Montana State names Gordon Stoner as 2025 Outstanding Agricultural Leader

BOZEMAN - As Montana State University's annual Celebrate Ag event approaches, the MSU College of Agriculture has named Gordon Stoner, a pulse and durum wheat grower and agricultural advocate from northeastern Montana, as the recipient of the university's highest agricultural honor.

Stoner is the 2025 recipient of the college's Outstanding Agricultural Leader award. Each year ahead of Celebrate Ag, members of the agricultural community across the state nominate individuals who embody service and impact to the industry. Stoner will be honored at the newly expanded Celebrate Ag week, which will include more than 20 events from Nov. 2 to 8 both on and off the MSU campus.

"Gordon has been a wonderful supporter of the College of Agriculture and Montana Agricultural Experiment Station for many years. He is extremely deserving of this recognition," said Darrin Boss, associate dean of the college. "His leadership within the agriculture industry is well-recognized, and we appreciate his long-standing relationships with our researchers, research centers, Extension agents and other agricultural clients."

Nominators praised Stoner's commitment to Montana's agricultural development, pioneering pulse crop production at a time when peas, lentils and chickpeas were relatively new crops to the region.

"Gordon played a significant role in transforming Montana agriculture into the largest producer of dry peas, lentils and chickpeas in the country," wrote Tim McGreevy, CEO of USA Pulses, in a letter supporting the nomination. "He was a pioneer of pulse production and mentored pulse farmers in the state and across the nation."

Montana has led the nation in pulse crop production for the past several years, according to annual statistics published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In 2025, farmers planted more than 1.7 million acres of pulses in the state: 830,000 acres of lentils, 610,000 acres of dry peas and 255,000 acres of chickpeas. The full acreage report is available on the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service website.

Stoner, who lives in Outlook and owns Stoner Farms in Sheridan County, was recognized by nominators as being not only highly knowledgeable and capable while advocating for pulse production in Montana but also for being compassionate, supportive and always available to friends and colleagues.

Mary Burrows, who served as associate director of the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station before becoming director of the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station based at Virginia Tech, remembered Stoner welcoming her new baby and caregiver into his home while she carried out her duties as MSU Extension plant pathologist early in her career.

"I knew I could always call him for an opinion and advice," Burrows wrote in a nomination letter. "He sought out information not only when problems arose, but also to anticipate future challenges, ensuring that growers were prepared with the most current knowledge available."

Throughout his career, Stoner has served in leadership capacities for the Montana Grain Growers Association, Montana Pulse Crop Committee, USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council, National Association of Wheat Growers and other advocacy organizations. His nomination for the Outstanding Agricultural Leader Award was spearheaded by Paul Kanning, a pulse grower in Daniels County and longtime leader in the state's pulse industry.

"Gordon Stoner embodies Montana agriculture's finest qualities: quiet leadership, steadfast commitment and results that last," wrote Kanning. "Among neighbors and national leaders alike, he's known for showing up, doing the work and elevating those around him. In a state rich with ag leadership, Gordon stands out because his service and results speak louder than words. He doesn't just represent Montana agriculture - he has shaped its direction."

Among nearly a dozen letters supporting Stoner's nomination for the award, one came from a northern Montana farmer known by many: former U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, who grew up in Big Sandy, and who, along with his wife, Sharla, was a recipient of the Outstanding Ag Leader award in 2005.

"Gordon Stoner is the kind of farming leader I respect: steady, practical and rooted in real-world problem-solving," Tester wrote in his nomination support letter. "Gordon also quietly invests in others. He doesn't just show leadership, he builds it in others. He mentored board members, policy advocates and young growers. He's helped steer Montana agriculture through stormy waters and left us stronger for it."

Stoner, along with his wife, Bonnie, and their children and grandchildren, will be honored at the Celebrate Ag Social on Friday, Nov. 7, and the Bobcats' Ag Appreciation football game on Saturday, Nov. 8. A full schedule for Celebrate Ag can be found at ag.montana.edu/celebrateag/.