Succession is one of the greatest challenges facing the ranching industry today. With an estimated 70% of U.S. farms and ranches expected to change hands over the next 20 years, thoughtful planning will be essential to ensuring these operations survive and remain productive for generations to come. Successful succession involves far more than transferring land from one generation to the next. It requires early planning and honest conversations about family roles, business structure, finances,...
Aug 25
54 min
Agriculture has never been more visible. As social media gives consumers unprecedented access to life on the farm and ranch, producers have an opportunity—and a responsibility—to share their stories with authenticity and transparency. In this episode, we sit down with Tucker Brown, a rancher from Throckmorton, Texas, who has built a following of more than 211,000 people on Instagram by documenting the day-to-day realities of his family's multi-generational ranch. His passion for educating con...
Jul 28
51 min
In this episode, host and CEO Michael Delbar sits down with River Klass, first-generation rancher, restaurateur, and host of the Outdoor Channel’s Ranch America. Together, they explore the realities of ranch life and the critical role ranchers play in producing food, stewarding natural resources, and preserving the open spaces that define much of the American landscape. With nearly 90% of U.S. beef producers operating as small, family-run businesses, ranching remains deeply rooted in local co...
Jun 23
51 min
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 Morr...
May 26
45 min
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 agric...
Apr 28
1 hr 9 min
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. ...
Mar 24
44 min
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 crit...
Feb 24
57 min
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 t...
Jan 27
58 min
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 lands Together, Michael and Clayton reflect on a milestone year for the Rangeland Trust—surpassing the conservation of 100 ranches encompassing more than 421,000 a...
Dec 16, 2025
42 min
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...
Nov 18, 2025
1 hr 2 min
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