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HELENA, Mont. — For the third year in a row, Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen is once again saving Montana businesses millions of dollars by waiving the annual report filing fee in 2026.  

She also announced that it will be waived again in 2027, marking four consecutive years of providing the one-time fee waiver to local businesses. Secretary Jacobsen’s decision is expected to save Montana businesses more than $21 million over the next two years.  

The initiative continues Secretary Jacobsen’s commitment to making it easier to do business in Montana. 

“Here at the Secretary of State’s Office, we’re honored to serve local businesses on their journey. We remain focused on making business registrations simple, affordable, and accessible through modern online services and reduced costs,” said Secretary Jacobsen. “By increasing efficiencies and waiving fees, I’m proud that we can allow Montana businesses to focus on what they do best – providing stellar products and services, serving our communities, and driving our economy.” 

Since taking office in January 2021, Secretary Jacobsen has implemented successful measures, including cutting registration fees for new businesses and eliminating several other fees, resulting in record growth in new business registrations over the past four years. In 2024, nearly 64,000 new businesses registered with the Secretary of State’s Office. New registrations have already surpassed that total in 2025.  

Secretary Jacobsen’s leadership has received widespread positive feedback throughout the region, including comments from gracious business owners, praise from Montana’s Legislative Audit Committee, and the Mountain States Policy Center’s Elevation Award. 

“The positive impact of our local Montana businesses is invaluable,” Secretary Jacobsen said, “and the Secretary of State’s Office is proud to serve as a partner to our business community. Thank you for doing business in Montana!”

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HAMILTON, Mont. — Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen visited with students, business owners, community members, and constituents from the Bitterroot Valley this week. Secretary Jacobsen discussed a variety of topics, ranging from record new business creation to election and Land Board updates.

Secretary Jacobsen opened her trip with an invitation to visit with Hamilton High School seniors. The Secretary joined a pair of Hamilton seniors for a fireside chat to discuss the roles and responsibilities of the Secretary of State’s Office, the importance of civic education, and the processes for registering to vote and starting a business.

Students asked additional questions, and Secretary Jacobsen gave every student a copy of the United States and Montana Constitutions.

“Thank you to the students and staff at Hamilton High School for the opportunity to visit and discuss important topics impacting our state and nation,” said Secretary Jacobsen. “It was great to hear directly from the students about topics weighing on their minds, including how they can become more involved in their community and our state.”

Following the visit with students and staff, Secretary Jacobsen joined roughly 50 business owners and local chamber of commerce members for conversations at Nap’s Grill. Secretary Jacobsen and staff visited with the business community members about recent fee reductions and waivers, new business growth in Ravalli County, and how local businesses power the economy in the community.

“It’s important to meet our Montana businesses in their community to hear ideas that we can bring back to Helena,” said Secretary Jacobsen. “It’s clear that the Bitterroot is proud of its local- and family-owned businesses. Relationships in Montana are absolutely everything, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to hear the stories and feedback from our western Montana business neighbors.”

Secretary Jacobsen also participated in an open forum conversation with community members at the Hamilton City Hall Community Center, covering a wide range of topics.

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Editor’s note: Click the featured image above to watch the conversation with Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen and award-winning educator Bob Tipton.

HELENA, Mont. — For 43 years, Bob Tipton dedicated his life to shaping the mds and lives of students in Helena. Recently honored with the Distinguished Educator Award, Tipton’s career has left an unforgettable mark on the community he served, making him a beloved figure among former students, parents, and fellow educators. His journey in education has been about imparting knowledge and fostering relationships and life lessons that resonate far beyond the classroom walls.

Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen recently met with Tipton to discuss his teaching and coaching career and acknowledge his remarkable impact on thousands of students over the years.

Tipton began his teaching career at Jim Darcy Elementary before transitioning to C.R. Anderson Middle School, where he spent 33 years. Looking back, he fondly recalls that “all of the years were good,” emphasizing that every student he encountered was special to him. His true passion was the connections he built with his students and the life lessons he imparted throughout the journey.

