Project LEAP Spotlight: Talvin Champ

The 2026 Project LEAP season will soon return from a short break, and in the meantime, we’re continuing our spotlight series of past awardees! Our first feature took us to sunny Oklahoma, and now we go to the big sky state of Montana, where we meet Talvin Champ, a member of the Blackfeet Tribe. Talvin’s application demonstrated his in-depth knowledge of Indian agriculture, especially relating to cattle. He spoke of how happy he is being part of his family’s everyday ranch life in Cut Bank. In his application, he shared with us:

“Agriculture is not only about feeding the world, but also a way for me to connect to the outdoors and carry on the traditions that I have learned from my elders and the original cattle ranchers of the Blackfeet Reservation.”

Talvin applied for Project LEAP to seek assistance with the initial payment on his cow loan, which he used to purchase five bred heifers. He takes great pride in helping with every aspect of his family’s operation, such as branding, calving, and shipping.

Photos provided by Talvin and family during his Project LEAP award year.

“Branding day is my absolute favorite. I love that the whole day is busy with gathering, sorting, roping and branding,” he said. Talvin also loves getting to work on his roping and horsemanship skills while tagging calves in the spring during calving season.

Along with ranching, Talvin also participates in agriculture classes and programs at his school, including horsemanship and agriculture science. His class was recently involved in the “Minii (Berry) Project” where they planted over 100 native berry bushes and trees on their school campus. Outside of class, Talvin is part of the high school rodeo team, is a varsity wrestler, and also serves as music director for high school basketball games.

“My long-term goal is to continue my family’s legacy of being a cattle rancher. After college, I plan to come home to the family ranch and ranch with my parents and grandparents,” he says of his future plans.

Talvin’s story highlights the significance of youth leading their own funded projects, as it allows them to identify, explore, and reflect on their passions and professional development. Youth know best what their families and communities need, and their perspectives are vital for all conversations on Indian agriculture. Through Project LEAP, the Intertribal Agriculture Council is able to directly support the endeavors of Indian Country’s youth as they carry out their projects from start to finish.

Project LEAP will reopen applications on July 1st. Watch our social media channels or sign up for our e-newsletter. We’ll make an official announcement when the application portal is live again. With support from the Native American Agriculture Fund and Newman’s Own Foundation, Project LEAP will continue to offer $500 awards to help youth grow their skills and take the next step in agriculture, natural resources, and food systems.

To learn more about IAC's Youth Program, visit us at indianag.org/youth.