Alberta ranchers featured The video aims to explain grassland stewardship and dispel misconceptions
Iconic prairie scenes of blue sky and cattle on the range are abundant in a video released this fall by Operation Grassland Community.
Focused on grassland stewardship, the OGC has 300 members, five of whom explain their grasslands philosophy in the short video.
Some of them, as well as others interested in prairie grassland habitat, gathered in Lethbridge April 15 to see the video and discuss the role ranching and beef production play in habitat preservation, biodiversity and food production.
Mara Erickson of OGC said it is part of a plan to improve public awareness. Youth education initiatives are part of it, but those details are still being developed.
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Erickson said the public tends to think little about ranching’s role in environmental stewardship.
“Very generally, when people think of a pristine ecosystem, they think of something that is devoid of any human influence. So if they think about ranching on a landscape, even without any reasoning, they may think that’s probably not good for the grasses and the wildlife.”
Information provided in the video is contrary to that view. It features Dylan and Colleen Biggs of TK Ranch near Coronation, Alta., John and Kelsey Beasley of Integrity Ranching near Youngstown, Alta., Calvin Raessler of Top Grass Beef near Drum-heller, Alta., Jerry Holtman of Holtman Farms near Taber, Alta., and Max Tateson of Three Triangle Ranch near Tilley, Alta.
In the video, they talk about various aspects of ranching, grasslands and ecosystems.
Erickson said OGC wants to en-gage the public in conversations about grassland stewardship to educate and dispel misconceptions.
“They either think of ranching as neutral, or something that just happens or they might have those negative connotations with it, unless they hear some of the good.”
The video can be found at www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlQtS2K0CnQ.
