Tag: ranchers

Landscape photo of the Hanson Ranch showing mountains and range.

Hanson Ranch: Planning for the Future​

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.

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Getting our Boots on the Ground at the Lone Oak Springs Ranch

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.

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A Round of Applause for 2023

After 25 years of conserving rangeland, this year stands out for so many reasons. With the support of our ranching partners, donors, and friends, we’ve hit a lot of milestones. But don’t just take our word for it… Look at all you’ve helped us accomplish in 2023!

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Nakagawa Ranch: An Unwavering Spirit of Resilience

In the face of war, internment, and personal tragedy, the Nakagawa family has persevered. Their ranch, remaining as one of the last Japanese American-owned agricultural enterprises in the United States, stands as a symbol of their unwavering resilience. And though Yokichi, the family patriarch, has passed on, his indomitable spirit will continue to live on through the land and his family’s hearts forever.

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25 Years of Fighting for the Future by Keeping Ranchers Ranching

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.

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reflection of snow capped mountains in pond

2022 Year in Review

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…

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Resiliency Celebrated at Reunir 2022

On May 19, over 80 guests gathered at the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum in Santa Barbara County for our Reunir celebration. Friends, both new and familiar, had a great time connecting with one another and hearing from guest speakers Andy Mills, Rangeland Trust Chairman; Pam Doiron, Spanish Ranch Owner; and Sharyn Main, Climate Resilience Program Director for the Community Environmental Council, about how local rangelands and ranching families are adding to the resiliency of the iconic Santa Barbara region.

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Celebrating Our Ranching Roots

Celebrating Our Ranching Roots at A Western Affair 2021 October 29, 2021 by Alyssa Rolen Earlier this month, friends of the California Rangeland Trust gathered at A Western Affair 2021 to celebrate our state’s ranching roots and the pivotal role ranching plays in the growth of healthy communities. Few know

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