Iola “Olie” Else Receives Montana Farm Bureau Distinguished Service Award

The University of Montana Western is proud to announce that Iola "Olie" Else has been honored with the Montana Farm Bureau Distinguished Service Award in recognition of her unwavering commitment to agricultural advocacy.

Olie has been an integral part of UMW’s Equine and Natural Horsemanship Program since its launch in 2000. A two-time National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Coach of the Year, she guided UMW Rodeo to seven national titles before retiring in 2018. As Department Chair, Olie continues to shape the future of agricultural education by teaching, advising students, and overseeing internships.

Her dedication extends beyond the classroom, with Olie fostering community engagement through the Collegiate Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) Club. Her students regularly visit local Dillon schools to share agricultural knowledge, reading books and providing snacks, while teaching students about the origins of their food. The YF&R club also introduces elementary school students to livestock, reinforcing the importance of agriculture in Montana’s culture and economy.

Olie’s work with the Young Farmers and Ranchers Program has had a lasting impact on many of her students, some of whom have gone on to compete in the Farm Bureau Collegiate Discussion Meet Competition and at national Young Farmer & Rancher Conferences. Through her guidance, many of them have discovered new career paths and become active participants in their family farms and ranches.

Montana Western's Lola "Olie" Else receives Distinguished Service Award from District 2 Director J.M. Peck (left) & Montana Farm Bureau President Cyndi Johnson (right). P.C. Montana Farm Bureau Federation

In accepting the award, Olie emphasized the importance of keeping young people engaged in agriculture, stating, “Montana Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Program is vital in keeping young people active in agriculture. While there are challenges, many of my students have returned to be integral parts of their family farms and ranches.”

Olie’s lifetime of dedication to agriculture, education, and community engagement continues to inspire and empower the next generation of leaders in the industry.

For more information about Experience One and the University of Montana Western, or to schedule a tour, visit www.umwestern.edu or call 877-683-7331.