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Much of Holistic Management is bent
on improving and ensuring resources
for the future. The soils, the minerals,
and the water cycle are treated with care to
improve land health indefinitely. But who will
be the next managers? How are they prepared
and nurtured? Will they be able to afford to
continue pursuing the holistic goal that has
been established?
Often expressed in a landowner’s holistic
goal is the desire to develop our enterprise so
that our children will “want to” and be “able to”
continue it. In the best case this connotes giving
something valuable to someone you love. But,
in reverse, it could become passing on your
burden or cross to bear to someone you hope
loves you enough to continue it.
Perhaps a better, more challenging quality
of life statement for a sustainable farm
transition might be: We have a farm for which
any number of people are lining up, able and
eager to move the farm toward its holistic goal.
In doing so, this may well lead to questioning
parts of the holistic goal and future plans in a
new light.
A Question of Economy?
A first question in a farm economy where
farmers have been leaving agriculture in droves
for decades is: Can any farm be made that
attractive? Few investors expecting a return on
investment give agriculture serious
consideration. Occasionally farmers or other
investors have successfully exploited a lucrative
new agricultural niche until big capital buys or
forces them out. Or the few well capitalized
farmers profit temporarily from early adoption
of new technology until buyers who
monopolize most sectors of the farm economy
lower farm commodity prices so as to absorb
these profits themselves.
These are the historical tendencies in all
sectors of our peculiar political economy.
However, full time farmers are especially in
need of a return on investment since that is
often their only potential source of retirement
funds, if they want to keep their farms intact.
What does that leave? Recreational farmers with
money to burn, people willing to split their lives
between town and farm jobs, and the really
hard bitten wannabe farmers, like we were
when we began farming over 20 years ago.
A t t r a c t i ve Incentives
At Northland Sheep Dairy, as Karl and Jane
aged into sixty-somethings, we looked for
partners who would become replacements, not
in our children who were happily settled 3,000
miles away from our New York farm in
California in Silicon Valley-related careers, but
first in recruits to our own summer internship
program. But none of our former interns hav e
gone into farming anywhere. For several years
we sought recruits via formal programs like Land
Link (a program helping farmers transfer farms
to interested parties through sale, rental, lease, or
other options) and Appropriate Technology
Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA) listings. The
process netted no serious candidates.
This experience raises the question: how
attractive is our farm to next generation would-
be farmers? Is that the problem? We were
among the first to try Holistic Management in
the Northeast, and the farm has benefited in
various ways from its practice. We were among
the founders of the sheep dairy niche in this
country, and have developed a stable clientele
and a national reputation.
True, net income from our current
production would not provide a middle class
standard of consumerism. But, there is solid
demand for at least twice our current cheese
production, had we the energy to fill it. Also,
with careful financial planning we often come
close to netting 50 percent of gross, a
benchmark we learned to aim for by studying
Amish agriculture.
Savory Center Photo Contest . . . . . . 3
Exploring Long-term Profitablility
Steve Dorrance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Investing in a Sustainable Future
Ann Adams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Beyond Nickel flipping—reed Ranch
Estate Planning
Jim and Judy Reed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
LAND & LIVESTOCK—A specialsection of IN PRACTICEThe Whitten Ranch—
Creating More With Less
Jim Howell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Parasite Poisoning Kills More than Bugs—
Losing biodiversity with Chemicals
Ian Mitchell-Innes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Savory Center Bulletin Board . . . . . . .14
Readying for a Rendezvous . . . . . . . . .16
Certified Educators . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Marketplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Keeping
a ranch
or farm
sustainable
or working
to keep
agriculture
as a viable
long-term
option
in your
community
can take a lot of creativity. Taylor Hyde
(pictured here with son, Jack) and his
wife, Becky, have decided to develop
Yanix Ranch as a learning site to explore
how more people can work with their
communities to produce healthy land,
healthy food and a way for urban
populations to be a part of a sustainable
agricultural experience. Read more
about their story on page 4.
Planning for the Futureby Karl North and Donn He wes
JULY / AUGUST 2003 NUMBER 90
HOLISTICMANAGEMENT IN PRACTIC EP r oviding the link between a healthy environment and a sound economy
in t h is I s su e
continued on page tw o
2 HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT IN PRACTICE #90
We offered a couple of appealing financial
options to prospective new managers including
a conservation easement and a long-term
buyout plan where the new farmers could
accumulate buyout capital in more profitable
investments than farming until they could pay
cash. At the least, they could avoid most of the
initial debt financing that has caused so many
transitions to fail.
As we plan to remain on the farm for the
rest of our lives, we offered to work along with
them as long as we are able and to pay the
new farmers for their labor at over twice the
minimum farm wage until they felt able to run
the business at a profit. Finally, to help them
escape the grip of the credit industry in
another way, we offered to pay initially for
materials of any new buildings they
constructed including a residence and barns
and other facilities for expansion of milk and
cheese production. This agreement has the
added advantage of simplifying the settlement
of financial matters if the partnership were to
dissolve in the early years of the transition.
