Hearing All Sides
Guest post by Clemson Montana Summer Program student Jacob Mooreland
On the final section of our amazing experience in central Montana, we met with ranchers Jim and Clyde Robinson, the American Prairie Reserve, and sage grouse researchers. In this section, we heard all sides of many of the controversial topics including wildlife issues, bison on the land, and issues with the American Prairie Reserve. On the first stop we meet with Jim and Clyde Robinson, two brothers who operate a ranch close to land owned by The Nature Conservancy and the American Prairie Reserve. At their Robinson ranch, we drove out to a butte and talked for some time about their ranch and the opinions on controversial topics. One question the class asked them was “Do you enjoy having wildlife on your ranch?” They responded by saying they enjoy seeing pronghorn, elk, and mule deer on their ranch just like anybody else. They also said that the animals were on the land first and it’s their home, too. Then we brought up the topic of prairie dogs on their grazing land. They responded saying “They’re okay, to an extent”. They allow hunters to shoot prairie dogs on their land, and they told us that this killing of prairie dogs enhances the growth and health of the town. Also, Jim told us stories about problems with coyotes killing sheep on neighboring ranches, and how they hire federal trappers to help remove these animals from their land.
The last thing we asked the brothers was what their opinions were about the American Prairie Reserve. They began by comparing the goals of ranchers and APR, and the differences between both. Clyde responded by saying “Rancher’s and farmer’s lasting legacy is to feed the American people” while APR’s legacy is to build a wildlife reserve where they are taking cattle land from feeding the population. Jim said that there is already a “Yellowstone”, if people want to see bison, they should go there. I can see how an organization buying up ranchers' land where families have been operating for more than a century is upsetting many local people. With APR’s strong donor support, it is hard for a rancher to compete with them in the market for new land. Jim and Clyde also explained to us “rules” when leasing with APR, where the lessee must sign a “loyalty oath” where they must publicly support APR and must also improve their ranch to APR’s guidelines. Also, APR may end your lease if you compete to buy land that they also are trying to buy.
The next day, our group got to hear the other side of the story from APR, represented by Damien Austin. When our group asked Damien about the lease problems we had heard, he responded by saying, “the rancher can end the lease whenever” so if they ever feel threatened, they can end the lease. One group member asked, “How is APR working to improve the economy since buying up all the land removes people and businesses from the land?” He responded by saying that APR is drawing in tourists, and they will need places to stay soon which will make the local economy boom. After hearing APR side, it made me feel like there was some miscommunication between ranchers and APR that should be fixed to help them understand each other. It seemed to me that if APR and the ranchers can work together, they can both benefit greatly. If they don’t, one side will eventually fail. After hearing both sides, I can now understand how hard it is to survive in the Great Plains and I have much respect for both the ranchers and the American Prairie Reserve.
On the final section of our amazing experience in central Montana, we met with ranchers Jim and Clyde Robinson, the American Prairie Reserve, and sage grouse researchers. In this section, we heard all sides of many of the controversial topics including wildlife issues, bison on the land, and issues with the American Prairie Reserve. On the first stop we meet with Jim and Clyde Robinson, two brothers who operate a ranch close to land owned by The Nature Conservancy and the American Prairie Reserve. At their Robinson ranch, we drove out to a butte and talked for some time about their ranch and the opinions on controversial topics. One question the class asked them was “Do you enjoy having wildlife on your ranch?” They responded by saying they enjoy seeing pronghorn, elk, and mule deer on their ranch just like anybody else. They also said that the animals were on the land first and it’s their home, too. Then we brought up the topic of prairie dogs on their grazing land. They responded saying “They’re okay, to an extent”. They allow hunters to shoot prairie dogs on their land, and they told us that this killing of prairie dogs enhances the growth and health of the town. Also, Jim told us stories about problems with coyotes killing sheep on neighboring ranches, and how they hire federal trappers to help remove these animals from their land.
The last thing we asked the brothers was what their opinions were about the American Prairie Reserve. They began by comparing the goals of ranchers and APR, and the differences between both. Clyde responded by saying “Rancher’s and farmer’s lasting legacy is to feed the American people” while APR’s legacy is to build a wildlife reserve where they are taking cattle land from feeding the population. Jim said that there is already a “Yellowstone”, if people want to see bison, they should go there. I can see how an organization buying up ranchers' land where families have been operating for more than a century is upsetting many local people. With APR’s strong donor support, it is hard for a rancher to compete with them in the market for new land. Jim and Clyde also explained to us “rules” when leasing with APR, where the lessee must sign a “loyalty oath” where they must publicly support APR and must also improve their ranch to APR’s guidelines. Also, APR may end your lease if you compete to buy land that they also are trying to buy.
The next day, our group got to hear the other side of the story from APR, represented by Damien Austin. When our group asked Damien about the lease problems we had heard, he responded by saying, “the rancher can end the lease whenever” so if they ever feel threatened, they can end the lease. One group member asked, “How is APR working to improve the economy since buying up all the land removes people and businesses from the land?” He responded by saying that APR is drawing in tourists, and they will need places to stay soon which will make the local economy boom. After hearing APR side, it made me feel like there was some miscommunication between ranchers and APR that should be fixed to help them understand each other. It seemed to me that if APR and the ranchers can work together, they can both benefit greatly. If they don’t, one side will eventually fail. After hearing both sides, I can now understand how hard it is to survive in the Great Plains and I have much respect for both the ranchers and the American Prairie Reserve.
