About Us

The Ranch Mart, Inc. was formed in 1977 as the ranch division of the Agency, a real estate brokerage company started in Billings, Montana in 1959. The corporation was held with a 50% interest by Jim Espy and W.W. Madding until March of 2003 at which time Jim Espy became the sole owner. Jim Espy has been a Realtor since 1977 and has sold and listed properties in 27 counties of Montana and North and South Dakota.   Jim Espy was ranch raised in Carter and Powder River Counties, Montana attended Montana State University and graduated Sol Ross University of Texas with a Bachelor of Science in Range Animal Science in 1970. Over the years, ranch experience was gained as owner and lessee on several large operations in Southeastern Montana.  Real Estate experience is not limited to rural properties.   Jim Espy has sold commercial, residential and business properties and developed numerous subdivisions. In the early years rodeo and team roping held top priority along with big game and bird hunting.

For 15 years Jim Espy was president of Yellowstone Downs and managed the largest race horse track in Montana , as a part time race horse trainer and married to the only woman (Kym Espy) leading Jockey at Billings, Montana.  Now its grand kids, cows, team roping and golf!!

Marc Shaules became a Realtor in 2006.  Marc was raised in Yellowstone County and graduated from Central High School in Billings in 1984.  Third generation ranch raised on the family ranch on Arrow Creek, he grew up in the business of raising cattle, hay and wheat.   Marc and his wife Michele lease the family ranch and raise cattle with their two teenage sons Sam and Kendall. Marc and Michele are kept busy with the ranch operation, high school sports and the real estate business. Learn more at  www.marcshaules.com.

Nate Kraft has been licensed since 2013.  Nate has a small irrigated farm in the Huntley area and pasture land east of Billings.  He has extensive experience as a Federal Crop Insurance Adjuster in Montana and other states.  Nate Kraft also is a general contractor and built and remodeled homes in Big Sky, Big Timber and Billings.  He still finds time to spend many days afield for hunting and fishing.

Nate can be reached at 406 208 1599

Nate is also a crop insurance agent with Crop 406 Insurance.

www.crop406.com

Kent Murdock has been licensed in real estate since 2005 concentrating on farm and ranch sales.  Kent has 25 years of agricultural experience in irrigated farming, dry land farming, custom farming and the cattle industry.  He owns and operates a combination Farm/Ranch near Lodge Grass, MT.

Kent is a family man with four grown children and two grand kids.  His son and youngest daughter are college athletes.                                                                   406 679 0667

lgrancher@gmail.com

Edward Weidenbach has been licensed since the beginning of this year 2019. Edward graduated from Montana State University in 2018 with a degree in Animal Science Livestock Management and Industry. During his time at Montana State University in Bozeman, MT Edward was an active member in the AGR fraternity Alpha Delta Chapter, a member in several agriculture in-depth clubs and worked for local farmers and ranchers there in Gallatin Valley. He is a fourth generation farmer working with he’s folks on their place in Miles City, MT that he helped them transition to from Washington.

Edward can be reached at 360 202 4480

Chris Holen was born and raised in Wolf Point, MT and graduated Wolf Point High School class of 1990.  He then attended college in Helena, Mt and received a degree in Diesel Technologies.  After college he returned home to run cows with his father, Robert Holen. In 1996 he married LaToya and they had three children, Christean, Lanie, and Cole. In 2019 they added a son-in-law to the family when Christean married Jared Rosaaen. Over the years the family has bought and sold Hell Creek Ranch in Jordan, MT where they ran cows and sheep for six years. They moved operations over to Fallon, MT for one year before purchasing Horse Creek Ranch in Circle, MT in 2012 where they are currently still operating. Along with their property along the Missouri River in Wolf Point, MT

Chirs likes to ride his Harley, golf, and spending time with his family in his spare time.