About Russ
A Life in Agriculture.
Russ is grateful to call Cascade County home for his entire life, and lives 100 yards from the house where he was raised. Montana has been the Miner family home since his grandfather homesteaded in 1914 and it has provided an excellent environment to make a living and raise his family.
Russ worked in the Montana agriculture business for 45 years and brings extensive knowledge to represent Montana’s number one industry, agriculture. During his high school and college years, Russ worked on farms and ranches to earn money to pay for college. After college he worked for agricultural supply companies, holding sales and management roles with Montana Pump & Irrigation, Ag Management Services, ConAgra/UAP and Wilbur Ellis Company. Russ has great respect for our farmers, ranchers and businesses that are paramount in feeding the world. They are often taken for granted due to their efficiency in the production of food and fiber, and wants them to know that they will always be listened to and have a seat at the table.
Why I'm Running for Montana HD 26
Russ is running for House District 26 to make sure your voice is represented and heard back in Helena. Having spent his career working in Montana’s Agriculture industry, Russ will be a strong advocate fighting for our farmers and ranchers. He is guided by the Constitution because it’s the foundation of our free society. He believes strongly in fiscal responsibility, living within our means, and allowing Montanans to keep more of the money they earn to help more families and small businesses prosper across the state. He will fight to reduce harmful regulations and red-tape that are unnecessarily holding us back. Russ wants to see our resources responsibly developed to create new opportunities in agriculture processing, mining, timber and tourism. Above all, Russ will continue to be there to serve you – his constituents – if elected to HD 26.
Russ was recognized as Rookie Legislator of the Year by Montana Farm Bureau Federation for the 68th legislative session (2023). He served on the House Taxation, Natural Resources, and Fish Wildlife and Parks Committees. In the interim, Russ is serving on the Water Policy Committee.
About My Family
Russ and his wife, Lorie, were married in August 1976 after he graduated from Montana State University with an Agricultural Production degree. Lorie comes from a longtime Montana farming and ranching family. Russ and Lorie were reacquainted at a 4-H meeting in 1970 as
their families had been friends for years. They have two sons Wes (Jodi) and Wyley (Jamie) and four grandchildren. Their son Wes and his family ranch in southwest Montana and Wyley is a self-employed agriculture businessman, providing livestock, hay trucking, and ranch rodeo production.
Our Commitment to Foster Care
Russ and Lorie are also committed to working with children in the foster care system. They are certified foster parents and stay in touch with their past placements. Russ is a Court Appointed Special Advocate/ Guardian Ad Litem (CASA/GAL). CASA is the children’s voice in court that are in state care that have been removed from their home due to abuse or neglect. Their motivation to be involved in foster care is to have the children in a safe, caring and loving environment and to have timely resolution to a permanent home. Russ cares passionately about these children and wants to work to greatly improve the foster care system for the best interest of the child.
Our Service
Russ serves on several agriculture boards, including: Western Triangle Ag Research Center, Montana Fertilizer Research Committee and Cascade County Farm Bureau. He is a strong supporter of 4-H and FFA because of their ability to train and empower our future leaders. Russ and Lorie are active in the Stockett Community Bible Chapel where Russ serves as a trustee.