Between costly regulatory compliance, burdensome taxes, fluctuating markets, weather extremes, negative public perception, and squeezed profit margins, ranchers face challenges that often make it tough to stay in business. In the last episode of “Tuned into the Land”, we sat down with Senator Melissa Hurtado, Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, to discuss issues facing California Agriculture. This time around, we thought it would be fitting to share the perspective of one of our ranching partners.
In this episode, Michael Delbar, Rangeland Trust CEO and host, sits down with Kevin Kester, former President of the California Cattlemen’s Association, former President of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and a valued Rangeland Trust landowner partner. After receiving a hefty bill from the IRS following the death of a family member that threatened the future of their operation, the Kester family was able to pay off their debt and avoid selling off their ranch through the sale of a conservation easement on their Monterey County ranch. Since then, Kevin has served as an effective spokesperson for the ranching industry by sharing his story with policymakers at both the state and federal levels.
In this episode, Kevin shares with us his experiences as a fifth-generation rancher and advocate of the beef industry. Kevin knows the power that ranchers’ voices can have, and today we want to share his.
