“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.”
The question of succession weighs heavily on the mind of nearly every rancher: “Who will take over my ranch once I am gone?” According to the USDA, within the next two decades, approximately 70 percent of U.S. farming and ranching operations will confront this issue. While the next generation often assumes responsibility, this isn’t always the case, necessitating careful planning and arrangements to safeguard the operation into the future. For the late Louise Hanson, the original proprietor of the Hanson Ranch, a conservation easement emerged as a cornerstone of her estate planning.
On February 8th, nearly 150 guests came together at The Maker’s Son in Los Alamos, Santa Barbara County, for the annual Reunir with the Rangeland Trust. For the last five years, this event has served to connect new and old friends over the appreciation of the western lifestyle and preserving it in the region. The many hugs and share conversations that were had truly captured the spirit of this beloved gathering!
To demonstrate our boots on the ground conservation efforts, the Rangeland Trust and local prospective ranching partner, Rick Taggard, welcomed 60 guests on February 10th to the Lone Oak Springs Ranch in Santa Maria, Calif. The event followed our annual “in-town” event, Reunir, which took place on February 8th at The Maker’s Son in Los Alamos.
The California Rangeland Trust today announced that Carolyn Carey has been elected to chair of the Board of Directors. Carey will work closely with the Rangeland Trust board and staff to protect the state’s working landscapes and a way of life for California ranchers.
A magical piece of Arroyo Grande history has a new owner! Longtime home of the late legendary horsewoman, Sheila Varian, the 150-acre Varian Arabians Ranch, which is nestled amongst the rolling hills off Corbett Canyon Road, was the birthplace of some of the best Arabian horses in the world. Now, the torch has been passed to two-time Olympic athlete, Simon Arkell, who is rising up to take on the new challenge as ranch owner. The Olympic pole vaulter and his wife, Caprice, have high hopes to continue the amazing ranch legacy.
The California Rangeland Trust recently commemorated 25 years of keeping ranchers ranching and conserving the Golden State’s working lands at A Western Affair 2023. While celebrating the fruits of its labor, the weekend was spent honoring the achievements of the past, celebrating the bounty of agricultural goods and services provided by the land, enjoying good company and pasture-to-plate flavors, and looking ahead to all that is possible for the future.
The California Rangeland Trust is pleased to announce the conservation of the Sans Topo Ranch in San Benito County, Calif. The 4,500-acre conservation easement was completed with funding from the Wildlife Conservation Board and United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), with support from USFWS Ventura Fish & Wildlife Office (VFWO), California Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW), and San Benito Working Landscapes Group.
What an incredible year we’ve had at the Rangeland Trust! Coming off the heels of the pandemic, we renewed our commitment to work harder than ever and closer than ever. And the results are a beautiful representation of what can be accomplished when we rally together in support for the land, people, and wildlife of our great state. But don’t just take our word for it…
Friends gathered to celebrate the conservation of the Sheila Head Ranch on October 28th! In 2020, Sheila Head made the decision to partner with the Rangeland Trust to conserve her 537-acre coastal ranch along Highway 1 in Bodega Bay, CA.
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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