Amsterdam 1,100± Acre Farm

The 1,000±-acre farm is located roughly four-and-a-half miles west of Amsterdam off Grain Belt Road, a county road with virtually no traffic. Bozeman is approximately 25 minutes west of the farm and can be distantly seen from the elevated bench. The smaller communities of Belgrade and Manhattan are located between the farm and Bozeman, as is the Bozeman Yellowstone International airfield with services from Delta, United, Southwest, and American Airlines, along with FBOs. Big Sky Resort is approximately 90 minutes south, with Yellowstone Park roughly a two-hour drive. Interstate 90 passes through the valley eight miles from the farm and is the main throughfare for travelers in the region, across the state and beyond. 

As mentioned, Amsterdam, with an estimated population of less than 250, was settled around 1890 by Dutch farmers. The adjacent community of Churchill was settling around the same time, acting as the central community of the area with a population of approximately 1,120. The Braaksma family arrived in the 1890s and began farming the described lands with a horse and plough. Although modern-day farm machinery eventually prevailed, the deep-rooted culture of farming continues today, arguably by some of the best farming operators in the region, producing abundant cereal grains, alfalfa hay, seed potatoes, and, in more recent times, corn cut as silage under irrigation. The area remains founded in its history and religion and is comparatively quiet to the greater Bozeman area.  

Bozeman is a vibrant community, diverse in its services and amenities and remains anchored as a college town with Montana State University which can be distantly seen from the farm. With a population approaching 54,000, it is Montana’s fourth-largest city. While there is a strong blue and gold following home to the Montana State Bobcats, there is also a wide variety of entertainment by way of fine restaurants, the historic downtown district with its boutique stores, hotels, a world class dinosaur museum, live entertainment venues, festivals in the park, farmers market during the summer and a full bevy of outdoor stores supplying the recreationalists who reside in Bozeman.  

Belgrade is the bedroom community of Bozeman, with a population approaching 14,000. It is anchored by the international airfield and has a bustling economy boosted by a variety of supplies, restaurants, and services that complement those offered in Bozeman.  

Manhattan is smaller, yet with an estimated population of 2,120, it brings a small-town charm to the region. The large supermarkets and chain stores are replaced by smaller markets and local store ownership. Manhattan is blessed to have a very authentic New York-style pizzeria remaining true to the namesake community. Manhattan remains a town and pushes against the pressures of becoming a city.  

Although agriculture remains the number one economic driver of the state, recreation is a close second. Yellowstone Park has always been a main attraction, and the fabled trout rivers of southwest Montana have also attracted anglers from global reaches. Some of the finest trout waters in America reside within a short radius of the farm, including the Madison and Gallatin rivers, both within a 15–30-minute drive. With 70% of the region's landscape state and federally owned, the opportunities to explore the surrounding mountains are endless.  

Notably, there are area schools for local children, including what many consider one of the best schools in the valley—Manhattan Christian, Manhattan Pubic, and Amsterdam Elementary. Also notable is Amsterdam Meats, a locally owned quality meat shop providing beef, pork, lamb, and bison, all sourced from area producers.   

The part of the greater region where the farm is located is a transition area between the maritime climate in the western part of the state and a drier, montane climate of central and eastern Montana. The area experiences significant temperature swings, with average January temperatures around 13°F and August temperatures averaging 81°F. During the summer months, the temperatures usually cool off nicely in the evenings. In the northern hemisphere, the days are quite short in December/January and typically cold while the days in June/July are exceptionally long with daylight extending to nearly 10 pm during the solstice. Average frost-free days average 90-110.  

Conservation Easement 

In 2023, an open space conservation easement with the Gallatin Valley Land Trust (GVLT) was put into place to preserve and protect these lands against urban sprawl. The farm includes three non-severable parcels covering a total of 1,085± deeded acres. Per the terms of the easement, two selected building development sites were created. The first resides in the northeast corner of Section 19 along the furthest northeast corner of the farm and is five acres in size, providing for a residence up to 6,500 square feet in size, and a secondary residence up to 4,500 square feet in size. The second building envelope resides in the southeast corner of Section 19 and includes a total of ten acres. This also includes any additional agricultural buildings needed. This site provides a building footprint of 4,500 square feet, and as an option, the secondary residence can be swapped from the above-mentioned envelope in the northeast corner and placed on this site. This site also provides an additional five-acre envelope to construct any sort of non-livable agricultural buildings, such as barns, shops, etc.  

There are approximately 300,000 water rights on file with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC). In general terms, a water right allows water to be used in a prescribed manner while the state maintains the ownership of the resource itself. Water rights in Montana have defined attributes, including source, flow rate, volume, priority date, point of diversion from the source, allowable place of use, and purpose of use, such as livestock water or irrigation water for crop production. Water rights holders must use the water in accordance with the parameters of their water rights. One key attribute of water rights in Montana is the priority date. Montana operates under the prior appropriation system, under which the most senior rights have priority to receive their water in times of water supply shortages. This concept is often referred to as “first in time, first in right.”

Water rights with priority dates senior to 1973 go through the court adjudication process. Water use that began after 1973 goes through a permitting process through the state agency, the DNRC. Over the past few decades, the State of Montana has been undergoing a statewide adjudication process to verify the parameters of the pre-1973 senior water rights. This adjudication process is anticipated to take many more years, if not decades. Due to the ongoing adjudication process and the impact of historical water use on the validity of the claims, water rights are typically transferred without warranty. Water rights in Montana are complex, and landowners should always solicit professional advice regarding their individual claims.

The farm does not have any irrigation water rights. The wells located on the farm can be dual in purpose, used for livestock watering and/or domestic use.  

Annual property taxes are approximately $4,500 based on 2024 tax estimates.

