2025-11-14T12:29:05-05:00 2024-12-31 471591889 CEM BOOKKEEPING & TAX SERVICES INC 124 S 2ND ST LIVINGSTON MT 590472604 990 2024-01-01 810495837 WESTERN SUSTAINABILITY EXCHANGE WEST 4062220730 PO BOX 1448 LIVINGSTON MT 59047 CHRIS MEHUS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 4062220730 2025-11-06 true true CATHERINE E MOODY P01781256 4063337315 2025-11-14 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z ROGER INDRELAND 170 GLASSTON ROAD BIG TIMBER MT 59011 798902 false X WWW.WESTERNSUSTAINABILITYEXCHANGE.ORG X 1994 MT ADVANCING SUSTAINABILITY IN THE WESTERN AREA OF THE UNITED STATES THROUGH A SERIES OF PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO PROMOTE BETTER RANCHING PRACTICES. A STRONG FOCUS IS TO PROVIDE RANCHERS WITH THE INFORMATION, TOOLS, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND PEER SUPPORT THEY NEED TO TRANSITION TO REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES. ADDITIONALLY, WSE INCENTIVIZES THE CONVERSION TO THESE PRACTICES BY CONNECTING RANCHERS TO NATURAL FOOD AND CULINARY OUTLETS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE VOLUNTARY CARBON MARKET. 11 11 11 20 0 512184 514389 121318 224343 9765 7877 79995 52293 723262 798902 0 0 459297 510305 0 7167 286058 274950 745355 785255 -22093 13647 364906 390267 16916 28630 347990 361637 X SEE SCHEDULE O false false 643934 224343 REGENERATIVE RANCHER NETWORK: WSE PROMOTED REGENERATIVE RANCHING PRACTICES THROUGH WEBINARS, WORKSHOPS, AND FIELD TOURS HIGHLIGHTING SPECIFIC PRACTICES AND WORKING ONE-ON-ONE WITH RANCHERS TO IMPLEMENT CHANGES ON THEIR LAND. WE ORGANIZED AND CO-SPONSORED FIVE WORKSHOPS AND FIELD DAYS. WE ALSO CREATED THREE WEBINARS ON HEALTHY SOILS AND IMPROVED GRAZING PRACTICES. IN 2024, 973 LANDOWNERS PARTICIPATED IN WORKSHOPS AND FIELD DAYS OF WHICH WE PARTICIPATED AS ORGANIZERS OR SPEAKERS. TO HELP RANCHERS MAINTAIN PROGRESS, WE ORGANIZED MONTHLY "BULL SESSIONS" AS A PEER-TO-PEER ZOOM-BASED MEETING SPACE FOR THEM TO SHARE HOW REGENERATIVE PRACTICES WORK IN MONTANA. OVER 200 RANCHERS ARE PARTICIPATING IN THIS PEER NETWORK. WE ALSO ISSUE A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER, FOR WHICH WE HAVE OVER 700 SUBSCRIBERS, OF WHICH NEARLY HALF ARE RANCHERS AND/OR LANDOWNERS. TO INCREASE UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMPREHENSIVE NATURE OF REGENERATIVE MANAGEMENT AND HOW TO MEASURE THEIR PROGRESS, WSE IS CREATING TWO TOOLS FOR LANDOWNERS TO USE TO ASSESS THE CURRENT STATE OF THEIR OPERATION AND TRACK PROGRESS OVER TIME: A REGENERATIVE RANCH GUIDE AND A LAND HEALTH DASHBOARD. THE REGENERATIVE RANCH GUIDE IS AN ONLINE ASSESSMENT TOOL THAT OUTLINES THE EIGHT FOCUS AREAS OF REGENERATIVE MANAGEMENT (SOIL, WATER, LAND, LIVESTOCK, GRAZING, ECONOMICS, BIODIVERSITY, AND PEOPLE). THE GUIDE HELPS THE USER BETTER UNDERSTAND REGENERATIVE PRINCIPLES AND PROVIDES A BASELINE VALUATION FOR THEIR OPERATION IN EACH AREA. RANCHERS RECEIVE A REPORT AT THE END WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT. THE LAND HEALTH DASHBOARD IS BEING DESIGNED TO DISPLAY INFORMATION ON VARIOUS ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS RANCHERS CAN USE TO INFORM THEIR MANAGEMENT DECISIONS, SUCH AS WEATHER CONDITIONS, CHANGES TO THE PERCENT OF BARE GROUND, SNOWPACK LEVELS, SOIL MOISTURE AND OTHER RELEVANT