California Rangeland Trust’s landowner partners help protect the state’s working lands every day through their stewardship and commitment to conservation. By conserving their ranches, they help ensure future generations can continue to work the land and care for it. To honor these partners, who represent both the organization’s history and its future, the Rangeland Trust hosted a Landowner Appreciation Dinner on Tuesday, June 2, in Esparto, CA.
Sponsored by Raley’s and Hollencrest Capital Management, the event welcomed nearly 100 ranchers, supporters, and friends to Yolo Land & Cattle Co., owned by the Stone family.
Ahead of the evening’s program, guests mingled over cocktails, before enjoying a classic barbecue dinner featuring mouthwatering tri-tip, potatoes, and seasonal vegetables.
Rangeland Trust Board Chairman Clayton Koopmann opened the program by welcoming attendees and reflecting on the people who make up the Rangeland Trust community. He described the organization and its landowner partners as a family connected by shared values, a deep appreciation for the land, and a common commitment that extends beyond individual property boundaries.
“I have to say, gatherings like this are my favorite part of what we do,” Koopmann said. “There’s something special about bringing together the ranchers, families, and partners who have shaped the Rangeland Trust into what it is today—and taking a moment to recognize the stewardship, hard work, and deep commitment that keep California’s working landscapes healthy, productive, and thriving for generations to come.”
Continuing a longstanding tradition, Koopmann rang a ceremonial cowbell to celebrate the conservation milestones achieved since the previous gathering. He announced that the organization has now partnered with 106 ranching families to conserve more than 433,000 acres of rangeland. Originally started by staff to mark the completion of each conservation project, the cowbell has become a symbol of the people, partnerships, and perseverance behind every protected ranch.
Koopmann then invited ranch hosts, Scott and Karen Stone, to the podium to share their family’s journey and conservation story. After Scott shared a brief history of the ranch, Karen delivered a message of resilience and hope, encouraging attendees to remain committed to the land and the values it represents despite the challenges facing agriculture today.
“As landowners, ranchers, and people of agriculture, we live our lives looking towards the light and continuing on even through difficult times,” Karen expressed. “More than anything we need to get people out on the land to understand what is being preserved and why it matters. They need to understand that most ranchers are not rich, most of us have two jobs and some of us have three. I truly believe that those of us that are staying on the land will have to work harder, educate more people, and continue fighting for this way of life.”
Following the Stones’ remarks, Rangeland Trust CEO Michael Delbar shared updates on the organization’s current conservation efforts and growing partnerships across the state. He also emphasized the work still ahead, noting that nearly 100 ranching families representing about 250,000 acres of rangeland are still awaiting funding to make their conservation easement dreams a reality.
“According to the USDA, nearly 5,000 acres of farm and ranch land across the country are lost every day to development and other uses,” Delbar said. “Here in California alone, we lose roughly 47,000 acres each year. Those numbers are a reminder of what is at stake—and why our momentum cannot slow.”
The evening also celebrated individuals whose contributions exemplify the Rangeland Trust’s mission.
Board director Bruce Hart announced Mike and Julie Sardella of the Sardella Ranch in Tuolumne County as the 2026 Conservationists of the Year. The award recognizes outstanding achievement in volunteer conservation by a private landowner. Since conserving their 500-acre ranch in 2013, the Sardellas have become passionate advocates for land conservation, generously sharing their knowledge and experiences with fellow ranchers and members of the public.
Accepting the award, Julie Sardella referenced a quote often attributed to Chuck Palahniuk: “The goal isn’t to live forever; the goal is to create something that will.” These words reflected their spirit of conservation and desire shared by so many ranching families to leave the land better for future generations.
Newly appointed board director Stan Van Vleck then presented the 2026 Conservation Impact Award to Dr. Frank Mitloehner, Director of the CLEAR Center and Chair of the Department of Animal Science at the University of California, Davis. Dr. Mitloehner is a leading voice in sustainable agriculture whose research has helped clarify and combat misinformation surrounding animal agriculture and climate change. Through his work at UC Davis, he has advanced practical, science-based solutions to reduce emissions while supporting a productive and sustainable food system.
Together, this year’s honorees exemplify the power of stewardship, science, and innovation to strengthen the future of California’s working rangelands.
To cap off the evening, Koopmann shared some of his original cowboy poetry celebrating the traditions, values, and deep-rooted heritage of ranch life. The evening closed with a sense of gratitude and shared purpose, a reminder that the heart of the Rangeland Trust lies in the land it protects and the ranching families who make that work possible.
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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