Montana Wild in Forsyth, Montana
Tucked into the rolling hills of eastern Montana, thirty miles from the nearest town, lies Flat Top Ranch—a stretch of 1,200 acres where mountains meet prairie under an open sky. Since 2005, Garrett Grefe and his father have tended this land, continuing a legacy that binds them to both the Crow people and the homesteaders of the early 1900s. Over the years, the ranch has withstood cattle, drought, and the harsh silence of Montana winters, its character shaped by the unhurried rhythms of the seasons and the generations that have cared for it.
In 2019, a new chapter unfolded as Montana Wild emerged—not through conventional cultivation, but through a quiet recognition and respect of the land’s own offerings. Echinacea angustifolia, growing wild across the prairie, became the heart of this venture. Garrett sought and achieved Certified Organic status, undertaking the slow and careful work of harvesting and restoring this native herb. His approach is rooted in farming philosophies that honor the terrain, opting for minimal intervention. Flat Top Ranch operates under no-till, regenerative, biodynamic, and organic practices, where the land sets the pace, and reverse rotational grazing nourishes the soil—soil that once supported bison and still provides sustenance for many heads of cattle.
Garrett’s intuition for agriculture fuels his promise for offering high-quality, affordable organic herbal products to his community while expanding his business and strengthening his bond with the ranch. Tending to and harvesting Echinacea angustifolia is not a pursuit for the restless; the road is long, and success is measured in years, not seasons. Garrett finds that the best echinacea grows wild, untamed, and deliberate—its roots, like his commitment to the land, anchoring with time and patience.
