Governor Gianforte Wraps up Third Annual 56 County Tour

• October 26 2023

HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte on Monday concluded his third annual 56 County Tour in Lewis and Clark County, highlighting new laws that boost public access to public lands and preserve Montana’s hunting heritage. Since launching the tour in June, the governor has met with Montanans in each of the state’s 56 counties.

Gov. Gianforte traveled thousands of miles meeting with Montanans where they live and work, including small business owners, parents, students, teachers, veterans, leaders of Tribal Nations, law enforcement officers and first responders, health care professionals, tradesmen, entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders and volunteers, farmers, ranchers, and local leaders, among others.

“The best and most important part of my job is meeting with Montanans where they live and work,” Gov. Gianforte said. “From visits with farmers, ranchers, and small business owners, to town hall meetings with families, legislators, and local leaders – it was great to get out of Helena and hear directly from Montanans.”

At the tour stops, the governor talked with Montanans about a wide range of issues important to them, including tax relief, housing, jobs, the economy, the southern border crisis, crime, public safety, infrastructure, health care, value-added ag, forest management, tribal matters, and more.

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: Toured Intercontinental Truck Body, an industrial and military machinery manufacturer that offers work-based learning to local students, Anaconda.

Beaverhead County: Visited the future home of Terminus Distilling Company, opening in 2024, to highlight value-added agriculture and the owners’ investment in the local economy and community, Dillon.

Big Horn County: Highlighted leaders building a stronger future for Montana through the One Heart Warriors basketball clinic for native students, Hardin.

Gov. Gianforte visiting with children at a One Heart Warriors basketball clinic in Hardin

Blaine County: Met with the Fort Belknap Tribal Council and visited Little River Trading Post, a tribal-owned convenience store and fuel stop, Harlem.

Broadwater County: Celebrated reducing the business equipment tax burden for farmers and ranchers at Foth Farms, a family-run small seed farm, Toston.

Butte-Silver Bow: Met with law enforcement officers, thanking them for their service and highlighting new laws that increase penalties for fentanyl traffickers in Montana, Butte.

Carbon County: Promoted a new law, sponsored by Rep. Brad Barker, R-Luther, to allow for licensing reciprocity for military members and their spouses, Red Lodge.

Carter County: Toured Montana Legacy Ranch's meat processing plant, Montana Legacy Cuts, and met with owner Ty O’Connor to discuss his expanding business and investment in Montana, Ekalaka.

Gov. Gianforte touring Montana Legacy Cuts in Ekalaka with owner Ty O’Connor

Cascade County: Highlighted property tax reforms to provide relief to Montana homeowners with fixed incomes at a senior center, Great Falls.

Chouteau County: Celebrated reducing the business equipment tax burden for farmers, ranchers, and small business owners with bill sponsor Rep. Josh Kassmier, R-Fort Benton, Fort Benton.

Custer County: Toured Troggy’s Trailer Repair and met with owner and U.S. Navy veteran, Tyler Trogden, who recently purchased the trailer repair shop and launched his business, Miles City.

Daniels County: Recognized Lawrence Rhone, a U.S. Army veteran and owner of Rhone Farm, for his work to mentor veterans in pursuing a career in agriculture, Flaxville.

Gov. Gianforte and First Lady Susan Gianforte visiting with Lawrence Rhone of Rhone’s Farm and Retreat in Flaxville

Dawson County: Hosted a town hall meeting and took questions from residents, Glendive.

Fallon County: Received an update on the restoration of Baker Lake from high school students who conducted testing in the new lake and reported their findings to state and federal agencies, Baker.

Fergus County: Hosted a town hall meeting and took questions from residents, Lewistown.

Flathead County: Championed new laws to promote public safety and strengthen schools sponsored by Rep. Courtenay Sprunger, R-Kalispell, Kalispell.

Gov. Gianforte ceremonially signing House Bills 256 and 791 in Kalispell, joined by Montana Rep. Courtenay Sprunger, R-Kalispell, Congressman Ryan Zinke, and local law enforcement

Gallatin County: Joined cancer survivors, advocates, and health providers to ceremonially sign a new law that secures coverage for fertility preservation treatments for cancer survivors, Bozeman.

Garfield County: Toured the seventh-generation Big Dry Angus Ranch, which raises Angus seedstock cattle, Jordan.

Glacier County: Visited with the owners of Sunshine Stables, a horseback riding and boarding business, Cut Bank.

Gov. Gianforte touring Sunshine Stables in Cut Bank

Golden Valley County: Toured Quad Five, a global provider of high-quality microbiology products utilized in clinical medical centers, laboratories, and universities, Ryegate.

Granite County: Visited with Valley Fire District volunteer firefighters at their new fire station and took questions from elementary students, Drummond.

Hill County: Met with Havre High School art students at Hi-Line Motel who helped decorate the motel’s courtyard, Havre.

Jefferson County: Promoted Montana’s outdoor recreation industry at Ridgeline Rentals & Adventures and Pipestone Village and Hotsprings, which partner to offer ATV/UTV and accommodation rentals, Whitehall.

Judith Basin County: Visited Stanford Public Schools during the first week of school to meet with students, teachers, and administrators, Stanford.

Gov. Gianforte speaking with kindergarten students at Stanford Public Schools

Lake County: Championed new pro-student, pro-parent, pro-teacher education laws at Linderman Elementary School, Polson.

