Governor’s Salary Donation Boosts Food Security Efforts in Montana

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On November 5, 2025, Governor Gianforte donated a quarter of his salary to The Producer Partnership, a Montana nonprofit dedicated to ending hunger with locally raised beef and other animal proteins. 

“As Montanans, we look out for one another and help our neighbors in times of need,” said Gianforte. “Producer Partnership brings together folks from across our ag community to help feed families. I am proud to support their work and the difference they are making for people all across our state, especially in a time when vulnerable Montanans and food banks are feeling the pinch of the Democrat-led shutdown.” 

Since taking office in January 2021, Gianforte has donated his entire salary to nonprofits and organizations that strengthen Montana communities and support those in need. 

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Founded in 2020, The Producer Partnership partners with livestock producers across Montana to accept donated animals, process them at no cost to the producer, and distribute the meat to food banks and charitable organizations statewide. Since its founding, the organization has donated nearly 350,000 pounds of Montana-raised animal protein to communities in need. 

“The salary donation is huge for us,” said Matt Pierson, founder of Producer Partnership. “There is so much potential for what we can do, in terms of intern programs, to expand what we already have and try to turn this different model into something sustainable and productive.” 

Producer Partnership is Montana’s first USDA-inspected nonprofit meat processing facility. Currently, Producer Partnership is processing and coordinating the delivery of pork to food banks across Montana to support increased demand due to the pause of federal food assistance from the government shutdown. 

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Producer Partnership relies on the generosity of Montana ranchers and donors to continue its work connecting locally raised protein to communities in need. To learn more about the nonprofit and how to donate, visit producerpartnership.com.