Yellowstone Circle Gathering 2024
Ranching, Redefined by You
September 18-22 | Yellowstone Overlook Campus, Gardiner, MT
Redefine Ranching with Confidence
Join us for an unforgettable gathering at Yellowstone. At this circle gathering you have the unique opportunity to redefine your role in ranching alongside a community of women who share your passion for the land. This event is about more than learning—it’s about connection, growth, and empowerment.
Connect with other women ranchers and learn from experienced women who have spent decades working in various areas of agriculture. Enhance your ranching skills, make new friends, and find a supportive community—all in the stunning setting of Yellowstone.
What Awaits You At This Year’s Yellowstone Circle Gathering
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Belonging on the Land
Unearth the link between soil health and your personal well-being. You’ll dig deeply into how nurturing the land impacts your own resilience and decision-making skills.
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Mindful Movement
Enjoy gentle movement exercises with a physical therapist and Radiant Lotus QiGong instructor. Learn simple, effective practices to easily add to your daily routine.
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Culinary Session
Adventure into new cultural and culinary territory and explore butchery from ranch to table in a hands-on group session designed for connecting, sharing, and bonding.
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Partnering with the Horse
Work with equine therapy specialists in non-mounted activities to build meaningful connections that enrich your relationships on the ranch and beyond.
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Rest + Relaxation
Just like a pasture needs rest and renewal, so do you. Enjoy dedicated “me time.” Recharge and focus on yourself during these intentional breaks.
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Finding Your Voice
Gain practical tips on finding your voice and sharing your story and your community’s story with authenticity and impact.
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Fireside Chats
Join intimate fireside conversations and small group activities to enhance your skills in active listening, empathy, and celebrating each other’s journeys.
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Standing with Courage
Embrace techniques to build self-trust, self-acceptance, and self-love. Gain the courage to proudly honor your true self and your unique ranching journey.
There are times when I feel like an outsider because I’m just starting out. That wasn’t the case at this gathering. I felt welcomed regardless of my experience in land stewardship. This warmed my heart, allowed me to shed my imposter syndrome, and nurtured the infinite learner within me that I strive to nourish.
—2023 Circle Gathering Attendee
Meet the Faces Behind the Sessions
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Amber Smith
RANCHER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WOMEN IN RANCHING
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Anica Wu
WHOLE-ANIMAL BUTCHER | FOUNDER OF BONJERK
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Kathy Frisch
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFIED EDUCATOR IN HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT | CERTIFIED COACH | MASTER COMPOSTER
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Cheri Trousil
FOUNDER OF THE HUMBLE RANCH EDUCATION AND THERAPY CENTER | PHYSICAL THERAPIST | RADIANT LOTUS QIGONG INSTRUCTOR
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Nicole Masters
FEATURED GUEST | AGROECOLOGIST | SOIL ADVOCATE | FOUNDER OF INTEGRITY SOILS | AUTHOR
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Lara Tomov
FEATURED GUEST | DIRECTOR | STORIES FOR ACTION
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Liz Barbour
RANCHER | RURAL ADVOCATE | J BAR L RANCH
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Meagan Lannan
RANCH HOST | CO-OWNER OF BARNEY CREEK LIVESTOCK
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Jaimie Stoltzfus
FEATURED GUEST | FOUNDER OF COWGIRL MEAT CO | ART OF THE COWGIRL FOUNDATION
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Abby Nelson
HORSEWORK PARTNER | WIDE SKY ADVENTURES
Agenda
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4-6 PM Check-In & Settle In
6 PM Gather for Group Dinner
7 PM Welcome & Opening Circle
8 PM Bedtime
ARRIVAL
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7 AM Optional Sunrise Guided Body Movement
7:45 AM Build-Your-Own Breakfast
9 AM Departure to Barney Creek Livestock
10am Leadership with the Horse*
12 PM Group Lunch at Barney Creek
1PM Land walk and Ranch Entrepreneurship
4 PM Return to Overlook Campus
6 PM Gather for Group Dinner
7 PM Evening Wind Down
8 PM Bedtime
*Please note: Enjoy hands-on horse work; no riding involved.