The region is diverse and abundant in its natural resources and southwest Montana is highly regarded as a recreationalist’s paradise.  

Fishing plays a strong role in the area. The headwaters of the fabled Missouri River begin at Three Forks just minutes from the farm. It is here that the Madison, Jefferson, and Gallatin rivers confluence on their journey to the Atlantic Ocean. Dozens, if not hundreds, of tributaries influence this system, some of which find origins in Yellowstone Park, while others collect from the high alpine sources, and still others are emergent spring creeks, all benefiting the high water quality and nutrient-rich systems that support truly world-class trout fishing.  

Another major attraction of the region is elk hunting. Elk are quite abundant throughout Montana, as are whitetail deer, mule deer, antelope, bear, and, to a lesser extent, moose, big horn sheep, and mountain goat. Despite the farm not having the most appropriate habitat for elk, there is a large herd of elk that seasonally reside in the Spanish Peaks and Ted Turner’s Flying D Ranch, which push north when the weather settles into the late fall months. Another herd pushes south out of the nearby Horseshoe Hills, and these herds collect in the vicinity of the farm to indulge in the residual crops, which are generally free of snow. It is not uncommon to find them foraging on the farm while the general hunting season continues through Thanksgiving week. The owners have harvested bull elk on the farm with some regularity over the years, but there is no certainty with that. Crops such as sainfoin and peas are a strong attractant for these animals.  

Ideally suited for upland birds, this is perhaps the most dependable hunting on the farm. While pheasant and sharptail grouse are not as common, they are around. The highlight would be the Hungarian Partridge (huns). The farm and surrounding landscape are the perfect habitat for huns and they exist in greater numbers. The grassy coulees are their preferred habitat, and while they seasonally feed on insects and forbs, they turn their full attention to grain crops in the fall and winter months. Huns are an excellent upland bird to pursue. Perhaps the smallest of the upland birds in the region, the flocks remain in coveys with wild flushes that are most enjoyed over pointing breed dogs. 

Another major attraction for the region is skiing. The Bozeman area is blessed to have two incredible skiing options. Bridger Bowl is the local option located just 25 minutes from Bozeman and less than an hour from the farm. It is a nonprofit ski area with no resort influence and terrain ranging from beginner terrain to some of the most technically demanding skiing in America. Big Sky is located more than an hour from the farm to the south. Although it originated as just the Big Sky Resort, over the decades Moonlight Basin, Spanish Peaks, and the renowned Yellowstone Club vastly expanded the footprint of skiable acres, making it collectively some of the most vast skiing in America. Its expansive terrain is highlighted by the towering Lone Mountain Peak which has access to the top from a newly installed very large tram. High-speed lifts cover the mountain, providing access to skiing of all levels with crowds that pale in comparison to other popular areas in the western states. The contiguous Yellowstone Club is entirely private, with low-volume skiers providing a skiing experience like no other. There are also summer activities including golfing, mountain biking and whitewater rafting in the Gallatin River through the canyon. Nordic skiing is virtually everywhere, with the abundance of national forest lands, and is a very popular winter sport. There are also maintained Nordic ski areas such as Crosscut Mountain Sports Center adjacent to Bridger Bowl, and Lone Mountain Ranch at Big Sky.  

For shooting enthusiasts, an existing private range is staged for long-range shooting, and the topography lends itself well to expansion with the creation of a sporting clays course for shotgunners. Tactic, a private shooting range located ten minutes from the ranch, offers exclusive memberships and high-level training for those seeking to advance in precision shooting, pistol, and tactical carbine.   

The farm has 990± acres of tillable land, entirely dry-land farming with rotational crops of spring wheat, winter wheat, peas and barely. As previously noted, the hills have deep deposits of rich quagle loam soils across flat to 4% grade. Loam soils are a blend of sand, silt and clay particles and ideal for cultivation.  

These soils are ideal for the crops grown in rotation on the farm; however, alternative crops could be utilized. One option may be to plant a hay mix of grass and alfalfa or use it as pasture for livestock. For more diversified operations, a combination of both could be used; however, it should be noted that the farm is not fenced for livestock, as is often the case in aggregated farmlands.  

The north coulee spans nearly a mile and has native grasses that are cut annually as hay. While the coulee is not large, it produces upwards of five tons on an annual basis and is advantageous for maintaining the health and integrity of the grasses. 

At the head of the coulee on the north end of the farm, a well was installed in 2000. At a depth of 620 feet, the well produces ample water for livestock use, and uniquely, this water resource is tapped into a warm water seam that stretches through the region and reaches temperatures reportedly as high as 90-100 degrees at an average rate of 15 gpm. A second well resides near an old homestead on the southern part of the farm. This well could service a residence and is elevated enough to gravity feed water to stock tanks.  

Yields, of course, on dryland crops depend a lot on Mother Nature. The average precipitation is roughly 12.5 inches annually at an elevation of 4,900 feet. With its central location in the Gallatin Valley, the climate is somewhat temperate. While the farm does retain a light coverage of snow through most winters, spring often arrives a little early, allowing the fields to get worked and seeded during the critical time to capture the spring and early summer moisture. This is particularly advantageous for the winter wheat that is grown in the region. Late summer or early fall seedings take advantage of winter moisture that starts the crop earlier in the spring, as well as early spring rains that often come while spring wheat is being planted. Winter wheat fields are left fallow every other season so that they can be planted at the appropriate time. Under average conditions, spring wheat crops produce 58 bu per acre, winter wheat produces 65 bu per acre, barley averages 68 bu per acre, while peas average 38 bu per acre, but are alternatively cut and used as livestock forage on the farm when grown. Average dryland alfalfa yields roughly one and a half tons per acre or as much as two and a half tons per acre on years with above-average precipitation.