Powder River Examiner -

Courtesy Forward Montana Foundation

Jaeger Held, 18, grew up on a ranch in Powder River County, Montana, and since age 8, has volunteered hundreds of hours at the Powder River Historical Museum and on behalf of the Montana Historical Society. As the Historian of the Montana Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, he has acquired headstones for U.S. soldiers buried in unmarked graves across Montana and is the co-author of a 527-page report for the American Battlefield Protection Program of the National Park Service on the Battle of Powder River of March 17, 1876. He is a trustee of the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame and served as a legislative aide and page for the Montana Legislature in 2017 and 2019. He has studied at Harvard University, Montana State University-Billings, and Rocky Mountain College and is attending Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania with a major in History and minor in Civil War Era Studies.

Jaeger is now being honored as one of Montana's Top 25 Under 25.

BOZEMAN, MT -- Twenty-five Montanans under the age of twenty-five will be honored at Forward Montana Foundation's annual Williams' Effect event in Bozeman, MT on September 21st, 2019. For the last four years, Forward MT Foundation has recognized the determination, innovation, and service of twenty-five young leaders across the state who are creating positive change in their communities. Their leadership is highlighted as a way of honoring the ripple effect that Pat and Carol Williams have had on young leaders in Montana during their decades in public service.

"Now more than ever, young people need to know that their vision and dedication to making Montana a stronger, brighter, and more equitable place is valued by their peers and the broader community," said Rachel Huff-Doria, Forward MT Foundation Executive Director. "That's why Forward MT Foundation is excited to recognize the leadership of young people through our annual Williams' Effect weekend."

The young Montanans being recognized hail from Wolf Point to Whitefish, working on issues such as economic development, suicide prevention, agriculture, sexual assault and relationship violence, and conserving Montana's watersheds.

"Young people are doing the work on climate change, gun violence, racial justice, and so much more. It's work that is gritty, often thankless, and definitely makes people uncomfortable and mad," said Liz Darnell, a 2018 25 Under 25 award winner. "When I got this award and got to meet other young people who were doing the work, too, I saw that I was part of a community of young people who are putting their passions into action. This award helped me recognize that the work we have done and are doing is valued and important."

Young people were nominated by someone in their community and the twenty-five awardees were chosen by the 25 Under 25 Selection Committee. Selection Committee members include Congressman Pat Williams, Montana Senator Carol Williams, Whitney Williams, Secretary Linda McCulloch, Mary Stranahan, Commissioner Don Seifert, Dani Howlett, Hannah Pate, and Terry Bradley.

Forward MT Foundation is a statewide non-profit organization that organizes, educates, and engages young people in the political process, in order to shape their democracy to improve their lives and the lives of their fellow Montanans.

The annual Williams' Effect kicks off on Saturday, September 21st with a two-day Montana Youth Organizing Summit at the Bozeman Event Space, 14 S. Tracey Ave in downtown Bozeman. The 25 Under 25 Award Ceremony will be held after day one of the Summit at the Baxter Hotel from 6:30 to 8:30pm.