DATA. MONTANA GRASSLAND CARBON PROGRAM: TO ECONOMICALLY INCENTIVIZE RANCHERS TO SWITCH TO REGENERATIVE METHODS, WSE ORGANIZES RANCHER PARTICIPATION IN THE GROWING VOLUNTARY CARBON MARKET THROUGH OUR MONTANA GRASSLANDS CARBON INITIATIVE. THE PROGRAM PROTECTS MONTANA'S REMARKABLE NATURAL RESOURCE HERITAGE, CAPTURES DANGEROUS CARBON DIOXIDE OUT OF THE ATMOSPHERE, BOLSTERS THE PROFITABILITY OF FAMILY RANCHES BY REDUCING OPERATING COSTS AND INCREASING LAND PRODUCTIVITY, AND PROVIDES ADDITIONAL INCOME THROUGH CARBON OFFSET PAYMENTS. IN 2024, WSE RECRUITED SIX RANCHES (TOTALING 125,000 ACRES) TO CONTRACTUALLY COMMIT TO USING REGENERATIVE GRAZING PRACTICES FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS. TO ENSURE THE MODEL AND OUR PROGRAM WILL RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT CARBON CAPTURE, THE PROGRAM WAS SCRUTINIZED BY THE VERRA STANDARDS REGISTRY AND RECEIVED VALIDATION STATUS IN 2023. WE ARE THE FIRST GRASSLAND CARON CAPTURE PROGRAM TO RECEIVE THIS INDEPENDENT VALIDATION. THE RESULTING CARBON ASSETS ARE NOW REGISTERED ON THE VERRA CARBON EXCHANGE, AND TRADABLE CARBON CREDITS ARE BEING SOLD ON THE VOLUNTARY CARBON MARKET. THIS PROGRAM IS THE LARGEST GRASSLAND CARBON CAPTURE PROJECT IN THE U.S. AND THE SECOND LARGEST WORLDWIDE. LIVINGSTON FARMERS MARKET: IN ADDITION TO THE MANY ACTIVITIES WITHIN THESE PRIMARY WORK AREAS, WSE OPERATES THE LIVINGSTON FARMERS MARKET. OUR FARMERS MARKET PROVIDES AN OUTLET FOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS TO PROVIDE LOCAL SOURCES OF FOOD FOR THEIR NEIGHBORS AND LOW INCOME SENIOR CITIZENS AND FAMILIES. IN 2024, WE OFFERED 230 VENDORS WITH THIS MARKETING OPPORTUNITY FOR SIXTEEN WEEKS DURING THE SUMMER. OUR "SPECIAL DAYS" PROGRAMMING FEATURED MANY OF THE SERVICES PARK COUNTY AGENCIES AND NONPROFITS OFFER OUR CITIZENS TO INCREASE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THESE SERVICES, BUILD AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR OUR MANY LOCAL NONPROFITS, AND ATTRACT A BROADER CROSS-SECTION OF OUR COMMUNITY TO THE MARKET. WSE PROVIDED 48 VOUCHERS TO LOW INCOME SENIOR CITIZENS THROUGH THE SENIOR FARMERS MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM. THIS STATE AND FEDERAL PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE LOW INCOME SENIORS WITH ACCESS TO LOCALLY GROWN FRUITS, VEGETABLES, HONEY AND HERBS. IN 2024, WSE PROVIDED 99 SENIORS WITH VOUCHERS TO BUY FOOD FROM OUR VENDORS. WSE ALSO ORGANIZED VOLUNTEER PROXY SHOPPERS TO SHOP FOR SENIORS UNABLE TO ATTEND THE MARKET. THE LFRC HEALTHY-FAMILIES FARMERS MARKET TENT, IN COLLABORATION WITH WSE, WAS CREATED IN 2021 TO INCREASE ACCESS TO LOCAL PRODUCE FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR THOSE IN NEED. IN 2024, THAT PROGRAM SERVED 653 HOUSEHOLDS, DISTRIBUTING 6,252 FOR LOCAL PRODUCE TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGED FIVE AND YOUNGER AND PREGNANT WOMEN TO BUY FRESH PRODUCE FROM LOCAL FARMERS AT THE MARKET. NOT ONLY DOES THIS ENCOURAGE BETTER NUTRITION IN THE HOME, IT ENGAGES FAMILIES IN A COMMUNITY EVENT THAT THEY OFTEN FEEL EXCLUDED FROM WHILE SUPPORTING THE VITAL WORK OF OUR MONTANA FARMERS. THE HEALTHY FAMILIES TENT IS ALSO WHERE THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) RECIPIENTS CAN REDEEM THEIR BENEFITS TO BUY FRESH EGGS, PRODUCE AND