MFU creates new ambassador positions

From Montana Farmers Union

A new role within Montana Farmers Union is an extension of the organization’s work to strengthen family farms and rural communities.

The new Membership Ambassador position was created earlier this year to coordinate grassroots efforts through MFU on behalf of agriculture operations across the state.

“This position is focused entirely on drilling down to the local issues and supporting our rural communities and family farms,” MFU Member Services Director Rachel Prevost said.

So far, ambassadors are in Broadwater, Rosebud and Sanders counties. MFU plans to hire more ambassadors in the coming weeks to create a regional presence statewide.

The job builds off of MFU’s commitment to supporting rural communities through its tenants of education, cooperation and legislation. The organization’s work includes its sponsorship of FFA, funding for local projects through its Montana Farmers Union Foundation, summer youth camps, and its legislative work at both state and national levels.

Ambassadors will help coordinate educational opportunities, be liaisons between members and the state office to share important issues, foster involvement in MFU priorities, and work to support rural communities.

“These ambassadors want to get a bead on the issues that are most important to our local communities and host gathering spaces to give members of the community — including youth in ag ­— a space to gather, build community and focus on issues important to agriculture,” Prevost said, adding that ambassadors are already busy.

Ambassadors include:

• Fourth-generation Montanan Samantha Ferrat works alongside her husband managing their registered seedstock herd and Limousin cow-calf operation in Toston. Agriculture is a lifelong passion for Ferrat, who grew up on a farm and ranch in Broadwater County and spent her formative years helping on the place and participating in programs such as 4-H. She graduated from Montana State University with a teaching degree and minor in animal science. She continues to participate in 4-H as a volunteer leader and also volunteers with other ag-related organizations. She can be reached at [email protected].

• Carissa McNamara grew up in Utah and graduated from Weber State University with a Bachelor’s of Science in psychology and another in anthropology. She then earned a master’s degree in public administration with an emphasis on nonprofit management from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. She now resides in Plains, where she has devoted her life to farming and empowering the next generation to take over. The family are beginning beekeepers and raise hay, lavender, herbs, berries, microgreens and oyster mushrooms, as well as maintaining a you-pick orchard and community garden. McNamara also is active as a 4-H leader. She can be reached at [email protected].

• Eleanor Ferrone will graduate from Carroll College this spring after studying political science. The Nebraska native is drawn to rural community sustainability and looks forward to living and working in eastern Montana. The work MFU does to support rural communities is something she looks forward to promoting in her new role. She can be reached at [email protected].