A Match Made in Heaven
None of these economic enticements met
with success. What finally fetched a couple of
serious candidates were the quality of our
product, the sustainable practices we use to
create it, and the educational function our farm
had begun to fill in the region. In other words,
a couple of idealists like Karl and Jane.
The moral of this story so far, or at least the
conclusion that the experience seems to
indicate regarding farming transition in general,
is that the oppressive, predatory nature of the
farm economy at this time in this country
makes it almost impossible “to make your farm
so attractive that any number of people will be
lining up, able and eager to move the farm
toward its holistic goal.”
It was idealism that motivated the pioneers
in sustainable agriculture, but there are not
enough idealists out there to drive a transition
for all of agriculture. What this suggests is that
we Holistic Management practitioners must
concentrate more on trying to manage the
larger wholes beyond our farms, to create a
food economy that will make a farming
vocation attractive to the next generation. This
will mean getting more involved in the politics
of food, locally and nationally.
The happy ending to our particular
The Allan Savory
Center for Holistic Management
The ALLAN SAVORY CENTER FOR
HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT is a 501(c) (3)
non-profit organization. The center works
to restore the vitality of communities and
the natural resources on which they
depend by advancing the practice of
Holistic Management and coordinating
its development worldwide.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Rio de la Vista, ChairAllan Savory, Vice-Chair
Leslie Christian, SecretaryGary Rodgers, Treasurer
Richard SmithManuel Casas
ADVISORY BOARD
Robert Anderson, Chair, Corrales, NMSam Brown, Austin, TX
Leslie Christian, Portland, ORGretel Ehrlich, Gaviota, CA
Cynthia & Leo Harris, Albuquerque, NMTrudy Healy, Taos, NMClint Josey, Dallas, TX
Dianne Law, Laveta, CODoug McDaniel, Lostine, OR
Guillermo Osuna, Coahuila, MexicoJim Parker, Montrose, CO
Dean William Rudoy, Cedar Crest, NMYork Schueller, El Segundo, CA
Jim Shelton, Vinita, OKRichard Smith, Houston, TX
FOUNDERS
Allan Savory
Jody Butterfield
STAFF
Tim LaSalle, Executive Director; Shannon
Horst, Senior Director, Strategic Projects Kate Bradshaw, Director of Finance andAdministration; Kelly Pasztor, Director of Educational Services; Lee Dueringer,
Director of Development; Ann Adams,
Managing Editor, IN PRACTICE and Membershipand Educator Support Coordinator , Craig
Leggett, Special Projects Manager; Mary
Child, U.S. Education Program and Case StudyDevelopment Coordinator; Constance Neely,
Director of International Training ProgramsDevelopment; Jessica Stolz, FinanceCoordinator.
Africa Centre for Holistic Management
Private Bag 5950, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwetel: (263) (11) 213529; email:[email protected] Matanga, Director; Roger Parry,
Manager, Regional Training Centre; Elias
Ncube, Hwange Project Manager/TrainingCoordinator
HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT IN PRACTICE (ISSN:
1098-8157) is published six times a year by The
Allan Savory Center for Holistic Management,
1010 Tijeras NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102, 505/842-
5252, fax: 505/843-7900; email:
website: www.holisticmanagement.org
Copyright © 2003.
Ad definitumfinem
Planning for the Future
continued from page one
transition story is that we are in our second
year of what promises to be a successful
evolution of the farm to new management, and
eventually, to new owners. This year, Donn and
Maryrose will build themselves a straw bale
farmhouse designed to carry on the desire for
energy efficiency that has been in our (now
joint) holistic goal.
Donn has a stable town job as a fire fighter
that allows plenty of time for farm work and
provides income and capital for as long as the
acquisition process and development of the
farm requires. We have leased enough adjacent
land to double our open acreage and make
possible a gradual expansion of dairy
production and other grass-based livestock
husbandry.
Early on we researched the formal aspects
of transition, seeking legal counsel and advice
from a farm accountant. Donn and Maryrose
have embraced the Holistic Management®
decision-making framework and have become
active participants in Karl’s learning community.
Although the business end remains Karl and
Jane’s responsibility for now, Holistic
Management has provided a common structure
moving the transition more rapidly toward a
true partnership than might have happened
with another approach.
While much effort was put into finding “the
next generation” this time around, in many
ways the holistic planning that is going on
today should, with time, help make it easier to
find future generations to run the farm. The
concept of a goal that includes attention to the
future resource base has had a significant
impact on planning the farm until now and in
providing continuity in the transition process so
far. Examples of this are the plans for a
conservation easement and the two residences
in the style of the Amish that allow one family
to “start up” while the other winds down.
Donn and Maryrose’s continued work
toward power and water independence will be
valuable in the future when all aspects of
farming can no longer be designed to run on
cheap oil, and water will be more scarce all
over the planet. Much like the slow process of
building soil, planning and preparing in this
way for future transitions should continue
throughout our tenure and into the next.
