POLICY TOURS & RECEPTIONSJoin us for policy tours for a first-hand look at the key issues in Montana. Please sign up for the tours you wish to attend within the registration process. Space is limited for each tour.
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Film & Media Tour
Film & Media Tour - Yellowstone Film Ranch
Sunday, July 19, 12:15 pm - 6:00 pm | Cost: $35 per person
Sunday, July 19, 12:15 pm - 6:00 pm | Cost: $35 per person

With its stunning natural beauty, the Pacific North West Region has become a destination for film and media production. The Yellowstone Film Ranch (YFR) in pristine Chico, Montana is a new film ranch in the famous Paradise Valley of Montana near the Northern Gate of Yellowstone National Park. This area is famous for being the production site for movies such as A River Runs Through It, The Horse Whisperer, and Legends of the Fall. PNWER Summit guests are invited to see the production site and join YFR for a late lunch of burgers on the grill, sides and beverages. Who knows, you might even see a classic gun fight at the local saloon! On the way to Big Sky that evening, participants may also tour the company headquarters of FilmLites Productions in Four Corners (Bozeman), Montana. J.P. Gabriel, President, is known for his work on Titanic (1997), A River Runs Through It (1992) and My Sister's Keeper (2009).
Note: We will have two departure options for this tour. One bus will leave Big Sky at 12:15 for anyone already at the resort. A second bus will depart Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport at 1:00pm for those arriving on Sunday. If you plan to attend this tour, please ensure your flight arrives before 1:00pm.
Note: We will have two departure options for this tour. One bus will leave Big Sky at 12:15 for anyone already at the resort. A second bus will depart Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport at 1:00pm for those arriving on Sunday. If you plan to attend this tour, please ensure your flight arrives before 1:00pm.
Outdoor Recreation
Outdoor Recreation Tour - SIMMS Fishing Products & Vista Outdoor - Blackhawk!
Wednesday, July 22, 1:45 pm - 6:15 pm | Cost: $20 per person
Wednesday, July 22, 1:45 pm - 6:15 pm | Cost: $20 per person

In October 2019, the U.S. Department of Commerce released state-by-state estimates of the contribution of outdoor recreation to gross domestic product (GDP). Montana ranks second in the nation for the importance of outdoor recreation to the state economy. In Montana, outdoor recreation represents 5.1% of state GDP, which is slightly less than the construction industry (5.7%) and more than the contribution from agriculture (2.9%). We don’t have to look further than the Gallatin Valley for examples of the diverse occupations in the outdoor industry. Besides manufacturing fishing waders locally, Simms Fishing employs MBAs who do sophisticated marketing and business forecasting. Vista Outdoor Inc. – Blackhawk! is a leading global designer, manufacturer and marketer of consumer products in the outdoor sports and recreation markets, using plastic injection molding to manufacture weapons accessories locally. This tour will visit both companies and will also include a discussion on outdoor recreation policy by Rachel Schmidt, Director of Outdoor Recreation for the Governor’s Office of Economic Development.
Photonics & Optics Industry Tour
Photonics & Optics Industry Tour - Bridger Aerospace
Wednesday, July 22, 1:45 pm - 6:15 pm | Cost: $20 per person
Wednesday, July 22, 1:45 pm - 6:15 pm | Cost: $20 per person

The Montana Photonics Industry Alliance serves as a hub for Montana’s optics and photonics companies, entrepreneurs, laboratories, and universities to commercialize, grow and sustain globally leading organizations that create high quality jobs and economic opportunity in Montana. This tour will highlight the fourth largest optics and photonics industry cluster in the U.S., with nearly 40 companies employing over 850 workers. The tour will visit Bridger Aerospace, an industry leader in aerial wildfire management, relief and suppression, delivering powerful firefighting services using next-generation technology and Ascent Vision Technologies specializing in cutting-edge imaging systems and fully integrated solutions for ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance); air defense; and counter drone operations. This tour will also include a presentation on the history, current operations of, and future of the Montana Photonics Industry Alliance (MPIA) as it fits into the local and state economy by Alliance President Trent Berg.
Malting, Brewing & Distilling Tour
Malting, Brewing & Distilling Tour - Nutrien Ag Solutions & Dry Hills Distillery
Wednesday, July 22, 1:45 pm - 6:00 pm | Cost: $20 per person
Wednesday, July 22, 1:45 pm - 6:00 pm | Cost: $20 per person

There are several local breweries and distilleries in Gallatin County. In addition, Montana Craft Malt, a collective of growers, scientists, maltsters, brewers, distillers, and craft beverage lovers dedicated to helping craft artisans reach their loftiest expectations for flavor and quality of malted barley, recently constructed a 10,000 ton/year specialty malting plant located in Butte, Montana. The CEO of Montana Craft Malt, Jen O'Brien, will provide an overview of the market, from seed to glass. This includes a stop to Nutrien Ag Solutions, a firm specializing in boosting agricultural production by providing quality seeds, seed treatment, and services to crop producers; for their supply to millers and end users with the highest quality grain. The tour will also include a stop at Dry Hills Distillery to explore the distilling process and facility, as well as the opportunity to taste the product.
Think Wood Mobile Tour Display
July 20 - 21 | Located onsite at the PNWER Summit
July 20 - 21 | Located onsite at the PNWER Summit
![]() We are excited to have the Think Wood Mobile Tour onsite at the Summit Mon. July 20 - Tues. July 21. Be sure to stop by and check it out!
The Think Wood Mobile Tour is a beautiful and compelling museum-quality display that showcases the environmental and economic benefits of different softwood lumber and engineered wood products and their many uses in both residential and commercial construction. The traveling exhibit features a variety of interactive elements, props, and models, telling the wood story from the forest to the market. The tour is provided in partnership by the Softwood Lumber Board, U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, the APA – Engineered Wood Association, and endorsed by the National Building Museum. |
RECEPTIONS
![]() EVENING RECEPTION at MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY- MONDAY, JULY 20 6pm - 8pm
Montana State University is delighted to host PNWER for an evening reception at the newest building on their campus, the Norm Asbjornson Hall, which is home to MSU's College of Engineering. Norm Asbjornson Hall is one of only 10 buildings in Montana to be certified LEED Platinum, the U.S. Green Building Council's highest certification. The building includes a solar electric system, solar air-heating and a geothermal system used to heat and cool the space. The building was funded largely by MSU alumnus Norm Asbjornson's 2014 gift to MSU of $50 million, which is the largest donation in state history. No taxpayer dollars have been used in the construction. We are looking forward to a wonderful evening reception and grateful for MSU for hosting us. |
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