West Texas Rangelands
West Texas RangelandsWe hope to provide a variety of science-based rangeland information and current research on prescribed fire, wildfires, brush management, and grazing management!

Archives for April 2016

Managing Heat for Wildlife on Texas Rangelands

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I am a really, really lucky Range Specialist!  I get to have one of the most amazing jobs and work across the hall from a very intelligent Wildlife Specialist!  We decided to combine forces and have recently published “Managing Heat for Wildlife on Texas Rangelands”.  You can find the publication here.  Check it out and download it!  It’s free!

100 Years at Sonora

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In case you haven’t heard, Sonora is having a party! Well, technically, Field Day first and party afterwards.  Dr. Butch Taylor has decided to retire and go out with a bang at the Sonora Celebration.

This Saturday we celebrate one individual and one Experiment Station that have been inseparable for 44 years.  One man.  One Career.  One location.  Pretty amazing and definitely not something you see everyday.  The Sonora Experiment Station is a magical place to start with.  This is probably the only place in the United States where producers advocated and helped purchase land and facilities to be solely utilized for applied research that producers NEED.  Match that research station with a very dedicated and determined individual and you have the perfect combination of research and outreach.  Here you will find an invitation to the Celebration and all the information you need to know to attend, including directions and a list of hotels.

If you have only heard of Dr. Butch Taylor, please come to the Sonora Celebration and shake the man’s hand.  Butch has done more for Texas rangelands and for Fire Ecology than any other scientist or Aggie for that matter.  But, you would never know that just by talking to him.  He is humble, gracious, kind, and truly in the business of education. I promise to keep a straight face, tear free, on Saturday, and can’t wait to applaud one hell of an amazing man. To learn more about Dr. Taylor’s story and tenure at Texas A&M University click here.

 

Please come celebrate Sonora with me this Saturday, April 23rd.  More importantly, come meet the man behind the station.

5 Thing I Loved about the Eldorado-Divide Range Contest April 16, 2016

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Last Saturday I had the pleasure of watching our District 6 and 7 4-H’ers complete the Range Contest in Eldorado, Texas.  These kids represent the very best of the best and as I watched them calculate stocking rates, forage production, and identify range plants I realized that I am so very blessed to learn from them.  I had the time of my life last Saturday because they #1) actively pursue learning about rangelands EVEN ON SATURDAY, #2) take pride in agriculture, livestock, and ranching, #3) are some of THEE most polite and well-mannered kids I have ever been around, #4) keep me on my A-Game, these kiddos are sharp, stubborn, and smart and they are not afraid to stand up for what they believe, and #5) reminded me why I am a Range Specialist 🙂

I encourage all of you to get your kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, pretty much all kids, into a 4-H program and point them the direction of Rangeland Management, because we all know it starts in the pastures!

Congratulations to all the winners!  We will see you all again in Ozona on May 21st and Junction April 27th!