Tuned in to the Land

For many ranching families, the land is more than a place to work—it’s part of their identity, history, and family story. When that relationship with the land changes, the impact can last for generations.

In this episode, host and CEO of the Rangeland Trust Michael Delbar sits down with Nita Vail, a fourth-generation rancher who grew up on Santa Rosa Island, where her family ranched for nearly a century. Her journey from island ranching to state government, environmental policy, and helping lead the California Rangeland Trust has given her a unique perspective on the relationship between ranching and conservation.

Nita shares what it was like growing up on the island, what her family experienced when they left, and how that shaped more than two decades of work helping ranchers conserve and keep their land.

We talk about working lands, conservation, succession, and the importance of finding common ground, even when people don’t always see eye to eye.