Long time AGAI Board member, Al Lien, died on February 20, 2020. Al was generous with his knowledge and his time in sharing our agricultrual heritage, representing ag producers in the Gallatin Valley and mentoring anyone, of any age, interested in agriculture. Besides being an AGAI Board member, Al was president of the West Gallatin Canal, a member of the Gallatin County Fair Board, and participated in numerous public forums such as Bozeman’s Integrated Water Resource Plan.

Former Bozeman Mayor, Carson Taylor, called Al a “frank and thoughtful council.” In 2017, Carson gave Al the key to the City of Bozeman for “his knowledge sharing, patience, and devotion to the larger community- urban and rural.” Montana Time Arts benefited fro his deep, booming voice explaining water movement in “FLOW” and the voiceover explaining water rights in the “Gabriel Ditch” presentations. Al was instrumental in the invention of the “snowbug”, a precursor of the snowmobile at the MSU Experiment Station. The snowbug was developed to reach the snotel sites in the Gallatin and Bridger ranges that record winter snowpack. Before, it had all been done on snowshoes or skis.

Anyone who encountered Al left with an indelible memory of the encounter. In any conversation with Al, you had his full, unwavering attention and he demanded your full engagement as well. He was impatient with those who said, “I can’t.” Why? Because they hadn’t even tried yet.

The Association of Gallatin Agricultural Irrigators established an account at Stockman Bank in Manhattan to collect donations for a Memorial Scholarship fund in Al’s name. To donate, please visit our Al Lien Scholarship page.