California Rangeland Trust: Tuned in to the Land

California’s working rangelands are more than open space. They provide vital wildlife habitat, store carbon, protect watersheds, build wildfire resilience, and sustain the ranching families and rural communities that depend on them. As development pressures grow and the state works toward its goal of conserving 30% of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030, recognizing the conservation value of private working lands is more important than ever.

In this episode, Rangeland Trust CEO Michael Delbar sits down with Wade Crowfoot, Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency, to reflect on California’s conservation efforts and the future of the state’s working rangelands. Together, they explore the essential role of ranchers in protecting California’s natural resources, what it will take to turn statewide conservation goals into lasting outcomes, and how funding, partnerships, and programs can help keep rangelands intact, productive, and economically viable for generations to come.

Want to learn more? Chat with us!

Support the show

Learn more about the work the Rangeland Trust does by following us on social media @rangelandtrust!

For many ranching families, the land is more than a place to work—it’s part of their identity, history, and family story. When that relationship with the land changes, the impact can last for generations.

In this episode, host and CEO of the Rangeland Trust Michael Delbar sits down with Nita Vail, a fourth-generation rancher who grew up on Santa Rosa Island, where her family ranched for nearly a century. Her journey from island ranching to state government, environmental policy, and helping lead the California Rangeland Trust has given her a unique perspective on the relationship between ranching and conservation.

Nita shares what it was like growing up on the island, what her family experienced when they left, and how that shaped more than two decades of work helping ranchers conserve and keep their land.

We talk about working lands, conservation, succession, and the importance of finding common ground, even when people don’t always see eye to eye.

Want to learn more? Chat with us!

Support the show

Learn more about the work the Rangeland Trust does by following us on social media @rangelandtrust!

Succession is one of the greatest challenges facing the ranching industry today. With an estimated 70% of U.S. farms and ranches expected to change hands over the next 20 years, thoughtful planning will be essential to ensuring these operations survive and remain productive for generations to come.

Successful succession involves far more than transferring land from one generation to the next. It requires early planning and honest conversations about family roles, business structure, finances, ownership, and the changes that come with transitioning leadership.

In this episode, host and CEO of the Rangeland Trust, Michael Delbar, sits down with Rangeland Trust ranching partners Mark and Dina Moore of Lone Star Ranch. They share their experience keeping the ranch intact across generations and the steps they have taken to prepare the next generation to lead while preserving the legacy of the land.

The discussion also examines the broader challenges facing ranchers today, including rising costs, regulatory complexity, development pressure, and the difficulty of keeping younger generations engaged in agriculture.

Want to learn more? Chat with us!

Support the show

Learn more about the work the Rangeland Trust does by following us on social media @rangelandtrust!

Agriculture has never been more visible. As social media gives consumers unprecedented access to life on the farm and ranch, producers have an opportunity—and a responsibility—to share their stories with authenticity and transparency.

In this episode, we sit down with Tucker Brown, a rancher from Throckmorton, Texas, who has built a following of more than 211,000 people on Instagram by documenting the day-to-day realities of his family's multi-generational ranch. His passion for educating consumers has led to opportunities to speak at NCBA CattleCon and attend events at the White House, all while continuing to steward his family's ranching legacy.

Tucker shares how he balances tradition with innovation through sound business decisions, social media, and advocacy for the beef industry. We also discuss the challenges facing ranchers today, from changing markets, labor shortages, and new technology to the ongoing loss of working lands, and why it's more important than ever for producers to tell agriculture's story, combat misinformation, and build consumer trust in the people and practices behind the food they produce.

Want to learn more? Chat with us!

Support the show

Learn more about the work the Rangeland Trust does by following us on social media @rangelandtrust!

In this episode, host and CEO Michael Delbar sits down with River Klass, first-generation rancher, restaurateur, and host of the Outdoor Channel’s Ranch America. Together, they explore the realities of ranch life and the critical role ranchers play in producing food, stewarding natural resources, and preserving the open spaces that define much of the American landscape.

With nearly 90% of U.S. beef producers operating as small, family-run businesses, ranching remains deeply rooted in local communities—yet many consumers have little connection to the people raising their food. Through his work on Ranch America, River shines a light on the hardworking families who care for their livestock, their land, and their communities, often around the clock.

Michael and River discuss the challenges facing today’s ranchers, the importance of sustainable land stewardship, and why bridging the gap between producers and consumers has never been more important.

This episode is sponsored by American Jerky Company.

Want to learn more? Chat with us!

Support the show

Learn more about the work the Rangeland Trust does by following us on social media @rangelandtrust!

California has a long and deeply rooted agricultural history, yet today the state is often defined by technology, urban growth, and innovation hubs like Silicon Valley. As communities become increasingly urbanized, the connection between people and the land that feeds them continues to fade—even as conversations around sustainability, food systems, and local economies grow more important than ever.

In this episode, host and CEO of the Rangeland Trust, Michael Delbar, sits down with Julie Morris, co-founder of Morris Grassfed Beef and a passionate advocate for agricultural awareness in the Bay Area. Julie shares her journey from city life to ranching and explains how small farms and ranches play a critical role in land stewardship, biodiversity, and community resilience in the Santa Clara Valley.

