Ballots are open to all active co-op members.
Incumbent
Matt Skoglund
Bison Rancher
Biography
Matt Skoglund has been on the Co-op’s Board of Directors since 2019. Along with his wife, Sarah, Matt is the founder and owner of North Bridger Bison, a bison ranch rooted in
Regenerative Agriculture principles located 30 miles northeast of Bozeman in the Shields Valley. Prior to starting North Bridger Bison, Matt was the Director of the Northern Rockies Office for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), where he worked on various conservation issues in Montana and the Northern Rockies for a decade. Matt is a graduate of Middlebury College and the University of Illinois College of Law. He is passionate about local food, and he loves to hunt, garden, cook, and search for morel mushrooms in the spring. But, more than anything, Matt is proudest to be the dad to his and Sarah’s two kids, Otto and Greta.
Relevant skills and experience
I am a former attorney, I am now a bison rancher, and I spent a decade working for NRDC in Livingston/Bozeman. I am passionate about food, I am a small business owner, and I’ve in the greater Bozeman area since 2008.
Issues of particular interest
I am particularly interested in furthering the Co-op’s efforts to provide good prices for core food items, how the Co-op can buy more food from local producers, and how the Co-op can stay competitive against new grocery stores (e.g., Whole Foods).
Important issues facing the Co-op
In my opinion, the top five most important issues facing the Co-op are: (1) staying competitive, vibrant, and profitable with the arrival of Whole Foods to Bozeman, (2) ensuring a smooth transition to a new General Manager following Kelly’s retirement, (3) increasing the Co-op’s efforts to provide lower prices for core food items, (4 furthering its efforts to support local food and agriculture by buying more food from local producers, and (5) working harder to increase the diversity of the Co-op’s staff and membership.
Strengths brought to the board
I started a bison ranch from scratch and work fulltime in local food and agriculture. My background also includes being a former attorney and working for a decade with NRDC on
environmental policy issues in Montana and the Northern Rockies. My wife and I have lived in the greater Bozeman area since 2008, and we have two young children – buying good, healthy food at affordable prices is very important to us. Finally, I am a pragmatic person who focuses on tangible solutions and results.
Interest in serving on the Board
As a current Board member, I have loved getting to know the amazing staff that makes the Coop the incredible institution that it is. I also greatly enjoy working with the other Board members on how to continually improve the Co-op – both in the near term and the long term. I strongly believe that the Co-op provides great, great value for the Bozeman community, and I love working to build on the Co-op’s success and make a great place even greater.
