California Rangeland Trust Honors Conservation Leaders at its Landowner Appreciation Dinner

SACRAMENTO, Calif.  (June 9, 2026) — The California Rangeland Trust honored remarkable leaders in land stewardship during its Landowner Appreciation Dinner, held on June 2nd at Yolo Land & Cattle Co. in Esparto, CA. The gathering brought together nearly 100 people, including many of the Rangeland Trust’s landowner partners, who have made the voluntary decision to permanently conserve their working rangelands and the environmental benefits those lands provide.

The 2026 Conservationist of the Year, presented annually to recognize extraordinary volunteer conservation achievement by a private landowner, was awarded to Mike and Julie Sardella of Sardella Ranch in Tuolumne County, California, in recognition of their lifetime dedication to ranching and an unwavering commitment to conservation. In 2013, the Sardellas permanently protected their remarkable 500-acre ranch, preserving its natural resources, open space, and agricultural heritage for future generations.

Through deep partnerships with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Point Blue Conservation Science, CAL FIRE, their local prescribed burn association, and others, the Sardellas have put innovative conservation practices to work on the ground. Just as important, they have also generously shared their knowledge, opening conversations with fellow ranchers, landowners, and the public about the value of stewardship and the impact conservation can have on working lands.

“Mike and Julie don’t just talk about leaving the land better than they found it—they live it every single day,” said Rangeland Trust CEO Michael Delbar. “They have embraced innovative conservation practices that strengthen their ranch while serving as a model for others; they are exactly the kind of people this award was created to honor.”

The 2026 Conservation Impact award honors an individual who has made a significant contribution to rangeland conservation in California outside of ranching. This year, the award was presented to Dr. Frank Mitloehner, Director of the CLEAR Center and Chair of the Department of Animal Science at the University of California, Davis. Known widely as the “Greenhouse Gas Guru,” Dr. Mitloehner has spent his career doing something increasingly rare: bringing scientific clarity to the ongoing debate on methane emissions in the animal agriculture industry. His research has cut through misinformation about climate and environmental sustainability with precision and credibility and, in doing so, has fundamentally reshaped how policymakers, industries, and the public understand the role of agriculture in our changing climate.

“Dr. Mitloehner’s work has reshaped the conversation, not just in California, but around the world,” said Delbar. “His research has informed efforts across the livestock and dairy industries to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions through improved manure management, methane-capture technologies, and other mitigation practices. He has demonstrated that science is most powerful when it connects the laboratory to the land. His findings have shaped policy, empowered ranchers, and moved us toward a more honest and effective approach to conservation.”

Together, this year’s honorees embody the values at the heart of the Rangeland Trust’s mission: serve the land, people, and wildlife by conserving California’s working rangelands. Their work demonstrates that when stewardship, science, and innovation come together, conservation, agriculture, and environmental stewardship can thrive for generations to come.