Montana Beef Council Elects Callantine as President
Jake Callantine and Justin Iverson were chosen to lead the Montana Beef Council's board for a two-year term.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in People
The Montana Beef Council board of directors elected Jake Callantine of Bozeman as president and Justin Iverson of Potomac as vice president during its Aug. 20 meeting in Billings. The two-year leadership team guides checkoff-funded promotion, education, and research programs.
Why it matters
The officers will direct how checkoff dollars are spent on beef promotion, education, and research across Montana. Their two-year terms set the council's priorities for that period.
Officers serve two-year terms, the same length as the council's leadership cycle. Andy Kellom completed 10 years of board service before being recognized at the meeting, and the source does not indicate any planned changes to the council's budget.
The players
Montana Beef Council
The Montana Beef Council is the state checkoff organization that funds beef promotion, education, and research programs in Montana.
Jake Callantine
Jake Callantine is a Bozeman resident who now leads the Montana Beef Council as its president.
Justin Iverson
Justin Iverson is a Potomac resident who now serves as vice president of the Montana Beef Council.
Andy Kellom
Andy Kellom is a former Montana Beef Council board member recognized after 10 years of service, appointed by the Montana Cattle Feeders Association.
The details
At its Aug. 20 meeting in Billings, the board elected Callantine as president and Iverson as vice president. The council also recognized Andy Kellom, who was appointed to the board by the Montana Cattle Feeders Association, for his 10 years of service.
Timeline
Aug. 20 (2026): Board elects Callantine and Iverson at its Billings meeting.
Kellom's 10 years of board service are recognized at the same meeting.
Market Landscape
The Montana Beef Council operates under the national Beef Checkoff Program, which pools mandatory producer assessments to fund state-level promotion and research. Leadership changes at the state level shape how those pooled dollars are applied to local priorities.
Montana beef producers who pay checkoff assessments will see those funds directed by the new president and vice president over the next two years. Consumers may see the effects through changes to beef promotion and education campaigns in the state.
The takeaway
Leadership changes at state beef councils can shift how checkoff dollars are spent, so producers and residents may want to track the council's announced priorities over the coming term.
Further reading
Explore more People coverage to see other leadership changes in the business world.
Source note: This article includes information reported by High Plains Journal.