MEAT. THE STATE MATCHES EVERY SNAP DOLLAR REDEEMED WITH A DOUBLE SNAP "DOLLAR" UP TO 20 PER WEEK, WHICH CAN BE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR FRESH PRODUCE. THE SNAP & DOUBLE SNAP PROGRAMS SAW A COMBINED USE OF 472. WHILE THAT NUMBER SEEMS LOW, THE LIVINGSTON FARMERS MARKET IS CURRENTLY ONE OF ONLY TWO FAMERS MARKETS IN PARK, GALLATIN, AND SWEET GRASS COUNTIES WITH THESE PROGRAMS, AND WE EXPECT THE NUMBER TO INCREASE AS PEOPLE DISCOVER THAT THESE PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM. THE LIVINGSTON FARMERS MARKET HAS WON BEST FARMERS MARKET IN MONTANA THROUGH A NATIONAL COMPETITION SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL FARMERS COALITION AND AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS IN A ROW. 643934 true true false false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true 0 0 11 true false false false false false false false false X 11 11 false false false false false false false true true false false false true true true true true true true false X X X CHRIS MEHUS 4062220730 18 RAGNAR BIG TIMBER MT 59011 CHRIS MEHUS EXECUTIVE DI 40.00 X 87640 0 0 ANDREW ANDERSON DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 MALOU ANDERSON-RAMERIZ DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 CARRIE BALKCOM DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 HOLLY FRETWELL DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 JOEL HENRY DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 DYLAN HOFFMAN BOARD TREASU 2.00 X X 0 0 0 ROGER INDRELAND CHAIRMAN 2.00 X X 0 0 0 REBECCA KURNICK VICE CHAIRMA 2.00 X X 0 0 0 MARK LEDGER DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 BRITTANY MASTERS BOARD SECRET 2.00 X X 0 0 0 MATT SKOGLAND DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 87640 false false false 514389 514389 CARBON SEQUESTRATION 104684 104684 DASHBOARD 64301 64301 FARMERS MARKET BOOTH FEES 30232 30232 EMRA 16716 16716 RESILIENT RANCHLANDS 8230 8230 180 180 224343 7877 7877 697 697 697 SPONSORSHIPS 23544 23544 CONFERENCE INCOME 20061 20061 SALES OF LICENSE PLATES 7360 7360 631 631 51596 798902 283816 697 87640 52584 35056 364466 314101 50365 21090 1655 19435 37109 30201 6908 4388 3588 800 13390 8649 4741 33773 33290 393 90 4493 4319 174 36624 23816 7888 4920 2057 2057 8233 4590 3643 34411 34160 94 157 38830 36787 43 2000 6751 2137 4614 RANCHER DASHBOARD 92000 92000 785255 643934 134154 7167 73906 124060 278670 253877 61651 49651 12000 12000 330 330 364906 390267 16916 28630 16916 28630 X 347990 361637 347990 361637 364906 390267 13647 X false false X 507070 423875 373685 512184 514389 2331203 507070 423875 373685 512184 514389 2331203 612503 1718700 268 268 29921 29921 2361392 802796 0.72780 0.55870 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 61651 49651 12000 12000 FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4A REGENERATIVE RANCHER NETWORK: WSE PROMOTED REGENERATIVE RANCHING PRACTICES THROUGH WEBINARS, WORKSHOPS, AND FIELD TOURS HIGHLIGHTING SPECIFIC PRACTICES AND WORKING ONE-ON-ONE WITH RANCHERS TO IMPLEMENT CHANGES ON THEIR LAND. WE ORGANIZED AND CO-SPONSORED FIVE WORKSHOPS AND FIELD DAYS. WE ALSO CREATED THREE WEBINARS ON HEALTHY SOILS AND IMPROVED GRAZING PRACTICES. IN 2024, 973 LANDOWNERS PARTICIPATED IN WORKSHOPS AND FIELD DAYS OF WHICH