Meet Our B Bar Family

El is in her 29th year at B Bar. Originally from the East Coast, El earned her degree in Health Education. Before joining B Bar, she worked in Yellowstone Park for 10 years as a manager and a health educator in a hospital setting. At B Bar, she has held various roles, including Guest Ranch Coordinator, Housekeeper, Office Administrator, and Ranch Administrator.

El and her husband, Tom, raised their children in Gardiner, Montana. Their children now reside in the Boston area and Northern Montana. In addition to her work, El serves on a local church board, manages a vacation rental, volunteers in the community, enjoys Nordic skiing, and loves to cook and read.

Amy grew up in Kansas, where she met her high school sweetheart, who eventually swept her away to Montana in 2014. After managing an outdoor adventure company in Gardiner for six years, Amy fell deeply in love with the area and all the ways to explore it. The B Bar Ranch and Tom Miner Basin were always her top recommendations for guests traveling the region, and in 2019, she had the opportunity to join the team!

In her free time, Amy enjoys fly-fishing, hiking, rafting, and embarking on adventures with her husband, Kenney (B Bar’s maintenance foreman), and their three dogs, Bella, Beans, and Bluey.

Growing up in Kansas, Kenney enjoyed annual vacations at his family’s cabin, just across the drainage from B Bar Ranch. The cabin was built in the 1980s. In 2013, he brought his now-wife, Amy, to Montana, and she fell in love with the state. Within a year, they found jobs and relocated here. Kenney worked as a river raft guide and manager and also pursued carpentry and building projects before joining B Bar. His interests include woodworking, fishing, road trips with friends, and carpentry. Kenney and Amy live in Tom Miner Basin with their three dogs, Bella, Beans, and Bluey.

Mark, a third-generation Montanan, has dedicated his life to agriculture. Married to Maria, they have two sons, Cayden and Taylor. Don’t be surprised if you see Cayden and Taylor lending a hand on the ranch alongside Mark this summer!

Jackson, a native of Topsfield, Massachusetts, a small town north of Boston, grew up visiting his grandmother, Maryanne, at B Bar Ranch. Accompanied by his brother, Jackson is fulfilling a lifelong dream by working at the ranch. While he may not be cowboying as he initially envisioned, he’s utilizing his business degree from CU Boulder as the Marketing and Sales Manager.

Jackson’s favorite ways to experience B Bar include splitboarding (backcountry snowboarding) and hiking. He’s particularly fond of the Petrified Forest and the summit of Ramshorn Mountain. Jackson is a yoga teacher and is excited to lead guests in a practice this year!

Katie and Troy, both born and raised in a small Utah town, spent their formative years surrounded by extended family, horses, agriculture, and the beauty of the mountains. In his past life, Troy was a business owner, historic building restorer, and a PRCA rodeo clown. Katie, on the other hand, has a background as a teacher, fiber artist, mother, and member of a professional bagpipe band. The couple relocated to the Upper Yellowstone region in 2021 and have fallen in love with Montana. They share a passion for fine dining, thought-provoking conversations, outdoor adventures, and exploring the world by bicycle.

Born under the golden sun of San Juan, Puerto Rico, she grew up chasing waves, climbing mango trees, and wholeheartedly believing she might actually be a mermaid. Her early years were filled with barefoot adventures, beachside explorations, and an endless curiosity for the world around her.

At age eight, she moved to the U.S. with her single mom and older sister, who was off to chase a college dream of her own. Watching her mom cook — sharing family recipes with friends and neighbors — planted the first seeds of a lifelong love for food, flavor, and the magic of gathering around a table.

By fifteen, she had floured her hands and stepped into the sweet world of a family owned Swiss-German pastry shop. That experience sparked a deep appreciation for culinary craft, detail, and hospitality — a passion that led her from pastry cases to posh hotels. At the Ritz-Carlton, she delighted in helping guests create unforgettable memories as a club level concierge and magic maker.

Still, the call of the kitchen remained strong. She spent the next sixteen years immersed in culinary education and fine dining, working both in the heart of the house and out front — serving up experiences as much as meals.

A true nomad at heart, she’s lived in eight states and traveled to nearly every corner of the continental U.S. and hopes to add travel overseas to that list in the years to come. She’s currently back for a second season at B Bar, blending her love for service, food, and storytelling into every guest experience.

When not working, she’s likely painting, taking photos, writing, or marveling at the world with childlike wonder. A chronic hugger and natural encourager, she brings warmth, joy, and a touch of whimsy wherever she goes.

Hi, I’m Claire! I studied journalism in college because of my passion for storytelling and a life motto: lead with curiosity. I love learning new things, asking questions, and hearing what people are passionate about. I’ve found that listening and keeping an open mind yields opportunities to grow and connect to the world around us. I’ve always felt drawn to Montana because of its incredible wildlife and sprawling landscapes. This summer, I’m excited to spend my days outside, diving into classic Montana experiences like fly fishing and hiking in Yellowstone. In my free time, I write for my blog, photograph the world around me, and spend as much time outside as possible. I believe meaning lives in the small moments — and that noticing them is its own kind of storytelling.

From a young age Mihail was interested in where food came from and spent a great deal of time with a local ranch family that sold beef to his parents’ restaurant in Billings, Montana. In college he worked at ZooMontana while completing his degree in environmental studies and this is where he fell in love with ecology. After graduation he went on to work as the environmental restoration manager for Montana Audubon, charged with restoring an old gravel mine to various native ecosystems. At some point it became clear to him that the best use of his restaurant and ecology backgrounds was in raising food and when the opportunity to work at B Bar arose, he jumped at the chance. Mihail approaches agriculture with his ecology background and believes that without a healthy functioning ecosystem, you can’t raise high quality food. Throughout the last ten years he’s been able to learn a great deal about regenerative agriculture and see the results of these processes as he manages the day to day and beef production of the ranch. Ecosystems are in a constant state of flux and therefore one needs to be able to adapt their management to the present and future conditions.

Coquina, Bisou, and Hadley are often seen exploring the B Bar Ranch. If you’re lucky, these friendly dogs might even let you give them some love!

Catnis “Mouse Hunter.” Though her origins are a whiskered mystery, she found herself a home at B Bar. Catniss enjoys every meal and hiding in the garage loft.

Okie is the assistant top cat. While Okie may seem aloof at times, a perfectly timed can opener will gain her attention. She tolerates chin rubs with regal indifference and dispenses purrs like precious jewels, only to those deemed worthy.