Meet our Officers & Directors
DEAN LERUM - President
The School of Hard Knocks educates you,” said Dean.“We currently raise spring wheat, barley, run a cow/calf operation and manage a bull development center.”
The Lerums have been farming and ranching on land that is now four generations deep. It was homesteaded by Dean’s great-grandparents.
CLAYTON GERNAAT - Vice-President
cgernaat119@yahoo.com * 406-289-0350
Clayton Gernaat was born and raised west of Conrad, where he graduated from Conrad High School in 2002. He attended MSU Bozeman, where he received a bachelor's degree in Agricultural Education. Clayton and his wife have two daughters.
His agriculture passions include range management, weed identification and control and working with cattle.
CARRIE LERUM - Secretary/Treasurer
Carrie Lerum grew up on a farm east of Brady and knew at an early age she wanted to go into agriculture. She attended MSU Bozeman and graduated with a degree in Ag Business and a minor in economics. The Lerums are committed to keeping alive the now 111 year tradition of working the land. Carrie and Dean have two children who also ranch with the family.
JEFF HABETS - Director-At-Large
Agriculture and ranching has been his passion and way of life from the very beginning. Jeff was involved with FFA in high school and studied Ag Business in college. Being on the ranch is where he has always wanted to be. Jeff and his wife Lindsey have 3 children and are involved with farming and haying with a cow/calf operation located south of the Marias River.
LANCE STOKES - Pondera County Director
Lance and his wife Heather live on a ranch in Northern Pondera County. They have three children. They operate Stokes Fencing LLC. Lance and his family run a cow/calf operation.
CHRIS KIMMET - Toole County Director
Chris grew up in the Shelby area where he met his wife Robyn and they have two children. They are owners of "Kimmet's Calves, Kids and Grain" and also own TLC Catering.
BOB THOMPSON - Liberty County Director
Bob was born and raised in the Sweet Grass Hills at Whitlash. Graduated from Chester in 1975 then went on to MSU Bozeman where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Electrical engineering and worked 5 years for Boeing. Bob and Diana have owned the 3U cattle ranch since 1990. They ranch with their son Jeff.
BOO BOO BIRD - Glacier County Director
franchisebird@icloud.com 406-845-3669
Francis "Boo Boo" Bird ranches on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation just east of Chief Mountain. He lives in Cut Bank.