WE PARTICIPATED AS ORGANIZERS OR SPEAKERS. TO HELP RANCHERS MAINTAIN PROGRESS, WE ORGANIZED MONTHLY "BULL SESSIONS" AS A PEER-TO-PEER ZOOM-BASED MEETING SPACE FOR THEM TO SHARE HOW REGENERATIVE PRACTICES WORK IN MONTANA. OVER 200 RANCHERS ARE PARTICIPATING IN THIS PEER NETWORK. WE ALSO ISSUE A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER, FOR WHICH WE HAVE OVER 700 SUBSCRIBERS, OF WHICH NEARLY HALF ARE RANCHERS AND/OR LANDOWNERS. TO INCREASE UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMPREHENSIVE NATURE OF REGENERATIVE MANAGEMENT AND HOW TO MEASURE THEIR PROGRESS, WSE IS CREATING TWO TOOLS FOR LANDOWNERS TO USE TO ASSESS THE CURRENT STATE OF THEIR OPERATION AND TRACK PROGRESS OVER TIME: A REGENERATIVE RANCH GUIDE AND A LAND HEALTH DASHBOARD. THE REGENERATIVE RANCH GUIDE IS AN ONLINE ASSESSMENT TOOL THAT OUTLINES THE EIGHT FOCUS AREAS OF REGENERATIVE MANAGEMENT (SOIL, WATER, LAND, LIVESTOCK, GRAZING, ECONOMICS, BIODIVERSITY, AND PEOPLE). THE GUIDE HELPS THE USER BETTER UNDERSTAND REGENERATIVE PRINCIPLES AND PROVIDES A BASELINE VALUATION FOR THEIR OPERATION IN EACH AREA. RANCHERS RECEIVE A REPORT AT THE END WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT. THE LAND HEALTH DASHBOARD IS BEING DESIGNED TO DISPLAY INFORMATION ON VARIOUS ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS RANCHERS CAN USE TO INFORM THEIR MANAGEMENT DECISIONS, SUCH AS WEATHER CONDITIONS, CHANGES TO THE PERCENT OF BARE GROUND, SNOWPACK LEVELS, SOIL MOISTURE AND OTHER RELEVANT DATA. MONTANA GRASSLAND CARBON PROGRAM: TO ECONOMICALLY INCENTIVIZE RANCHERS TO SWITCH TO REGENERATIVE METHODS, WSE ORGANIZES RANCHER PARTICIPATION IN THE GROWING VOLUNTARY CARBON MARKET THROUGH OUR MONTANA GRASSLANDS CARBON INITIATIVE. THE PROGRAM PROTECTS MONTANA'S REMARKABLE NATURAL RESOURCE HERITAGE, CAPTURES DANGEROUS CARBON DIOXIDE OUT OF THE ATMOSPHERE, BOLSTERS THE PROFITABILITY OF FAMILY RANCHES BY REDUCING OPERATING COSTS AND INCREASING LAND PRODUCTIVITY, AND PROVIDES ADDITIONAL INCOME THROUGH CARBON OFFSET PAYMENTS. IN 2024, WSE RECRUITED SIX RANCHES (TOTALING 125,000 ACRES) TO CONTRACTUALLY COMMIT TO USING REGENERATIVE GRAZING PRACTICES FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS. TO ENSURE THE MODEL AND OUR PROGRAM WILL RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT CARBON CAPTURE, THE PROGRAM WAS SCRUTINIZED BY THE VERRA STANDARDS REGISTRY AND RECEIVED VALIDATION STATUS IN 2023. WE ARE THE FIRST GRASSLAND CARON CAPTURE PROGRAM TO RECEIVE THIS INDEPENDENT VALIDATION. THE RESULTING CARBON ASSETS ARE NOW REGISTERED ON THE VERRA CARBON EXCHANGE, AND TRADABLE CARBON CREDITS ARE BEING SOLD ON THE VOLUNTARY CARBON MARKET. THIS PROGRAM IS THE LARGEST GRASSLAND CARBON CAPTURE PROJECT IN THE U.S. AND THE SECOND LARGEST WORLDWIDE. LIVINGSTON FARMERS MARKET: IN ADDITION TO THE MANY ACTIVITIES WITHIN THESE PRIMARY WORK AREAS, WSE OPERATES THE LIVINGSTON FARMERS MARKET. OUR FARMERS MARKET PROVIDES AN OUTLET FOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS TO PROVIDE LOCAL SOURCES OF FOOD FOR THEIR NEIGHBORS AND LOW INCOME SENIOR CITIZENS AND FAMILIES. IN 2024, WE OFFERED 230 VENDORS WITH THIS MARKETING OPPORTUNITY FOR SIXTEEN WEEKS DURING THE SUMMER. OUR "SPECIAL DAYS" PROGRAMMING FEATURED MANY OF THE SERVICES PARK COUNTY AGENCIES AND NONPROFITS OFFER OUR