How One Rancher’s Legacy is Restoring Montana’s Great Plains

The Northern Great Plains stretch out in a wide-open expanse, where sky and earth blend into an endless horizon. On this vast landscape of native grasses, Leo Barthelmess has found his calling as both a rancher and a steward of the land.

For Leo, ranching is about understanding the rhythms of the prairie. His family has worked Montana’s prairies for generations, and over time, they’ve seen the land’s resilience and its vulnerability. Overgrazing, plowing, and habitat loss have pushed this delicate ecosystem to the edge, but Leo believes in the power of restoration.

Through sustainable grazing practices, he’s actively reviving the health of the soil, creating habitats for wildlife, and nurturing a future where both the land and community thrive. Supported by the Bezos Earth Fund, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Leo and the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance are contributing to a broader movement to restore the prairies at large.

When you care for the land, it gives back in ways that sustain life for generations. From the soil to the grasses to the wildlife, everything is interconnected – just like the people who live on and love this landscape. Leo’s work reminds us that stewardship is about renewing a commitment to both the past and the future.

Watch the video to hear Leo’s story and learn how his passion is shaping a brighter, healthier future for the Great Plains, and everyone who depends on them.