What Fort Worth Leaders Learned in Bozeman
When the Fort Worth Forum selected Bozeman, Montana, for our inaugural Seminar trip, I was not sure what to expect. Why were so many people moving there, and what could Fort Worth leaders learn from a community so different in size and setting?
We quickly understood the attraction.
Bozeman was one of the most down-to-earth, beautiful, and vibrant cities I had visited. Yellowstone National Park offered an experience that felt almost spiritual. But the trip was not simply about scenery. It gave us an opportunity to examine how a growing community thinks about identity, land, culture, and leadership.
We learned about Bozeman’s approach to protecting green space and the importance of preserving Indigenous culture. Participating in my first smudging ceremony made that conversation personal rather than theoretical. We also explored how empathy can shape leadership and public decision-making.
Learning trips are valuable because they interrupt familiar thinking. Leaders can become so accustomed to local systems and assumptions that alternatives become difficult to see. Visiting another community creates space to ask why something works differently and whether the underlying principle could strengthen our own work.
The goal is not to copy Bozeman. Fort Worth has a different history, population, economy, and landscape. The value comes from returning home with better questions about growth, belonging, stewardship, and the experiences we want residents to have.
Special thanks to Mayor Terry Cunningham, City Manager Chuck Winn, Bonnie Sachatello-Sawyer, Matt Parsons, Ash Tallmadge, Susan Denson-Guy of the Emerson Center for the Arts & Culture, and Dr. Walter Fleming for their hospitality and insight.
If you want an outstanding outdoor destination, Bozeman belongs on the list. If you want leadership lessons, pay attention while you are there.
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