Vital components of the Field Station Community are the Landowners in Montana who have graciously granted us permission to tromp across their fields, streams, hills, and gullies for over 60 years. At our 50th Anniversary Celebration in 1999, we presented landowners with plaques expressing our appreciation—a small token of gratitude that is very deep indeed. Herewith are some of the Landowners whose land we visit. Many of these folks have also shared their sons and daughters as kitchen workers and caretakers over the years.

We've come a long way since 1949, when students reported that the "ranchers often stopped to see what the dern fools was doin’."

Today, it is rare to encounter someone who is not familiar with the IU vehicles rambling around the region all summer. Towards the end of the G429/G329 courses we now have a pig roast at the field station for the landowners and friends so the staff, faculty and students can thank them for all of their support.