Lead Where You Live - With Tracy McIntyre

Are you ready to step into leadership—right where you live? From the sweeping plains to mountain-town main streets, rural Montana is a canvas of opportunities. While all of Montana qualifies as “rural” by federal standards, the lived experience varies greatly—from small towns with city councils, to unincorporated valleys, to remote communities anchored by volunteer networks. What unites them is the power of people who show up.

Join us for a virtual presentation led by leader Tracy McIntyre, Executive Director of the Montana Council of Cooperatives and Montana Cooperative Development Center. This session is designed for anyone who cares about their community and wants to lead—not by title or loud voice—but by presence, purpose and participation. In this session, you will:

• Celebrate why rural is an incredible place for leadership.
• Learn how to map out your civic landscape and where you can engage.
• Uncover how apathy creeps in—even in vibrant communities—and how you, as a leader, can counter it.
• Explore the concept of quiet rural leadership
• Get actionable ideas and items that you can implement and reflect on.

Why this matters: In rural communities, the decisions made at the county seat, the city council meeting, the library board session, the school board hearing—they matter. They shape your quality of life, your opportunities, your sense of place. And you have a role.

You’re more than a spectator—you’re a stakeholder. We invite you to claim that role. To lead where you live. To show up because you believe in your community’s future. We’ll give you the tools, the inspiration, and the encouragement. You bring the boots on the ground spirit of Montana.

Bio:

Tracy McIntyre has lived and worked in rural her entire life. Originally from Eureka, she now calls Great Falls home, where she serves as the Executive Director of both the Montana Council of Cooperatives and the Montana Cooperative Development Center. Despite her leadership roles, she keeps her rural roots firmly intact, continuing to co-own her family’s farm with her parents.