Our Board of Directors and Steering Group

After building a successful equine therapy practice over fifteen years ago, I officially began my journey as a serial entrepreneur.

The last fifteen years have been exciting, including: mom to the most amazing human I've ever met, cowgirl wife to an exacting, perfectionist, "do it right the first time," farmer, owning an incredible retreat property and farm in Costa Rica, owning a boutique hotel in rural upstate New York, an alfalfa/hay operation and quarter horse ranch in Utah, a coffee shop, a skin care line, a lavender and herb farm in rural Montana, and one of six statewide Ambassadors for Montana Farmers Union. After all this time when people ask what I am doing, I still stumble my words, it's easier just to respond, "living the dream."

My current role is, "farmmom-trepreneuer," of a beautiful lavender farm in the Northwest Montana forest, where we raise hay, registered Dorper sheep, offer u-pick opportunities, create value added lavender/herb products, and host guest stays on the farm. I hold a Master's degree in Public Administration from The George Washington University, as well as a bachelors in Psychology, and a bachelors in Anthropology from Weber State University. In high school I was voted, "most likely to run for President and win, and the same year, "most likely to die riding a bull," that probably covers it. Farm motto: "When in doubt, throttle out."

Jon and Erin Turner are the Owners/Operators of Turner Farms in Missoula, Montana. Erin is the secretary of the MAA and Jon is a Regional Representative on the board.

We asked Jon and Erin a few questions about day-to-day life…

Favorite season at your place:
Late summer...when the gardens are in full production, the sunflowers are towering, and the fields and animals are buzzing with life. To be honest, we actually love each season on the farm!

One Montana place or experience you always recommend to visitors:
We love all of Montana! But we always recommend visitors take the less travelled roads and experience the small towns of Montana. These towns offer so much charm, history and a real snapshot of the Montana way of life!

One thing you always carry in your truck or work bag:
A pair of work gloves and tie-down straps!

If you had a day off with no responsibilities, how would you spend it?
A day off? We don't know what that is! Haha! When you love what you do it's not work! But we do enjoy any opportunity to tour other farms and learn about other agritourism operations.

As an entrepreneur and 4th generation farm and rancher from Eastern Montana, Tamara offers her community a new way to enjoy fresh, locally grown, cut flowers.

After implementing a farm structure that allows her to work closer to home and accommodates her busy life as a wife and mother of three, she realized the potential flower farming offers and is now providing seasonal fresh cut flowers in the form of bouquet subscriptions, wedding florals, and special event arrangements to multiple counties in Eastern Montana. She looks to add hands on events that will support her community and Montana’s growing tourism population.

As a woman in a rural and agricultural setting, Tamara is working to give others the tools and education needed to secure their future and dig deeper roots. That’s why she created Ag Talk Coffee, a platform for empowering women nationwide in rural and ag businesses through ethically sourced coffees and products.

Tana Canen is the woman behind the Quarter Horses of Mahlstedt Ranch and the drive behind the tourism aspect of the family ranch known as Montana Moments. She and her husband, Ross, live in Glendive, MT and make the routine commute to the ranch in western Dawson County where they ranch with Tana's parents and three daughters.

Priorities for Tana are God, family, and the ranch. She sees herself as an AGvocate for production agriculture She speaks to groups about incorporating tourism into ag operations and is available for consulting.

In 2023 she was included in the Wall Street Journal, Q2 TV News, and a member of the Montana delegation to Spain & Germany promoting Montana Quarter Horse genetics.

Tana is a member of Glendive Community Bible Church, leader of the church Women's ministry, a member of the Montana Agritourism Fellows group, Vice President of Montana Agri-Women, a member of MT Farm Bureau and AQHA, a 4-H leader, and a research associate for the Institute of Tourism & Recreation Research

Professor of Agricultural Education, Montana State University, Bozeman

I wear a few hats in the world of agritourism — as a professor at MSU, I teach Montana’s first undergraduate course in Agritourism and lead research on how this growing field supports producers and communities. I helped launch the original Montana Agritourism Conference, hosted the Fellows group, and continue to serve on the statewide steering committee.

I’m excited to serve on the Board to share what I’ve learned — and to keep growing opportunities for producers, educators, and visitors alike.

Favorite season: Fall (especially pumpkin patches)
Bozeman picks: Bodhi Farms & 4 Daughters Flower Farm
Always in my truck: A piece of baling twine — just in case
Day off: Hanging out with the animals in my barn

Laura Garber has been sharing her farm, Homestead Organics Farm, with the community for the past 25 years. She started by hosting kids from the Bitterroot Youth Home for weekly summer visits and has steadily added more and more opportunities for others to share the joy in participating in a living agricultural system.

Laura founded the non-profit, Cultivating Connections Montana, to house the educational and community building programs that she and her husband, Henry, developed. Homestead Organics is the Farm-Campus for Cultivating Connections Montana, which offers skill and knowledge-sharing workshops, youth farm internships, school visits, a Farm Store, value-added foods, on-farm dinners, and an open gate to visitors.

She is excited to share her unique experiences with Agritourism in the hopes of helping more Montana farms to host more visitors!

Erin and Jon Turner are the Owners/Operators of Turner Farms in Missoula, Montana. Erin is the secretary of the MAA and Jon is a Regional Representative on the board.

Erin says: “We've been deeply involved in Montana agriculture for over 2 decades, running our diversified farm that offers vegetables, livestock, a farm store, seasonal events, and farm camps for kids. Agritourism is woven into our daily life...from community events to educational programs that help connect people with where their food comes from.”

“We believe agritourism is one of Montana’s strongest bridges between agriculture and community. Serving on the MAA board allows us to share ideas, support other producers, and help grow opportunities for farms and ranches to thrive while building meaningful connections with visitors.”

Could you be our next regional rep or board member?
We’re not looking for sheeple who just follow the flock — we want folks with fresh ideas and a genuine love for Montana’s farms, ranches, and rural communities.

As a regional rep or board member, you’ll help shape the future of agritourism by building connections, supporting producers, and making sure visitors get a true Montana welcome.

Bring your ideas, your energy, and yes — your favorite wool sweater is more than welcome.