
Season 2 Episode 7: Honoring Western Culture
In this new episode of Tuned in to the Land, we are joined by a five-time National Finals Rodeo (NFR) steer wrestling champion and recent Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer, Luke Branquinho.
In this new episode of Tuned in to the Land, we are joined by a five-time National Finals Rodeo (NFR) steer wrestling champion and recent Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer, Luke Branquinho.
25 years ago, the California Rangeland Trust was born out of need— a need to keep ranchers on the land and a need to keep working lands productive in California.
The year was 1997— land prices were rising, taxes were becoming more burdensome, and the threat of development loomed over California’s rangelands. Feeling the pressures, some ranchers got out of the business altogether, while others moved across state lines to continue their operations. It seemed like the sustainability of California’s ranching industry was in jeopardy.
Gate-getting is like a right of passage in the ranching industry. Whether you were sitting in the passenger seat, you were the youngest in the vehicle, or you drew the short straw for the day, we have all been there. But, gate-getting doesn’t stop after the gate is latched. Though there’s the literal meaning of opening the gate to get you where you need to go, it can also mean opening up opportunities for others.
May is Wildfire Awareness Month.
As Californians, we are all too aware of wildfires and the destruction they inflict upon on our local communities, people, and the land. Each year, it seems like wildfire season extends longer and longer, burning millions of acres. In 2021 and 2022 alone, over 3 million acres of land burned in California displacing people, wildlife, and livestock, alike. That’s why it’s important that we look at prevention through tools like grazing and prescribed fire.
Our landowner partners represent the heart and soul of the Rangeland Trust. Because of their admirable decisions to conserve their ranches, California will always have places available for local food to be grown, air to be cleansed, freshwater to flow, wildlife to roam, and spectacular viewsheds to be admired.
In this episode, Michael is joined by landowner partner, Alisha Taff. Alisha is the owner of the Rock Front Ranch in the Cuyama Valley in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties.
Today is National Ag Day where we get to celebrate the land, its bounty, and those who steward it. And on top of that, it’s also Women’s History Month. How befitting is it that National Ag Day converges with this month-long celebration of women’s achievement, especially given the multitude of hats, leadership roles, and essential responsibilities women have held for generations in family farming and ranching operations?
Richard and Sharon Kline, current owners of Rancho San Lorenzo, were “city folk” by circumstance, but they are ranchers by choice.
Despite their urban upbringings, each held an appreciation for agriculture and the western way of life, and it was this shared appreciation that brought them together over 38 years ago.
What does “sustainability” mean, and why does it matter for the future of the beef industry?
In this episode of Tuned in to the Land, Michael sits down with Dr. Samantha Werth, Executive Director for the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef and Senior Director of Sustainability for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, to discuss what sustainability means, how the beef industry is achieving environmental, economic, and social sustainability, and the U.S. Roundtable’s work to advance sustainability throughout the the beef value chain.
The California Rangeland Trust is 25 and to celebrate this momentous occasion we brought back our good friend and current board chair Mr. Andy Mills for our Season 2 premiere of Tuned in to the Land!
Together, Michael Delbar and Chad Ellis, CEO of the Texas Agricultural Land Trust, go over each state’s ecosystem services research and the subsequent markets that come from those services that serve as incentives for our landowner partners.
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.
Privacy Policy & Terms of Use.
© 2020 California Rangeland Trust. All Rights Reserved.
Developed by Go West Marketing.