Tuned in to the Land

Hosted by California Rangeland Trust

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May 2026

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About the show

The California Rangeland Trust is dedicated to conserving and protecting California's rangeland for generations to come. In this podcast, we will dig into a variety of topics with the partners, conservationists, and ranchers who, in their words and actions, demonstrate every day the importance of conserving California’s working lands. Enjoy this monthly podcast to learn more about how you can get involved in preserving the future of the Golden State for generations to come. Visit our website to learn more, rangelandtrust.org.

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56 recent

May 26, 2026Episode 545 min

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 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 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!Support the showLearn more about the work the Rangeland Trust does by following us on social media @rangelandtrust!

April 28, 2026Episode 41 hr 9 min

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!Support the showLearn more about the work the Rangeland Trust does by following us on social media @rangelandtrust!

March 24, 2026Episode 344 min

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—and her perspective on what lies ahead for the next generation of land stewards.Want to learn more? Chat with us!Support the showLearn more about the work the Rangeland Trust does by following us on social media @rangelandtrust!

February 24, 2026Episode 257 min

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, 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!Support the showLearn more about the work the Rangeland Trust does by following us on social media @rangelandtrust!

January 27, 2026Episode 158 min

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!Support the showLearn more about the work the Rangeland Trust does by following us on social media @rangelandtrust!

December 16, 2025Episode 1142 min

Episode 4.11: Milestones & Momentum - A Conversation with Our New Board Chair

In the final episode of Season 4 of Tuned in to the Land, CEO and host, Michael Delbar, sits down with newly elected Rangeland Trust Chair, Clayton Koopmann. A sixth-generation rancher from Sunol, California, Clayton brings deep family roots, hands-on experience, and a powerful commitment to the future of the Golden State’s working landsTogether, Michael and Clayton reflect on a milestone year for the Rangeland Trust—surpassing the conservation of 100 ranches encompassing more than 421,000 acres. Clayton shares the story of his family’s longstanding connection to the Rangeland Trust, his journey from board member to Chair, and the values and goals he brings to this new leadership role. The conversation also looks ahead to upcoming opportunities, continued partnerships with ranching families, and the vision guiding the next chapter of rangeland conservation. Join us as we celebrate a year of meaningful progress, honor the families stewarding California’s open spaces, and look forward to the future of protecting the landscapes that sustain us all.Want to learn more? Chat with us!Support the showLearn more about the work the Rangeland Trust does by following us on social media @rangelandtrust!

November 18, 2025Episode 101 hr 2 min

Episode 4.10: Where the Land Heals - Veterans, Faith, and the Mighty Oaks Mission

Out here on California’s rangelands, we talk a lot about stewardship—the responsibility to care for the land so it can continue to sustain generations to come. But sometimes, the land gives something back to us in return: peace, perspective, and a place to heal.This month, as we pause to honor the men and women who have served our nation on Veterans Day, we’re reminded that coming home can often be one of the toughest battles they will ever face. That’s where the Mighty Oaks Foundation steps in. Founded by Chad Robichaux, a former Force Recon Marine and veteran advocate, the organization helps warriors find hope and restoration through faith, brotherhood, and connection—all grounded in the healing power of the land.In this episode of Tuned in to the Land, CEO and host Michael Delbar sits down with Chad for a powerful and deeply honest conversation about service, healing, and the restorative role that open spaces and working lands can play.Throughout the episode, Chad shares his personal journey, including the challenges he faced after military service, living with PTSD, and the role that faith played as he worked to rebuild his life. That process eventually led him to form Mighty Oaks, drawing on what he learned and what he wished had existed for others walking a similar road. His story is raw and real, and while parts of the conversation are heavy (a heads up to our listeners), it underscores the profound impact that support, community, faith, and time spent on the land can have in helping people find their way back to hope.Want to learn more? Chat with us!Support the showLearn more about the work the Rangeland Trust does by following us on social media @rangelandtrust!

October 21, 2025Episode 951 min

Episode 4.9: Rooted in Change - Strengthening Ranching Through Partnership

At the Rangeland Trust, we’re rooted in conserving California’s working lands through voluntary conservation easements—but just as vital is our commitment to supporting the ranchers who care for these lands every day. Yet today’s producers face increasing challenges—from shrinking markets and limited processing options to regulatory pressures and the spread of misinformation—that threaten the future of ranching as we know it.But as public interest in strengthening local food systems grows, so does the movement to stand behind our ranchers. Across the state, organizations are stepping up to build connections, strengthen local food systems, and create lasting solutions through collaboration.In this episode, Rangeland Trust CEO and host, Michael Delbar, sits down with Michael Dimock, Executive Director of Roots of Change, to discuss how these partnerships are helping bridge divides, address challenges facing producers, and empower the next generation of ranchers.Want to learn more? Chat with us!Support the showLearn more about the work the Rangeland Trust does by following us on social media @rangelandtrust!

September 16, 2025Episode 81 hr 4 min

Episode 4.8: Preserving the Stories of California's Ranching Families

At the Rangeland Trust, conserving California’s working landscapes means more than protecting open space—it also means preserving the stories of the people who steward them. Ranching families carry generations of knowledge, resilience, and tradition, and if those stories aren’t shared, they risk being lost.In this episode, we highlight Roots and Resilience: California Ranchers in Their Own Words, a book that brings together the voices of ranching families from across the state through stories, poems, and essays. Host and CEO of the Rangeland Trust, Michael Delbar, is joined by Dr. Susan Marshall, Emeritus Professor at Cal Poly Humboldt and the editor who brought this project to life, to discuss her inspiration, the editing journey, and what she hopes people will gain from reading the book.As a bonus, we also hear from contributor and Rangeland Trust Legacy Council Chair, Jessica Schley. Jessica reflects on her family’s ranching history and how the loss of their family’s property inspires her work today and fuels her support of the Rangeland Trust. As a special treat, she reads an excerpt from her piece in the book—bringing her words and perspective to life in a way only she can.When you purchase a copy of Roots and Resilience, a portion of the proceeds directly supports the California Rangeland Trust and our mission to protect the state’s working landscapes for generations to come. Purchase yours here: https://a.co/d/jhICAL9Want to learn more? Chat with us!Support the showLearn more about the work the Rangeland Trust does by following us on social media @rangelandtrust!

August 19, 2025Episode 755 min

Episode 4.7: Reflecting on the Realities of Ranching in Modern-Day California

At the Rangeland Trust, we are honored to work alongside people whose livelihoods are deeply tied to the health of the land. Ranchers know that caring for the land is more than a responsibility—it’s a way of life built on stewardship, grit, and adaptability. Yet, the challenges they face are many: from water shortages and unpredictable weather to shifting regulations and rising costs, today’s ranchers are navigating pressures from every direction.In this episode, CEO and host, Michael Delbar, revisits with the Elgorriaga family—whose story you may recognize from our documentary You Just Can’t See Them From the Road. For generations, they have ranched in California’s Central Valley, meeting each new challenge with persistence, passion, and creativity. Michael sits down with four members of the third generation of the Elgorriaga family—Stephen, Peter, Paul, and Christina—to reflect on their upbringing, the values that have sustained them, and their vision for the future of the ranch as the next generation grows on the land.More than just a family history, this conversation offers an intimate look at the everyday realities of ranching in modern California—and a powerful reminder of what’s at stake when we talk about protecting working lands and the people who steward them.Want to learn more? Chat with us!Support the showLearn more about the work the Rangeland Trust does by following us on social media @rangelandtrust!