Ep. 78 – The Case for Agritourism in Montana with Mike Sullivan of Longview Lavender Farm

Mike Sullivan planted lavender in Northwest Montana and lost it all. Twice. What kept him going is a story about more than farming.

At Longview Lavender Farm in the Flathead Valley, Mike turned a stubborn specialty crop into a thriving agritourism business, one that creates local jobs and keeps farmland open. We talk about how he cracked the code on Montana's soil and climate, why direct-to-consumer beats commodity farming, and how lavender becomes everything from essential oils to fire starters.

But the bigger conversation is about land. The conversation widens to land use and community impact: growth pressures, zoning, and why agritourism can help smaller farms compete when farmland prices make commodity agriculture harder to justify.

If you care about sustainable agriculture, rural economies, or what it takes to keep agriculture part of the Flathead Valley’s identity, this podcast is for you.

Longview Lavender Farm: https://www.longviewlavenderfarm.com/