DAY 01
DAY 02
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7 AM Optional Sunrise Guided Body Movement
7:45 AM Build-Your-Own Breakfast
9 AM Interactive Culinary Session
12 PM Enjoy Lunch & Leisure Time
2 PM Presentation & Workshop “Leveraging your Story for Grassroots Activism”
4 PM Group Photo & Leisure Time
6 PM Gather for Group Dinner
7 PM Evening Wind Down
8 PM Bedtime
DAY 03
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7 AM Optional Guided Body Movement
7:45 AM Build-Your-Own Breakfast
9 AM Depart for Full Day Yellowstone Forever Tour
12 PM Enjoy Lunch
4 PM Return to Overlook Campus
6 PM Gather for Group Dinner
7 PM Closing Circle Session
8 PM Bedtime
DEPART
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7 AM Sunrise Guided Body Movement
7:45 AM Build-Your-Own Breakfast
9 AM Final Goodbyes & Departure
Participation Levels
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Scholarship
$250
Are you a new producer or finding your place in agriculture? Apply for a scholarship today.
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Reduced Price
$525
We understand the challenges of agricultural work and offer a reduced price for ranchers facing hardships.
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Base Price
$750
Choose this option if you’re self-funding and actively caring for land while looking for a supportive community.
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Supporter
$1,250
This option represents the full expense of the gathering. If it’s within your means, we appreciate your support!
Tickets & Registration
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We have a tiered structure for our tickets. Once you arrive at the ranch all food, lodging, education and programming are covered with your ticket. This is an all-inclusive gathering.
All sales are final.
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We fairly compensate our facilitators and educators, including their travel to and from the gathering and pre/post gathering planning sessions. Because we believe that leadership is best highlighted when shared amongst a compassionate team, our facilitator to participant ratio is incredibly low, often 3 participants per facilitator. All food and catering is paid for by Women in Ranching, allowing our participants the privilege of arriving and focusing on their own growth and learning. And typically, our stay at the ranch is generously donated by our hosts. Gathering in person is a costly endeavor, but the community built and the lives changed is worth every effort!
Flight information: Bozeman, MT airport closest option
Scholarship Partners
Full scholarships provided by our friends at the National Young Farmers Coalition and World Wildlife Fund.
Partners
FAQs
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It takes a lot of time and cost for us to put together these events (food, facilitators, lodging, travel, etc.)
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Our participants arrive at many different levels of experience. Whether you are a seasoned rancher at the management level, are in a more supportive role, or are just getting started, we welcome you to Women in Ranching.
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If you care about the land, are deeply engaged in rural communities and believe in the power of a supportive community of women, we welcome you.
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We are building a community of peers, and it is necessary for all participants to arrive at 4 pm on day 1. We will leave by 10 am on day 4. The timing is not negotiable. If this gathering doesn’t work for you, keep on the lookout for the next Circle!
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Depending on the location, there are times when beer or wine is available to complement a supper meal. We ask that you not bring alcohol or any illegal drugs with you. Those would be grounds for removal from the gathering.
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Our work with horses is building partnerships, learning about ourselves and learning how to communicate with and be a part of a team. All of this work occurs on the ground only and is non-riding.
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Part of building community is creating boundaries and supporting one another to show up fully. Please find good caretakers for your loved ones so you can arrive and be fully present.
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A tremendous amount of growth occurs when you step into a community of other incredible folks who you’ve not yet met. If you choose to encourage friends to register, it is likely you will not be staying in the same cabin and you will be sorted into different groups for educational sessions throughout the day. Come with a heart to learn and a mind willing to grow and stretch and be challenged.
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What we mean by “Women”
Let us be clear, if you identify yourself as a woman, no matter the complexity, we welcome you at Women in Ranching.
