Melby joins Bear Paw as value added ag coordinator

Courtesy photo

Tiffany Melby has taken over as the value added agriculture coordinator for Bear Paw Development Corp.

A Hi-Line native has joined the staff of the regional community and economic development organization to help local residents add value to their agricultural products and to create alternative energy.

Tiffany Melby of Kremlin has taken over as the value added agriculture coordinator for Bear Paw Development Corp.

The position includes running the Montana Food and Agriculture Development Center housed at Bear Paw.

"Area producers and other entrepreneurs who believe they have a good idea, but need help taking it to the next level and who want to work toward commercializing their product should contact Bear Paw's Food and Agriculture Development Center, " said Melby. "I am really looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and creating the type of partnerships that are needed to grow our regional economy, create jobs and help the Hi-Line prosper. "

Melby, a Kremlin-Gildford High School graduate and the parent of Dylon, a first-grader at North Star Elementary School in Gildford, earned her bachelor's degree in liberal studies with an emphasis in communications from Montana State University-Billings. She is pursuing a master's degree in business administration from the University of Montana and will graduate in May.

She served as a financial specialist with Northwest Farm Credit Services, administrative assistant at Waddell & Reed and also worked as a bookkeeper for her family's farm and ranch operation.

"Tiffany has exactly the right balance of financing expertise, knowledge of farm and ranch operations and both energy and vision to make a real difference for the agricultural producers and small communities in northern Montana that rely on a healthy rural economy to remain viable, " said Paul Tuss, executive director of Bear Paw Development. "I know she's going to hit the ground running and be an incredible asset for both our organization and the agricultural entrepreneurs who serve as an economic engine for our region. "

The Food and Agricultural Development Center housed at Bear Paw is one of four across the state funded by the state Legislature in the last session. The centers are intended to assist Montanans in producing food, farm-derived renewable energy and other value-added agricultural products.

The value-added products are expected to keep a greater share of money spent on food, energy and other value-added ag products in the local communities, rather than sending profits to manufacturers out of state, and to make the end products of Montana agriculture more accessible to Montanans.

For more information about Bear Paw's Food and Agriculture Development Center, people can call Melby at 265-9226.