Above: Northwest Farm Credit Services Montana Manager Bill Perry presents a $250,000 check to MSU President Waded Cruzado and MSU Vice President of Agriculture Charles Boyer during the MSU College of Agriculture's annual Harvest Breakfast, during the annual Celebrate Agriculture event in 2016. The financial donation was a combined gift between CoBank and Northwest Farm Credit Services to support graduate student scholarships for research, learning and teaching under the Cameron Chair program in the department of Animal and Range Sciences. The gift allows the chair program to attract nationally competitive graduate students in range beef and animal health research. 

The Cornerstone Gift & Industry Support 

As one of Montana's preeminent pioneer ranching families spanning 125 years, the Nancy Cameron family cares deeply about issues facing Montana agriculture and business. The intent of her $2 million 2013 gift to the MSU College of Agriculture was to support a lasting legacy for the future of students at MSU.  The purpose of the Nancy Cameron Chair in Range Beef Cattle Production is to support a teaching, mentoring and research faculty position within the Department of Animal and Range Sciences within the College of Agriculture.

In 2014, the Montana Stockgrowers established a $1,000,000 permanent endowment fund to support graduate students studying under the Chair. The goal for the endowed fund is to raise $1 million, generating investment-derived income of $40,000 annually to support two graduate student fellowships. The fellowships will fuel dynamic agricultural research by MSU graduate students, who will be conducting industry-driven projects designed to directly benefit the Montana livestock industry. The Chair will support and mentor research efforts and educational programs that foster greater collaboration among all industry stakeholders. This cooperative approach will ensure the vitality of livestock production in Montana and the region. A sustained robust graduate program with endowed resources for fellowships is a critical component in expanding research and development under the chair.

MSU’s College of Agriculture already has deep ties to the ranching and farming communities around the state and in the region. The college has a reputation for pursuing innovative research that is application-oriented for the challenges that Montana’s agricultural communities face.  

Related Media 

"$3.5 million gift endows student scholarships and bolsters agriculture and business at MSU" - MSU News, February 20, 2014

"College of Ag Hires DelCurto in Animal and Range Sciences"  MSU News, May 11, 2016

 Support 

The following producers, families, agribusiness and grower-representative groups have given in support of the chair:

Nancy Cameron

David and Tanya Cameron

Bair Ranch Foundation

Northwest Farm Credit Services

CoBank

Sieben Ranch Co.

Walter Taylor

Curry Cattle Co.

Lane Associates

Montana Livestock Ag Credit

Montana Stockgrowers Association

Gateway Simmental

Cornwell Ranch

Bank of Baker

Holden Herefords

Sidney E. Frank Charitable Foundation

Malesich Ranch Co.

Ross 8 Bar 7 Ranch

Mill Iron Ranch

Lazy SR Ranch