McDonnell Farms Conserved: 1,591 acres protected near Three Forks

Gallatin Valley Land Trust (GVLT) has partnered with the McDonnell family to conserve their 1,591-acre farm in the Missouri Headwaters region of Gallatin County, between Three Forks and Manhattan. Steve and John McDonnell, the father/son team who own and operate the farm and represent the fourth and fifth generations of McDonnell farmers in the valley, worked with GVLT to establish a conservation easement, an agreement that ensures their property will remain forever open and available for agriculture.

The McDonnell family has a rich history in the Three Forks region. Steve's great-grandfather was one of the original homesteaders in the headwaters region of Montana Territory and the family's current property has been in production under the McDonnell name since just after the Great Depression.

Steve's father later worked with former Montana Governor Tim Babcock to negotiate a transfer of a portion of the McDonnell-owned property to the state for the creation of Buffalo Jump State Park. In return, the McDonnells received much of the eastern portion of their present-day farm.

Today, Steve and John continue their family's agricultural heritage by producing hay, grains, and grass seeds on the property, and pasturing and feeding cattle over the winter. In 1987, the McDonnells also established Circle S Seeds in Three Forks, a regionally recognized seed sourcing and distribution company.

Committed to keeping the land in agricultural production amidst growing development pressures, the McDonnells decided to partner with GVLT to create the conservation easement.

"I have watched this valley change so much," says John McDonnell. "I don't ever want to see this property, which has been in my family for generations, get covered in asphalt and houses. This is the best vehicle to protect the land while still allowing us to use it."

Spanning the Madison Plateau between Three Forks and Manhattan, McDonnell Farms is highly visible to people traveling along Interstate 90. Within a five-mile radius of the McDonnell's property, there are two state parks, a large block of publicly accessible state land, and five conservation easements, totaling over 5,700 acres of protected open space.

"This property is one of the few along the Madison River in the Three Forks area that retains the traditional farming and ranching characteristics that are critical to the rural character of the region," explains Kelsie Huyser, GVLT Conservation Project Manager. "We are extremely grateful to the McDonnells for their dedication to preserving this heritage, as well as valuable wildlife habitat and scenic open views."

McDonnell was pleasantly surprised by the ease of the process, explaining, "I was expecting that navigating this would be like having another job. But GVLT took care of everything. It was very simple for us."

The McDonnells donated a substantial amount of property value to create the easement. This donation and funding from the Gallatin Valley Open Lands Program were matched with funds from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Gallatin Valley voters renewed funding for the local Open Lands Program in 2018.

"Thank you to the McDonnell family and their commitment to this special place and their community," said Gallatin County Commissioner Jennifer Boyer. "The list of boxes this project ticks is impressive."

Justin Meissner, Montana NRCS Assistant State Conservationist (Easement Programs), continues, "This project aligns with the goals of NRCS' Agricultural Conservation Easement Program – Agricultural Land Easements (ACEP-ALE) to conserve working farms and ranches, our state's agricultural heritage, wildlife habitat, and scenic open space."

The McDonnell Farms project represents GVLT's 130th conservation easement. Since 1990, GVLT has partnered with families to forever protect nearly 70,000 acres of some of the most highly productive, scenic, and wildlife-rich lands in southwest Montana.

What is a conservation easement?

The Gallatin Valley Land Trust (GVLT) partners with private landowners to conserve working farms and ranches, fish and wildlife habitat, clean water, and scenic views. To protect these special places, GVLT uses conservation easements, which are voluntary agreements with landowners that limit development on a property while keeping it in private ownership. Each easement is tailored to the specific property and runs with the title of the land in perpetuity. GVLT is responsible for upholding the easement's terms. Because a conservation easement limits development rights and therefore decreases the value of the land, landowners may be eligible to write off the difference as a charitable donation. In some cases, landowners may be eligible to receive financial compensation for a portion of the value of the conservation easement. The public benefits from the protection of conservation values such as prime agricultural soils, wildlife habitat, river corridors, and the overall character of our region.

About Gallatin Valley Land Trust

Gallatin Valley Land Trust connects people, communities, and open lands through the conservation of working farms and ranches, healthy rivers, and wildlife habitat, and the creation of trails in the Montana headwaters of the Missouri and Upper Yellowstone Rivers. For more information, visit gvlt.org.