The Progressive Rancher Magazine
The Progressive Rancher Magazine
The Progressive Rancher Magazine
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Part Three: When Two Worlds Collide –<br />
<strong>Rancher</strong>s ARE Environmentalists<br />
be a major federal action, and I hope that policy statement will be carefully<br />
investigated by congressional staff for legitimacy.” – Source: Excerpted (pages<br />
84, 85, & 218, from a statement by John L. Merrill, Burnett Ranches; Professor,<br />
Texas Christian University; Member of the National Steering Committee for<br />
the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI). “Full text of ‘Department<br />
of Agriculture’s activities related to the yellow-cheeked warbler: hearing before<br />
the Subcommittee on Department Operations and Nutrition of the Committee<br />
on Agriculture, House of Representatives, One Hundred Third Congress, second<br />
session, September 16, 1994, Cleburne, Texas.’” http://www.archive.org/<br />
stream/departmentofagri00unit/departmentofagri00unit_djvu.txt It should be<br />
noted that John L. “Chip” Merrill had, at that time, directed the ranch management<br />
program at TCU for the past 33 years, since 1961, as well as being a<br />
past president of the International Society for Range Management, a long-time<br />
member of the Wildlife Society, professional member of the Society of American<br />
Foresters, and a director of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers<br />
Association. Though the Internet mentions many accolades he’s received, he<br />
prefers to continue learning rather than rest on his considerable laurels, still at<br />
the helm of the XXX Ranch in Tarrant County, Texas.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Adams Ranch, Meade County,<br />
Kansas, and Beaver County, Oklahoma<br />
“Biological Control Demonstration Project: Adams Ranch, Meade County,<br />
Kansas. <strong>The</strong> landowners are demonstrating biological control of tamarisk<br />
using goats. Approximately 100 head of goats were confined for feeding in<br />
a 10-acre plot infested with tamarisk. <strong>The</strong> project offered much information<br />
on appropriate stocking rates, predation, viability, and feeding habits of the<br />
goats.” – 10-Year Strategic Plan for the Comprehensive Control of Tamarisk<br />
and Other Non-Native Phreatophytes. <strong>The</strong> project continued for a second year,<br />
but the goats didn’t consume the tamarisk to the point of its demise, and the<br />
trial was halted. Source: http://www.kwo.org/Reports%20&%20Publications/<br />
Rpt_Tamarisk_10-Year_Plan_FINAL_120805_sm.pdf (Page 19 of 39 pages;<br />
2.98 MB)<br />
“We’ve been raising cattle on this land since 1890.<br />
We have to be good stewards or we’d go out of<br />
business. It’s not our livelihood; it’s our life! We<br />
spend thousands of dollars getting rid of noxious<br />
weeds and we have more of the desirable grasses.”<br />
– <strong>Rancher</strong> Judy Adams.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Three Circle (000) Livestock LLC –<br />
Carbon and Albany Counties, Wyoming<br />
“<strong>The</strong> 2nd Annual NACD/NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service)<br />
Olin Sims Conservation Leadership Award was presented to Wyoming<br />
rancher Ralph Brokaw on February 3rd, 2009, during the National Association<br />
of Conservation Districts (NACD) annual meeting in New Orleans. Brokaw<br />
was chosen for his outstanding leadership and service in conserving natural<br />
resources. … <strong>The</strong> Brokaw family ranch, the Three Circle (000) Livestock LLC,<br />
located near Arlington, Wyoming, is a testament to his passion for healthy<br />
lands. His commitment to natural resource conservation management makes<br />
him a leader and example in his community and throughout Wyoming. Bobbie<br />
Frank, Executive Director of WACD (Wyoming Association of Conservation<br />
Districts), said, “I am sure I speak for all of our Conservation Districts in congratulating<br />
Ralph on receiving the Olin Sims Leadership Award. It is a very<br />
deserving award for the work Ralph has done for natural resource conservation<br />
efforts in Wyoming, the region and at the national level. This award will hold<br />
significant meaning to Ralph I am sure, given that it is in memory and honor of<br />
his best friend and longtime mentor, Olin Sims.” Established in tribute to the<br />
late NACD President, Olin Sims, the award recognizes outstanding conservation<br />
leadership at the state and local level. <strong>The</strong> award is presented annually<br />
to an individual, based upon superior service to the conservation community<br />
in promoting conservation on private lands. Sims, a rancher from McFadden,<br />
Wyoming, lived a life distinguished by years of volunteer service to conservation.<br />
“Olin was a true conservationist who was equally committed to practicing<br />
conservation and advocating for it,” said NACD President, John Redding. “This<br />
award epitomizes the conservation leadership and integrity that was his life and<br />
highlights the leadership of other conservationists who assume the mantle of<br />
conservation leadership into the future.” Source: http://www.conservewy.com/<br />
temp/brokaw.pdf Ralph also received the 2002 Landowner of the Year from the<br />
Wyoming Game and Fish Commission for his outstanding commitment to wildlife<br />
habitat, including rotational grazing, riparian areas, managed hunting, etc.<br />
Baker Ranches, Inc. – Nevada and Utah<br />
Dean Baker, eastern Nevada rancher and longtime Nevada Cattlemen’s<br />
Association member—as well as being on the Board of Directors, the Executive<br />
Committee, a Second Vice President, and on various other boards &<br />
committees—was named Nevada’s Outstanding <strong>Rancher</strong> of the Year in 2003,<br />
as well Cattleman of the Year the previous year. Baker Ranches, Inc., run by<br />
Dean, his wife, Barbara, and sons Craig, David and Tom, plus veteran buckaroo<br />
Lee Whitrock, straddle the Nevada-Utah border. Of its 12,000 acres, 2,000 are<br />
in barley, alfalfa and corn, and the ranch also runs about 2,000 head of cattle,<br />
and sells high-quality alfalfa hay to California dairies and Las Vegas area horse<br />
owners. “ ... Nominees for Outstanding <strong>Rancher</strong> of the Year are evaluated on<br />
their conservation planning and resource management objectives, as well as any<br />
innovative or unique management practices.” Sources: http://www.saveourwildhorse.com/PDF/Blm-Press/BLM2003/Release2004-08-12_Nov-2003.pdf<br />
(Page 1 of 7 pages; 80.06 KB) “<strong>The</strong> U.S. Bureau of Land Management agencies<br />
in both Nevada and Utah have honored Dean for his management of grazing<br />
allotments on the public domain.” – Baker Ranch: A Success Story, March 28,<br />
2005. <strong>The</strong> Nevada Agricultural Foundation http://www.nvagfoundation.org/<br />
NAF/news/article.cfm?id=158. Dean Baker and sons received the outstanding<br />
stewardship of public lands award from Bureau of Land Management in 1996.<br />
Producer Livestock Marketing Board of Directors and chairman 2000-2004.<br />
Nevada State Tax Commission 1996-2004.<br />
Multi-generational ranch families have always hit the ground running,<br />
their dedication helping to feed the world. <strong>Rancher</strong>s already walk the walk, as<br />
evidenced by countless hours of physical and mental work. To talk the talk and<br />
explain what they already know so well, is difficult for an independent, selfreliant<br />
people, but learning to do so will build a communication bridge that will<br />
keep them and their world alive and well for another two hundred years.<br />
“And to protect and care for all His creations,<br />
God made ranchers.” – Beverly Merritt, Merritt<br />
Ranch, Lincoln County, New Mexico.<br />
www.progressiverancher.com<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Progressive</strong> <strong>Rancher</strong> December 2009 11