Guenzler Family and Flathead Land Trust Conserve Mission Valley Farm with NRCS Support

Story and photos courtesy of the Flathead Land Trust

The Flathead Land Trust is excited to announce that Paul and Sharon Guenzler placed their 290-acre farm near Ronan under conservation easement. The Guenzler family has been farming in the Mission Valley for over 100 years and nearly all the newly conserved property contains rich topsoil that is designated as "prime farmland, if irrigated" and "farmland of local importance." The Guenzler conservation easement adds to agricultural properties nearby that are also protected by easements.

The conservation easement protects a half mile of West Miller Coulee and wetlands on the property used by birds such as snipe and sora. In addition, it protects a native bunchgrass, Great Basin wild rye, that is rare in the lowlands of the Mission Valley and grows to over 5 feet in height on the property. The Guenzler conservation easement safeguards critical winter habitat for birds of prey as the Mission Valley has some of the highest concentrations of wintering birds of prey in the U.S. The Guenzler property is regularly used by bald eagle, rough-legged hawks, red-tailed hawks, northern harrier, and occasionally golden eagle in winter.

The conservation easement was facilitated by the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service through an Agricultural Land Easement. This funding helped Paul and Sharon pay off two mortgages and keep their farm intact.

"The Agricultural Land Easement program is meant to keep working agricultural lands in working hands by limiting non-agricultural uses of the property," said Justin Meissner, NRCS assistant state conservationist for easements in Montana. "Keeping farms and ranches in agriculture helps to support local economies and rural communities while providing benefits like open space and wildlife habitat."

In addition, Paul is a leader in agriculture not only in the Mission Valley but across Montana with a history of service in support of the Western Montana Stockman's Association, Flathead Irrigation District, 4-H, FFA, and more.

"Paul's leadership by example in conserving farmland and extensive communication with other agricultural producers will likely be influential in getting more farmers interested in the ALE program and protecting more productive agricultural land," said Laura Katzman, Flathead Land Trust. "It is fitting that a part of the Guenzler family's agricultural legacy in the Mission Valley is keeping rich farmland available for farming in perpetuity with an ALE."

Learn more about the Flathead Land Trust and the Agricultural Land Easement program.