Excellence in Rangeland Management Posters
SRM 2010 Annual Meeting, Denver, CO
Sheraton Hotel, Plaza Building Concourse Rooms D&E
Monday (February 8th)
1pm-5pm

Poster 0931: Middle Creek Ranch - Ranching for the future...Implementing today's technologies.
SRM Section: Oklahoma
Middle Creek Ranch in Oklahoma is a 15,000-acre ranch managed by the Yates Adcock family. The goal is to maintain healthy, productive rangelands to benefit the next generation and achieve this while operating within the revenue stream produced by the Ranch. "God has entrusted a wonderful resource under our care; we desire to leave this range in as good condition as possible", according to Yates Adcock. Prescribed burning, rotational grazing, water development/distribution, fencing, proper stock density/stocking rate, erosion control, managing hay residue, and matching cow type to the environment are just a few of the practices used."

Poster 0932: Ute Creek Cattle Company, Buyeros, NM
SRM Section: New Mexico
After full careers in distant Wyoming, Jack and Tuda Libby Crews returned to the "old home place" recently divided among family heirs and beset with all the challenges of "benign neglect" and "deferred maintenance" that younger folks just starting out would have found daunting. They sought guidance from Holistic Resource Management, the NRCS, NMSU Cooperative Extension, USF&WS, N.M. Game & Fish, the National Wild Turkey Federation and many others. Their active dedication to local partnerships and collaborative efforts, and with lots of just plain hard work not usually associated with "retirement," they have restored their rangeland and riparian areas, survived a drought, produced quality beef, and contributed to the revitalization of their rural community.

Poster 0933: Rafter-Spear Ranch: Excellence in Grazing Management on the Gila National Forest
SRM Section: New Mexico
The Schneberger family operates a remote deeded land/USFS Allotment ranch in the Black Range of the Gila National Forest. Comprised of mountainous uplands interspersed with meadows, riparian areas, and parts of the Aldo Leopold Wilderness, the Rafter-Spear Ranch epitomizes multiple-uses on southwestern national forests. Conditions on the ranch, despite several years of drought, have improved significantly over the last several decades as a direct result of their constant and vigilant management. The Schnebergers' maintain good relationships with their USFS partners, frequently collaborating on range improvements projects and creative management techniques. The Schnebergers' care about the land they manage and encourage guests to do the same.

Poster 0934: Excellence in Rangeland Management - The Troester Ranch
SRM Section: Nebraska
Troesters' ranch along the Niobrara River near Marsland, Nebraska. In demonstrating stewardship of livestock and natural resources, they were early adopters of rotational grazing, alternative crops, and composite cattle. Their pastureland consists of rangeland, go-back, and meadows. Troesters' bought Gelbviegh cattle 20 years ago, going to a composite to match available range resources with body weight. Drought is a challenge, it has been said that even in drought, the condition of their pastures and carrying capacity seems to be the last to be impacted in the area. A neighbor commented, "He is not a cowboy, but a very good rancher."

Poster 0935: Excellence in Rangeland Management - The Carr Ranch
SRM Section: Nebraska
The Carr Ranch has been a key influence in the Nebraska agricultural community through ingenuity and enterprise in approaching natural resource problems and opportunities. Receptive to new approaches in grazing management, Jim and Becky Carr have demonstrated success in initiating positive transformations using livestock as the main mechanism. The Carrs' values and management techniques have made significant achievements in encouraging other land managers to adopt conservation strategies through presentations, demonstrations, and tours. These presentations have influenced hundreds of land managers across Nebraska. The Carrs' voluntary participation and leadership has resulted in improved awareness of grazing land conservation and rangeland health.

Poster 0936: Henry and Pam Giacomini-Excellence in Range Management
SRM Section: California-Pacific
Henry and Pam Giacomini live and ranch in Northeastern California. Together they own and manage "Hat Creek Grown", producing cows and calves, pasture cattle, hay and direct sales of meat. Their operation is reliant on leased private and federal rangelands. They work effectively with private landowners as well as agency personnel to develop and implement grazing management strategies. Their skill and dedication has resulted in a sustainable forage base for their business, while enhancing rangeland resources and ecological functions. They rely on sound economic and science based data while recognizing the importance of community in their decision-making processes.

