WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, MT - Governor Greg Gianforte yesterday continued his 56 County Tour in Judith Basin and Meagher counties, visiting the fairgrounds in Stanford and holding a ceremonial bill signing at Sandfire Resources in White Sulphur Springs.

“In Montana, neighbor is a verb – where we show up for each other and lend a hand,” Gov. Gianforte said. “The future of our rural communities is bright thanks to the commitment of the Montanans who invest every day to make them stronger.”

Traveling to Judith Basin County, Gov. Gianforte visited the fairgrounds to receive an update from the Stanford community on the progress of the remodeled rodeo grounds and other projects.

With the support of Staple Bar Ranch, the Montana Department of Commerce, local businesses, and community members, new grandstands and a crow’s nest were recently completed at the Judith Basin Fairgrounds.

During the visit, the governor also met with 4-H members to hear about their projects, from sewing to steers.

At the conclusion of the visit, the governor presented his 2024 Montana Governor’s Veteran Commendation award to U.S. Air Force and Montana Air National Guard veteran Mark Kassube.

The commendation recognizes veterans who served our country and have since made a positive impact in their community. 31 veterans received the award in 2021, 51 received in 2022, 39 in 2023, and 51 in 2024. Kassube served for 21 years in the military, deploying five times to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and currently serves as the Judith Basin County Deputy Sheriff.

Next, the governor traveled to Meagher County to join Sen. Wylie Galt, R-Martinsdale, for a bill signing ceremony for Senate Bill 211, a bill that reforms the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) to protect the environment, cut red tape, and provide certainty to businesses and Montana’s energy sector.

Passed by the Montana Legislature in 1971, MEPA is the framework DEQ and other state agencies use to review the potential impacts of their actions and decisions.

During a visit to Sandfire Resources, the governor also visited with Vice President Jerry Zieg to get updates on the progress of the Black Butte Copper mine project.

Located north of White Sulphur Springs, the project’s property includes the Johnny Lee Deposit, which contains a copper concentration 10 times higher than many existing mines. The Black Butte Copper Project will be an underground mine expected to create hundreds of jobs. Currently, Sandfire has 23 full-time employees and more than 20 contractors and businesses working on the project.

Fostering an environment where businesses can thrive, create good-paying jobs, and bring the American dream into greater reach for all Montanans is a top priority for the governor.