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Utah range camp: helping youth value rangelands
Author
Farnsworth, C
Greenalgh, L
Longmore, A
Esplin, B
Publisher
XII International Rangeland Congress
Publication Year
2025
Body

In Utah, there are nearly 45 million acres of grazing land; 73 percent federally owned, 9 percent state owned, and 18 percent privately owned (GOPB, 2011 as cited in UDAF 2019). Rural economies benefit from livestock grazing on these rangelands, many of which are managed for multiple uses including recreation, mineral extraction, timber harvest and other practices. Political and public sentiment toward livestock grazing on public lands is becoming less positive as the attention turns from livestock and conservation to recreation and preservation. In 1973 Utah State University and the Utah Society for Range Management started Utah's Range Camp for high school youth in an effort to help the rising generation see the value of rangelands and livestock grazing. U p to 25 high school youth are allowed to participate in this program each year. The camp teaches youth about the basics of rangelands and natural resources. Youth learn about poisonous plants, noxious weeds, wildlife, livestock, and how to identify plants. If possible, the camp is changed to a different location each year to give returning youth new perspectives. Youth experience each ecosystem available in the area from desert shrubland to alpine tall forb communities. Professors, agency land managers, and ranchers are brought together to share with the youth about their jobs and different issues they face in their careers and ways to manage rangelands. Many young adults come to camp because they want to work in a range related field or because their family is involved in range, while others come because it gives them an edge at FFA (Future Farmers of America) competitions. Some attendees may never be involved in a range related career, but they are taught the importance of natural resources and multiple uses and become vital to the future of rangelands as educated community members.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Additional Information
This paper is part of the larger XII International Rangelands Congress Proceedings. Page Numbers: 58-61. Theme: Theme 1 / Cultivating knowledge among pastoralists’ children, students, rangeland professional, and broader society
ISSN
978-0-646-72121-7
Conference Name
International Rangeland Congress
Collection
International Rangelands Congress
Keywords
Rangeland
Youth
Education
Camp
Management