National Ag Week Highlights the Deep Agricultural Roots of Opportunity Bank Staff

Agriculture is woven into the fabric of Montana. It shapes our communities, our economy, our values, and at Opportunity Bank of Montana, it shapes many of the people who come to work every day. This National Ag Week, we’re proud to share the stories of employees whose agricultural roots run deep, whose families still work the land, and whose firsthand understanding strengthens the relationships they build with customers across the state.

Here are their stories — stories of grit, stewardship, and deep‑rooted pride.

For Jada Weber, raising cattle is more than a job, it’s a calling passed down through generations. Her family operates approximately 350 head of Sim‑Angus cattle on land homesteaded by her great‑grandmother and her siblings. “Nothing is more fulfilling to me than raising cattle,” she explains, calling the work both grounding and deeply rewarding. She admits the lifestyle is not for the weak, time off is rare, and the responsibilities don’t pause, but the fulfillment of stewarding her family’s heritage makes every season worth it.

One of her favorite parts of her banking role is connecting with customers who share that same pride. “I love learning about their operations and why they love doing what they do. It is a great opportunity to learn something,” she said.

In Ulm, Colt Deschenes has lived a life shaped by cattle, weather, and the unpredictable realities of production agriculture. His family has raised Simmental cattle for more than 32 years, trucking livestock across Montana to leased summer ground and facing down wildfires, floods, wildlife, and volatile markets. “Each year brings about a new set of hurdles far different than the last,” Colt says. But the work pays back in ways that can’t be measured in dollars. “When you work the land and work the animals, they give back in ways that fulfill your life.”

He attributes his background to giving him a natural connection with customers. “My ag background has assisted me in welcoming all customers with open arms and understanding their problems,” he said.

For Matt McKamey, agriculture is the throughline of his life. When he’s not at the bank, he’s farming spring and winter wheat on his wife’s family operation in central Montana. “Agriculture is woven into my earliest memories,” he says, recalling the lessons of livestock care, land stewardship, and the determination that comes from working in a profession where so much depends on timing and the weather. “There’s a realism that comes from production agriculture that you can only understand by doing it,” he says.

He says living the ag experience also helps him connect more authentically with customers. “I understand the language, the seasonal pressures, and the reality that their livelihoods depend on factors far outside their control. This insight allows me to approach conversations with empathy and credibility, and it reinforces my desire to help provide financial tools and guidance that genuinely support their goals,” he said.

Outside Big Timber, Angie Roberts and her family live in the original 1800s homestead cabin built by her husband’s family, where they currently raise cattle and produce hay. “Carrying on this legacy has given us a deep appreciation for agriculture and the generations of hard work that came before us,” she says.

In her role at the bank, Angie understands that for many customers, financial decisions aren’t just transactional, they’re tied to heritage, land, family, and the future. “I’m able to relate to ag customers on a personal level. I understand that their financial decisions aren’t just about numbers; they’re about family legacies, land, livelihoods, and planning for the future,” she said. “That perspective helps me build stronger relationships, communicate more clearly, and provide service that’s thoughtful and grounded in real‑world experience.”

For Lindsey Neubauer, farming isn’t just a job. “This is my family’s way of life,” Lindsey says. “We all work together as a family.” Their operation produces wheat, durum, yellow peas, and lentils, crops that require careful planning, long workdays, and teamwork. “Farmers have to work extremely hard to feed America.”

Her connection to agriculture helps her serve Opportunity Bank’s customers, she says. “Understanding ag customers gives me a strong work ethic and great community support.”

South of Wolf Point, Lanie Holen plays an active role in her family’s multi‑generational wheat and cattle operation. Agriculture, she says, shapes virtually every part of daily life. “Being able to raise cattle and grow crops that help feed our community and people around the world is a great feeling of accomplishment.”

Her farm background provides powerful common ground with customers, she says. “My connection to agriculture helps me relate to ag customers that I help through working at Opportunity Bank. I feel that customers greatly appreciate when the same values are shared.”

For Karlie Mills, agriculture is a multigenerational story of cattle, sheep, and the kind of work that teaches you who you are. Her family has ranched since 1897, beginning in Wyoming before moving their operation to Montana. Today, Karlie and her husband raise cattle and a flock of Columbia, Suffolk, and Hampshire sheep.

She speaks openly about the sacrifices producers make: “Ranchers and farmers dedicate themselves to the land and livestock so that our world can be fed. There are many sacrifices that they must make every day, and it is inspiring to me that those sacrifices are made for the better of their families, communities, and the world.”

