ADVISORY: Tester to hold hearing on the value of public lands in Bozeman Friday

Public meeting will focus on the outdoor recreation industry, making a living from public lands

(BIG SANDY, Mont.) –  Senator Jon Tester will hold a hearing on the value of public lands in Bozeman on Friday, August 26 at 10 a.m.

Tester, chairman of the bipartisan Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, organized the hearing to hear from Montana’s sportsmen and sportswomen, small business owners, and public lands agency leaders about the everyday use of public lands – from outdoor recreation to the many jobs supported by public lands.

Tester also serves on the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, which oversees the budgets for public lands agencies.

Friday’s event will consist of two discussion panels, followed by an open question and answer session with the public. 

Panel One: The Outdoor Recreation Economy
o    Tom Owen, Owner, Gallatin Alpine Sports, Big Sky
o    Marya Spoja, Manager, Sweetwater Fly Shop, Livingston
o    K.C. Walsh, President, Simms Fishing Products, Bozeman
o    Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks

Panel Two: Making A Living On Public Lands
o    Brady Roberts, CR logging
o    Kate Kitchell, Bureau of Land Management
o    Todd Graham, Ranch Advisory Partners

Event Details:

            What:             Hearing: The Value of Public Lands 

Hosted by Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus Chairman Jon Tester

            When:            Friday, August 26 from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.
            Where:           Emerson Cultural Center
                                 111 South Grand Avenue, Bozeman

The meeting is free and open to the public.