billie Jo Hillesland rebuilt after a fire into a local eatery, retail storefront, and center offering cooking classes, Sidney.

Rosebud County: Visited two small business started by Forsyth natives who moved out of state and came home to Montana where they started their businesses, Forsyth.

Roosevelt County: Met with the owner of a local grocery store to hear how her small business found a way to serve more local customers and expand operations during the pandemic and took questions from residents, Froid.

Sanders County: Toured Sanders County Feed, a new family-owned farm and feed store serving the local ag community, Thompson Falls.

Sheridan County: Met with apprentices at C&B Operations, an agriculture equipment dealership, Plentywood.

Gov. Gianforte hearing from DJ Dixon, store manager of C&B Operations

Stillwater County: Met with Sibanye-Stillwater Mine employees and crews reconstructing the bridge connecting Absarokee and Fishtail damaged in the flooding disaster, Absarokee.

Sweet Grass County: Convened a roundtable with law enforcement officers, local officials, and treatment providers to discuss efforts to improve public safety, Big Timber.

Teton County: Convened a roundtable discussion on rising conflicts with grizzly bears, particularly in the prairie areas east of the Rocky Mountain Front, where they haven’t been in more than a century, Fairfield.

Toole County: Honored John. A Alstad, a Vietnam veteran and recipient of the 2021 Montana Governor’s Veteran Commendation, in a ceremony at the Montana Veteran’s Memorial Flag and Park, Shelby.

U.S. Marine Corps Veteran John Alstad delivers remarks after being recognized by the governor with the 2021 Montana Governor’s Veteran Commendation

Treasure County: Delivered a commencement address at Hysham High School for its graduating class of one following the graduate’s handwritten request to the governor.

Valley County: Proclaimed May as Mental Health Awareness Month in Montana and met with patients at Eastern Montana Community Mental Health Center working to overcome mental health or addiction challenges, Glasgow.

Wheatland County: Met with young leaders in agriculture who showed the governor animals they raised and planned to show in summer fairs, Harlowton.

Gov. Gianforte meeting with young ag leaders in Harlowton

Wibaux County: Toured Miske Angus Ranch’s cattle operation and met with local leaders and ranchers during Montana Agriculture Week, Wibaux.

Yellowstone County: Met with young apprentices with Tounsely Electric, an employer sponsor in Montana’s Registered Apprenticeship Program able to expand its apprenticeship program following the governor’s journeyman-to-apprentice ratio change in early 2022, Billings.