“It was basically the rapport that I was able to get with the kids that was most important to me,” Tipton told Secretary Jacobsen. “Some of the things I get feedback on are, ‘We loved the math, but it was everything else that we learned.”

His commitment to education did not go unnoticed. Throughout his tenure, Tipton received the prestigious Distinguished Educator Award a remarkable number of times, a testament to his profound impact on his students.

“I think I have been fortunate and blessed enough to receive it ten times,” he recalled. “It makes you feel good, that’s for sure, but it makes you feel blessed. We’ve got a lot of really, really good teachers in this community, and I hope they always feel appreciated, respected, and honored for what they do.”

Tipton stepped away from teaching five years ago, earning this most recent Distinguished Teacher Award in retirement. His last group of eighth graders gave him the honor of delivering the commencement speech — a fitting farewell to a career dedicated to nurturing young minds.

“That was nice. It was an honor,” he said.

Throughout his career, Tipton has witnessed many changes in the education landscape, yet one constant remained: the unwavering support he received from the Helena community. He believes that setting high expectations for students paved the way to their success.

“If we set the bar down here, we’ll go to that bar. If you set the bar up here, they’ll go to that bar,” he explained to Secretary Jacobsen.

Beyond academics, Tipton’s legacy is enriched by the strong relationships he developed with his students and athletes.

“I’m very fortunate to still have connections with former students, many of whom are now 56 or 57 years old. I used to say, ‘When you start telling me that I taught your grandpa, it’s time for me to think about (retiring),” he laughed.

Tipton is embracing new adventures in retirement, from spending quality time with his family, including six grandchildren, to exploring new travel destinations with his wife and friends. Tipton currently serves as the Sergeant at Arms staff for the Montana Legislature.

As Montana continues to celebrate Bob Tipton’s remarkable career, it’s easy to recognize his profound influence on countless lives. His heartfelt dedication to education, mentorship, and the community exemplifies what it means to be an outstanding educator.

“Cheers to you, Mr. Tipton,” said Secretary Jacobsen. “You’re the best; you truly are. I’m happy to honor you in a meaningful way for your 43 years of service and 10 distinguished educator awards.”

HELENA, Mont. — On Thursday, Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen was accompanied by members of the 69th Montana Legislature to emphasize the significance of ensuring that only U.S. citizens participate in Montana elections. Legislators joined Secretary Jacobsen to discuss the bipartisan constitutional policy. 

“Across the country, officials are misinterpreting the language that ‘any citizen can vote’ to mean something different than only citizens can vote,” said Secretary Jacobsen. “Both red states and blue states, from Alabama to Colorado, explicitly distinguish that only U.S. citizens can vote. Montanans on every side of the aisle strongly agree and believe that only U.S. citizens should vote in our state’s elections.”

On Friday, Senate Bill 185, a “Constitutional amendment regarding qualified elector to require that only a citizen can vote,” will be heard in the Senate State Administration Committee at 3 p.m. Montanans can provide feedback to the committee or sign up to testify during Friday’s hearing by visiting the Montana Legislature’s website at https://www.legmt.gov/participate/.

Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen introduces the latest installment of the Montana Business Spotlight series, which recognizes and highlights local businesses across the Treasure State. This feature introduces Montanans to Granite Peak Athletics in East Helena. Click the play button on the featured image above to watch the Granite Peak Athletics Montana Business Spotlight.

EAST HELENA, Mont. — Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen was excited to hear that Nolan Gilbert and Connor Moore had no problem opening their new business in October of 2024.

“The feedback today was an affirmation that (registration) went well, and it was awesome and smooth sailing. That’s what we’re after,” Secretary Jacobsen said while announcing a record number of new business registrations alongside Governor Greg Gianforte and Gilbert and Moore at their Granite Peak Athletics. “We love your presence in our community and everything that you’re doing for our youth and being business owners.”

Gilbert and Moore joined the Helena community as wildland firefighters for the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) in 2020 and quickly bonded over their passion for athletics. Following their own playing days, both Gilbert and Moore found themselves in the coaching ranks, something they wanted to further pursue in Montana.

