California Rangeland Trust Permanently Conserves 16,160 Acres of SkyRose Ranch

Sacramento, Calif – January 9, 2019 – SACRAMENTO—

California Rangeland Trust announces the permanent protection of an additional 4,987 acres of rangeland on SkyRose Ranch in Monterey County. Ranch owner B. Wayne Hughes, Jr. previously conserved 11,173 acres of the cattle ranch with the Rangeland Trust through a perpetual conservation agreement. Hughes’ donation of the additional acreage means that over 25 square miles of viable open landscape on the SkyRose Ranch will forever be protected from future development.

“SkyRose Ranch demonstrates the importance of caring for and serving the land, so it can serve the community in return,” said Nita Vail, Rangeland Trust CEO. “Conserving the ranch not only protects our shared resources—clean air to breathe, fresh water to drink, healthy food to eat, and beautiful open spaces to cherish— it also serves as a magical place for our nation’s servicemen to find restoration and hope. It is an honor to have partnered with Mr. Hughes and the SkyRose Ranch on this project to conserve this magnificent working landscape.”
SkyRose Ranch is a working cattle operation planted on pasture land with rolling hills, open grasslands, and irrigated farmland. Known for its exceptional ranch-raised and grass-fed beef, cattle are never injected with implants, hormones, or antibiotics. The land is preserved through intensive soil-improvement practices and land restoration efforts using managed cattle grazing. These management activities further improve the long-term health of the land, while benefiting wildlife and livestock that reside on the ranch. Beyond maintaining critical habitat for wildlife, SkyRose Ranch also serves as a restorative retreat for veterans. The not-for-profit, Serving California, was founded in 2013 by Hughes and facilitates various programs for veterans who want to rebuild their lives. SkyRose Ranch is a powerful establishment in that it simultaneously contributes to California’s economy in maximizing water resources, restoring habitat, and serving veterans. California Rangeland Trust and SkyRose Ranch further their commitment to preserving critical open spaces that contribute to its community and California at large.

“Stewarding this piece of land and maintaining a viable working landscape that supports wildlife and livestock is what this ranch is all about,” said Hughes. “Partnering with the Rangeland Trust to establish a perpetual conservation agreement ensures that this land will never be developed, allowing us to continue these practices for the community and for future generations.”
Approximately 62 percent of all open space in California is private rangeland. Private rangeland benefits local communities by contributing to the clean air and water, local food supplies, and viewsheds across the Golden State. California Rangeland Trust works with ranches such as SkyRose to ensure their working lands remain pristine habitat for wildlife and continue to produce healthy food and contribute to the local economy.

California Rangeland Trust is a non-profit 501c3 organization headquartered in Sacramento, California. Dedicated to conserving open space, natural habitat and stewardship provided by California’s ranches, the organization has 20 years of impact on California’s quality of life and open land. It has permanently protecting nearly 330,000 acres of rangeland, providing clean air and water, vibrant habitat for wildlife, and healthy foods that benefit all Californians.