Tomorrow’s Grassland
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Tomorrow’s Grassland

Category: Grassland Restoration

Barby Ranch Receives Leopold Award Photo by Sand County Foundation

Barby Ranch Receives Leopold Award

Bill and Debbie Barby of Protection have been selected as the recipients of the 2024 Kansas Leopold Conservation Award. Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes landowners who go above and beyond in the management of soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat on working land. In Kansas, the $10,000 award is presented by the Sand County Foundation, American Farmland Trust, Kansas Association of Conservation Districts and Ranchland Trust of Kansas (RTK).

The Barby Ranch is located in both Clark and Comanche counties. Through rotational grazing, prescribed burning and the removal of invasive trees, Bill has restored the ranch’s native habitats and ecological functions. Thousands of acres of healthier grassland and riparian areas provide habitat for the Lesser Prairie Chicken, whooping crane and Arkansas River shiner. Conservation partnerships have achieved improved water quality, biodiversity and carbon sequestration on the landscape.

“RTK is delighted to announce that Bill and Debbie Barby are the Kansas Leopold Conservation Award recipients,” said Barth Crouch, RTK board chairman. “I have followed their commitment to conservation for many years. Bill has been very strong in sharing his efforts and projects with other ranchers and ranching families across the state.”

The Kansas Leopold Conservation Award is made possible thanks to the Farm Credit Associations of Kansas, ITC Great Plains, Kansas Department of Agriculture-Division of Conservation, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Kansas Ducks Unlimited, Kansas Forest Service, Green Cover Seed, McDonald’s, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and a Kansas Leopold Conservation Award recipient.

Read the full press release and learn more about Barby Ranch.

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Prescribed Burning Video Series Released Photo by Katie Blunk

Prescribed Burning Video Series Released

There are many factors to consider when planning a prescribed burn. The video series on prescribed burning from Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition will assist land managers who are considering using prescribed fire. Video topics include burn equipment, burn plans, fire safety tips, burn techniques, and implementing a burn. 

Watch a few videos below or view the entire series on the KGLC website.

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Power of Fire: Kindred Podcast Photo by Katie Blunk

Power of Fire: Kindred Podcast

Learn about the history of fire on the landscape from an indigenous perspective. Speakers include Tony Incashola Jr., forest manager for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, and Stephanie Gillin, information and education program manager and former wildlife biologist at the Flathead Indian Reservation.

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Red Cedar Water Conservation Bill Signed Photo by Cook Land Solutions

Red Cedar Water Conservation Bill Signed

Rep. Mike Dobrinski, R-Okeene, today praised the enactment of legislation that establishes a pilot program to explore solutions to the red cedar infestation throughout the state, beginning with a concentration on the North Canadian Watershed.

House Bill 2239 creates the Terry Peach North Canadian Watershed Restoration Act, named after former Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Terry Peach who died last year. It was signed into law by the governor Friday.

“Eastern red cedars and other invasive trees are harming our environment and our economy,” Dobrinski said. “This program will help us determine solutions to protect our water supply, our grazing lands and wildlife habitats, and will help us reduce the risk of wildfires.”

Dobrinski credited and thanked other lawmakers for their help on the legislation including Reps. Carl Newton, R-Cherokee, and Kenton Patzkowsky, R-Balko; Sens. Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher, Roland Pederson, R-Burlington, and Casey Murdock, R-Felt; as well as former state Sen. Don Williams; and Trey Lam, executive director of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission.

Lam said of the legislation, “Oklahoma has taken a big step in the long process of addressing invasive cedars with the passage of the Terry Peach North Canadian Watershed Restoration Act. The Oklahoma Conservation Commission appreciates the leadership of Representative Dobrinski and Senator Jech for taking real-world, on-the-ground, action to protect the lives and natural resources of Oklahomans.”

Lam said the rapid growth of cedar brush intensifies drought, reduces water levels and fuels intense wildfires every year. While there is no one single short term solution, the three-prong approach of research, eradication by utilizing prescribed burning and mechanically creating brush-free zones around communities and rural infrastructure – starting in the North Canadian River Basin – will provide the Conversation Commission a framework for attacking cedars and invasive brush across the state.

Included in the budget for the Oklahoma Conservation Commission this year is an appropriation of almost $3.3 million to start the cost-sharing pilot program. Dobrinski said he’s confident the investment will produce a return on investment. The commission will work in cooperation with landowners, state agencies and other political subdivisions and cost-share expenses incurred in the program.

HB2239 passed with an emergency clause, making it effective immediately.

Press release by Oklahoma Conservation Commission

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Lazy KT Ranch Receives Leopold Award Photo by Sand County Foundation

Lazy KT Ranch Receives Leopold Award

The Lazy KT Ranch of Freedom has been selected as the recipient of the 2021 Oklahoma Leopold Conservation Award. Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the prestigious award recognizes farmers, ranchers and forestland owners who inspire others with their dedication to land, water and wildlife habitat resources in their care.

Dr. Katie Blunk and her family own and operate Lazy KT Ranch. In 2012, after retiring from her veterinary medicine career in Nevada, Katie came home to her ranching roots with her husband Michael Horntvedt. She embarked on her life’s next journey, an immersion into conservation and cattle ranching. A decade later, the Lazy KT Ranch is thriving from an ecological and business perspective.

For Katie and Michael, good land stewardship practices go hand in hand with good stockmanship practices. Whether selling quality Black Angus cattle as seed stock to other ranchers, or selling beef directly to consumers under their “Jackass Ridge Beef” label, they provide their customers with assurances that their cattle have been raised in a low stress environment.

Katie says the best and most economical conservation tool for their ranch is the strategic application of prescribed fire and grazing. This combination has restored the prairie ecosystem while producing quality forage for cattle, and wildlife habitat. She credits the Cimarron Range Preservation Association with encouraging this approach. Katie serves as president of the association which brings neighbors together with neighbors to help with beneficial prescribed fires.

The Oklahoma award is presented annually by Sand County Foundation, American Farmland Trust, Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, Noble Research Institute, Oklahoma Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, ITC Great Plains, Oklahoma Conservation Commission, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Read the full press release and learn more about Lazy KT Ranch.

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