Week of Events
Trailing of the Sheep Festival
Gather in the Wood River Valley to celebrate, present, and preserve the history and cultures of sheepherding in Idaho and the West. See the full festival schedule here.
2024 Fall Rangeland Forum – Digging in…to Soil Health
Soils are a key driver to rangeland diversity, and also crucial for healthy rangelands. But how do management decisions connect with soil health? We’ll examine the science of soil health on Idaho’s rangelands, and the management practices and policies that come into play.
Blackfeet Retreat
The idea for the Rooted in the Land program emerged from our initial conversations with a small group of Indigenous women ranchers. They brought to light their communities’ urgent needs and, most importantly, asked, “What is Women In Ranching going to do about it?”
Acknowledging the historical and systemic inequities faced by Indigenous land stewards, and recognizing that true leadership must come from within the community, the program was realized in 2023 when Erin Thomas of the Navajo Nation and Tiffany St. Goddard of the Blackfeet Nation answered the call as co-leaders.
While Women In Ranching provides support, it is Erin and Tiffany’s leadership that listens to their communities, drives the initiative, and organizes gatherings like this one.
Elemental Idaho Series
Elemental Idaho Series
Dr. Emily Wakild (BSU's Andrus Center) discusses the history and future of Idaho recreation with Gretchen Hyde (Idaho Rangeland Resources Commission), and John Robison (Idaho Conservation League).
We'll learn about the Ridge to Rivers trail system, the Owyhee Travel Management Plan, and everything in between!
Practical Approaches to Building Soil Health on Rangelands
Practical Approaches to Building Soil Health on Rangelands
Ranchers on unirrigated pastures have traditionally had limited options for large-scale tools that affect soil health. Emerging research suggests that using materials like compost and biochar (a charcoal-like substance made from waste wood) may be as effective for holding soil moisture and protecting the surface from erosion as bale grazing is known to be. However, we know that not every area responds the same way to management practices. Join us to be part of setting up a new demonstration site at a ranch owned by a New Agrarian Program alum in the Texas panhandle to compare these practices side-by-side.