International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists
Discover the Grasslands That Sustain Nebraska
In 2026, Nebraska joins the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists to shine a light on the landscapes — and the people — who quietly sustain our state’s economy, wildlife, and way of life.
Get curious. Get involved. Celebrate the rangelands that connect us all.
Featured Films
Grasslands for Generations
Nebraska’s grasslands sustain the state’s environment, wildlife, and communities through responsible ranching and land stewardship, ensuring these vital landscapes remain strong and thriving for generations to come.
Champions on the Court, Leaders on the Land
Former Nebraska Volleyball coach John Cook reminds us that, like great teams, Nebraska’s grasslands are built to last—sustaining our economy, wildlife, and way of life through the dedication of those who care for them.
Grassland’s Legacy of Partnership
Coach John Cook highlights how Nebraska’s farmers, ranchers, and rangeland professionals embody teamwork and tradition, caring for the grasslands that sustain our land, water, and way of life—a lasting legacy for generations.
Nebraska's International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists
Big skies, working lands, and the people who care for them — this is Nebraska’s moment.
Behind the Scenes at the Pitzer Ranch with Coach Cook
Big skies, working lands, and the people who care for them — this is Nebraska’s moment.
Special thanks to Coach John Cook for lending his voice and sharing his passion for the working lands and working people of Nebraska in this Public Service Announcement campaign, and to the Pitzer Ranch for hosting his filming.
Films produced by Platte Basin Timelapse.
Request a link to download the PSA films for broadcast here.
IYRP News
Cranes, Plains, and a Watershed: A photographer’s journey in flyover country.
Michael Forsberg, Conservation Photographer with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, will present at the First Presbyterian Church in Lincoln, Nebraska at 7:30 pm on April 25, 2026. He will share his photos and stories from a lifetime of photographing wildlife, rangelands, and other landscapes in Nebraska and other parts of the Great Plains.
Nebraska Recognizes the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists
The Nebraska Legislature has adopted a resolution formally recognizing 2026 as the UN International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists — affirming the importance of rangelands to our state’s economy, ecology, and heritage.
Thanks to Sen. Mike Jacobson for introducing the resolution, and kudos to the Nebraska Section of the Society of Range Management for championing this celebration!
About the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists
Nebraska’s rangelands shape our state’s economy, our communities, and the very identity of this place we call home. Yet many Nebraskans rarely see—or fully understand—the landscapes that make so much possible.
In 2026, the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) invites us to take a closer look.
Nebraska’s celebration – led by our Nebraska Section of the Society for Range Management – is a statewide, community-driven effort to help people discover the story of our grasslands: why they matter, who cares for them, and how they connect to the health and prosperity of our state.
Through education, arts and culture, and media and outreach, we aim to inspire curiosity, broaden awareness, and build a more informed, engaged public that understands the value of our rangelands — from downtown Omaha to rural ranch country.
Our invitation is simple: Get curious. Get involved. Get out in the grasslands. And join us in celebrating the rangelands that connect us all.
How to Get Involved.
01
Explore Grasslands Around the World through IYRP26
02
Learn about North America’s Grasslands
03
Attend a Nebraska Grassland event in 2026
International Celebration, Nebraska Roots
The 2026 International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists owes much to the vision and persistence of Nebraska rancher, educator, and global range leader Dr. James “Jim” O’Rourke.
Jim believed that rangelands and the people who care for them are vital to the planet’s future. From his family’s RUJODEN Ranch near Chadron, he worked tirelessly to connect Nebraska’s grasslands to a global network of rangeland professionals, pastoralists, and policy leaders.
As Global Chair of the IYRP coalition, Jim led the decade-long international effort that resulted in the United Nations’ official designation of 2026. He often reminded colleagues that healthy rangelands mean healthy communities—and his energy, humility, and deep respect for land and people inspired a movement that now spans continents.
Here in Nebraska, we honor Jim’s enduring legacy: a vision rooted in the rangelands, reaching around the world.
Nebraska’s International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists is proudly supported by:
