Distinctly Montana Magazine

58 D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R 2 0 2 5 As a private nonprofit, Teller's funding comes from a variety of sources. One-third of the budget stems from an endowment set up by Otto and Anne. The annual TnT Dinner and Auction brings in a significant chunk of money. Government grants and what Dan calls their "amazing donors" add to the pot. Rounding out the funding sources is the revenue that stems from weddings held at the Barn. A unique part of the refuge's history is Otto's restoration and preservation of two his- toric houses on the property, the Slack Home and Chaffin Home. These two families were the first to homestead in Corvallis. Over the years, Otto, the staff, and dedicated volunteers painstakingly restored, and continue to maintain, the properties so visitors can experience this landscape much like these families did in the mid-1800s. Each summer, the refuge is booked solid with weddings held inside, or in the field be- hind, the rustic yet beautiful Slack Barn offering guests stunning views of the Bitterroot Mountains. As part of the package, the wedding party has the luxury of staying in the historic homes. Heather Tellock jokes, "We own the land all the way to the river so you can be sure that no one is crashing your wedding." Income from events in turn benefits the refuge by helping them to focus on conserva- tion projects. Heather says, "The historic homes and weddings are a balance of generat- ing revenue while being a hub for the community and conservation-minded groups. It's nice to know we can provide this to our community while maintaining the properties' historic values, and the wedding parties appreciate that they also have a part in support- ing conservation." Teller now encompasses just under 1,300 acres consisting of three parts agricultur- al land, managed wetlands, and riparian, or riverfront, corridor. Dan holds no illusion that Teller can be restored to what it once was. The land has been too altered over the centuries, but he knows they can preserve what is here. They do this through a variety TELLER WILDLIFE REFUGE

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