Bruce Smith

Bruce Smith was born and raised in northeastern Montana on a diversified farm and ranch. The family farm corporation raised cattle, hogs, sheep, poultry, dryland and irrigated small grain crops and hay.

Bruce graduated from Montana State University with degrees in Ag Production and Ag Business and received a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Cal Poly – San Luis Obispo. He worked eight years managing food manufacturing plants making frozen vegetables, margarine, and French fries in California, Illinois and Idaho for three different large food companies.

Bruce became an MSU Extension Agent in 1994 and moved back to eastern Montana where he has been active in value-added agriculture, rural leadership, local food systems, and community and economic development. Bruce’s background and experience in value-added agriculture, food manufacturing, and business management have given him a different perspective on Montana’s agricultural future.

Bruce’s current projects include the Farm-to-Table Project, developing a culinary arts program at the local community college, a regional food and agriculture development center, a small food manufacturing business that uses local foods, a local foods restaurant and microbrewery, a community garden, a local foods store, a Farmers Market, a high tunnel project, and an ag marketing cooperative.