The White family earns Landowner of the Year Award for Wyoming Game and Fish

Bill and Beth White are a father and daughter duo who exemplify the hard work and dedication necessary to be successful ranchers in these challenging times. The White Ranch encompasses over 6,700 acres along the Tongue River and foothills of the Bighorn Mountains near Ranchester.  

The Landowner of the Year award is presented to Wyoming landowners who have demonstrated outstanding practices in wildlife management, habitat improvement, and conservation techniques on their properties, according to the Game and Fish.

Many times, these landowners also cooperate with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to provide access to hunters and anglers on their properties. 

Award recipients are nominated by any department employee and selected by the regional leadership teams as model citizens for the conservation, ethical use, and stewardship of Wyoming’s natural resources.

The White Ranch has been a key partner with the Sheridan County Weed and Pest as well as the University of Wyoming Research Station to combat invasive grasses in Sheridan County.  Medusahead and Ventenata – invasive non-native grasses – have been spreading rapidly across the county and outcompeting native rangeland grasses.  The White Ranch has been very active mapping out these grass species on their ranch, and provided the University of Wyoming with a research plot to study the effects of different chemical and fire treatments to control these grasses. 

The White Ranch participated in the Dry Fork Riparian Enhancement Project, which incorporated both riparian and upland management.  Approximately 580 acres of riparian habitat and 7.4 miles of stream were fenced, reducing grazing pressure on this important habitat. This protected area has been included in the overall management plan of the ranch and an additional 4,200 acres of uplands have also been placed into an intensive livestock grazing system.  The fenced area is managed to maximize woody vegetative growth and improve stream health.