International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists
What is the International Year of Rangelands & Pastoralists?
2026 represents an important moment. It has been designated as the International Year of Rangelands & Pastoralists (IYRP), a global effort to spotlight the value of rangelands and the people who care for them.
Land Use & Balanced Development: A Shared Global Challenge
As part of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP), February’s theme focuses on land use and balanced development, which accounts for producer livelihoods, ecosystem health, and long-term land function, each connecting pastoralists worldwide.
Linking Access & Awareness to Success
Livelihoods and Economics, emphasizes an essential truth: healthy ecosystems and well-managed grazing rely not only on land and animals, but also on the services and knowledge that enable land stewards to succeed. Ensuring access to these resources is vital for resilient pastoral and ranching communities around the world.
How Grazing Management Supports Climate Solutions
One of the most valuable tools available to producers is the written grazing management plan (GMP) – not simply as a document, but as a process that supports long-term ecological and economic sustainability.
Beyond Carbon: How Partnerships are Expanding the Conversation Around Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
As sustainability initiatives continue to evolve, many organizations are exploring how grazing management and land stewardship contribute to multiple ecosystem outcomes.
International Year of the Woman Farmer
A Role Model and Leader: Lyons-Blythe Advocates For Stewardship and the Next Generation
2026 is the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF) — and we’re starting the celebration with a leader who embodies what it means to care for land, livestock and community.
From Ecological Design to the G Bar C Ranch: Ellis Carries the Legacy Forward
Texas rancher Meredith Ellis shares how she combines landscape architecture with science-informed stewardship to advance the future of sustainable beef.
Championing Public Lands and Sustainable Ranching
A fourth-generation rancher, LeValley operates a diversified cow-calf operation in western Colorado, where her work reflects a deep commitment to stewardship and the long-term viability of both land and livestock.
The Steward of the Sandhills: Barb Cooksley’s Legacy of Resilience and Leadership
We are honored to highlight Barb Cooksley, a Nebraska Sandhills rancher whose story reflects six generations of stewardship and an unwavering commitment to the grasslands she calls home.
Rooted in Tradition, Growing Through Connection
Connie Tabor’s story is deeply rooted in tradition. A fifth-generation Oklahoma farmer and rancher, her family’s agricultural legacy stretches back to the late 1800s when they first settled in the region after moving from Arkansas.
Sustainability Topics
Legacy in Action: Succession Planning for Long-Tern Sustainability
It's not something that happens after you're gone. It's something you build together, while you're still here.