by Jodi Stemler | Check out this multimedia story about how an SGI-enrolled rancher is leading the way in stewarding working lands and wildlife on his ranch in Colorado’s Gunnison Basin.

This late rancher’s early adoption of range conservation practices encouraged his neighbors to also enroll in Sage Grouse Initiative programs. Learn how.

Rancher Mike Greeley uses conservation-minded management to sustain his working lands in eastern Oregon for wildlife and livestock. Check out this video of Mike on his ranch!

In northeastern Utah, the Kennedy family’s land ethic and commitment to improving natural resources has led them to expand their ranch. Learn how SGI helped them install water delivery systems and adopt rotational grazing to improve agricultural operations.

To this multi-generational family, conservation and ranching are one and the same. Learn how they’ve worked with SGI to increase carrying capacity and grass production for the benefit of both livestock and wildlife.

Tony and Diane Stobiecki partner with the Sage Grouse Initiative to improve habitat for wildlife and their ranch’s bottom line by putting in place projects that improve water delivery, riparian habitat, and rangeland forage.

“Our belief is that we need to make things better, and leave a legacy for our kids and our grandkids and the neighborhood as a whole,” says Oregon rancher Mark Bennett. Read more about Mark and Patti Bennett, who have partnered with the Sage Grouse Initiative to conserve land and water resources on the sagebrush sea.

Sage grouse like the habitat around the Pokorny Ranch, and the Pokornys like the conservation improvements SGI helped them make on their Wyoming ranch. “They were the first landowners I had to enroll in the program,” says Kevin Edinger with the Wyoming NRCS. “These folks are really progressive operators. They’re as good as it gets.”

South Dakota Rancher Ron Steineke makes water delivery and grazing improvements that benefit his cattle along with sage grouse and other wildlife.

The Swickard family takes pride in a pasture to plate operation. Their natural beef customers support a ranch dedicated to healthy cattle and plentiful wildlife, with a focus on sage grouse on property near Susanville, California