Through a shared mission of cultivating a “game-changing atmosphere that fosters the growth and development of youth athletes, making a lasting positive impact on the Helena community,” Granite Peak Athletics was born.

“We’re just lucky to be here and be able to support this community that we care so much about,” said Gilbert. “We’re able to give an avenue for kids to grow in their athletic ability, but more importantly, develop their life skills in this place in a safe environment to train. It has just been awesome to be a bigger part of this community and for our young athletes.”

“I remember Nolan called me the first time and he was like, ‘Hey, I have an idea,'” recalled Moore. “I was like, ‘Yeah, whatever,’ but then we just kept working through it. Eventually we just kind of came to the idea that, ‘Whoa, this actually could work.’ From there it was just actually going out and doing it. It has been a lot of fun. I’m glad (Nolan) called me that day.”

Gilbert and Moore have quickly become a vital part of the East Helena community since starting their business. The East Helena baseball team has benefited from their indoor training facilities and customized programs tailored to each athlete’s individual experience and mobility. While the co-founders specialize in baseball, they have recruited colleagues with illustrious backgrounds in softball to help youth athletes enhance their softball skills.

“We’re excited to see how the kids look in the spring and summer. With a whole winter of hitting baseballs, they’re going to perform a lot better and feel more confident,” said Gilbert. “We have big visions. We want a fieldhouse; we want to incorporate all the sports, but right now, we are just head down and continuing to work and focus on these kids and whoever we can continue to help.”

“Our community is lucky to have a facility like Granite Peak Athletics,” said Secretary Jacobsen. “Connor, Nolan, and their team are committed to offering youth athletes outstanding training opportunities while emphasizing health and injury prevention.”

“I’m grateful to Granite Peak Athletics for inviting us to their facility to celebrate another year of record business creation in Montana, and I thank them for doing business in our great state,” she added.

For more information about Granite Peak Athletics, visit its website at https://www.granitepeakathletics.com.

Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen introduces the latest installment of the Montana Business Spotlight series recognizing and highlighting local businesses across the Treasure State. This feature introduces Montanans to 41 Grains in Circle. Click the play button on the featured image above to watch the 41 Grains Montana Business Spotlight.

HELENA, Mont. — Two decades ago, if you had told Rex Sikveland his farmland would grow more than tenfold, it’s likely wouldn’t have believed you.

“I’m first-generation farmer; I started the farm in 2000. We started with 320 acres and we’re at 5,800 now. So yeah, I’m very proud of that,” said Rex. “Our younger son has become very, very involved in our operation. And with that, we took on more land so we can continue with our normal operations, raising our pulse crops with our rotations. We actually are able to raise more of these pulse crops – chickpeas, yellow peas and lentils – and rotate it out with our wheat so we can just transfer to each different field each year and make it work.”

It wasn’t until 2019 when Rex and his wife, Kacie, had an idea of creating a grain company thanks to a tasty cookie batch a friend created with chickpea flour. The Sikveland family farm had started incorporating chickpeas into its own production, and the wheels began spinning from there. Eventually, 41 Grains was born.

“About 12 years ago, my husband integrated yellow peas into our operation, and then from there, we’ve just kind of gone more and more. We started to do chickpeas, lentils, and various other products,” recalled Kacie. “When COVID hit, the idea started before then, but when COVID hit and we really couldn’t get some different types of flour, you couldn’t get different types of products, you couldn’t get a lot of food in our stores. That really made me go, ‘Yes, there is a segment for this. We have food, we grow food. Why are we not utilizing that food to actually feed ourselves and feed our communities and feed the people in Montana? We have vast amount of resources in Montana. Why aren’t we utilizing them to their utmost potential, keeping the profit here and keeping it local.’ So that really kind of surged in that, ‘Yes, this is something that’s going to work and I’m going to do that.’”

Today, 41 Grains offers a variety of products stemming straight from the family farm. Consumers can find everything from the chickpea flour to pancake mix, corn bread, gravy mix, and fish batter.

