Author: Alyssa Rolen

SCOTT THOMPSON IN MEMORIAM​

Scott Alan Thompson was born on March 10, 1957, in Eagle Rock, California, to George and Nancy Thompson. He was the oldest of five children: Keith, Alicia, Christine, and Wayne. Scott grew up in the San Bernardino Mountains and graduated from Rim of the World High School in 1975. He married Patti Goodwin on October 6, 1984, and together, they raised a beautiful family which includes children: Tonya, Ashly, Teagan, Taylor, and Connor; their spouses: Adam, Daniel, Jennie, and Olivia; and their grandchildren: Ava, Saydee, Kodi, Wyatt, Cash, Waylon, Luke, Walker, Urijah, JJ, Rafe, and Kenley.

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CONSERVING YOUR LEGACY RECAP​

On June 5th in San Luis Obispo, the California Rangeland Trust hosted the first of a series of succession planning workshops titled, “Conserving Your Legacy”. The workshop featured a collection of landowners and experts to discuss the crucial process of estate planning for ranching families.

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Your Voice, Everyone’s Future​

Every year, the Rangeland Trust Staff and Board visit various parts of the state to engage with conservation partners, landowners, peers, supporters, and community leaders to understand what’s important and relevant in the places where we work.

Since it’s hard for our team to set foot in all 58 counties of this beautiful state, we also aim to open channels for you to reach out to us and let us know what’s on your mind. Sometimes this is encouraged through surveys, donation forms, or often just through our website. The point is, we love to hear from you!

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SILACCI RANCH: KEEPING BEEF ON THE PLATE​

In the Salinas Valley of California, known as the “Salad Bowl of the World”, a local ranching family is helping to ensure that there will always be protein on the plate.

For over 140 years, the Silacci family has called the Valley home – beginning when patriarch Bautista Silacci immigrated to Monterey County. After living in Moss Landing in the early 1880s, he decided to move inland to Salinas to work at a local dairy. In 1887, seizing an opportunity to establish roots on the land and in the industry, he purchased the dairy. Together, he and his family raised dairy cattle and cultivated various crops, contributing to the Valley’s notorious bounty.

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Empty Saddles

These past few months, we have lost many friends of the organization to the rangelands in the sky. We remember them here and forever in the lands they fought to protect.

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3 Great Ways to Give from Your IRA

Robin Flournoy chose to help further the California Rangeland Trust’s mission by listing the Rangeland Trust as a beneficiary of her retirement account. Many other donors have also made charitable gifts through their IRAs as a way to reduce tax liability on their heirs. Here are some ways that you can use your own IRA to help a cause you care about, while also reducing the tax bill for you and your next generation.

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Share in the Experience of Conserving Lone Star Ranch

A century ago, the purchase of the Lone Star Ranch was sealed with a transaction of five gold coins. For five generations, the family stewarding this ranch has learned so much from the land and enhanced their care to align with the unique ecosystems here. Now, ranch owners, Mark and Dina Moore, are seeking the next step: permanent conservation of the Lone Star Ranch.

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Photo of Robin Flournoy performing a sliding stop on her horse.

Opening the Gate to Giving Back: Robin Flournoy’s Story

“As long as you could get on and off your horse and open a gate, you were working!”

Robin Flournoy cherishes memories of growing up in beautiful Portola Valley, where she became rooted in the traditions of ranching and its Western heritage. “I knew I wanted to be involved with this for the rest of my life.”

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