WHAT WE DO
The Western Ranch Management and Ecosystem Stewardship Program, hosted by the Warner College of Natural Resources, is a developing academic and research initiative aimed at addressing today’s challenges of ranching in a rapidly changing world.
Our program is founded on understanding the diverse ecosystems that define western landscapes, and the natural resources and processes that support ranching communities. We work closely with ranch owners, managers and stakeholders to identify education and research needs specific to the Rocky Mountain West.
Ranches serve as the classroom and laboratory so students can learn by hands-on experience, interact with practitioners, and see first-hand the strategies used to keep working lands sustainable.
OUR MISSION
Support higher education, applied research and professional development for future generations of ranchers, producers and land stewards through experiential learning and engagement in the Rocky Mountain West.
OUR VISION
Promote sustainable ranching practices through traditional and contemporary approaches that support our forests, rangelands, wildlife and water while fostering livelihoods and strengthening the resilience of working landscapes.
News
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Scholarships Available for Summer 2027
Scholarships are available for students taking the Ranch Management and Stewardship Field Course during summer 2027. Scholarships of $3,000 to $7,000 are available. Applicants can be individuals who are not students, CSU students, and students starting the Western Ranch Management and Ecosystem Stewardship Masters Specialization. Contact Tony Vorster (anthony.vorster@colostate.edu) if you would like to apply. Apply by April 23 to be considered for this scholarship.
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Summer 2027 Ranch Management and Stewardship Field Course
Join us for an intensive course that witnesses first-hand how a range of ranches successfully operates and stewards the lands and natural resources they manage. The Ranch Management and Stewardship Field Course (NR 536) will runs in late summer, hosted at ranches and tribal lands in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. Registration opens March, 2027. The course is open both to CSU students as well as those who are not CSU students. We welcome graduate students and junior and senior undergraduate students. More information about this class can be found on the Education page. Scholarships are available (see below for details).
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Temple Grandin Excellence Fund for Western Ranch Management and Ecosystem Stewardship Announced
An anonymous donor has established a new endowment honoring Dr. Temple Grandin’s lifetime work. WRMES has been selected as the Warner College of Natural Resources recipient. The endowment will support the program’s mission, including student scholarships and experiential learning. Contributions to the fund can be made through the Colorado State University Foundation.
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WRMES Leading Bighorn Sheep Forage Quality Study
Bighorn sheep populations are declining across the West, often due to respiratory disease with high mortality rates. WRMES received a research grant from Colorado Parks and Wildlife to explore whether forage quality influences herd survival. The study will assess forage across several ranches in southern Colorado to better understand resistance differences among herds.