Lewis and Clark County: Celebrated new laws championed by sportsmen, outfitters, and landowners to promote public access and increase hunting opportunities for Montanans at Lake Helena Wildlife Management Area, Helena.

Liberty County: Visited the Stricks Fertilizer Depot to hear from local farmers and ranchers, Chester.

Lincoln County: Hosted a town hall meeting and took questions from residents, Eureka.

Gov. Gianforte taking questions at a town hall meeting in Eureka

Madison County: Promoted value-added agriculture at Ruby Valley Meats to highlight the shop and restaurant that sells pasture-raised, grain-finished, 100% grassfed beef from the owner’s ranch in the Ruby Valley, Sheridan.

McCone County: Toured a local business, 41 Grains, and heard from founder Kacie Sikveland about how her Montana-made chickpea flour products add value to Montana commodities, Circle.

Meagher County: Visited with ag producers and 4-H members to discuss their partnership in offering students hands-on experience, White Sulphur Springs.

Mineral County: Spotlighted Western Montana Specialty Foods, a small business producing and selling Montana-made ag products and adding value to Montana commodities, Superior.

Missoula County: Joined U.S. Senator Steve Daines to celebrate the expansion of Felco Industries, which is creating good-paying Montana jobs, Missoula.

Gov. Gianforte and Sen. Daines welcoming Felco Industries to Montana in Missoula

Musselshell County: Held a ceremonial bill signing ceremony at Roundup High School for two bills carried by Rep. Greg Oblander, R-Shepherd, that cut red tape and strengthen career and technical student organizations, Roundup.

Park County: Highlighted the work of his Red Tape Relief Task Force, ceremonially signing two bills sponsored by Rep. Marty Malone, R-Pray, that modernize state code, make government more efficient, and create greater opportunity for Montanans, Pray.

Petroleum County: Toured the new Petroleum County Community Center that hosts activities for senior citizens as well as after school and summer programs for students, Winnett.

Phillips County: Stopped at Pay-N-Save in Saco for its award-winning bacon before holding a town hall meeting and taking questions from residents, Malta.

Gov. Gianforte stopping by the Pay-N-Save in Saco

Pondera County: Joined Rep. Llew Jones, R-Conrad, to celebrate securing $120 million in permanent, long-term property tax relief for Montanans, Conrad.

Powder River County: Hosted a town hall meeting and took questions from residents, Broadus.

Powell County: Highlighted investments to build safer, stronger communities with Powell County Sheriff Gavin Roselles, deputies, and staff, Deer Lodge.

Prairie County: Met with students participating in the Prairie County 4-H program at the Prairie County Fairgrounds, Terry.

Ravalli County: Cut the ribbon on the newly expanded Alpha Loading Systems facility that manufactures ammunition loading and priming machinery, recently tripling its workforce capacity, Stevensville.

Richland County: Toured Martha’s Place, home of what will be the only residential hospice house in eastern Montana and western North Dakota, fulfilling a critical need in the community, Sidney.

Roosevelt County: Visited with nursing home residents at the Roosevelt Medical Center, joining them to receive a presentation from 4-H students on their livestock projects, Culbertson.

Gov. Gianforte greeting a Montanan at Roosevelt Memorial Nursing Home

Rosebud County: Visited Wandering Acres, a floral shop on a fourth-generation farm, Forsyth.

Sanders County: Discussed historic tax relief for Montana families and businesses and took questions from residents at the Butcher’s Nook, Plains.

Sheridan County: Highlighted investments to build safer, stronger communities with Sheridan County Sheriff Lonnie Johnson, deputies, and staff, Plentywood.

Gov. Gianforte visiting Wandering Acres farm in Forsyth

Stillwater County: Honored two U.S. Army veterans with the 2022 Montana Governor’s Veteran Commendation that recognizes outstanding Montana veterans who have selflessly served our country in uniform and made a positive impact in their community, Columbus.

Sweet Grass County: Visited Greycliff Mill, a small farm and business featuring a grain mill, café, restaurant, workshop, and cabins, Greycliff.

Teton County: Emphasized the state’s preparedness to manage the grizzly bear in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem, ceremonially signing bills carried by Sen. Bruce Gillespie, R-Ethridge, and Rep. Ross Fitzgerald, R-Power, Choteau.

Toole County: Promoted new laws sponsored by Rep. Llew Jones, R-Conrad, to further boost starting teacher pay through the TEACH Act and strengthen the Montana Digital Academy, Shelby.

Gov. Gianforte and First Lady Susan Gianforte honoring veterans with the 2022 Montana Governor’s Veteran Commendation in Columbus

Treasure County: Toured the fourth-generation Ogren Ranch, which partners with a local meat processor to bring hormone-free beef to market on their online storefront, Hysham.

Valley County: Visited with police officers and local officials at the police department and heard about the work of the department’s Crisis Intervention Team that safely responds to individuals experiencing a mental health, substance use, or other crisis, Glasgow.

Wheatland County: Met with the Wheatland County Sheriff and Undersheriff, as well as with local law enforcement officers, Harlowton.

Gov. Gianforte meeting with National Guardsmen at the Billings Limited Army Aviation Support Facility

Wibaux County: Highlighted historic wins from the legislative session and took questions from Wibaux County officials and residents at the Palace Café, Wibaux.

Yellowstone County: Visited Billings Limited Army Aviation Support Facility to tour the site of a new $52 million facility that will station Montana National Guard helicopters, Billings.