CITIZENS TO INCREASE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THESE SERVICES, BUILD AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR OUR MANY LOCAL NONPROFITS, AND ATTRACT A BROADER CROSS-SECTION OF OUR COMMUNITY TO THE MARKET. WSE PROVIDED 48 VOUCHERS TO LOW INCOME SENIOR CITIZENS THROUGH THE SENIOR FARMERS MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM. THIS STATE AND FEDERAL PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE LOW INCOME SENIORS WITH ACCESS TO LOCALLY GROWN FRUITS, VEGETABLES, HONEY AND HERBS. IN 2024, WSE PROVIDED 99 SENIORS WITH VOUCHERS TO BUY FOOD FROM OUR VENDORS. WSE ALSO ORGANIZED VOLUNTEER PROXY SHOPPERS TO SHOP FOR SENIORS UNABLE TO ATTEND THE MARKET. THE LFRC HEALTHY-FAMILIES FARMERS MARKET TENT, IN COLLABORATION WITH WSE, WAS CREATED IN 2021 TO INCREASE ACCESS TO LOCAL PRODUCE FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR THOSE IN NEED. IN 2024, THAT PROGRAM SERVED 653 HOUSEHOLDS, DISTRIBUTING 6,252 FOR LOCAL PRODUCE TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGED FIVE AND YOUNGER AND PREGNANT WOMEN TO BUY FRESH PRODUCE FROM LOCAL FARMERS AT THE MARKET. NOT ONLY DOES THIS ENCOURAGE BETTER NUTRITION IN THE HOME, IT ENGAGES FAMILIES IN A COMMUNITY EVENT THAT THEY OFTEN FEEL EXCLUDED FROM WHILE SUPPORTING THE VITAL WORK OF OUR MONTANA FARMERS. THE HEALTHY FAMILIES TENT IS ALSO WHERE THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) RECIPIENTS CAN REDEEM THEIR BENEFITS TO BUY FRESH EGGS, PRODUCE AND MEAT. THE STATE MATCHES EVERY SNAP DOLLAR REDEEMED WITH A DOUBLE SNAP "DOLLAR" UP TO 20 PER WEEK, WHICH CAN BE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR FRESH PRODUCE. THE SNAP & DOUBLE SNAP PROGRAMS SAW A COMBINED USE OF 472. WHILE THAT NUMBER SEEMS LOW, THE LIVINGSTON FARMERS MARKET IS CURRENTLY ONE OF ONLY TWO FAMERS MARKETS IN PARK, GALLATIN, AND SWEET GRASS COUNTIES WITH THESE PROGRAMS, AND WE EXPECT THE NUMBER TO INCREASE AS PEOPLE DISCOVER THAT THESE PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM. THE LIVINGSTON FARMERS MARKET HAS WON BEST FARMERS MARKET IN MONTANA THROUGH A NATIONAL COMPETITION SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL FARMERS COALITION AND AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS IN A ROW. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 11B THE FORM 990 IS REVIEWED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND BY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 12C THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ANNUALLY REVIEWS COMPLIANCE WITH THE POLICY. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15A THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS REVIEWS THE COMPENSATION OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EVERY YEAR. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15B THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EVALUATES ALL THE STAFF AND USES COMPARABLE DATA TO ESTABLISH COMPENSATION LEVELS FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 18 GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST POLICY, TAX RETURNS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE ORGANIZATION'S OFFICE. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 19 UPON REQUEST. WSE ALSO POSTS A COPY OF THE FORM 990 EACH YEAR ON GUIDESTAR.