BOZEMAN - The Montana Farm Bureau Federation will have two new employees June 1 to assist the organization in continuing its membership growth and offering leadership development. Nicole Griffin will serve as western regional manager for MFBF and Kevin Arntzen, will serve as summer field services associate. Both new hires, along with Mariah Baumann, eastern regional manager, will be responsible for surfacing county leaders, providing training and counsel to county leaders and assist those leaders in planning, developing and implementing programs and activities to promote membership growth and carry out the policies of the county, state and American Farm Bureaus.

Griffin, who will join MFBF full-time, will be based out of Helena and work with agricultural producers in the western part of the state. No stranger to agriculture, she was raised on the Griffin Ranch east of Miles City and graduated from Montana State University with a major in agricultural business with a second major in economics. Griffin served as summer field services associate last year for Montana Farm Bureau and worked part-time for the organization throughout her senior year.

"I've always wanted to be employed by an agricultural organization because I wanted to work with farmers and ranchers," Nicole said. "I recognized that Montana Farm Bureau was the most important and influential agricultural organization in our state. After doing my internship as summer field services associate with MFBF last year, I loved it and wanted to be a part of the dynamic group of people who work hard and do great work for Montana agriculture."

Arntzen also comes with a strong agricultural background. The 22-year-old was raised on a purebred Angus ranch in Winifred where he helped with all aspects of running the ranch. This fall Arntzen will be a senior at Montana State University, majoring in Ag Business and Economics.

"I thought this internship as summer field services associate offered an excellent way to work with farmers and ranchers who are passionate about the same concerns as the Montana Farm Bureau,"Arntzen said. As a summer field service associate, he will be responsible for assisting the volunteer leaders, under the direction of MFBF staff, within their assigned counties with the programs and events of the regions membership. Arntzens counties will be those in northern and central Montana.

"Developing strong and active county Farm Bureaus is one of the primary functions of the staff," said MFBF Executive Vice President Jake Cummins. "To achieve that objective, county Farm Bureau leaders and members must have the best information and assistance available. Regional managers serve as a valuable resource to the county Farm Bureau leadership, and both Nicole and Kevin will do just that."