Poster 0937: 7E Ranch Celebrates 100 Years of Stewardship
SRM Section: Wyoming
In 1909, Hewards' homesteaded the 7E Ranch of Wyoming. Ron and Linda, with 6 children and 13 grandchildren, run the sheep/cattle operation consisting of 47,120 acres of private, state, and federal lands. Partnerships with multi-level agencies/organizations help identify resource concerns and proactive management; maintaining natural and human impacts to preserve environmental balance while promoting habitat, water quality, rangeland health, and healthy lifestyle. Rangeland and Wildlife projects include wildlife-friendly fencing, rotational grazing, water developments, monitoring, enclosures, sagebrush manipulation, and interactive hunter management. Research, tours/workshops, assisting in LWGs, and organizations provides a diversity of outreach. 7E Ranch embodies stewardship in family ranching.

Poster 0938: Excellence in Rangeland Management - Dale Paulson Ranch
SRM Section: South Dakota
Dale Paulson has demonstrated great passion for conserving the land and giving back to the community an opportunity to learn about the land and life on the ranch. Dale and Ruth Paulson host Boy Scout Campouts, local church group outings, provide weekend getaways for urban families, and local county conservation district range tours. Last year the South Dakota Natural Resource and Conservation Service (NRCS) State office used the ranch to train and educate wildlife biologist and technicians on plant taxonomy, grazing schemes, riparian protection, and wildlife habitat management. Dale believes the rangeland and its management is the vital part of the economic return to the ranch and its ability to sustain itself. That is why he is the SD SRM representative for the ERM poster.

Poster 0939: Babcock Ranch Florida Stewardship Award Winner
SRM Section: Florida
Babcock Ranch is a 90,000 acre working cattle ranch located in Punta Gorda, Florida. The Babcock Ranch and the state of Florida formed for the first time ever in Florida a public/private partnership to manage the ranch. The Babcock Preserve Act funded the purchase so the property would be preserved as a working cattle ranch. This also includes farming, timber, sod and eco tour operations. The act also mandates the preservation of environmentally sensitive plants and wildlife. Maintaining the proper balance of each entity will be the key to success in this first ever public/private partnership.

Poster 0940: Excellence in Rangeland Conservation Award - Steve and Nancy Oswald
SRM Section: Colorado
The Oswald ranch produces natural grassfed beef on 12,940 acres by implementing a high intensity - short duration rotation grazing system with cow/calf pairs, steers, and goats. This allows them to effectively utilize different levels of the landscape on uplands, meadows and Gambel oak, while working toward the goal of increasing plant species diversity, litter, and forage productivity. Range trends are monitored at 13 permanent transects/photo points to provide a base for adjustments in the grazing schedule and stocking rates. The Oswald's work with government partners and urban neighbors to provide wildlife habitat, open space, and improve the land.

Poster 0929: Arizona's ranch manager of the year, Anita Waite and Sherwood Koehn of the Cane Springs Ranch
SRM Section: Arizona
When Ania Waite and Sherwood Koehn acquired the Cane Springs Ranch in 1996, they did not foresee the events that enveloped their future. The ranch had been previously leased by various operators who had left it in shambles, with no interior fences and a lack of water. However, the largest obstacle was the deeded acreage, amounting to half the ranch, had been sold for development. After identifying these issues, Anita and Sherwood set out to coordinate with federal and state agencies, with the goal of improving the natural resources they managed. Through cooperative efforts with the BLM and the land developer, negotiations began for a non-typical land trade to make the ranch one contiguous unit. Thirty miles of interior fencing was built, and water developed from solar-powered wells, springs, and miles of pipeline. At the same time, the ranch cow herd was converted to a purebred operation, and a grazing management plan established to enhance riparian areas and mitigate for endangered species. Under the plan, and with the help of BLM, NRCS, Cooperative Extension, and the Arizona State Land Department, long-term monitoring was established. Since 1996, steady rangeland improvement has been seen, with an upward trend on all key areas. The Cane Springs Ranch is now recognized for its productive livestock operation and its healthy rangelands.