By Nicole Poitra, NACD Northern Plains Region Representative

At the foot of Montana’s Crazy Mountains in Big Timber, Dan and Tami Sanders are transforming their leased 500-acre ranch along the Yellowstone River into a working model of regenerative agriculture. Guided by the wisdom of local ranchers and supported by modern soil-health practices, they’re blending tradition and innovation to tackle today’s agricultural challenges.

A Unique Partnership

Dan, a veteran Air Force pilot with an engineering degree, and Tami, a microbiologist and certified Soil Food Web Consultant, bring a strong mix of technical and scientific knowledge to their operation. Through Holistic Management International courses, they’re learning to balance ecological health with economic sustainability, something they both care deeply about.

Tackling Water Challenges

Their ranch sits near a canal system fed by a tributary of the Yellowstone River. The water supply is a blessing, but in heavy clay soils, excess moisture can be hard to work with and can slow productivity if not managed properly. High water tables and leaky ditches have caused persistent saturation in parts of their fields.

To address the issue, the Sanders turned to the Yellowstone River Conservation District Council (YRCDC) and NRCS for help. With support from the Boulder River Watershed Association and the USDA, the team launched an Irrigation Water Management (IWM) project to make their water use more efficient and improve soil health.

They installed three soil-moisture sensor sites around their 134-acre pivot to monitor infiltration, water tables, and soil response across different soil types. The system connects with a variable-rate pivot, allowing them to fine-tune irrigation to match each soil’s needs, a small but powerful step toward precision conservation.

“The resources the NRCS and YRCDC provide have allowed us to better understand in real time how irrigation and precipitation are handled by our soils,” said Tami. “That knowledge helps us make better decisions for our crops and the land.”

Putting Regeneration Principles to Work

With help from YRCDC and NRCS, the Sanders are applying the five principles of regenerative agriculture, keeping soil covered, minimizing disturbance, maximizing diversity, maintaining living roots year-round, and integrating livestock. Together, these practices are improving soil structure, water infiltration, and productivity.

For the Sanders, regeneration also means community. “Regeneration is about more than soil. It’s about rebuilding community ties and respecting the wisdom passed down for generations,” shares Dan. Together, he and Tami share their experiences with neighbors, strengthen local food systems, and honor Montana ranching traditions. It’s a good example of how local partnerships help restore land and support livelihoods along the Yellowstone River. “We’re just getting started,” said Tami. “The land has so much to teach us, and we’re eager to keep learning.”

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