Making the move from Wisconsin to Montana in 1979 was the best decision my husband and I ever made. After living in the Darby area for 16 years, we moved to Corvallis – Woodside in 1995 and proceeded to put together a 130-acre piece of Wildlife / Agriculture property. It was there that my interest in Wildlife Conservation and Land Stewardship took off.

Before my husband’s passing, we raised Quarter Horses for many years. Currently the pasture property is leased in the fall to a neighboring rancher for his cow / calf pairs for approximately 6 – 8 weeks, leaving forage for wildlife.

Riparian areas are fenced out and are home to numerous critters, including a pair of Sand Hill Cranes that have nested for several years in the cattails.

I’ve been the secretary of the Ravalli County Fish & Wildlife Association since 1990 and am currently also the treasurer. I’ve served as the Banquet Chairman for about 20 years. I take great pride in the RCFWA annual fundraiser where the monies raised there go to so many conservation / education programs and other wildlife organizations.

I received the RCFWA Nick Kramis Award in 1998 and the Special Sportsman’s Achievement Award from The Montana Wildlife Federation in 2004.

On behalf of RCFWA, I worked with Teller Wildlife Refuge, and the Corvallis Civic Club and ultimately the County Commissioners to get the speed limit on the state-owned Woodside Cutoff Road lowered from 60 to 45. The goal was to limit animal / vehicle collisions, especially moose. Unfortunately there are still a few killed in that section, though collisions are considerably less.

Representing RCFWA, I was part of the Ravalli County Open Lands Bond Renewal Campaign in 2022 where a 10 million $$ bond was passed by a vote of over 70%. Protecting the valley’s agricultural roots is so important to public wildlife.

By Linda Habeck