Together, they explore conservation partnerships, sustainable ranching practices, and ways to bridge the urban-rural divide through education, storytelling, and policy initiatives like the agricultural awareness campaign for the Santa Clara Valley. Julie also discusses the importance of supporting the next generation of farmers and ranchers, protecting local food systems, and preserving working lands that sustain wildlife habitat, food security, and California’s agricultural heritage. This episode offers an insightful look at how collaboration, stewardship, and community engagement can help shape a more resilient future for both people and the land.

Want to learn more? Chat with us!

Support the show

Learn more about the work the Rangeland Trust does by following us on social media @rangelandtrust!

Last week, we celebrated Earth Day—but for ranchers, that responsibility doesn’t only come once a year. Stewardship is part of the job, every day. Caring for working lands means tending soil, water, and wildlife habitat while sustaining the agricultural legacy that keeps California’s landscapes thriving.

In this episode, host and CEO of the Rangeland Trust, Michael Delbar, sits down with Stan Van Vleck of Van Vleck Ranch, a multi-generational family operation with more than 170 years of agricultural history. Stan shares his journey from growing up on the ranch, to building a career in law, and ultimately returning home to take over the family business during a time of significant change in the agricultural landscape.

Together, they explore how Van Vleck Ranch has adapted over time—evolving its cattle operation, diversifying its portfolio, and embracing conservation through easements, habitat stewardship, and strategic partnerships that keep the land intact and working for wildlife, people, and the planet.

At the heart of the conversation is a reality many ranchers face: caring for the land has always been part of the work—but staying economically sustainable has become increasingly difficult. We often talk about “sustainable agriculture” in terms of the environment, but true sustainability also has to include the economics. If it doesn’t pencil out, it doesn’t last. And today, growing pressures have made that balance harder than it was for previous generations, with many family ranches only able to support one family at a time.

The Van Vlecks’ story is one example of how ranchers are navigating that reality—finding new ways to make it work through grit, perseverance, resilience, and innovation. Because if the economics don’t hold, neither does the stewardship.

Want to learn more? Chat with us!

Support the show

Learn more about the work the Rangeland Trust does by following us on social media @rangelandtrust!

March is always a meaningful time. It is a chance to celebrate International Women’s Day and National Ag Day, all while recognizing the people who shape our agricultural landscapes. This year carries even greater significance as it also marks the International Year of the Woman Farmer and the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. It’s a moment to reflect on the contributions, leadership, and resilience of those working the land, and to highlight the stories that often go untold.

At the Rangeland Trust, we’re fortunate to partner with remarkable landowners across California, many of whom are women leading the way in agriculture and conservation. In this episode, we spotlight one of those leaders: our 2025 Conservationist of the Year, Karen Sweet, honored at A Western Affair alongside her late husband, Darrel. A founding board member and Emeritus Council member, Darrel helped shape the Rangeland Trust’s legacy, and together, the Sweet family has built a powerful story rooted in stewardship, partnership, and dedication to the land.

In this episode, Rangeland Trust CEO and host Michael Delbar sits down with Karen to discuss how ranching in Alameda County has evolved, the vital role women continue to play in the industry, and the decision her family made to permanently conserve their ranch. Together, they also explore her leadership within the broader conservation community—including her work with the California Rangeland Conservation Coalition—and her perspective on what lies ahead for the next generation of land stewards.

Want to learn more? Chat with us!

Support the show

Learn more about the work the Rangeland Trust does by following us on social media @rangelandtrust!

Grazing has long played a vital role in sustaining the landscapes of the American West. Thoughtfully managed, livestock grazing supports healthy rangelands by reducing invasive species, managing fuel loads that can contribute to catastrophic wildfire, and helping maintain open, working landscapes that support wildlife habitat and rural communities.

This work doesn’t happen only on private lands. Millions of acres of public lands across the West are grazed under federal permits, forming a critical link in the stewardship of vast, connected ecosystems—and the ranchers who steward them play an important role in keeping them resilient and productive.

In this episode, host and CEO of the Rangeland Trust, Michael Delbar, is joined by Kaitlynn Glover, Executive Director of the Public Lands Council, to explore the realities of grazing on public lands. Together, they discuss the role of the Council, the challenges ranchers face, opportunities within federal grazing permits, and how producers are working to care for the land while supporting rural communities. Kaitlynn also addresses common misconceptions about grazing and explains why producer voices remain essential in shaping the future of public lands stewardship.

Want to learn more? Chat with us!

Support the show

Learn more about the work the Rangeland Trust does by following us on social media @rangelandtrust!

In this first episode of Season Five of Tuned in to the Land, host Michael Delbar sits down with rancher Katie Delbar, a former USDA Farm Service Agency County Executive Director and current member of the California State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection. Katie is also Michael’s wife and partner in ranching, bringing both professional expertise and lived experience to the conversation. Together, they explore how life on the ranch informs leadership at every level, from federal agencies to statewide policy tables.

Katie shares insights from her career working alongside ranchers across Northern California, her firsthand experience navigating wildfire on working lands, and her role representing livestock and rangelands in California’s forestry and fire conversations. Together, Michael and Katie unpack how managed grazing, stewardship, and long-term land planning play critical roles in resilience, wildfire mitigation, and the future of working landscapes.

The episode also takes a look at what it means to be a woman in agriculture—balancing family, leadership, and service while helping shape the next generation of agriculturalists. Grounded, practical, and hopeful, this conversation highlights the people and partnerships needed to keep California’s working lands healthy, productive, and thriving.

Want to learn more? Chat with us!

Support the show

Learn more about the work the Rangeland Trust does by following us on social media @rangelandtrust!