Honoring a Legacy: Dotty Ballantyne Receives Lifetime Service Award
Lifetime Service Award recipient Dotty Ballantyne, former GVLT Executive Director and current Board member Penelope Pierce, and current GVLT Executive Director Chet Work.
At our recent Field Day event, we were delighted to honor Dotty Ballantyne with the GVLT Lifetime Service Award.
Former GVLT Executive Director and current Board member Penelope Pierce presented the award, praising Dotty’s profound impact.
“It is an honor and a pleasure for me to present you with this richly deserved GVLT Lifetime Service Award,” said Penelope. “You have a great friend, champion, and ambassador to GVLT for nearly 30 years.”
A Commitment to the Land
Dotty's relationship with GVLT began in the late 1990s as she sought to permanently protect her beautiful 110-acre property in Paradise Valley.
“People would stop on Highway 89 to paint and take pictures of Emigrant Peak,” Dotty recalls. “It was the most beautiful place, and I wanted it to stay that way forever.”
Following a neighbor's advice, she partnered with GVLT to place a conservation easement on the land, ensuring generations to come can continue to enjoy the stunning open land.
"The whole experience with GVLT was wonderful, and I felt so good about preserving the beauty. It gave me a huge feeling of peace to know it would always be that way."
Dotty's was only the seventh GVLT project in Park County. Since then, GVLT has partnered with landowners to conserve 14 additional properties in the area.
A Tireless Ambassador
Dotty’s commitment didn't end with her easement. She has been a loyal donor since 1999 and was invited to join GVLT’s Board in 2006, where she served for 12 years.
"I have been involved with GVLT for so long, and it's been an important part of my life," shares Dotty. "I believe strongly in the mission."
While her easement, her donations, and her board service are her "tangible contributions," Penelope also emphasized the invaluable nature of her spirit.
"What’s less tangible, but just as important, is the heart that she has for this community, for GVLT, and for the land," Penelope noted. "She’s an inspiration to so many people who follow her lead."
From Open Space to Trails
Dotty’s passion for conservation started with protecting open space and keeping ranching alive. After moving to Bozeman and becoming a regular user of the Main Street to the Mountains trail system, she also became a fierce advocate for our trails.
"I could not live without Drinking Horse," she shares. "I walk on that three to four times a week, all year long. It’s my happy place. I know it so well. I see familiar faces and think, 'OK, I’m home.'”
An Indelible Impact
In conclusion, Penelope said, “Dotty is a true champion and ambassador of GVLT. Legacy isn’t your name on a plaque—it’s the impact you have on the community. Dotty has made an impact on the community that will last long after she’s gone. It’s indelible—the things that she’s done and how she’s shaped this valley.”
Dotty Ballantyne's decades of dedication to preserving scenic beauty, supporting the organization, and cherishing our trail system—make her a truly deserving recipient of the Lifetime Service Award. We thank her for her vision, her generosity, and her indelible legacy.