We are a partnership of like-minded people who have created a home in Montana for Savory holistic management and other practices that bolster soil, community, rangelands, and businesses. This is a mostly-volunteer role that pursues our passion for a more resilient Mountain West!
We are based in Livingston, Montana.
Our land-base for demonstration and education is Wickens Ranch in Winifred, Montana.
We are an official hub in the Savory International Hub Network.
Find Clarity with Montana Working Lands Project
Make Confident Choices
Tackle the complexity of land management with a framework that helps you balance environmental, social, and financial priorities. Our programs empower you to make informed decisions that benefit your land, business, and life.
Prepare for the Unpredictable
Develop strategies to adapt to drought, flooding, and other climate challenges. Strengthen your land, finances, and community connections to build a secure and resilient future.
See the Bigger Picture
Reimagine your approach to land, business, and relationships with fresh insights that integrate innovation and regenerative practices, all tailored to your unique circumstances.
Build Your Legacy
Define your vision for the future and leave with actionable steps to create a lasting impact for your land, community, and the generations to come.
Eric and Emma Wicken’s journey thus far using Holistic Management and why we want to share this framework with you!
What Sets Montana Working Lands Project Apart
Regenerative land management can feel overwhelming, with countless voices offering advice and opinions. Whether you’re wondering how to begin, worried about financial feasibility, or anticipating obstacles, we provide the clarity and tools you need to move forward.
Grounded in practical, proven methods like Holistic Management, we help you manage the intricacies of working with nature while staying true to your unique context.
With immersive, hands-on experiences and guidance from accredited professionals, you’ll gain the skills to create lasting change. Walk away with real-world strategies and a clear plan to shape the future of your land and your life.
Ready to begin? The next course starts this September. Whether you’re seeking accreditation or actionable skills, this is the first step toward achieving your vision.
Meet the Team
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Eric Wickens
Co-Director
Eric, along with his wife, Emma, runs Wickens Salt Creek Ranch in Hilger, Montana. Eric is part of a multi-generational ranching family that is focused on the care and preservation of their ranch, which is more than 100 years old, in a way that promotes stewardship and economic viability.
Eric is a 2005 graduate of Texas’s TCU highly accredited Ranch Management Program. Eric then followed up his educations with a B.S. from Montana State University in Range Science Management. After returning to manage the family ranch, Eric also worked for MSU consulting management plans and helping certify Montana ranches in the Undaunted Stewardship Program.
As our Savory Accredited professional, Eric teaches our Holistic Management courses sharing his wealth of experience using the framework within personal spectrum, the Savory methodology, and the growing knowledge in holistic concepts.
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Emma Wickens
Assistant Program Development
Wickens is a devoted mother of five, a ranch wife, an artist, and true household CEO. She earned her B.S. in Animal Science from Montana State University in 2006 and has cherished the diverse opportunities that connected her to Montana's breathtaking outdoors. From working for the U.S. Forest Service to starting colts, laying tile, and crafting in a leather shop, Emma’s hands-on experiences shaped her deep appreciation for hard work and the land she calls home. In 2007, she married the love of her life, Eric Wickens, beginning their journey together on the family ranch.
Art has been a lifelong passion for Emma, being at 15 and has steadily grown her art business. Alongside her creative pursuits, she has always been driven by a desire to uplift others. In 2015, Emma and Eric co-founded "Katie's House," a transitional home for women overcoming hardships, addiction, and building new paths for their futures. As the director of Katie's House, Emma played a pivotal role in creating a supportive refuge that also offered vital resources for personal renewal. This endeavor honed her skills in leadership, strategic planning, community engagement, and program development. After nearly a decade, the couple entrusted the nonprofit to an organization poised to expand its mission, ensuring its legacy continues to thrive.
Today, Emma and Eric focus on raising their children on their family ranch, where they have embraced holistic management practices. Inspired by the principles of nature, Emma is deeply committed to prioritizing ecological balance, animal welfare, and community well-being. She believes in challenging old paradigms of understanding, to help foster a relationship between people, animals, and the land that brings balance to all. Emma is excited to assist in program development and contribute to Montana Working Lands Project in creating a thoughtful approach helping people find exciting paths and tools that enhance their stewardship and holistic management in their operations.
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Michal DeChellis
Co-Director
Michal is an organizational psychologist turned food systems advocate with a passion for cultivating sustainable change. With a rich background spanning Fortune 500 organizations and nonprofits, she has honed expertise in curriculum design, facilitation, and team and leadership development.
Her journey into food systems began with designing Farm to School programs, where she connected local agriculture with education to empower the next generation. Today, she brings that same dedication to her role as an instructor at Montana State University, guiding undergraduate and Master’s students in sustainable food systems.
Michal’s work at the Montana Working Lands Project is driven by a commitment to regenerative land management, vibrant communities, and fostering meaningful connections between people and the landscapes they call home.
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Michael DeChellis
Team Nerd and EOV Lead
Michael is a robotics and agriculture engineer and product/program consultant. He is also an enthusiastic Montana dad and citizen.
He is passionate about how to bring stories and journeys front and center while letting the tech do the boring work.
He takes his role as “Team Nerd” seriously and much of the behind-the-scenes tech-focused stuff at Montana Working Lands Project is his “fault”.
Michael leads the hub’s Savory’s Ecological Outcome Verification (EOV) program, and a great point of contact for that.
Michael is married to Michal, so remembering one name means you already know them both!