- Author: Stephanie Larson
Recently, my classmates and I went on a hike through Taylor Mountain to learn about the multiple uses of rangelands for ranchers and for the public. As a professional whose whole job is to connect people with the animal world, I was taken by what a rare experience it was for so many people to see something so mundane as a cow.
I'm willing to admit that I am just as guilty as anyone for being impressed by this. When I first moved to the Bay and went hiking through Mount Diablo where cows were grazing I was just as bad as anyone. I asked myself questions like “Is that safe?” “Am I supposed to go in there? Did I read that right?” These are not quarrelsome charging water buffalo or wild deer, these are the standard of what livestock is but it seemed like a daring experience to go walking past them in an uncontrolled environment. I had no idea what the rules were for interacting with them but it didn't take much to learn them.
What does this say about society that seeing a cow is a noteworthy experience? Are we really that accustomed to city life and only seeing other human beings that this is considered daring? I've got a lot more exotic animal experience than most people but I found myself feeling rejuvenated by the glory of the animal world just by interacting with these “dumb cows.”
I dread the generations that are very quickly coming up where there will be no nature left, where it's not possible to take a break from the city and just walk through the blank slate of a hillside and feel yourself refreshed by clean air and rolling hills. I feel like just this one quick trip was enough to motivate me to keep preservation of rangelands in my mind and I hope other people will always have the opportunity to have the same experience.
- Author: Karen Giovannini
Press release from Society for Range Management:
In the counties just north of San Francisco Bay, Dr. Stephanie Larson-Praplan is well known for her strong interests in locally produced agricultural products. In these counties that produce world class wines and provide healthy and sustainable food stuffs to a large urban area, Stephanie has shown that ranching enterprises can benefit from marketing sustainably produced rangeland products. Helping ranchers to address water quality, endangered species, carbon storage and niche market food standards has added substance to their marketing of rangeland products.
Stephanie is an energetic and dedicated rangeland professional who, in the midst of these successful extension projects, found time to complete a PhD, direct the Sonoma County extension office and serve on the Society for Range Management Board of Directors.
For her dedication and discipline, it was with honor that the Society for Range Management presented Dr. Stephanie Larson with a 2015 Outstanding Achievement Award for Research.
- Author: Stephanie Larson
This semester, I am teaching Range Management at Santa Rosa Junior College. I have asked my students to give their impressions of what they are learning in the form of a blog. This blog was written by student Emily Kohl.
I highly recommend people visit Taylor Mountain and take the time to read the history and goals behind this amazing park.
- Author: Stephanie Larson
This semester, I am teaching Range Management at Santa Rosa Junior College. I have asked my students to give their impressions of what they are learning in the form of a blog. This blog was written by student Brian Noyes.
Despite the complications and many exceptions given by the broad designation, in essence, learning to manage rangeland is learning to manage grazing. Although I knew the general natural history of the land, it didn't occur to me just how instrumental were the grazing and browsing herds of animals throughout the past in maintaining the landscape. This opens up a very novel way of thinking about land management through animal husbandry. At least it is novel to me, given my background in conservation and habitat restoration, with particular focus on riparian habitats. Grazing livestock is anathema to riparian habitat, plain and simple; how ironic that proper grazing techniques practiced upland of the stream channel are probably one of the most effective tools in preserving water quality through reducing erosion and improving groundwater retention. I look forward to challenging more of my own conceptions in this field going forward.
- Author: Karen Giovannini
Rangelands are important for many different reasons, there is a vast variety of products produced from the production of rangelands. Not only are rangelands used for production, but they are also used as a great outdoor recreation service for society.
In addition not only do mountainous rangelands provide the means for me to be able to snowboard and in turn create feelings of excitement and adrenaline, but I also generate feelings of appreciation, relaxation, and exuberance due to the appreciation I feel when I get to admire the true beauty of mountainous rangelands. In addition the different topography of mountain rangelands creates different types of mountain slopes which very in steepness and length, the different variations of mountain slopes are what snowboarders use to challenge themselves.
In conclusion the amazing challenging sport of snowboarding would not be possible without mountainous rangelands!
This blog was written by Sean Ellyson, student at Santa Rosa Junior College in the Range Management class which is taught by Dr Stephanie Larson, Livestock and Range Management Advisor for Sonoma & Marin counties.