Largest Working Ranch Donation in Montana History
October 23, 2025
When it comes to defining his family legacy, Dale Veseth is unwavering: Veseth Cattle Co. will remain a working ranch that strengthens opportunities for local ranchers, champions education and community-led conservation, and upholds Montana’s ranching heritage. To ensure that legacy endures beyond their lifetimes, Dale and his wife, Janet, have announced that they will gift their 38,300-acre ranch to the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (RSA), a rancher-founded and rancher-led nonprofit Dale has helped build for more than 20 years. The gift, valued at $21.6 million, represents the largest recorded working ranch donation in Montana history. While the Veseths will continue to manage the ranch throughout their lives, this commitment ensures a thoughtful transition to RSA when the time comes.
“We’ve watched RSA grow into something pretty special,” said Dale. “It’s brought people together with a shared purpose and opened eyes to the positive impact ranchers have on the ground. We’re proud to know the ranch will be part of that. They’ll keep it working the way it’s meant to be.”
Veseth Cattle Co. sits in south Phillips County, an area of high interest for land acquisition. By choosing to gift their ranch to RSA, the Veseths are making sure this land will not be lost to outside interests but remain in the hands of local ranchers to the benefit of the local community. It is an act of conviction. It is a commitment that keeps agriculture at the heart of Montana’s rural future.
“When Dale first mentioned this gift, it was in the most casual way, as if it were no big deal. I think we were all completely taken aback, and honestly, I don’t think the shock has worn off,” said Conni French, RSA President and Phillips County rancher. “It’s hard to put into words what a gesture like this means, not just for RSA, but for the future of ranching and conservation here at home.”
Dale and Janet have made Veseth Cattle Co. a place where doors are open to innovation and collaboration. From interns and new technologies to partnerships with groups as diverse as the World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, Quivira Coalition, and Native, they have welcomed a wide range of voices and ideas. With Dale’s leadership in RSA, ranchers now have not only a presence but influence in conversations with these groups, making the case that responsible ranching is conservation, benefiting land, wildlife, and communities alike.
Known for both his ideas and his hard work, Dale works tirelessly, moving cattle often, watching the grass, and adjusting with the seasons to keep the range healthy. Guided by constant curiosity, he has dedicated years to refining cattle genetics, developing a one-of-a-kind crossbreed suited to his terrain. His approach reflects the Veseths’ belief that good grass management is conservation, and that responsible grazing and habitat protection go hand in hand. Beside him, Janet holds a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and brings skill and dedication to every facet of ranch life. Together, the Veseths have built a place where productivity and stewardship are inseparable, with every decision made for the future. They also have an annual bull and female sale each March that Dale would be happy to bend your ear on.
“We’ve only been here for a blink of an eye in the grand scheme of things,” said Dale. “This land will outlast us all. It’s been a privilege to care for it. It’s been a fun ride, and we’re not done yet.”
Founded in 1942, Veseth Cattle Co. has earned some of the highest honors in the cattle industry for stewardship, including the Outstanding Conservationist of the Year from the Phillips Conservation District, the Environmental Stewardship Award from the Montana Stockgrowers Association, the Region V Environmental Stewardship Award from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and the Quivira Coalition’s Clarence Burch Award.
“Dale and Janet’s commitment is an act of selflessness and conviction,” said Angel DeVries, Executive Director of the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance. “We will continue working alongside them, and when the time comes, we will be ready to carry forward their legacy with the same strength and resiliency they have shown.”
This gift is part of RSA’s “Working Lands Forever” campaign, a commitment to sustain ranching landscapes, strengthen rural communities, and support resilient ecosystems for generations.
The Veseths’ decision ensures that their land, their work, and their vision will continue shaping the future of ranching and conservation in north-central Montana. It is a nontraditional choice rooted in tradition, a stand to keep ranching families on the land, communities resilient, and the working landscape intact.
Source: Ranchers Stewardship Alliance
