In the mid 1990s, the families managing the Cottonwood and Boies ranches came together with other partners to develop a plan for managing their land holdings in northeast Nevada. They called their partnership the Shoesole Resource Management Group.

The goal was holistic management of livestock grazing across thousands of acres of private and public land, in partnership with a diverse array of federal, state, and private stakeholders. The families integrated ecological, economic and social considerations into plans that involved flexible and targeted rotational grazing, protection of delicate riparian areas along streams and wetlands, monitoring of habitat for the benefit of wildlife and birds, low-stress livestock handling, and more.

More than 30 years of dedicated collaboration have resulted in willow-lined streams, expanding beaver populations, rising water tables, and a healthier landscape in northeast Nevada. Watch the video to learn more about this amazing partnership.