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Linking scientific discovery to real world applications in range management has historically been a major objective for research and extension professionals alike. However as the world becomes more complex, attempts to ‘bridge the gap' from science to practice will require creativity and courage previously untapped in natural resource professions. The hurdles (not all new) are numerous, including: 1) statistical validity vs. management practicality, 2) research focus on segmented problems vs. management exposure complex problems; and 3) goals of scientific contributions in the short term (e.g., pressure to publish; seeking tenure promotion) vs. management success and sustainability in the long term. Case studies have been an effective way for researchers and practitioners to communicate and learn from each other, have a track record of increasing positive interactions among stakeholders, and have been successfully applied to rural issues. Using in-depth management interviews, Bureau of Land Management's 17 Indicators of Rangeland Health assessment protocol, and narrative theory, four unique case studies (three ranches and one farm) were developed detailing management decision making processes, personal values, land use history, land use legacies, and status of current ecosystem functions. These cases document how producers have adapted to similar environmental, economic and social conditions through different, yet successful, means depending on long-term goals, management strengths, and resources (physical and financial) available. With adaptive management becoming more important for resource sustainability, case studies garner important information about management and ecosystem processes not readily available within scientific literature, outputs of which are valuable to natural resource professionals today.