Big Sky Documentary Film Festival Highlights Collaborative Ranching

The film 'Mother Range' showcases two Montana women working together to raise cattle and get local meat to consumers.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in Missoula, Montana is premiering the film 'Mother Range' on February 22nd. The film tells the story of two women, Amber Smith and Jaimie Stoltzfus, who are collaborating across 270 miles to raise cattle and get local Montana beef to consumers despite challenges like costs, corporate chains, and drought conditions. The women balance ranching with raising their families, and the film captures their friendship and camaraderie as they navigate the complexities of sustainable local food production.

Why it matters

The film highlights the growing trend of collaborative ranching models that aim to keep family-owned operations viable and get high-quality local meat to consumers. It also showcases the challenges small producers face in an industry dominated by large corporate players, and how women are making their mark in the traditionally male-dominated field of ranching.

The details

Amber Smith raises cattle on the plains of Eastern Montana, while Jaimie Stoltzfus finishes the beef on her family's mountain grazing land in the Absaroka Range. The two women work together to leverage their different landscapes and share resources, despite the 270-mile distance between their operations. The film follows their daily lives as they balance ranching, family responsibilities, and the business challenges of getting their products to market.

  • The Big Sky Documentary Film Festival is underway from February 18-26, 2026.
  • Mother Range premieres at the Wilma Theater in Missoula on Sunday, February 22, 2026 at 1 p.m.

The players

Amber Smith

A Montana rancher who raises cattle on the plains of Eastern Montana.

Jaimie Stoltzfus

A Montana rancher who finishes beef on her family's mountain grazing land in the Absaroka Range.

Anthony Pavkovich

The director of the film Mother Range.

Zach Altman

One of the producers of the film Mother Range.

Megan Torgerson

A Missoula-based producer of the film Mother Range.

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What they’re saying

“Being a rancher has made me a better mom, and I think being a mom makes me a better rancher.”

— Jaimie Stoltzfus (kpax.com)

“We also have really aligned values. Our philosophy around regenerative agriculture, why that's so important for the longevity of our landscapes.”

— Jaimie Stoltzfus (kpax.com)

“We can make better choices with what we're buying and what we're supporting.”

— Jaimie Stoltzfus (kpax.com)

“I'm grateful that our kids are really connected to the land and where their food came from, because I didn't have that until I was an adult.”

— Jaimie Stoltzfus (kpax.com)

“The realities of responsibility to this type of landscape is it means everyone's involved. It's hard work and it's not always perfect and beautiful and easy. There's many, many beating hearts on the land, and as a family, we're always navigating priorities around that.”

— Amber Smith (kpax.com)

What’s next

The film 'Mother Range' will continue to be shown at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival through February 26, 2026.

The takeaway

The collaborative ranching model showcased in 'Mother Range' demonstrates how small producers can work together to overcome the challenges of the modern agricultural landscape and bring high-quality, locally-sourced meat to consumers. The film highlights the important role women are playing in the future of sustainable ranching.