Next Generation Youth Involvement - Karl & Kelli Ebel |
Karl and Kelli Ebel have worked with children of all ages since the early 2000's to give youth an opportunity to learn in nature at their ranch. What started as a growing interest from their own children's friends visiting their ranch, soon grew into year around activities that now draw youth from all over their own community of Sulphur Bluff, Texas, and the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Kelli says for some children that come to the Ebel Grasslands Ranch, this may be the first time they’ve been around livestock or even acreage. The Ebels say their aim is for children to get hands-on experience to explore animals and nature. By showing them the infinite options when it comes to agriculture and being outside, the Ebels have seen many young people's minds expand. They have also partnered with organizations and local schools, which has allowed the Ebel's to expand their reach through field trips, outdoor education, and workshops with hands-on activities. The workshop activities span from working with the Ebel’s cows and goats, hosting a Four Seasons Nature Hike, fun runs, using power tools, or creating art with materials found in nature. The Ebels say many of the children who come to the ranch just need to be given a chance to have the freedom and creativity to see the wonders in nature.
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After nearly two decades, the Ebels have seen the long-term effects of their influence. For one high school graduate, spending a season at their ranch was his first opportunity to work with his hands. He then went on to become a carpenter/film-set builder in Hollywood. For another young girl, her exposure to their animals inspired her, in part, to declare animal science as her major with a full ride to Texas A&M, in hopes of becoming a veterinarian. These two people are two examples of lives that have been transformed by the influence of Karl and Kelli's passion to provide young people with the opportunity to visit and work on a ranch. Their stories are a testament that you can be a full-time rancher while also making a lasting impact in your community. The Ebels use what they have available to them and allow others to learn from it, because they see the value and importance of planting seeds in the next generation.
If you want to learn more about the Ebels and their passion for conservation, you can watch a short video of them on our youtube channel. If you’d like to get in contact with them or ask how you can begin to impact youth in your community, they can be reached at kkebel818@gmail.com.
Photo: Karl & Kelli Ebel
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Formation of the Indigenous Grazing Lands Coalition |
Delane Atcitty, Executive Director of Indian Nations Conservation Alliance (INCA), along with the entire INCA team are working with the National Grazing Lands Coalition to create an Indigenous Grazing Lands Coalition. You may have watched our Facebook post about the NatGLC making a trip to New Mexico and Arizona to interview 20 Native ranchers from nine tribes to create a promotional video for their new GLC.
Atcitty says, “The formation of the Indigenous Grazing Lands Coalition is well overdue, because tribal lands represent 55 million acres of America’s 770 million acres of rangeland." Atcitty envisions the coalition being an information hub for tribal ranchers and an outlet for organizations such as the Tribal Natural Resources Department and Indian Affairs Oversight to create partnership and brainstorm new ideas.
The highlight video will debut at INCA’s conference in October, will be shown at the 8NGLC Conference in December in Myrtle Beach, and the SRM conference in February 2022. Click here to see a gallery of photos from the trip to the reservation.
Photo: Delane Atcitty
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If you know an eligible student interested in ranching, natural resources, rangeland management or wildlife, share this information with them!
June 20-25, 2021
Click here to see updates from the Nebraska Youth Range Camp that took place June 7-10.
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Grazing 101 & Record Keeping Online Courses with eBook
Last month, we announced that the Grazing 101 and Record Keeping Online Courses are now available for your viewing.
These free online courses lead you through understanding and thinking about grazing and/or record keeping for your farm or ranch. The courses are designed to speak to you regardless of where you live or what animals you graze. We know that you are short on time and yet, you desire to expand your knowledge about grazing and land management. We have combined the best of Grazing 101 and Recordkeeping into a single 30-day course that requires on average less than an hour of your time a day. To get started visit this link. Register using your email address, fill out a short survey, pick out a course and begin!
On Pasture guru, Kathy Voth, has created a companion eBook for Grazing 101. You can access it, also for free, here.
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Remembering the Last Conference |
Did you know that sessions from the 7th National Grazing Lands Conference are posted to our Youtube channel? They are a free resource to you in order to learn more about different topics ranging from foraging forecasting, grazing management in the coastal prairie, coalition building, and more!
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State Coalition Spotlight:
Kansas GLC
Kansas GLC has been working to incorporate young farmers in ranchers in their events both as hosts and participants. Recently, in partnership with the Tallgrass Legacy Alliance, KGLC saw 140 people at their event, May 20th, at Tiffany Cattle Company. Click here to listen to brothers Shane & Shawn Tiffany speak about their background and their chance to work as next generation ranchers. Both brothers are passionate about having people of all ages and backgrounds on their operation to work toward a successful future in agriculture.
The KGLC is hosting multiple educational events this summer including:
- The What, Why, and Wherefore of Small Ruminants - June 26th
- Central Kansas Small Ruminants Tour - July 27th
For more information about these events or other activities hosted by the Kansas GLC, visit www.kglc.org.
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A Word from Our
Vice-Chairman
Rob Cook
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As I sit down to prepare for this short article, I’m also packing up for a family vacation. I’m reminded how important these times are for all of us to recharge and remember what drives us to work so hard and how important our families are. I am also reminded of what influences our family and friends have on our lives and operations. I know on our operation we try to leverage the knowledge that our neighbors, friends, and family have gained from their experiences. Those thoughts just drive home how important our involvement in NatGLC is to our operation. Being involved in a state coalition and attending the 8NGLC provides opportunities to learn from the folks that do it every day. I don’t know of another place to find that type of resource outside of the National Grazing Lands Coalition. If you haven’t registered for the conference, click below. |
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Georgia:Peaches, Peanuts, Pine and... cows? |
Did you know that Georgia has cattle in every single county in the state? That is even more interesting when you learn that Georgia has the second most counties in the country. Second to Texas's 254 counties, Georgia has 159 counties in their state which is more than four times smaller than Texas. Why so many counties? With Georgia being one of the oldest states in the country, county lines were drawn so that farmers could travel to the neighboring county and back home via horseback or wagon in a single day. Georgia also has an extreme variation of elevation. The state goes from 4,784 ft above sea level in the north, to the Atlantic Ocean on the coast. |
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Click HERE to watch videos from past conferences.
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Want to stay up to date on events? Click the image to see the NatGLC Calendar!
Have an event you want to add to the calendar?
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Rotational grazing during calving season at the Ebel Grasslands Ranch. Come along to move the cows to a new pasture full of delicious, green grass. Babies, stick with your mamas! You'll be okay!
Our NuMinds' Inspirator (teacher), Kelli Klier Ebel and her family live on a restored native tallgrass prairie in Northeast Texas. Natural resource conservation is a top priority here.
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