The Land Bulletin

What happens when scientific research meets generations of ranching knowledge, and the two don't agree? In part two of our conversation with Maria Fernandez-Gimenez, we explore the Collaborative Adaptive Rangeland Management (CARM) study, an ongoing research project bringing ranchers, scientists, and conservationists together to explore different approaches to grazing and land stewardship. Tu...

What can ranchers in Colorado learn from herders in Mongolia, Spain, and beyond? According to Dr. Maria Fernandez-Gimenez, a retired professor of rangeland ecology and management at Colorado State University, it might be more than you think.  Maria joins Haley on our show this week to explore the relationship between scientific research, local ranching knowledge, and sustainable practices.  Maria...

When it comes to protecting America’s grasslands, the people who tend them are some of our strongest allies. This week, Alexis Bonogofsky, VP of the Great Plains Program at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), joins Haley to discuss the ecological importance of the Northern Great Plains and the unique role Western ranchers play in preserving this vital ecosystem. With roughly 80% of the region’s grassla...

What does it take to build a stronger future for Native agriculture? Dawn LeBeau, Senior Program Officer at Akiptan, joins Haley to discuss the organization’s work providing capital, education, and resources to Native agricultural producers across Indian Country. From patient capital and land financing to youth programs, financial literacy, succession planning, and traditional stewardship practice...

Content Warning: This episode discusses mental health, depression, and suicide, which may be difficult or uncomfortable for some listeners. If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. “Pick yourself up by your bootstraps” epitomizes the toughness and grit we associate with agriculture. But what does the public not see about the mental and emotional toll of a job that seemingly nev...

Island Park, Idaho, sits just across the Idaho-Wyoming border, on the edge of Yellowstone, and offers a unique mix of forests, rivers, recreation, and more. This week, Chris Corroon is back on the pod to share Island Park's history, reputation, recreation, and ranching. With abundant access to public lands and a rare opportunity to own land near Henry's Lake, Chris goes into what you can...

What happens when you dedicate 20 years to following a river from its headwaters to the sea? For Peter McBride, it has meant gaining an eye-opening perspective on water, the West, and the people who work and live on Western lands. A filmmaker, author, and photographer who grew up on a Colorado ranch, Peter joins Haley to discuss the decades he’s spent documenting the Colorado River and the changin...

Conservation tools play an important role in protecting private land, but who benefits from them? Economist and University of Wisconsin professor Dominic “Nick” Parker joins the show to explore conservation easements, transferable tax credits, and new opportunities to keep working lands in the hands of the people who live and work on them. From leveling the playing field for ranchers to addressing...

Evergreen, Colorado offers a rare combination of mountain living, outdoor adventure, and proximity to Denver, so this week on the Back 40, we're heading just up the road with Broker Harry Woodward to check out what makes this Front Range community so special. With a rich history in ranching and mining, and trails for hiking, biking, and skiing, Evergreen offers a mountain lifestyle without a...

For 30 years, Casting for Recovery has supported women with breast cancer through the healing power of nature and fly fishing. This week, we revisit one of our favorite partners as Haley sits down with Stacey Benham, Director of Marketing and Communications, to discuss the organization's mission and an exciting new initiative that uses storytelling to connect with women who may need support....

Women have always been involved in ranching, but now more than ever, they are taking on leadership roles and shaping the future. This week, we’re joined by the Executive Director of Women in Ranching, Amber Smith, to discuss how the organization is helping women build skills, find community, and navigate the unique challenges of Ag life.  Topics [0:00] Introduction [0:57] Women in Ranching: How it...

We're heading to Durango, CO, this week to explore the town and surrounding Four Corners region with broker Woody Beardsley.  Woody guides us through the area as we explore the unique mix of mountain and desert landscapes, rich history, outdoor recreation, and ranching traditions that make this area of Colorado one of the most exciting places to explore out West.  Topics [0:00] Welcome to Dur...

The American National Cattlewomen has spent decades educating consumers, advocating for producers, and creating opportunities for women across the beef industry. This week, Haley sits down with ANCW President Casey Matzke and Director of Communications & Operations Ashley Hughes to explore how the organization has grown from a small educational group into a national voice for cattle producers....

