They chose to donate all 38,000 acres of their ranch to a nonprofit they believe will continue their legacy. It’s the largest working ranch donation in state history.

The land will go to the Rancher Stewardship Alliance. It’s a group co-founded by the Veseths to empower local ranching communities as they navigate growing outside pressures for Montana land.

South of Malta, a little black bird rustles through thick grass near the Veseths’ home. It was birds that first brought major attention to this corner of the state.

In the early 2000s, avian scientists identified parts of North America where threatened grassland birds were found. Phillips County, where Veseth lives, contains some of the best remaining habitat for these species.