Lee joined the USDA Northern Plains Climate Hub (NPCH) in March of 2023 after nearly 27 years as an Extension Agent. As an Extension Agent, he designed and provided hands-on education to farmers, ranchers, youth, and community members. Lee has lived and worked in small communities in three states. What he finds most rewarding is providing farmers and ranchers with information and tools they can trust, which helps them to make everyday decisions and to better manage their resources.
Lee grew up in southwest Idaho on a family cattle ranch and managed his own ranch for 7 years before transitioning into county extension work. Lee and his wife, Kerry, have two children. Their daughter is setting up a new family mediation system for the Montana Judicial Branch in Helena, MT, and their son teaches at a new career technical school for middle and high school students, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Lee loves to spend time in the mountains (particularly the Beartooth's), bow hunting, riding his Morgan horses, and training his puppy "Vic," who is a Brittany, good companion, and hunter.
Lee's work with the NPCH is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture – Extension, Education and USDA Climate Hubs Partnership (Grant Number 2022-69014-36369), Montana State University (MSU) College of Agriculture, MSU Extension, and the USDA NPCH.
