One Montana’s Board of Directors provide the experience and vision to guide our work.
Cheryl Curry
Board Chair, Valier, Montana
Cheryl recently retired from the Pondera Regional Port Authority where she was Executive Director for nine years. Prior to that she had a 24-year career with the US Postal Service. Cheryl is a lifelong community servant and leader who is dedicated to improving life in her state. Cheryl continues to serve on several boards in her community, region, and state, including the Montana Stockgrower Foundation and Valier Area Development Corporation, among others. She is a firm believer in the One MT mission of “creating a vibrant Montana by connecting rural and urban communities” and is dedicated to “moving Montana forward and ensuring a positive future for both rural and urban communities – helping them work together toward success”.
Francis Blake
SECRETARY-TREASURER, Big Timber, Montana
Francis was raised and educated in the suburbs of Boston. He holds a degree from Harvard. Following college, he served for nearly four years as an officer in the Marine Corps, then worked in finance in New York and London. He has had a life-long interest in agriculture, enhanced by inheriting a gene for horticulture. This led him to depart the financial world to farming in England, then to ranching in Big Timber in 1973. Besides his love of livestock – especially Red Angus cattle, he’s always had a keen interest in preservation of land. With his guidance Blake Ranch has moved relentlessly towards low cost production and carefully monitored rotational grazing practices. The ranch has also diversified into Blake Nursery which specializes in native trees, shrubs, grasses and perennials. Francis’ wife, Sandi, has been the main force behind the nursery. However, two sons, Alex and Amory, are increasingly important contributors to the business. In his spare time Francis is an avid skier, sailor and has participated in numerous mountain trail races.
Eric Wickens
Vice Chair, Hilger, Montana
Eric, along with his wife, Emma, runs Wickens Salt Creek Ranch in Hilger, Montana. Eric is part of a multi-generational ranching family that is focused on the care and preservation of their ranch, which is more than 100 years old, in a way that promotes stewardship and economic viability. Eric brings his wonderful form of entrepreneurism to help One Montana continue to tackle the right questions and projects.
Foster Mobley
Bozeman, Montana
Foster and his wife Cathy moved to Montana in 2017 to fulfill a life’s dream, and he is committed to the health and future of this beautiful state. He’s a business owner, leadership advisor and coach, professor of leadership at Boston College, award-winning author, father of three and grandparent to three more.
Myles Watts, Ph.D
Bozeman, Montana
Myles is a professor emeritus in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Economics at Montana State University, where he has been a Member of the faculty since 1978 and previously served as Department Head for 19 years, and currently also serves as an Actuary for Watts and Associates, Inc. He has also been a Director of Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (also known as Farmer Mac) since September 2010 and also serves as Vice Chairman of the Board.
John Youngberg
Belgrade, Montana
John Youngberg is retired after serving in several capacities with the Montana Farm Bureau during his 30+ year tenure, including, Membership field staff, Director of Membership, Director of Member Services, Vice President of Governmental Affairs. He served as the Executive Vice President for his final eight years with the organization. Throughout his career with Farm Bureau he has served as a lobbyist. He has been on the TMDL advisory committee and the Board of Research and Commercialization Technology as well as the Environmental Quality Council. John has also been involved in local government having served on the Belgrade City Council for 25 years, and continues to serve on the Belgrade City/County Planning Board. He and his wife Debe have lived in Belgrade for 47 years.
At Large
Jim Peterson
Co-Founder, One Montana, Buffalo, Montana
Jim is a rancher, farmer and former President of the Senate for the 62nd Montana Legislature. Jim grew up, and currently lives in, Buffalo, MT. He attended Montana State University to study Animal Science and obtained a Master's in Agriculture from Texas A&M University. He then studied Banking at Southern Methodist University and obtained an MBA in Finance at West Texas State University.
Emeritus
Bill Bryan (2003 - 2020)
Co-Founder One Montana, Bozeman, Montana
Bill is a co-founder One Montana and former Program Director for 1MT’s Resilient Communities Program. He has over 40 years of experience in nonprofit and for-profit business development, including a premier travel planning service for the entire Western Hemisphere (Off the Beaten Path). He serves on the Presidential Advisory Councils for Montana State University and the University of Montana as well as the boards for the Center for Responsible Travel, Resource Renewal Institute, Clean Air-Clean Planet, the Museum of the Rockies, the Yellowstone Business Partnership, and the Eisenhower World Affairs Institute.
Bill Yellowtail (2017 - 2020)
Wyola, Montana
Bill Yellowtail grew up on his family's cattle ranch on the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana. Holding a degree in geography from Dartmouth College, Bill has been a rancher, educator, fishing guide, Montana State Senator and congressional candidate. An expert canoeist and fly fisherman, he was named Angler of the Year for 1991 by Fly Rod and Reel magazine. Bill served as Regional Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency during the Clinton administration, with responsibility for six western states and 27 Indian Tribes. Bill received the Dartmouth Environmental Network's 1994 annual award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to protection of the environment, and he received the Mary G. Ross Award for exemplary service from the Council of Energy Resource Tribes in 1999.