This summer field course is offered from late July to mid-August each year, featuring two 10-day sessions at eight ranches in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. These ranches span diverse ecosystems of the Rocky Mountains, from production to conservation ranches and arid to alpine environments. The course integrates disciplines like agriculture, animal sciences, business, ecology, forestry, rangeland management, watershed sciences, and wildlife conservation, with field visits that highlight both the opportunities and challenges of modern ranch management.

Course Highlights:

• Ranch Management: Understand the social, economic, and environmental factors that influence ranch operations, including business models, human resources, and community impacts.
• Grazing Strategies: Learn about grazing systems for cattle and bison designed to promote biodiversity, improve soil health, and conserve water.
• Forest Ecology: Explore how Western forests are managed for timber, wildlife, fire risk, and carbon sequestration.
• Wildlife Partnerships: Study collaborative efforts with wildlife agencies to protect endangered species like bighorn sheep and the Rio Grande cutthroat trout.
• Riparian Restoration: Gain insights into projects that restore vital riparian habitats and understand how water rights influence land management.
• Conservation Planning: Discover long-term strategies for conservation through easements, carbon trading, and incentives.
• Vegetation Sampling: Learn sampling methods used to monitor grazing, fire, and other management impacts on vegetation.
• Additional Topics: Get an overview of hunting programs, water conservation practices, alternative energy development, ranch finances, and more.

By the end of the course, students will have a solid understanding of various ranch management strategies, tools, and potential career paths in this field.

Interested?

Contact Tony Vorster (anthony.vorster@colostate.edu) if you are interested in enrolling.

More information about enrolling as a non-degree seeking student can be found here.

This seminar series draws upon the experiences of practitioners and experts to expose students to various management approaches and perspectives. Ranch managers need an expansive toolkit and network to draw upon, and this course offers opportunities for students to learn new management approaches and to make connections with experienced practitioners. This course is offered in the fall semester.

Students read about each topic in preparation for each seminar and engage with speakers in rich discussion. Past topics have included drought adaptation, collaborative conservation, grazing management, low stress animal handling, predator management, human resources, regulatory considerations, and ecosystem service markets.

This course gives students hands-on experience with the practical skills needed to be effective ranch managers. These skills are best learned by doing, and the course provides opportunities to build both confidence and qualifications that are valuable on the job market.

Offered each fall semester, the class takes place both on campus and at local ranches and facilities.

Students gain experience in livestock handling and care (including Beef Quality Assurance certification), fencing, water system improvements, heavy equipment and ATV operation, proposal writing, ranch finances, and relevant applications and technologies. The course also includes participation in the Regenerate conference and instruction on buying and selling livestock.

This capstone course gives students the opportunity to apply their learning in a real-world setting. Each student is paired with a partner ranch, where they work closely with ranch owners, managers, and employees to identify priorities and goals. Through these conversations, students select a specific resource or operation to assess.

They then conduct research, consult stakeholders and experts, and develop management and monitoring recommendations. These recommendations are compiled into a written management plan, which is shared and presented to the ranch partners.

This course challenges students to integrate their previous coursework, field experiences, and professional networks to create practical, stewardship-focused solutions.

Students will learn to:

• Write and present a ranch management plan outlining challenges, recommendations, and long-term outcomes.
• Identify issues affecting rangeland and forest ecosystem processes and productivity.
• Evaluate management priorities and develop strategies that align with the ranch’s vision while promoting land stewardship.
• Identify best practices for a specific social and ecological context through course materials and independent research.