Working as an Ag Loan Officer Trainee, she sees those values come full circle. “I can understand the struggles or the wins that they are experiencing and how they impact their operations,” she said. “I have noticed that my ag customers always pop into my office for a chat whenever they come into the branch because of the relationships that I have built with them and the connections that we have shared in the agricultural community.”

Bobi Jo Boeh calls a cattle/farm operation home, and her husband and children currently own a small herd of beef cows. She takes pride in helping younger generations understand where food comes from. “Agriculture is very important to me,” she says. “I want people to understand the importance of locally grown food and how it reaches our communities.”

She credits her ag background in helping her connect meaningfully with customers: “I love visiting and helping our agriculture customers with banking needs. I can relate to them on a personal level and appreciate hearing their success stories of being in agriculture.”

In Dutton, Mary Forbes’ family still works the land their ancestors homesteaded. She now lives nearby on a farm where she grows wheat, barley and chickpeas. “Small farms are more than businesses—they are the backbone of our community. Farmers work together, sharing equipment, moving stages for local events, or towing a neighbor’s broken-down vehicle. This spirit of cooperation keeps our town strong and connected,” she says.

She attributes this experience with helping her excel within her position at the bank. “I see firsthand how vital these farms are. My role allows me to help farmers open accounts that support their financial goals and connect them with loan officers to keep their operations running smoothly,” she said. “Supporting local agriculture means supporting the future of our community.”

For Jill McIntyre, agriculture began with her grandparents’ wheat fields and summer truck farm — experiences that later led her to earn a degree in Sustainable Food Systems & Bioenergy.

“I value the importance of our food producers,” she says, noting that she wishes more people outside of the ag community understand how food is grown and where it comes from.

Kyrsten Miller grew up in an agricultural family and has firsthand experience in working on a farm/ranch as a hired hand. She worked on a large variety of crops that she helped plant and harvest and helped tend to a large herd of cows year-round. Her experience helps her connect with and relate to ag customers in the Wolf Point area.

Brandi grew up on a cattle ranch, where moving cows wasn’t just a chore but one of her favorite things to do. She fondly remembers her black Angus cow‑calf pairs and bulls, and the pride she felt showing those animals at the county fair. 

Her involvement wasn’t limited to home. Brandi participated in 4‑H and later became a 4‑H leader for the club her kids now attend. “4-H teaches so many life skills, responsibility, hard work, competition, leadership, interviews, public speaking how to run and participate in a meeting, not to mention the depth of knowledge gained in the various projects,” she said. “It opens the door to many opportunities and there is something for everyone. I believe that 4-H is a huge contributor to my success.”

Brandi’s appreciation for agriculture extends beyond the ranch and fairgrounds. She sees it woven into every corner of Montana — not just rural areas, but towns and cities alike. “All of Montana is an agricultural community,” she emphasizes. “The reality is that we all need each other, and the more Montanans understand the value agriculture brings to this state, the better off we all are.”

It’s a perspective that makes her uniquely attuned to her role at the bank and the customers she serves. “I don't think we can take for granted the education, experience, and values these employees and customers bring to Opportunity Bank,” she says.

A fourth‑generation Montana farmer and rancher, Bruce Glennie grew up on the same family operation where wheat, barley, and cattle have been raised for decades. Today, his son is carrying the operation forward. “I am the fourth generation to have grown up on the family farm and ranch,” Bruce shared. “My son is the fifth generation… and the sixth is on the ground and beginning training — he’s only four months, though.”

Bruce’s agricultural roots shaped not only his early life but his entire career. He spent ten years in 4‑H, raising steers and lambs annually, and later went on to serve on the Montana 4‑H Council Foundation. His dedication extended into adulthood through membership in organizations like the Montana Stockgrowers Association, Montana Farm Bureau, and Montana Grain Growers Association.

His connection to agriculture also shaped his career in financial services. “My understanding of ag has served me well with ag customers,” Bruce explains.

Across every story, a common message emerges: agriculture is a lifestyle defined by resilience, responsibility, love for the land, and deep community ties.

“The lifestyle isn’t for the weak,” Jada says.

“Farmers work extremely hard to feed America,” Lindsey adds.

“Ranchers care for their animals more than people realize,” says Karlie.

And Mary reminds us of the truth that underpins it all:

“No farms, no food, no future.”

This National Ag Week, we’re proud to shine a spotlight on the OBMT employees whose stories reflect the heart of Montana agriculture — families who work the land, care for animals, guide harvests, raise children in the traditions of the past, and bring that grounded perspective to every customer they serve.

To Montana’s farmers, ranchers, producers, and agricultural families:

Thank you for the early mornings, the long nights, the dedication, and the work that sustains our communities.

We’re honored to stand beside you — this week and every week.