Meagher County Stewardship Council

06/16/2026

The first project to include both BBC and MTU, we are very excited to be managing the project and is exactly why MCSC was created — to bring together diverse voices for the betterment of Meagher County.

06/11/2026

This week, I was lucky to attend the Victory Cup Initiative conference in Orlando, FL, thanks to an invitation from our board chair, Andrea Massey-Farrell!

It was a day full of conversations around nonprofit leadership, storytelling, culture, trust, and what it really takes to build organizations that people believe in. Andrea was part of a panel on organizational culture and shared thoughtful insight on who owns culture, who builds it, and why it matters so much in philanthropic and mission-driven work.

One of my biggest takeaways was that strong organizations are built through clarity, trust, and shared purpose. The plan matters, but the people are what move the mission forward.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn from and connect with leaders in the nonprofit and philanthropic space and even more grateful to bring these ideas home as we continue building the Meagher County Stewardship Council.

Thank you, Andrea, for including me in such a meaningful opportunity and for your commitment to this organization and our community!

06/04/2026

I had the opportunity to attend Montana Nonprofit Association’s first Leadership Retreat with our Board Chair, Andrea Massey-Farrell at Fairmont Hotsprings.

The retreat gave us dedicated time away from the day-to-day work to look at where MCSC is now, where we are headed, and what needs to happen next. We left with a clearer plan for our organization and a better understanding of how to align board leadership, staff capacity, community needs, and long-term priorities.

For an organization focused on proactive planning around growth, housing, natural resources, nonprofit capacity, and community readiness, that clarity matters so much!

Thank you to Shelby, Adam, and Hatton for creating space for nonprofit leaders and board chairs to do this work together. And thank you, Andrea, for showing up with vision, openness, and commitment to this organization and our community.

06/02/2026

Black Butte Copper and the Meagher County Stewardship Council recently signed a community benefits agreement framework.

This document is voluntary, binding, and has been negotiated over seven years with an independent nonprofit representing local residents ( Meagher County Stewardship Council ).

The commitments weren't written by us and handed over. They were shaped BY the community through focus groups, meetings, and a town hall.

Responsible development means the community has a real voice. That's our standard.

05/21/2026

Last week, we had our second willow planting with the 7th and 8th grade students as part of our ongoing streambank restoration project.

Students helped plant willows along the streambank while learning how healthy riparian areas support water quality, reduce erosion, improve fish and wildlife habitat, and strengthen the long-term health of our watershed. This hands-on project is a great reminder that conservation work is not just something we talk about. It happens when people show up, get muddy, and put in the work. Naturally, the middle schoolers handled that part better than most!

A huge thank you to Kloe Walter with Montana Association of Conservation Districts, Jay Kolbe with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks , Mr. Jones, science teacher at White Sulphur Springs School District , Mike Dupea with Keyhole Cattle Co., lessee of the property, and, of course, the 7th and 8th graders for putting their all into planting.

We are grateful for the opportunity to involve local youth in restoration work that will benefit our community, our watershed, and our natural resources for years to come!

05/21/2026

05/11/2026

The Meagher County Stewardship Council is excited to share that our Executive Director, Cassie Coburn, has been selected as a 2026 Rural Ambassador for the Montana Nonprofit Association.

MNA’s Rural Ambassador program connects rural community leaders with resources, training, and statewide nonprofit networks. The 2026 cohort includes ambassadors from communities across Montana, each bringing a local perspective to the opportunities and challenges facing rural nonprofits.

In her role with MCSC, Cassie works closely on issues tied to community growth, housing, nonprofit collaboration, workforce impacts, and long-term planning for Meagher County. This ambassador role is a meaningful opportunity to bring Meagher County’s perspective into statewide conversations while also bringing new tools, partnerships, and resources back to our local organizations and community partners.

We are proud to have Meagher County represented in this statewide rural leadership network and look forward to the connections and ideas this opportunity will bring home.

https://mtnonprofit.org/mna-resources/2026-rural-ambassadors/

04/29/2026

You may have heard the name Meagher County Stewardship Council - but what exactly is the MCSC, and why does it matter for Black Butte Copper?

The MCSC is an independent, community-led nonprofit made up of local residents from across Meagher County. They were formed to make sure the community always has a seat at the table, regardless of who owns or operates the mine.

For the past seven years, Black Butte Copper and the MCSC have been working together on a Community Benefits Agreement - a formal, binding commitment to ensure that if this mine moves forward, Meagher County sees real, lasting benefits.

Recently, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding that sets the framework for that agreement. It covers housing, environmental stewardship, youth education, emergency response, and long-term investment in this community.

This is what doing it right from the beginning looks like. Learn more about the CBA here: https://meaghercountystewardshipcouncil.org/news