About Our Billings Food Hub
Who We Are
The Yellowstone Valley Food Hub is a Montana food cooperative connecting over 35 local farms, ranches, and food artisans from the Greater Yellowstone Valley watershed. There is no single owner—our cooperative is farmer-owned and led. Together, ranchers, growers, and artisan food makers work to provide year-round access to fresh, sustainable, and delicious local food.
Our Mission
Buying local made easy! As an online farmers market serving Billings, Red Lodge, and surrounding communities, we make it simple for busy families to shop weekly for locally raised beef cuts, pasture-raised eggs, seasonal produce, locally baked bread, and other artisanal foods. Every purchase supports small-scale farms, sustainable practices, and a resilient Montana food system.
How We Started
Our story began when the Northern Plains Resource Council brought together local producers to address the challenges of selling directly to customers. With shared skills and passion, the Yellowstone Valley Food Hub was born. Officially launching in 2019 with support from Northern Plains, the Yellowstone Valley Citizens Council, and eleven founding producers, we now bring dozens of local farms and food makers together to provide high-quality, local foods year-round.
Farming and Sourcing Practices
At the Yellowstone Valley Food Hub, we believe farming and ranching are about more than production—they are about stewardship. Our cooperative members work to preserve farmland and rangelands so that agriculture remains a way of life in Montana for generations to come. The food we offer is nutrient-dense and adapted to our region’s unique climate and resources, raised with methods that respect both the land and the animals.
Our ranchers prioritize humane animal husbandry, raising grass-fed or grain-finished beef and pasture-raised livestock that reflect the highest standards of care. Our vegetable growers emphasize soil health, crop diversity, and water conservation, producing food that not only nourishes but also strengthens the ecosystems it comes from. These practices result in food that tastes better, reflects the seasons, and offers a true “taste of place.”
Our value-added food products and businesses are carefully selected through thoughtful criteria such as local and MT grown ingredient sourcing, local demand (Billings owned), sustainable ingredient sourcing i.e. fair trade organic chocolate, exceptional food artisanship, and sustainability.
By connecting home cooks and food lovers directly with local producers, we are cultivating more than meals—we are building a food culture rooted in Montana’s land, people, and traditions.
Why an online farmers market?
Our online farmers market makes local food accessible, fresh, and sustainable. Customers can conveniently shop from Billings, Red Lodge, or anywhere in the Yellowstone Valley, selecting exactly what they want each week. Pre-ordering ensures vegetables are harvested the day before or the day of packing, baked goods are made to order, and unsold inventory is minimized—reducing waste and supporting fair pricing.
This cooperative model also allows farmers and food artisans to share resources and maintain fair wages for their products. By shopping online with the Yellowstone Valley Food Hub, you’re supporting local farmers and producers, enjoying the freshest seasonal produce, and helping build a vibrant, resilient Montana food system.
Our online market offers:
Convenience
Shop anytime online from Wednesday to Tuesday night and pick up at locations in Billings, Red Lodge, and beyond.
Less Food Waste
Producers list exactly what they have, so no unsold inventory or over-harvest is wasted.
Fresher Food
Vegetables are harvested the day before or day of packing, and baked goods are made to order—so what you bring home is as fresh as it gets.
Meet Our Cooperative Team Members
The Yellowstone Valley Food Hub is more than just an online farmers market— we are a producer-owned growers’ cooperative. That means the farmers, ranchers, and makers who grow and make your food also co-own and guide this organization. Instead of profits going to outside shareholders, every dollar you spend helps sustain local families, strengthen regenerative agriculture, and build a resilient food system in our region.
By working together, our members share the hard work of marketing, sales, and distribution.It’s cooperation in action, and it’s how we make local food accessible year-round.
Here are part of the core group of the original members whose vision, dedication, and hard work continue to shape the Yellowstone Valley Food Hub today.
-
Steve Charter & Annika Charter-Williams
Charter Ranch and Livestock
Annika and her father, Steve, are the stewards of Charter Ranch and have been with the Food Hub since the very beginning. As one of the founding families, they played a key role in forming the cooperative, with Annika continuing to provide leadership in funding and financial planning. Their regeneratively grazed beef has become a hub favorite, reflecting the Charters’ commitment to holistic rangeland management and preserving Montana’s ranching heritage.
