138 acres protected north of Belgrade

The property is right below Ross Peak and preserves scenic views from nearby Springhill Road and from National Forest lands. The property also is to the south of a block of land encumbered by conservation easements held by GVLT and Montana Land Reliance.

"Teyck and Barbara approached GVLT with a clear vision: keep the landscape open, productive, and accessible to local wildlife amidst rapid regional growth," reads a Tuesday press release from GVLT.

"The primary motivation on our part was to maintain the unspoiled landscape and prevent the fragmentation of a relatively large parcel of prime agricultural land and wildlife habitat," Teyck said in the release. “Land is life."

The conservation easement will prohibit any residential structures from being built and allow agricultural activities.

"This voluntary land protection agreement will ensure wildlife habitat, clean water, productive farmland, and scenic open space remain open forever," reads the release.

Aside from the farmland, the remaining area of the protected acreage consists of grassland, riparian woodland, and sagebrush, with Dry Canyon Creek running north to south, serving as a vital corridor for species including elk, deer, moose, turkey, waterfowl, black bear, and mountain lion.

"The myriad creatures that call this place home are largely excluded from the table where development decisions are made," Teyck said in the release. "This easement is one relatively small way that their needs for space, security, and food are met."

The Springhill community petitioned Gallatin County to create a local zoning district and ordinance in the early 1990s to protect open spaces and maintain the rural ranching lifestyle. Additionally, Teyck sought the permanent protection provided by a conservation easement.

"Springhill's zoning ordinance is a step in the right direction, but the conservation easement is a much stronger deterrent to the tsunami of development overtaking Gallatin Valley," Teyck said in the release. "In our case, the easement was a win-win-win on a host of considerations."

In addition to a significant donation of land value by the landowners, the conservation easement was partially funded by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Agricultural Conservation Easement Program.

Federal funding programs like these are critical to making conservation a viable reality for working agricultural families, according to GVLT.

"It's been an honor to partner with Teyck and Barbara to establish this conservation easement," GVLT Conservation Program Manager Crystal Beckman said in the release. "We are deeply grateful for their vision and commitment to protecting vital wildlife habitat and the scenic rural character of the Springhill area for generations to come."