“Our brownies are one of our number one sellers for sure. It was probably the first product I think we came out with after the flour. It has been a big hit,” said Kacie. “After that is probably our banana bread mix. It’s not something you see every day, but everybody loves it because it’s so versatile, whether it’s just for a gift, breakfast, a snack, whatever it is. The banana bread is a top seller and people definitely come back for it.” 

“I have a hard time with my favorite,” she continued. “It probably changes from day to day because I like to try new things, I’m a little adventurous. But if I really had to choose, I’d probably pick the brownie too. I’m much more of a brownie girl over a cookie girl, that’s for sure.

“Brownie for sure. Yeah,” echoed Rex.

41 Grains was recently honored with the Best in Show award during the 2023 Made in Montana Tradeshow in Helena. Rex and Kacie are proud to don the Made in Montana logo on their products, and equally proud to provide true farm-to-table offerings in their home state.

“I think it’s huge for us, especially (since) we’re farming it,” said Kacie. “We’re growing, we’re cleaning, we’re milling, we’re packaging; it’s all on us. So not only does that take a big stance for pride in our family and what we’re doing for the farm and the business, but we’re from Montana and we’re big advocates for coming together in our community, growing Montana strong. Montana has so much to offer.” 

“It’s amazing how much it’s grown in that short amount of time and the support that we’ve received,” Rex added. “You know, it’s hard to get out there. That’s the big challenge is getting your name out there and getting your product out there, and it’s just unbelievable how it’s grown in that short amount of time, the support from people that have interest in it.”

Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen introduces the latest installment of the Montana Business Spotlight series recognizing and highlighting local businesses across the Treasure State. This feature introduces Montanans to Just My Type in Missoula. Click the play button on the featured image above to watch the Just My Type Montana Business Spotlight.

HELENA, Mont. — Donna Erickson has always been able to recognize something’s potential.

Erickson grew up on a ranch near Missoula and was routinely acquainted with equipment and materials that had been aged, tattered, and deteriorated. Despite the antiquated appearance, Erickson was of the belief these timeworn items still had their place.

Fast forward a number of years, and Erickson still holds that belief and has carried it into her retirement business, Just My Type.

“I learned to do bookbinding probably 20-some years ago, and then about eight or nine years ago, I started making these refillable journals,” said Erickson. “It kind of came from an idea of using up-cycled materials, and it’s faster and easier to make them refillable. All the hand stitching isn’t practical to sell those at reasonable prices, so this is what I came up with.”

“I’ve always been an artist and I just love books and I love paper,” she continued, “so, after I learned to do bookbinding, it just made sense to turn it into a product that people could use in a whole lot of different ways and keep a bunch of stuff out of the landfill.”

Erickson’s keen eye for vintage materials, coupled with her experience in mixed media, led to a niche that had success in its early origins.

“The response was good,” Erickson recalled. “I started selling at a small store in Missoula, where I live, and then it just kind of grew. Now I sell in probably 15 stores in Montana, and I do art shows and sell online.”

Erickson’s creativity has expanded over the years and her “list of recycled treasures is almost endless.”

“Most of them are kind of one of a kind of my own creations, but I do customize them or personalize them if someone wants,” she said. “(I have taken) orders for people that want a particular name or a fish or whatever dog breed on the front, and then I do it.”

“Oh gosh, probably the most unique one is one I made for a memorial for someone who passed away,” she continued. “The design was really awesome that they came up with, so that one was special. Her co-workers had it made for her family, so that was good.”

Erickson routinely participates in art shows and trade shows, including the annual Made in Montana Tradeshow. Customers are drawn to all of her one-of-a-kind creations, but there is one style that consistently catches their eye.

“My most popular are the ones made out of the 100-year-old leather law books that otherwise go to the dump. I’ve probably rescued 2,000 or so of those from the landfill,” she said.

Erickson considers herself retired after “nearly two decades working in academia,” but Just My Type certainly keeps her busy.

“It’s surprising how much it’s grown. It’s kind of a retirement side hustle for me, but yeah it’s grown and I have to kind of keep a lid on it that it doesn’t grow to be a full-time job, which I don’t want.”

