Growing up on the Front Range of Colorado, Tara could never get enough of the natural world. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Middlebury College with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Sociology & Anthropology, Tara worked on a production vegetable farm and managed a community gardens program in Missoula, Montana, which she has called home for the past five years. She is pursuing a Masters of Science in Environmental Studies and a certificate in Natural Resource Conflict Resolution at the University of Montana. Her passion for agriculture has led her to consider the role that agriculture and ranching play in conservation, particularly in Montana, where public and private land are often intertwined. Her research explores the tensions between ranching and conservation interests in central Montana. She hopes to leverage her knowledge of conflict resolution to open conversations about conservation strategies in the West and their social, political, and economic implications for local communities. After graduating, Tara hopes to continue working with farmers, ranchers, and landowners in Montana and the West to protect natural resources and build healthy communities.