Innovation is the Key
Post by Clemson Montana Summer Program student Erin McDaniel
“An inch above and an inch below, that’s what we live on,” a quote given by Leo Barthelmess, former director of the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (RSA) here in rural Malta, Montana. At first I was slightly confused, I mean surely it couldn’t be that simple. Surely there was much more too it, but as he continued to speak and openly share his views on ranching in this beautiful prairie land, everything clicked. No matter what your past, no matter where you’re from, or where you’re headed, people have to eat and that is what will always bring us together.
The main question in the great plains is simply, “Do you fall far left or far right?” In one direction, the “old-school” ranchers and the other is the wildlife conservation community. Both sides have a passion and administration within the people to cause unrest and contempt among such a small community. The ranchers have been tilling, plowing, and raising cattle for generations. They know the way of the land and have struggled through too many hard seasons to be told they should change their ways or pack up and leave, so they spend so much time rejecting outsiders. On the other far side, the conservationists push too far.
While staying at the Enrico Center near the Charles M. Russell Wildlife Refuge, we got to spend several days with the American Prairie Reserve (APR). There they relentlessly spoke of their far sided view of the spectrum they stand on. Grant it, they were polite and forthcoming with their views, but when I asked them what they were doing within the community there wasn’t much for them to say. Yes they buy ranch land that historically housed cattle instead of bison, but they only buy what is for sale on the market. Their idea is to create a nature corridor for all large plains mammals to migrate through, and personally I am all for it. Before the Euro-Americans came, that was exactly the case, but I do believe there is a better way to go about it.
Bison were traditional grazers on the land, now we have cattle. Tilling has proven to reduce soil microbial activity and frequent air pollution with increased dust exposure and high wind. Invasive species move in fast and forceful, out-competing the native grass, so why not use sheep to control weeds instead to be more organic? People historically have had a negative opinion toward prairie dogs, but science has proven they are the second keystone species to bison on the prairie lands, so why not keep them? They provide homes, security, and food for more native species than just potholes for cattle to possibly step into. So many of these arguments make the two spectrums red in the face with contempt. They both have great reason to come out on top, but there has to be an equal ground, and that is why the RSA was created.
RSA is one of the most innovative groups we’ve learned about. We met with Mr. Leo and Connie French and they were the two most influential speakers so far. It wasn’t just what they said, but how they presented it. The truth was all they spoke, there was no lie or false truth, they only gave their opinion and what they believed was the right thing. The RSA was created in the 80’s when the government/scientists came in and told the ranchers they were working the land wrong. They pushed their ideas on a way of life that has been thriving for generations. A few key innovative ranchers saw that the scientists had good ideas and ways to improve relationships with the wildlife they cherished more than any scientist ever could. Those key ranchers became the middle-men between the wildlife conservationists and the ranchers living there. Although it was a tough idea, those innovators saw only failure in the future if change wasn’t implemented.
The RSA believes in the next generation. The RSA believes in unity with its wildlife. The RSA keeps true to its history, but strives to write a new one. Time and time again I push to understand what education is there being done to inform the people and push for better. Connie was wonderful and spent such a long time with me, speaking one-on-one about her trials marrying into the community, but also the trials she faced with the education she pushed for the school children to understand that science is the key. She gave an analogy, one that will stick with me always, “Feeding education is like watering a dry houseplant. Too much water and the soil will reject the water, allowing it to slide right off. But if you add a little at a time, the plant will absorb the water and take in as much as it can to better itself and grow.” Wow! What a beautiful way to think about it all. What an amazing analogy to roll around in the minds of both parties.
Change is inevitable. The ranchers children are leaving and only a few are returning. Those that do have new ways of thinking and with that, the relationship between rancher and conservationists can improve if both sides will see each other as people, not enemies. Neither rancher nor scientist’s side is 100% correct. Both sides have great points, but the land cannot persist without the people to manage it. Private lands verse public lands is such a fight that will inevitably be fought for many years yet, but if the RSA can get through to both strong sided left and right of both rancher and APR, the future ranchers of America can rest in peace and harmony with the land they fight to care for. Leo Barthelmess said with confidence at the Science Symposium, “You have to determine what ranching is to you. Innovation is the key for upcoming ranchers, and working hard for what you really want is what will keep the prairie lands alive with future ranchers.” I believe the breakdown of the old economy has seen its last days, and the new generation is here using young eyes for the coming seasons; Innovation is the key.
The main question in the great plains is simply, “Do you fall far left or far right?” In one direction, the “old-school” ranchers and the other is the wildlife conservation community. Both sides have a passion and administration within the people to cause unrest and contempt among such a small community. The ranchers have been tilling, plowing, and raising cattle for generations. They know the way of the land and have struggled through too many hard seasons to be told they should change their ways or pack up and leave, so they spend so much time rejecting outsiders. On the other far side, the conservationists push too far.
Bison were traditional grazers on the land, now we have cattle. Tilling has proven to reduce soil microbial activity and frequent air pollution with increased dust exposure and high wind. Invasive species move in fast and forceful, out-competing the native grass, so why not use sheep to control weeds instead to be more organic? People historically have had a negative opinion toward prairie dogs, but science has proven they are the second keystone species to bison on the prairie lands, so why not keep them? They provide homes, security, and food for more native species than just potholes for cattle to possibly step into. So many of these arguments make the two spectrums red in the face with contempt. They both have great reason to come out on top, but there has to be an equal ground, and that is why the RSA was created.
RSA is one of the most innovative groups we’ve learned about. We met with Mr. Leo and Connie French and they were the two most influential speakers so far. It wasn’t just what they said, but how they presented it. The truth was all they spoke, there was no lie or false truth, they only gave their opinion and what they believed was the right thing. The RSA was created in the 80’s when the government/scientists came in and told the ranchers they were working the land wrong. They pushed their ideas on a way of life that has been thriving for generations. A few key innovative ranchers saw that the scientists had good ideas and ways to improve relationships with the wildlife they cherished more than any scientist ever could. Those key ranchers became the middle-men between the wildlife conservationists and the ranchers living there. Although it was a tough idea, those innovators saw only failure in the future if change wasn’t implemented.
Change is inevitable. The ranchers children are leaving and only a few are returning. Those that do have new ways of thinking and with that, the relationship between rancher and conservationists can improve if both sides will see each other as people, not enemies. Neither rancher nor scientist’s side is 100% correct. Both sides have great points, but the land cannot persist without the people to manage it. Private lands verse public lands is such a fight that will inevitably be fought for many years yet, but if the RSA can get through to both strong sided left and right of both rancher and APR, the future ranchers of America can rest in peace and harmony with the land they fight to care for. Leo Barthelmess said with confidence at the Science Symposium, “You have to determine what ranching is to you. Innovation is the key for upcoming ranchers, and working hard for what you really want is what will keep the prairie lands alive with future ranchers.” I believe the breakdown of the old economy has seen its last days, and the new generation is here using young eyes for the coming seasons; Innovation is the key.
