Working Lands Workshop and Collaborative Opportunities

Sheridan Conservation District Manager Carrie Rogaczewski reports over 60 people participated in the 2024 Working Lands Workshop on Aug. 13 – 14, at the Sheridan County Fairgrounds.

The two-day event featured Fernando Falomir, with Understanding Ag, who shared his experience with soil health and adaptive grazing principles, specifically as it relates to rangeland livestock production. Fernando is currently on his family’s ranch in Chihuahua Mexico, has taught Ranching For Profit in Mexico, and consults in many arid places, including Wyoming. Understanding Ag is a regenerative agriculture consulting company consisting of real farmers and ranchers with decades of experience. 

Rogaczewski appeared on Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse while the event was kicking-off.  

C. Rogaczewski 

In a report from Rogaczewski at the conclusion of the event, it was good and well supported by sponsors in the Sheridan Community. 

“There is a lot of work and expense that goes into putting on an event like this and it certainly would have been much more difficult without help. There was a tremendous amount of support and the work from everyone on the Collaborative was invaluable,” Rogaczewski said.

The event included field demonstrations on soil infiltration and other tools and a session where participants worked through a case-study to identify potential solutions to current challenges.

“Mr. Falomir’s family’s ranch in Chihuahua, Mexico, was able to return their arid desert ranch from the brink of collapse to productive, vibrant plant communities supporting both wildlife and livestock. So, he has a lot to offer us here in an arid, but slightly more hospitable environment,” Andrew Cassiday with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, said.   

Event sponsors included: Sheridan County Farm and Ranch Bureau, Plank Stewardship Initiative, Padlock Ranch Company, Dan and Jeanne Scott Foundation, Legacy Irrigation and Supply Company, The Nature Conservancy, the World Wildlife Fund, Sheridan County Weed and Pest, Farmers Coop, and Powder River Basin Resource Council. 

According to Rogaczewski, current members of the Working Lands Collaborative include the White Ranch, Broken Arrow Ranch, Sheridan County Conservation District, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service-Sheridan Field Office, Sheridan Community Land Trust, University of Wyoming Sheridan Research and Extension Center, and Powder River Basin Resource Council. 

The Working Lands Collaborative is a group of local landowners, agency representatives, and other organizations committed to bringing subject matter experts and teachers into the community to grow the local knowledge base on next-level adaptive agriculture practices. With a motto of “Growing Local Wisdom to Cultivate Resilient Futures”, the Collaborative hopes to encourage operators to take the next step themselves, and in time, become a resource for others as they take on new-to-them challenges.  For now, the Collaborative does this with an annual event focused on soil health, regenerative agriculture, adaptive grazing, cover crops, and other multi-disciplinary natural resource topics to increase local knowledge and facilitate sharing of ideas.

The Collaborative invites additional participation and welcomes input to help with future programming. The next meeting will be Sept. 26, at 1 pm.  

For more information, please contact the Sheridan County Conservation District (carrie.rogaczewski@sccdwy.org or (307) 672-5820 x.3).