Rotary of Billings Student Scholarship Recipients

The scholarship winners were chosen by their schools as top candidates, and the Rotary committee selected the final six. Those present included:

1. Bryn Solgard (Billings Central)

2. Coralie Seymour (Lockwood)

3. McLean Olsen (Senior High)

4. Ava Greenwood (Skyview)

5. Luke Monson (Billings Christian)

Kellen Edward from West High was unable to attend. Each recipient received a Rotary coin from President Tom as a memento and encouragement to consider future Rotarian involvement. 

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP)

Mike and Chrissy from the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Department. Mike, with FWP since 1994, holds a Master’s in Natural Resources and has held various leadership roles, currently serving as Director of Region Five. Chrissy, a Billings native, joined FWP in 2020 and transitioned in 2022 to Regional Communications and Education Manager, responsible for public outreach, media relations, and conservation education programs. FWP’s organizational framework includes a Public Affairs Manager overseeing licensing and communications, a vacant Deputy Director position initiated under the Gianforte administration, Centralized Enforcement and Legal units, a Chief of Administration (budgets, IT, HR), a Chief of Operations (supervising regional programs), and a Chief of Conservation Policy (coordinating with state parks board and commissioners, and overseeing the reconsolidated Research Unit). FWP collaborates extensively with federal and tribal partners.  There are 12 federally recognized tribes across 7 reservations; FWP works through formal agreements on license sales, wildlife distribution, and habitat access. Montana has 11 forests in which FWP coordinates on habitat and access projects and provides input on forest management plans. FWP collaborates with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service on species such as grizzly bears; a recent example involved the removal of a depredating bear after it killed calves. FWP also works with the BLM on joint access and habitat initiatives and the National Parks.

FWP manages:

• 334 Fishing Access Sites, including a newly approved floating site on the Upper Yellowstone

• 56 State Parks, with Judah Landing as the most recent addition (a historically and naturally significant site)

• 68 Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), including the 6,000-acre Big Snow WMA, which provides access to over 100,000 additional acres

FWP uses strategic planning to manage crowding, especially at high-use sites like Cooney and Lake Elmo, which rank among the top five most visited parks in Montana. During peak times—such as Memorial Day weekend at Lake Elmo—crowding is extreme, with visitors parking blocks away. Fishing pressure has increased over time, with 3.5 million angler days recorded in 2023 and a peak of 4 million during the pandemic. Non-resident fishing participation is growing faster than resident participation, a trend contrary to national patterns. Montana operates 12 hatcheries, with two in the eastern region focusing on warm and cool water species. Historically, hatcheries supported widespread stocking, but this approach changed in the 1970s when it was found that hatchery trout often outcompeted wild populations, reducing overall fish numbers. As a result, FWP shifted focus to habitat conservation and selective stocking of native species. Hunting behaviors are evolving, with hunters increasingly engaging in multi-activity trips (fishing, hiking, family outings) rather than traditional single-purpose excursions. While resident deer license sales are capped, non-resident sales were previously uncapped in many areas but are now being limited. Elk license sales remain stable due to caps, but three-day license sales (popular with non-residents) have gradually increased since 2016, indicating growing short-term participation. FWP manages bison in two hunting districts (Gardiner and West Yellowstone), including coordination with tribal hunters under federal treaties. Most bison elsewhere in the state are classified as domestic and managed by the Department of Livestock, not FWP. Mike did end his presentation by addressing questions from the membership.