History

Welcome to the Terra Western Associates website. This section will give you background on our company and its primary associates.

After 20 years as an independent appraiser, and independent contractor to other companies, Kim Colvin established Terra Western Associates in Bozeman, Montana in 2005. In the 1980's the general appraisal industry began to be extensively regulated and appraisers have been held to higher and higher standards ever since. Because of the liability involved in the appraisal world many older, more seasoned, rural appraisers are not willing to take on appraiser trainees and with this fact the number of rural appraisers has begun to dwindle. Due to the lack of new appraisers the base of appraisers in many states is becoming smaller and smaller. Terra Western Associates was formed to give our clients a choice in appraisal companies and appraisers. Through our associations we can deliver timely, high quality, reports in many areas around Montana and Wyoming. To date, our associates have 85 years of combined experience in the appraisal field. 

• Kim C. Colvin, MA, ARA - Kim is the President and founder of Terra Western Associates. She began her appraisal career at Security Pacific Bank in Visalia, CA. She was then associated with Sierra Western Agricultural Services, Inc. for seven years in Exeter, CA. In 1991 Kim moved to Montana to start a family and has been appraising rural properties in Montana and Wyoming for the past 20 years. She has performed a wide variety of rural appraisal assignments including large ranches, dairies, farms, USFS inholdings, and recreational properties. She also has 15 years of experience in the appraisal of conservation easements. Kim is certified general in Montana and Wyoming. Kim has also had her Montana real estate sales license since 1999. Kim sells ranch offerings through her brokerage office - ML Properties. You can find Kim's qualifications link at the top of this page.

• Kathleen (Katie) Rickett, ARA - Katie has 13 years of appraisal experience beginning in Colorado and extending to South Dakota in her early years. She then worked for the United States Forest Service as an appraiser in Bozeman, Montana for seven years. She has been a full-time associate of Terra Western Associates since fall 2007. Katie specializes in Yellow Book Appraisals (Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions) and horse facilities. Katie is certified general in Montana. You can find Katie's qualifications link on the menu located at the top of this page.

• Janet L. Urlacher, ARA - Janet has been an rural real estate appraiser for 15 years and is a Montana native. She has been a part-time associate of Terra Western Associates since 2008. She specializes in ranches, recreational properties, and conservation easement donation appraisals. Janet lives in Billings, Montana and owns Ranch Appraisal Associates, LLC. She is certified general in Montana. Janet can be reached at 406.855.1727.

• Rick Six - Rick Six's home base is Worland, Wyoming. Rick is a certified general appraiser in Wyoming. He has been an associate of Terra Western Associates since 2006. Rick began his career in 1987 with Farm Credit Services. After working there until 1999 he left the company to start his own fee appraisal business, Six Appraisal Services, Inc. Rick has over twenty years experience in the appraisal of rural real estate in northern, central, and southwestern Wyoming. Along with his appraisal company he and, his wife Danyen, run a small farming operation in Worland. Rick specializes in large ranch and recreational properties. Rick can be reached at 307.347.3906.

• Sally Indreland - Sally holds a residential appraisal license in Montana. After many years in the real estate sales industry Sally turned her expertise towards residential and rural residential appraisal. She calls Big Timber, Montana her home and operates under the name of Sally Indreland Appraisals, LLC. Sally performs residential appraisals on a referral basis for Terra Western Associates in Sweet Grass, Park, Wheatland, and Stillwater Counties. Sally can be reached at 406.930.2232 or 406.932.6658.