Stories

An educational kiosk at the Nebraska State Capitol highlights the ecological and economic importance of Nebraska’s rangelands as part of IYRP celebrations.

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!

We’re also celebrating one of our own voices, UNL’s Larkin Powell, a Pillar Team lead in the Alliance, on the release of his new book, The Best of Intentions. Larkin’s work invites us to look honestly at how our landscapes have changed — and how understanding that history can guide better decisions for the future.

Read the original story from the University of Nebraska.

We couldn’t be more proud to celebrate the Wine Glass Ranch near Imperial, named the 2025 Environmental Stewardship Award Program National Winner. For those of us who know Logan Pribbeno as a Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition board member, this recognition reflects values we see every day: grazing with intention, caring deeply for land and people, and proving stewardship and profitability can go hand in hand.

Read the full story from National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

This winter, we’ll dive into Bob Budd’s “Otters Dance” together. Find your copy, cozy in, and get ready to connect with your grassland friends.

We’ll offer two virtual discussions at 7 p.m. CST Thursday, Jan. 29 and Thursday Feb. 5, culminating at the 2026 Winter All-Alliance in-person Gathering Feb. 12-13 in Kearney, featuring author Bob Budd as our special guest speaker! Each session will focus on a particular number of essays in the book.

Join us in Kearney Feb. 12-13 for the Winter 2026 All-Alliance Gathering!

If you’re looking for something to listen to in the pickup that still feels like a heart-to-heart, season four of the Reframing Rural podcast is worth your time. Host Megan Torgerson explores what land transfer really asks of many Montana ranch families navigating complex social and environmental factors as they work to preserve their agricultural way of life.

Listen here: https://www.reframingrural.org/season-four

A story that names what many families feel — and why avoiding the conversation often carries the greatest risk.

This feature follows Dan Skeeters of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust as he sits down at kitchen tables across the West, starting with one simple but often unanswered question: Do you have a succession plan? Through real family stories, the article explores how land transfer is shaped as much by emotion, identity, and fairness as by finances or law — and how delaying those conversations can fracture families and put land at risk.

For families who know they need a plan but aren’t sure where to start, NGLC continues to expand practical, producer-centered support through workshops, online learning, and financial assistance. Recent highlights include the recorded webinar “Mending Fences: Conflict Resolution Strategies for Farm and Ranch Transition,” now available on NGLC’s YouTube channel.

Two tangible supports worth sharing widely:

Learn more or apply: https://nebraskagrazinglands.org

A powerful, local example of long-term stewardship — and what it means to hand that stewardship forward.

Nebraska rancher Ralph Tate is seeking the next owner-operator for his 320-acre farm near Fairbury, and he’s looking for someone committed to continuing the regeneration already underway. Over 15+ years, Ralph’s use of holistic planned grazing and cover crops increased carrying capacity from 6,750 Animal Unit Days (2011) to 12,550 (2019) — a 33% increase.

The Nebraska Soil Health Coalition—a Grassland Alliance partner and friend—has welcomed Casey Hoins as its new coordinator. Hoins brings a great depth of leadership to the Coalition’s work supporting soil health, resilient working lands, and producer-led learning across Nebraska. We’re glad to welcome another dedicated steward to Nebraska’s land and people–centered conservation community.

Don’t miss this inspiring national headline about the Wine Glass Ranch, from Imperial, NE. “The ranch is an example of how innovative agricultural practices can simultaneously improve ecological health, animal welfare and, financial sustainability,” the Drovers article notes. The Pribbino family was recently recognized as the 2025 Region VII winner of the Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP). Congratulations to Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition board member Logan Pribbino and his family!

A new initiative led by UNL’s Cheryl Dunn brings grassland education into classrooms through hands-on learning and immersive tools. The program aims to spark curiosity and stewardship among young people while equipping educators with resources to teach grassland ecology and conservation.

Former Nebraska Volleyball Coach John Cook has lent his voice to champion Nebraska’s grasslands through a new public service announcement campaign. The effort highlights the importance of working lands, ranchers, and grassland stewardship in sustaining Nebraska’s natural and cultural heritage, in celebration of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists.

A brand-new guide to rangeland wildflowers of the Northern Great Plains is now available online! This digital resource features dozens of species useful to ranchers and conservationists alike. While focused on the northern half of Nebraska, the plants highlighted are relevant statewide.

For your podcast playlist this week — An inspiring story of resourcefulness and long-view determination. This western Nebraska rancher built and sold several businesses in order to build a 1,000+ cow ranch from the ground up. A hopeful reminder that pathways into ranching still exist, even today.

The Sandhills Ranch Internship Program connects learners with ranch families for hands-on summer experiences in grazing and stewardship. Open to students, non-students, and veterans. New this year: a Sandhills Ranch Apprenticeship with Connealy Angus. A very exciting addition to the internship program! Applications are due January 5, 2026.

Eastern red cedar and other woody species are driving grassland loss, wildfire risk, and forage decline across the Plains. This RFD-TV interview with UNL’s Dr. Dirac Twidwell highlights how landowner-driven strategies and the Grassland Vulnerability Guide are helping communities get ahead of encroachment, rather than react after losses occur.

UNL Extension Educator Shannon Sand says a few simple steps can help increase employee retention in any business or organization, no matter how large or small. In this article, she explains how a formal welcome, clear expectations, and shared values can increase productivity by 70% and retention by 82%—strengthening ranch teams and reducing turnover stress. No doubt, these tips are valuable for all of our teams and organizations!

The 2025 Barta Brothers Ranch Field Day brought ranchers, researchers, and conservationists together to share lessons from the land. Updates included prescribed fire and grazing research, cedar tree control, grassland planning strategies, and new prairie chicken tracking data. A common thread ran through the day: working alongside ranchers to ground research in real-world experience.