Jim Uphaus Throws Hat in Ring for Commissioner Seat

Amongst the seven candidates campaigning for a shot to take on the Valley County Commission seat being vacated by the retiring Bruce Petersen is Jim Uphaus. Uphaus sat down with the Courier to talk about his experience, his motivation for running and why he thinks he is the best person for the job.

A Valley County native, Uphaus was born into a fourth-generation ranching family in Valley County. After graduating from Glasgow High School, he attended Helena Vo-Tech before returning home and begin work ranching. Uphaus described the time saying, "I came home and went to work as a ranch hand for various outfits in Valley County."

Uphaus explained that he has always owned cattle thoughout his adult life as a member of the Whittmayer Grazing Association, and that he held a membership until he sold it to buy the family ranch. Now he operates a 150 head angus outfit, which he says he just purchased last January.

Like many ranchers, Uphaus has supplemented ranching with a second job, and since 2012, he has worked in the County Road Department as a heavy equipment operator. Uphaus said he started mowing under Wayne Waarvik until he earned his commercial driver's license and took on heavy machinery.

Uphaus' motivation for running is to take his knowledge and experience, both in the road department and as a rancher, to the commission. He also described his knowledge of Valley County as a plus stating, "I know everybody in Valley County." He also added that the sense of community in the County was also a motivation for running, "It don't matter if your from Oswego or Opheim or any corner of Valley County, we take care of our people. It is all about agriculture and rural values. And, if we lose that, these little towns are going to really dry up."

Uphaus transitioned from agriculture and the rural way of life into commenting on the American Prairie Reserve's management of bison. "They need to manage their heard," said Uphaus adding, "We need somebody to figure it out. How to work with them."

In closing, Uphaus stated that his strongest motivation for running, "We need to take care of the people of Valley County. The vets, the sick, and so on, and I'd like to take care of the people of Valley County."

The statewide primary election will be held June 5. Of the seven candidates for commissioner, the two who receive the most votes will progress to the general election to be held on Tuesday, Nov. 6. However, voters will only be able to vote for one candidate in the primary election.