ranching

In 1834, the O’Connor family’s Texas ranching legacy began; 191 years later, an $8.863 million deal protected 6,409 acres of coastal prairie while keeping it a working cattle ranch

by
In 1834, the O'Connor family's Texas ranching legacy began; 191 years later, an $8.863 million deal protected 6,409 acres of coastal prairie while keeping it a working cattle ranch

O’Connor ranching legacy began in 1834; 6,409 acres of Texas prairie protected 191 years later (Image Credit: Kenny Braun) A Texas ranching legacy that began in 1834 is now tied to one of the state’s major private-land conservation efforts. An $8.863 million conservation easement has permanently protected approximately 6,409 acres of the historic T.M. O’Connor … Read more

A 5,000-acre Wyoming ranch was bought by conservationists in the 1990s; instead of ending ranching, they kept cattle grazing to protect the ecosystem

by
A 5,000-acre Wyoming ranch was bought by conservationists in the 1990s; instead of ending ranching, they kept cattle grazing to protect the ecosystem

When conservationists bought a Wyoming cattle ranch in the 1990s, most people assumed the herds would disappear. Instead, they discovered something surprising: keeping cattle on the land, managed carefully, could actually protect it. This is the story of Red Canyon Ranch near Lander, Wyoming, purchased by The Nature Conservancy as an experiment in coexistence between … Read more

In 1974, the National Park Service bought the Stewart family’s 890-acre California ranch; they negotiated the right to remain and continued ranching there until 2021

by
In 1974, the National Park Service bought the Stewart family's 890-acre California ranch; they negotiated the right to remain and continued ranching there until 2021

Photo credit: Canva (Representative image) When the federal government stepped in to buy the Stewart family’s 890-acre ranch in 1974, most people assumed a century of family cattle operations had reached its end. The acquisition was part of a major initiative to build out California’s Point Reyes National Seashore, setting up an obvious conflict between … Read more

In 1986, a ranching family sold California’s 53,000-acre Santa Rosa Island to the US for nearly $30 million; they retained about 7 acres and the right to stay for another 25 years

by
In 1986, a ranching family sold California's 53,000-acre Santa Rosa Island to the US for nearly $30 million; they retained about 7 acres and the right to stay for another 25 years

In December 1986, the United States federal government completed a deal to buy Santa Rosa Island for $29.5 million. The 53,000-acre island, located 26.5 miles off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, was bought by the National Park Service from its longtime private owners, the Vail & Vickers ranching partnership. Under the deal, the ranching … Read more