The Bill Lane Center for the American West, in collaboration with The Ivan Doig Center for the Study of the Lands & Peoples of the North American West at Montana State University presents the 12th Annual Eccles Family Rural West Conference on March 24, 2026, in Bozeman Montana.

This annual conference brings together scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to exchange knowledge and ideas about the rural West. Our goal is to catalyze scholarship and solutions to the region's most pressing challenges. Each spring, the Lane Center convenes in a new location within the West, expanding a network of individuals and organizations committed to addressing issues of rural policy, health, and environmental sustainability. The twelfth annual Rural West conference brings a day-long conversation focused on the political, environmental, and economic futures of rural communities across Montana and the Intermountain West.

Through a series of panels, a keynote address, and interactive breakout sessions, the conference will explore how rural regions are navigating shifting political dynamics, evolving approaches to environmental stewardship, and innovative strategies for community revitalization.