For Erickson, part of the allure is exploring her artistry, but there’s as much or more appeal in hearing positive feedback from customers near and far.

“Former customers coming back to the shows and saying, ‘Oh, I took your journal to Iceland and filled it up on a trip,'” Erickson said. “I’ve heard about my journals being all over the world and being used in all kinds of unique ways from recording which breweries they go to, to you name it.”

From the cusp of the landfill to lands near and far, all thanks to Erickson’s appreciation for potential.

Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen introduces the latest installment of the Montana Business Spotlight series recognizing and highlighting local businesses across the Treasure State. This feature introduces Montanans to Lewistown Livestock Auction. Click the play button on the featured image above to watch the Lewistown Livestock Auction Montana Business Spotlight.

LEWISTOWN, Mont. — Kyle Shobe may have been destined to own the Lewistown Livestock Auction.

“My first dollar bill that I earned was here at a sheep sale chasing sheep into the pens out back,” laughed Shobe.

Shobe and his wife, Jodie, have only owned the Lewistown Livestock Auction for a couple of years, but they’re well-versed in the history of the business and its significance to the area. Kyle followed in the footsteps of his father as an auctioneer and also worked for the previous owners at Lewistown Livestock Auction.

“The bigger picture here is the history of this business with the community of Lewistown, because the folks that are in the ag industry understand how much business takes place here,” said Shobe, flipping through a magazine article from 1956 highlighting the auction yard. “I think the business owners in town really understand that it has an economic impact on Lewistown, but maybe not exactly what goes on through the sale ring right here.”

“There was a study a couple years ago that the Livestock Marketing Association did,” Shobe continued, “and based on a community like Lewistown, a livestock stock auction market contributes about a million dollars annually to the local economy through jobs, through tax base, and just through bringing numbers to town to keep Main Street green, right?”

Shobe says the business employs 50 people on sale day and draws business from across Montana with an emphasis on keeping local business in Lewistown.

“Last year, what did we sell? Just over 55,000 head through the yards here,” said Shobe. “That’s about $46 million in total sales, in gross sales. So that’s a lot of dollars that change hands in here.

“The thing about an auction market, that’s what it is, it’s true competition, true price discovery. With two or more bidders bidding on that animal, that’s a pretty fair market appraisal, isn’t it? As we get up higher in the chain from the feedlots on, there are fewer and fewer businesses competing for those animals. It poses a problem because there’s less and less competition.”

Shobe explained how the operation works on sale day, with potential buyers monitoring the animal in the ring and taking notice of the information provided by the scale before bidding. Once a seller’s cattle are sold, Shobe’s wife works with her team to settle the checks and pay the sellers directly once the sale is completed.

“A lot of folks come and watch their cattle sell, then go down and receive a check,” he explained. “We sell them by the pound because that’s how meat is sold. … It’s a big part of the nation’s food supply that starts right here.”

Shobe recognizes the many challenges facing the agriculture industry, from rising prices in fuel and equipment to the growing number of lands changing ownership. He says each challenge has a direct impact on Lewistown, as well as Montana.

“Every producer we take out of the picture, that directly affects Lewistown. Lewistown has always been a very eclectic community, but the anchor is agriculture,” he said. “If we continue to lose small ag producers, that will have a direct impact on what Lewistown is and our identity. We feel it’s very important to to do what we can to provide a service to help these people stay in business.”

“We’ll ride the tide. It will make us scratch and work a little harder, but we’re not opposed to that either,” he said.

Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen thanked Shobe for sharing the history and operation of Lewistown Livestock Auction, while noting its importance to the community and state.

“Montanans know how important agriculture is to our economy and way of life,” said Secretary Jacobsen. “Lewistown Livestock Auction is an integral piece of our ag industry, and it’s clear Kyle Shobe, his wife, and team are passionate about the service they provide to hard-working Montanans.

“Thank you for your dedication to Montana’s ag industry, and thank you for doing business in Montana.”