-
Sara Hollenbeck
High Five Meats
Sara Hollenbeck and her husband Henry were among the first in Billings to launch a direct-to-consumer meat business. Sara’s grit, dynamic work ethic, and skill in marketing and wholesale were integral to kickstarting the Food Hub in 2018. On social media, Sara shares her story openly, inviting the community to learn about the full cycle of ranch life — from lambing to shearing and everything that goes into raising delicious local food. Through their business, Five High Five Meats, Sara and Henry provide Montana-raised lamb to the Food Hub and you can also find their lamb on restaurant menus across Billings!
-
Tom Tschida
Nash Farms
Tom Tschida of Nash Farms is one of the hub's leaders and champions in cooperative policy and membership management. Tom is passionate about creating markets for small, independent MT farm producers. Nash Farms is a diversified family operation producing 100% grass-fed beef. Tom raises all livestock humanely, “birth to butcher,” following a nose-to-tail philosophy that maximizes quality and sustainability. A familiar face at farmers markets, he brings new customers into the cooperative while sharing his commitment to ethical, local food and farming practices.
-
Veronnaka Evenson & Ronna Klamert
Swanky Roots and Bullseye Ranch
Swanky Roots is an aquaponic greenhouse founded by mother daughter duo Veronnaka and Ronna that provides the hub with crisp lettuce year-round! Veronnaka’s parents also operate Bullseye Ranch, raising premium beef for the hub. Swanky Roots was integral in helping the Food Hub scale up production to meet growing demand — in fact, the very first hub orders were packed at their greenhouse. As a dedicated women-owned small business, Veronnaka brings her strong work ethic and collaborative spirit to everything she does at the hub!
-
Rhonda Hergenrider
Silvertip Ranch
Farmer Rhonda raises pinto beans and home raised pork for the Food Hub while also contributing her dedication and leadership to cooperative membership and operations. Known for her love of farming and a calm, steady presence, she reminds the hub community why farming matters even when challenges arise. Her hard work and commitment make her a cornerstone of the cooperative, and her pork is valued by customers for its quality, flavor, and ethical production.
-
Alan Christianson
ABC Gardens
Alan has been a driving force at the Food Hub from the very beginning. Whether running the farmers market, coordinating home deliveries, or tending potted plants to brighten the warehouse, Alan brings his warmth, energy, and wide grin to every corner of the cooperative. His produce, honey, and community spirit reflect his belief that everyone should get their hands dirty, actively participate in their food system, and share the harvest with others. Alan’s mantra — “Cooperative over Competition” — captures the heart of his contribution to the hub.
-
Patrick Certain & Claire Overholt
Stone Soup Garden
Named after the parable, Stone Soup Gardens is as much about nourishing community as it is about feeding people. Claire and Patrick bring youthful energy, creativity, and innovative ideas to marketing, business strategy, and cooperative operations. Their farm produces regeneratively raised vegetables grown in compost made from local food waste, showing how community action can create abundance while supporting a more sustainable food system.
-
Kate Rossetto
Lady Kate’s Garden
Lady Kate’s Garden is known for vibrant herbs and vegetables that reflect her lifelong passion for growing food with care. A spirited early member of the cooperative, Lady Kate has been a pioneer of farm-to-table eating in Billings, an herbalist, healer, Italian chef, and a wisdom holder for the Food Hub community. Over the years, she has shared her knowledge, delightful recipes, and mentorship with new growers, embodying the belief that personal responsibility and engagement with your food system are key to health and community. Even as she enjoys a well-deserved rest and retirement, her influence continues to inspire the cooperative and its members.
-
Scott Richard
Shoshone River Farm
Scott Richard of Shoshone River Farm is the hub’s largest vegetable grower and a trusted partner for high-quality, diverse produce. Based in Cody, WY, Scott brings practical insight, experience, and skill in managing a short growing season to consistently deliver nutrient-rich vegetables that speak for themselves. He is helping the Food Hub spearhead its CSA program, sharing his knowledge and passion for seasonal, diversified farming with the cooperative. Scott’s expertise and dedication make him a cornerstone of the hub operations.
-
Marc Leberger
Georgette’s Galettes
Marc Leberger, the soulful food artisan of Georgette’s Galettes, is a dedicated value-added producer who has helped the Food Hub expand its offerings and reach more customers. His galettes honor his family’s Belgian baking heritage, passed down from his mother’s family bakery in Namur, Belgium. Known for his welcoming spirit, strong work ethic, and tireless hustle, Marc has been instrumental in supporting the cooperative and fostering a vibrant local food community in Billings.