Conservation is about far more than protecting land, and few people understand that better than Justin Spring, Vice President and Colorado & Southwest Regional Director for The Conservation Fund. Justin joins us this week to discuss how conservation projects come together, the challenges landowners face, and why innovative partnerships are becoming increasingly important across the West. We al...

This week, we’re visiting Kaycee, Wyoming, a small ranching community with a Wild West reputation. With plenty of western history, wide-open landscapes, and strong community ties, Mirr broker Erik Anderson helps Haley explore the town’s rich cattle-ranching heritage, world-class hunting and fishing opportunities, local traditions, and the unique spirit that makes Kaycee one of Wyoming’s hidden gem...

Summer is here, and outdoor recreation is on the rise, particularly among women. This week, Haley chats with Emily Jacobs of Uncharted Outdoorswomen about how the group helps women build confidence in the outdoors through hands-on education, mentorship, and community. Offering everything from fly fishing to hunting, Uncharted Outdoorswomen is helping more women find their place outdoors. Through e...

When we think about conservation, we often picture vast landscapes, working ranches, and remote forests. But some of the most meaningful stewardship efforts are happening right in our own backyards. This week, Haley is joined by Suzanna Fry-Jones, CEO of the High Line Canal Conservancy, to explore the 71-mile corridor that is enhancing the Denver region’s ecological health, recreational opportunit...

We’re not going too far outside Denver in this week’s Back 40, but that’s part of the appeal of Sedalia, Colorado, a small foothills community that serves as a gateway to everything the Front Range has to offer. From gold medal fly fishing on the South Platte to horseback riding through Pike National Forest, Haley and Willy discuss why this unique corridor between Sedalia and Deckers remains one o...

This week, we’re welcoming a new broker to the crew: Davis LaMair! Growing up in Colorado and spending the last decade guiding anglers across the rivers of Wyoming and Idaho, Davis has built a deep appreciation for the landscapes, wildlife, and stewardship that define the American West. Now, he’s bringing that passion to the Mirr Ranch Group. Davis joins Haley to talk about his background as an ou...

Stream and water access has long been a complex issue across the West, particularly in Colorado, and this year, it’s once again at the forefront of conversation. In this episode, we’re joined by former Colorado Governor Bill Ritter and former Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director Dan Prenzlow to break down the legal framework behind the right-to-float and right-to-wade debate currently on the table...

In this very special episode, we’re looking at one of our brokerage’s most unique and meaningful transactions: the sale of St. Benedict’s Monastery in Snowmass, CO. Covering over 3,700 acres, this property was about more than just land. It represented a community, spirituality, and decades of stewardship at the hands of the Cistercian monks. Selling it was no small feat. Have you ever needed the p...

The shortgrass prairie might not seem as glamorous as our nation’s mountains and forests, but it’s one of the most important ecosystems in the West. This week, Nora Bales joins us to break down what shortgrass prairie actually is, why it’s suffered such debilitating losses, and most importantly - why we should care. We cover what restoration looks like today. From droughts to invasive species, pra...

Buying a house and buying a ranch are two entirely different ball games, and this week Mirr Ranch Group founder Ken Mirr joins us to break down why. In this episode, we walk through a practical, big-picture guide to preparing for your first or next ranch purchase. From envisioning your ideal property to setting realistic expectations around budget, location, and lifestyle, we cover the first steps...

We’re back and exploring Utah’s Kamas Valley - an area just outside Park City but a world apart in pace and lifestyle. Mirr broker and resident Utah-expert Chris Corroon joins Haley to break down what makes this high mountain valley so enticing to ranchers and outdoorsmen alike. With access to the Uinta Mountains and fishing on the Weber and Provo Rivers, the Kamas Valley is quietly gaining buyers...

Bob Budd, Executive Director of the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust, joins Haley on the podcast this week to discuss how ranchers can rethink the wildlife roaming their properties for what it truly is—an asset, not a liability. Bob walks us through how landowners across the West can approach habitat management with intention, sharing real-world examples of small adjustments that lead t...