RANGELAND TRUST TALK TIPPING OUR HATS TO CALIFORNIA RANGELAND TRUST’S RANCHING PARTNERS by Alyssa Rolen, communications director, California Rangeland Trust California Rangeland Trust’s landowner partners demonstrate the importance of protecting the state’s working landscapes in their words and actions every day. Through their decisions to voluntarily conserve their ranches, they are helping preserve the best of the Golden State for future generations. For that, the Rangeland Trust could not be more grateful. So, to honor and celebrate the landowner partners who represent the history, hard work, integrity, and resilient spirit behind the organization’s success, the Rangeland Trust hosted the inaugural Landowner Appreciation Dinner on Tuesday, June 21 in Rancho Murieta. Sponsored by California Outdoor Properties and held in conjunction with the California Cattlemen’s Association’s Midyear Meeting, the event welcomed nearly 80 landowner partners and friends to the Murieta Inn and Spa. Upon arrival, guests mingled over glasses of “trailblazers”— the Rangeland Trust’s whiskey-based signature drink aptly dubbed as a tribute to the incredible landowners and supporters who continue to blaze trails in conservation— and feasted on an exquisite spread of meats and cheeses that was almost too beautiful to eat. After catching up with one another, guests headed inside the hotel ballroom for dinner. Rangeland Trust Chairman, Andy Mills, kicked off the evening as emcee by welcoming friends and introducing the ranchers in attendance who partnered with the Rangeland Trust to conserve their properties. “Look around you and see that you are not alone in the commitment you’ve made,” Andy passionately stated. “You are part of a community, one that is growing because more people want to join you and be part of this movement to stand up for private working lands and ensure they and the people who steward them are here for the long haul. You are inspiring others, and not just people in the ranching community.” Following introductions, Rangeland Trust Director Clayton Koopmann led the invocation. Guests enjoyed a mouthwatering dinner of beef short ribs and potatoes. As stories of ranch stewardship and heritage were told across the tables, the shared sentiment and passion for the western way of life and deep desire to preserve it was palpable. As the program resumed, Mills asked guests to join him in a moment of silence to remember and honor two incredible ranching partners who both passed away late last year—Jerry Russell of the Sagehorn-Russell Ranch and Don Tompkins of the TS Ranch. He emotionally stated, “Each of these ranchers had a deep conservation ethic and true passion for the land; they are greatly missed.” Next, Mills recapped the history and formation of the Rangeland Trust. He proudly announced that over its 24-year span, the organization has helped more than 80 ranching families voluntarily conserve over 365,000 acres of pristine rangeland. While this is an impressive number, Mills was quick 78 California Cattleman July • August 2022
to note that it still has more work to do with over 95 families representing over 230,000 acres of rangeland awaiting funding for conservation. Mills invited the Rangeland Trust staff management team to talk about current happenings and initiatives. Conservation Director, Jackie Flatt, reported that in 2021, six ranches totaling more than 21,000 acres were conserved through funding from government grants, mitigation partnerships, and private sources. Now looking at 2022, Flatt anticipates the closing of an impressive 15 conservation project thanks to the nearly $20 million secured in 2021 by the conservation staff through competitive grant submissions. On the private fundraising front, Shannon Foucault, Development Director, enthusiastically reported that support from private donors for conservation projects is growing. In 2018, over 200 donors rallied together to conserve the 300-acre Rock Front Ranch in Santa Barbara County, which marked the first Rangeland Trust project to be funded entirely by contributions from the community. Then, in 2020, amid the pandemic, success was repeated on the Bloom Ranch ...CONTINUED ON PAGE 80
Merrie and the late Don Tompkins of the TS Ranch were awarded the 2022 Conservationist of the Year Award in recognition of their achievements in volunteer conservation.
Ceci Dale-Cesmat was awarded the 2022 Conservation Impact Award for her significant contributions to the advancement of conservation.
