Under a nearly full harvest moon at Rancho Santa Barbara, more than 400 guests gathered on October 4 for A Western Affair 2025—an unforgettable evening celebrating California’s working lands and the ranching families who steward them. Set against the historic adobe buildings and rolling hills of this storied ranch, the event reflected the California Rangeland Trust’s enduring mission: to serve the land, people, and wildlife by conserving the Golden State’s working rangelands.
The evening began with a cocktail reception and silent auction held beneath a grand oak tree, with Lake Cachuma and rolling hills stretching softly into the distance. The setting sun cast a golden glow across the landscape as guests gathered to reconnect and raise a glass to the lands they love. Tables lined with Western specialty items and one-of-a-kind experiences filled the silent auction—handcrafted woodwork, fine art, exclusive getaways, and local wines—offering something for everyone to enjoy. Laughter and conversation carried through the crisp autumn air as friends new and old came together to kick off the night.
Just as the sun began to dip below the hills, guests took their seats for a mouthwatering steak dinner prepared by New West Catering, featuring Brandt Beef and paired with standout local wines from Barrel Burner, Butternut, Rancho Sisquoc, and Smashberry. Co-chairs Elizabeth Poett-Campbell and Austin Campbell, Richard and Sharon Kline, and hosts Lee and Julia Carr welcomed the sold-out crowd and spoke to the deeper purpose of the evening—honoring our shared ranching heritage and carrying forward the values of stewardship, resilience, and connection.
Across California, ranching families feed us, manage our open spaces, and nurture the wildlife and natural resources that sustain life. Their roots run deep, shaping not only the landscapes we cherish but also the communities we call home. On this night at Rancho Santa Barbara, that shared connection to the land and to one another was palpable.
Legacy Council member Lynn Kirst opened the program by recognizing the ranching families who have partnered with the Rangeland Trust to conserve their lands. “We quite literally could not conserve rangeland without your willingness, your vision, and your commitment to protecting these special landscapes,” she shared, drawing warm applause from across the gathering.
Kirst also thanked our many generous sponsors whose dedication made this celebration possible. Sponsors included: Hollencrest Capital Management, The Nature Conservancy, California Outdoor Properties, Farm Credit, Rancho Mission Viejo, Moulton Museum, Thorofare Capital, Nancy and Peter Jackson, North Fork Cattle Company, Westervelt Ecological Services, Farmers and Merchants Trust Company, The Cowpoke Fall Gathering, Western Skies Advisory, Boot Barn, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, Noozhawk, American Jerky Company, and La Paloma Ranch, Gaviota. From the delicious meal to the thoughtful touches throughout the venue, their contributions helped create a night that beautifully honored California’s ranching heritage and future.
Next, Kirst introduced Rangeland Trust CEO Michael Delbar, who reflected on the Trust’s growing reach and impact across California. “Santa Barbara has been a cornerstone of our work,” he noted, highlighting more than 17,000 acres conserved locally and several new projects underway. He also shared how the Rangeland Trust has made meaningful progress on the policy front by strengthening relationships with lawmakers to advance conservation funding and ensure private working lands are recognized for the public benefits they provide.
Delbar took a moment to acknowledge Assemblymember Gregg Hart for his leadership and continued support of rangeland conservation. “Our work at the Capitol has focused on building understanding that private ranchlands stewarded by ranching families are public assets, providing clean water, healthy soils, wildfire resilience, and essential natural resources that all Californians benefit from,” he said. “We’re proud to have champions like Assemblymember Hart who share that vision.”
The program turned reflective as Emeritus Council member Devere Dressler led an “Empty Saddles” tribute, a moving moment recognizing landowner partners, Visionaries’ Circle members, and close friends of the Rangeland Trust community who have passed since our last A Western Affair gathering.
Following the tribute, Emeritus Council member Steve Sinton presented this year’s conservation awards. The 2025 Conservationist of the Year Award was presented to Karen Sweet and her late husband, Darrel Sweet, whose leadership and advocacy have long advanced both ranching and conservation in California. Together, they placed their Alameda County ranch under a conservation easement with the Rangeland Trust, permanently protecting more than 360 acres of working rangeland. Since Darrel’s passing, Karen has carried forward their shared vision with strength and grace, continuing to steward the land and champion the importance of conserving working landscapes.
The 2025 Conservation Impact Award was presented to Sheila Barry, University of California Cooperative Extension Livestock and Natural Resources Advisor in the Bay Area. Through decades of research, education, and outreach, Sheila has bridged the gap between urban communities and working lands, helping the public understand the ecological and social value of grazing and rangeland stewardship. Her work has brought ranchers, conservationists, and communities together in shared commitment to the land.
As dessert was served and the first stars began to appear, Delbar welcomed to the stage former CEO and founding board member Nita Vail to the stage to share one of the evening’s greatest highlights: the announcement that the California Rangeland Trust has officially conserved its 100th ranch!
In keeping with staff tradition whenever a conservation project crosses the finish line, Vail rang a cowbell loud and proud, its joyful ring echoing through the evening air. “Each family who chooses to conserve is the heartbeat of this mission,” she said.
Delbar added, “These 100 ranches, spanning 30 counties and more than 420,000 acres, represent stories, families, and landscapes that will endure for generations.”
Following the milestone announcement, Legacy Council Chair Jessica Schley took the stage to read from her essay, “Beneath All is Land,” from the book, Roots and Resilience: California Ranchers in Their Own Words. Her heartfelt reflection on the loss of her family’s ranch offered a poignant reminder of the deep connection ranchers share with their land, and why the Rangeland Trust remains so committed to keeping ranchers ranching.
Understanding what’s at stake if we don’t continue to conserve these working rangelands, guests eagerly joined the effort by raising their paddles during the live auction. Taylor Glines, granddaughter of the late Jim Glines, a beloved community leader in Santa Barbara County and faithful supporter of the Rangeland Trust, led the auction in his honor with humor, heart, and the same magnetic charm her grandfather was known for. Thanks to the generosity of attendees and sponsors, the live auction raised an incredible $130,000 to support rangeland conservation across California.
As the program concluded, the celebration carried on under the glow of the moon as the James Kelly Band filled the cool Santa Ynez air with lively country tunes. Boots tapped, couples twirled, and laughter rose above the music. As guests departed beneath the stars, they carried with them the spirit of the evening—a shared commitment to protecting the land, honoring those who came before us, and ensuring that future generations can continue to live, work, and thrive on California’s rangelands.
A Western Affair 2025 was more than a celebration; it was a powerful reminder that when we come together in support of the land that connects us all, we secure a stronger, more resilient future for generations to come.
California Rangeland Trust is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization (tax identification number 31-1631453) under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
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