Women in Ranching (WinR) emerged in direct response to an expressed need: working-lands women throughout the West were seeking ways to connect with one another, to promote leadership and inspire creative solutions for how best to support a growing resource of female leaders.
We are organized around simple yet powerful principles: provide opportunities for working-lands women to convene away from home, work and family; focus on personal, professional and network development; and foster increased agency.
- CREATE opportunities for leadership and skills development
- BUILD a strong peer network in support of personal growth and self-care
- PROMOTE land management "best practices" that sustain whole and healthy lands
The first Women in Ranching Circle was hosted in 2016 by Paicines Ranch, in California. Two years and several convenings later, WinR found a permanent home with the Western Landowners Alliance, a West-wide organization advancing policies and practices that sustain working lands, connected landscapes and native species.
Today, we are a growing collaborative of women who convene on host ranches to learn, play and find a renewed awareness of inner abundance and resiliency. We believe these gatherings activate women to connect and share with each other and strengthen our collective voice for the betterment of our rural communities.
What we do
Generous ranch owners offer their ranch locations free of charge to our program and help to organize catering services, thereby keeping Circle membership fees low for participants. Women in Ranching provides a team of facilitators who work with the landowners and ranch staff to bring a Circle of 20 women on-site for a three day, three night convening. We highlight the work of incredible women and foster substantive conversation on self-awareness, leadership and regenerative agricultural practices, mixed with hands-on activities that are culturally and geographically relevant to the host location.
This program furthers the goals of the Western Landowners Alliance in providing a collective voice, a peer network, the exchange of good ideas and management strategies, specifically for our western women.
....and we are just getting started! Add this page to your bookmarks and check in on a regular basis. We'll be adding more to this page as we keep developing the program.
Take Action
May 2019 Fundraiser: $10,000
Women in Ranching is growing a movement to empower women's voices and women's leadership in agriculture and land stewardship across the West.
In May, we are running a $10,000 crowdfunding campaign to support 2019 WinR programming and plan for continued growth into 2020. Our ultimate goal is to create one Circle in every western state. Donate or Share Campaign.
If you are interested in hosting a WinR Circle on your ranch, participating in a gathering or supporting this growing movement, please contact our Program Manager, Amber Smith.
Help us grow the Women in Ranching program by donating now. Your financial contribution will help cover such expenses as meals, facilitation, horse handling and scholarships for women who need extra support to participate. In the donation form, include a message to WLA that says "Women in Ranching donation."
Photo Gallery
Diamond Cross Ranch
Circle 3: Diamond Cross Ranch, MT - Aug 2018
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