45 Years of Successful Range Livestock Education
Animal Science
Melanie Heaton
Assistant Professor Ag and Natural Resources
Utah State University
Panguitch
Abstract
Initiated in 1978 as a result of range conflict, the AZ/UT Range Livestock Workshop and Tour serves cattle producers in over four Utah and two Arizona counties. University of Arizona and Utah State University Extension Services are key partners with Bureau of Land Management, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Conservation Districts, Forest Service, Animal/Plant Health Inspection Services, Farm Bureau, AZ/UT Cattlemen's Associations, AZ Department of Agriculture, corporate sponsors, and local ranchers in addressing current production, environmental, and economic issues through a free two-day workshop and one-day tour. Topics are selected by evaluations from producers who graze cattle on the Arizona Strip, an area of over 7,800 square miles that lies between the Grand Canyon and the northern Arizona border in Mohave and Coconino Counties. Participation in the three-day event peaked in 2019 at 425 and climbed to almost pre-Covid-19 levels with 419 participants in 2022. The cost per participant, which includes lunch, breaks and door prizes, is between $30 and $40 and is funded completely by industry, conservation district, and ranch sponsors. Approximately 40% of participants are ranchers, and those surveyed in 2022 produce over 5,800 head of cattle. Summary results from post-Covid-19 evaluations include an overall workshop rating of 4.3/5 and tour rating of 4.6/5 with a 50% increase in knowledge from workshop topics. Impact surveys indicate ranchers have implemented workshop topics to increase profitability through rotational grazing, livestock handling, animal health and genetics, drought mitigation, animal nutrition, direct marketing, and camera use.
Authors: Melanie Heaton, Andrew Brischke, Benjamin Scow
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Melanie Heaton Assistant Professor Ag and Natural Resources, Utah State University, Utah, 84759
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Andrew Brischke Area Assistant Agent, Agriculture & Natural Resources Mohave & Coconino County Cooperative Extension, University of Arizona, Arizona, 86409
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Benjamin Scow Professional Practice Extension Assistant Professor, Washington County, Utah State University, Utah, 84737