Tuned in to the Land

Episode 5.5: Reconnecting California to its Roots

California has a long and deeply rooted agricultural history, yet today the state is often defined by technology, urban growth, and innovation hubs like Silicon Valley. As communities become increasingly urbanized, the connection between people and the land that feeds them continues to fade—even as conversations around sustainability, food systems, and local economies grow more important than ever. In this episode, host and CEO of the Rangeland Trust, Michael Delbar, sits down with Julie Morris, co-founder of Morris Grassfed Beef [https://morrisgrassfed.com/] and a passionate advocate for agricultural awareness in the Bay Area. Julie shares her journey from city life to ranching and explains how small farms and ranches play a critical role in land stewardship, biodiversity, and community resilience in the Santa Clara Valley. Together, they explore conservation partnerships, sustainable ranching practices, and ways to bridge the urban-rural divide through education, storytelling, and policy initiatives like the agricultural awareness campaign [http://santaclaraag.org/] for the Santa Clara Valley. Julie also discusses the importance of supporting the next generation of farmers and ranchers, protecting local food systems, and preserving working lands that sustain wildlife habitat, food security, and California’s agricultural heritage. This episode offers an insightful look at how collaboration, stewardship, and community engagement can help shape a more resilient future for both people and the land. Want to learn more? Chat with us! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451867/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E333512&id=1] Learn more about the work the Rangeland Trust does by following us on social media @rangelandtrust!

Episode 5.4: Van Vleck Ranch - Balancing Tradition and Innovation

Last week, we celebrated Earth Day—but for ranchers, that responsibility doesn’t only come once a year. Stewardship is part of the job, every day. Caring for working lands means tending soil, water, and wildlife habitat while sustaining the agricultural legacy that keeps California’s landscapes thriving. In this episode, host and CEO of the Rangeland Trust, Michael Delbar, sits down with Stan Van Vleck of Van Vleck Ranch, a multi-generational family operation with more than 170 years of agricultural history. Stan shares his journey from growing up on the ranch, to building a career in law, and ultimately returning home to take over the family business during a time of significant change in the agricultural landscape. Together, they explore how Van Vleck Ranch has adapted over time—evolving its cattle operation, diversifying its portfolio, and embracing conservation through easements, habitat stewardship, and strategic partnerships that keep the land intact and working for wildlife, people, and the planet. At the heart of the conversation is a reality many ranchers face: caring for the land has always been part of the work—but staying economically sustainable has become increasingly difficult. We often talk about “sustainable agriculture” in terms of the environment, but true sustainability also has to include the economics. If it doesn’t pencil out, it doesn’t last. And today, growing pressures have made that balance harder than it was for previous generations, with many family ranches only able to support one family at a time. The Van Vlecks’ story is one example of how ranchers are navigating that reality—finding new ways to make it work through grit, perseverance, resilience, and innovation. Because if the economics don’t hold, neither does the stewardship. Want to learn more? Chat with us! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451867/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E333512&id=1] Learn more about the work the Rangeland Trust does by following us on social media @rangelandtrust!

Episode 5.3: Women on the Range - Karen Sweet’s Story

March is always a meaningful time. It is a chance to celebrate International Women’s Day and National Ag Day, all while recognizing the people who shape our agricultural landscapes. This year carries even greater significance as it also marks the International Year of the Woman Farmer and the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. It’s a moment to reflect on the contributions, leadership, and resilience of those working the land, and to highlight the stories that often go untold. At the Rangeland Trust, we’re fortunate to partner with remarkable landowners across California, many of whom are women leading the way in agriculture and conservation. In this episode, we spotlight one of those leaders: our 2025 Conservationist of the Year, Karen Sweet, honored at A Western Affair alongside her late husband, Darrel. A founding board member and Emeritus Council member, Darrel helped shape the Rangeland Trust’s legacy, and together, the Sweet family has built a powerful story rooted in stewardship, partnership, and dedication to the land. In this episode, Rangeland Trust CEO and host Michael Delbar sits down with Karen to discuss how ranching in Alameda County has evolved, the vital role women continue to play in the industry, and the decision her family made to permanently conserve their ranch. Together, they also explore her leadership within the broader conservation community—including her work with the California Rangeland Conservation Coalition [https://carangeland.org/]—and her perspective on what lies ahead for the next generation of land stewards. Want to learn more? Chat with us! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451867/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E333512&id=1] Learn more about the work the Rangeland Trust does by following us on social media @rangelandtrust!

Episode 5.2: Grazing on Public Lands

Grazing has long played a vital role in sustaining the landscapes of the American West. Thoughtfully managed, livestock grazing supports healthy rangelands by reducing invasive species, managing fuel loads that can contribute to catastrophic wildfire, and helping maintain open, working landscapes that support wildlife habitat and rural communities. This work doesn’t happen only on private lands. Millions of acres of public lands across the West are grazed under federal permits, forming a critical link in the stewardship of vast, connected ecosystems—and the ranchers who steward them play an important role in keeping them resilient and productive. In this episode, host and CEO of the Rangeland Trust, Michael Delbar, is joined by Kaitlynn Glover, Executive Director of the Public Lands Council [https://publiclandscouncil.org/?fbclid=IwY2xjawPtsX1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFvaU5vU1FyTWVwdEh0Tklzc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHko09C66LMLmKB8cJ5xRfYLEU3EG_iaUsZ12kQbVKD3hWQgbZ62wP8i-NQQv_aem_OF4tJ5_7pNNx5fQOyr77OQ], to explore the realities of grazing on public lands. Together, they discuss the role of the Council, the challenges ranchers face, opportunities within federal grazing permits, and how producers are working to care for the land while supporting rural communities. Kaitlynn also addresses common misconceptions about grazing and explains why producer voices remain essential in shaping the future of public lands stewardship. Want to learn more? Chat with us! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451867/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E333512&id=1] Learn more about the work the Rangeland Trust does by following us on social media @rangelandtrust!

Episode 5.1: Ranching, Leadership, & Legacy

In this first episode of Season Five of Tuned in to the Land, host Michael Delbar sits down with rancher Katie Delbar, a former USDA Farm Service Agency County Executive Director and current member of the California State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection. Katie is also Michael’s wife and partner in ranching, bringing both professional expertise and lived experience to the conversation. Together, they explore how life on the ranch informs leadership at every level, from federal agencies to statewide policy tables. Katie shares insights from her career working alongside ranchers across Northern California, her firsthand experience navigating wildfire on working lands, and her role representing livestock and rangelands in California’s forestry and fire conversations. Together, Michael and Katie unpack how managed grazing, stewardship, and long-term land planning play critical roles in resilience, wildfire mitigation, and the future of working landscapes. The episode also takes a look at what it means to be a woman in agriculture—balancing family, leadership, and service while helping shape the next generation of agriculturalists. Grounded, practical, and hopeful, this conversation highlights the people and partnerships needed to keep California’s working lands healthy, productive, and thriving. Want to learn more? Chat with us! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451867/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E333512&id=1] Learn more about the work the Rangeland Trust does by following us on social media @rangelandtrust!