About Us
The purpose of the Lemhi Regional Land Trust is to assist in the conservation of ranchland, environmental resources, and wildlife habitat in central Idaho.  Our main function is to provide incentives and options for property owners of ranchland to preseve their agricultural lifestyles.

We are locally founded, governed, and staffed.  That means 100% of our efforts and resources will be focused entirely in Central Idaho.
Meet our Board of Directors and Staff

Tom McFarland, Vice-Chair and Founding Member:  Born and raised on Carmen Creek, a tributary of the Salmon River, Tom has spent most of his life working on the land his family has ranched for nearly a century. Tom has been a School Board Trustee, a Planning & Zoning Commissioner, served on a BLM Grazing Advisory Board,and recently revealed he has an engineering degree. Tom and his wife, Teresa continue to ranch up Carmen Creek and share the good life (and now the cars) with their two teenage children.

Don Olson, Founding member:  Don is a 3rd generation rancher, has served as Chairman of the Upper Salmon Basin Model Watershed Project Advisory Board for 15 years (and still going), serves on the Lemhi County Water District 74 Committee for Negotiating Minimum Stream Flows on the Lemhi River, is a Board Member for the Eastern Idaho Agriculture Hall of Fame (18 years and going), was caucus member for Negotiating of the Nez Perce Agreement and Wild & Scenic Rivers in Idaho, and has served as Chairman for the Lemhi County Committee for the Agricultural Stabilization Conservation Service.  Don and his wife, Kathy, now share ranching duties with their son, Shawn, the 4th generation to work their Lemhi Valley ranch.

Michael Overacker, Founding Member: Mike has 36 years of ranching experience, was the Lemhi County Weed Superintendent until recently retired, has been active in the Lemhi County Cattle & Horse Growers Association, and spent three years as the State Director for the Idaho Cattle Association. Mike has recently become recognized for his great radio voice and shares the land trust message with clarity and zeal. In his free time, Mike and his wife, Merridee enjoy riding horses with their grandchildren on their family ranch north of Salmon.

Richard Smith: After 38 years of dental care to Salmon residents, Richard has recently launched into retirement.  To supplement his many other endeavors, this self described conservationist has joined the LRLT Board bringing small business savvy, people skills, a deep understanding of our area, and an unlimited arsenal of backcountry adventures.  When asked what he hoped Lemhi county would look like in 20 years, he replied "As close to now as can reasonably be expected.  That shouldn't be all that hard; it's what people want."

Norma Staaf:  Norma is a land manager both in Lemhi and Custer Counties. After serving on the Salmon Arts Council for ten years, she was dubbed Honorary Life Member and is active in the Salmon Community Orchestra and Choir. She is also an outdoor enthusiast, a dedicated runner, and avid traveler. Norma and her dogs can be spotted year-round running the many beautiful trails around the Salmon Valley she has called home for over 15 years.

Fran Tonsmeire: Fran Tonsmeire moved to Lemhi with her husband, Joe Tonsmeire, in 1971 with an attraction to the beautiful rivers, mountains and open country of the Salmon and Lemhi area. They created Wilderness River Outfitters which offers river rafting trips down the Main Salmon and Middle Fork rivers. Continuing a family tradition of ranching, the Tonsmeires also operate Hayden Creek Ranch. Upon Joe's death last year, Fran continues to carry on their commitment to preserving the unique landscape and quality lifestyle that originally brought them to this community.

Carol Yerden: After spending much of her childhood backpacking and fishing in the Salmon River Valley Carol, along with her husband Tom and her two sons, moved to the area four years ago. An Idaho native, Carol received a Bachelor's of Science in wildlife conservation with an emphasis in ecology from Idaho State University and worked as the assistant to the Forest Service's regional biologist. For the past 15 years, Carol has been to raising and showing her Alpacas and is an active board member for the National Alpaca Association and the Humane Society.

Kristin Troy, Executive Director:  Kristin has served as the part-time "go-to-gal" for the Lemhi Regional Land Trust since August of 2005.  Her duties include fundraising, building partnerships, creating community awareness, implementing land protection projects, and compelling Board Members to check their e-mail.

Kristin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, with a degree in Management with Entrepreneurial Emphasis from Boise State University. A Salmon High School graduate, she spent 11 years in the outdoor recreation industry before returning home to Salmon. In 2000, she and her husband, Mark, purchased Idaho Adventures; a Salmon based river rafting and fishing business. Kristin serves on the Upper Salmon Basin Watershed Project Advisory Board, has lobbied in Washington, D.C. for salmon and steelhead recovery, sits on a statewide marketing committee for the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association, and has served as President of the Salmon Chamber of Commerce.
Board of Directors- Richard Smith, Tom McFarland, Kristin Troy, Norma Staaf, Fran Tonsmeire, Michael Overacker, Carol Yerden, and Don and Kathy Olson.
Lemhi Regional Land TrustPO Box 871 Salmon, Idaho 83467(208) 756 - 8879info@lemhilandtrust.org