Ranching families are an integral part of our communities throughout California. They feed us, steward our beautiful open spaces, and nurture the natural resources and wildlife on their lands. They also serve as local leaders contributing to the economic and social fabric of the places we call home. However, they are disappearing from the land.

Our hope for the future lies in the people who will carry forward our traditions – be that the next generation who chooses to stay on the ranch, admirers who have yearned for a life on the land, or those who have worked hard to return to the lands of their ancestors.

Their success lies in the boots on the ground knowledge of those that came before. In Santa Barbara, these vital roots are everywhere you look. It resonates from the architecture, the spirit of the people, and the commitment to protecting working lands.

At A Western Affair 2025, we will gather in the embrace of the past to honor what our forebearers achieved on these lands. Together, we break bread with those who will carry forward the traditions and heritage of the enduring West.