Karl North is in the Holistic Management ®
Certified Educator Training Program and
resides in Marathon, New York. He can be
reached at [email protected]. Donn He wes
and Maryrose Livingston can be reached at
HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT IN PRACTICE • JULY / AUGUST 2003 3
S a vory Center Photo Contest
It’s time to pull out your photo albums
or try out that new digital camera.
Participate in the Savory Center’s Photo
contest as part of our 20th anniversary
celebration starting in 2004.
The contest rules are simple. We will be
accepting photo submissions from July 1, 2003
until September 30, 2003. You can submit up
to five photos that demonstrate how Holistic
Management has influenced your life. These
can be pictures that reflect improved quality
of life (i.e. family holidays, infrastructure, etc.)
or focus on Land/Animals (i.e. before & after
pictures, improved habitat, livestock, pets, etc.)
You can participate in one or both of these
categories.
With each submission, include a written
paragraph explaining the context of the
photo (names and places) and how the
photograph is a result of managing
holistically. Winning entries and honorable
mentions will be printed in the January issue
of IN PRACTICE in a special 4-color insert and
will be posted on the Savory Center website.
Mexico covering all food and lodging
• A self-catering holiday for four at Aspen,
David & Samuel Edge’s El Pabellon retreat in
the Sierra Nevadas in southern Spain
• A doe hunt (in deer season) or a hog hunt
(outside of deer season) at the Reed Ranch in
Corsciana, Texas
• One free night (or two nights at half-price)
lodging at Peter& Judy Howarth’s Jenkin
Street Guest House in Nundle, NSW Australia.
(Not a Saturday night).
• A weekend for 6 at John & Charlotte
Hackley’s Richards Ranch Retreat in
Jacksboro, Texas (includes continental
breakfast on Saturday & Sunday mornings
and Saturday dinner)
• The 15-CD or tape collection of the text
book, Holistic Management
• One copy of the Holistic Management®
Financial Planning Software
• A mesquite wood cutting board from
Mexico by Ivan & Martha Aguirre
• A fine weave basket from Zimbabwe
donated by Allan Savory & Jody Butterfield
• A hand-made mirror from recycled car
parts created by Wiebke Volkmann from
Namibia
Electronic photographs should be taken at
a minimum of 300 dpi and sent at 100% size
to [email protected]. If
you want to scan the photo, please scan at
the same resolution. If you send photos in the
mail, please include a self-addressed envelope
if you would like it returned to you. Photos
should be mailed to: Savory Center Photo
Contest, 1010 Tijeras Ave. NW, Albuquerque,
NM 87102.
This contest is open to anyone. The
judging committee consists of numerous
Savory Center members, Holistic Management
practitioners, Certified Educators, Board of
Directors, and Advisory Board members from
around the world. First, second, and third
place winners in both divisions will select
from a list of available prizes. Winners will
be notified by October 31, 2003.
The current prize list includes:
• A one-week stay at Dimbangombe Ranch
in Zimbabwe covering all food and lodging
• A one-week stay at Ivan & Martha
Aguirre’s Rancho La Inmaculada in Sonora,
Exploring Long-term Profitabilityby Steve Dorrance
Since being demoted to bookkeeper for
our ranch in 1979, I’ve spent a lot of
time trying to keep our operation viable
here in the central coast of California where
land prices are rising exponentially. From
where I sit, agricultural production as the
sole source of income for a ranch hasn’t
been viable since the 1970s. That’s one of
the reasons I aggressively went after
communication tower leases which has
brought in 80 percent of the ranch’s income
over recent years.
But, that income stream has peaked and
the time to look ahead is here again. I’ve been
looking at conservation easements and still
have some reservations about that tool,
although I am extremely grateful to have
it as an option.
When my family decided to explore a
conservation easement, we wanted to address
fragmentation of our ranch lands. We are
fully aware that ranchlands are purchased in
our area for their open space/recreational
just maintaining it, but we haven’t figured out
how to do that yet.
As we have proceeded up the path of
profitability, we’ve learned that:
• Most conservation easements are not funded
for their full amount, so you will probably
end up donating part of the easement;
• Some of the easement terms can be changed
with the consent of the landowner and
easement holder;
• Your landscape plan can be a part of the
easement; and
• It is very important to refer to your
holisticgoal often.
With the conservation easement we are
considering, we can recapitalize our operation
and be better able to handle estate transition
and current income needs. I don’t think we
would have been here when my dad died in
1999 if it hadn’t been for Holistic Management.
It’s time to use that process so we can do the
right thing for the next generation.
Steve Dorrance lives in Salinas,
California and can be reached at
values. The land’s agricultural value is
probably less than $100 per acre, but would
average $25,000 per acre in ranchettes.
Fragmentation is a pretty big deal when
you live off the annual income from the
ranchlands. Long term profitability, being able
to live and work here is important, as well as
being able to hunt and have a bit of leisure
time. It is taking a bit of work to address
these needs.
A local land trust wants to purchase the
continuation of our present landscape. We
have agreed in concept, but are still working
out the details of how the relationship will
continue as the people involved change. How
do you measure biodiversity? Do indicators
such as residual dry matter, trees left
unharvested, no hunting of lions, bears,
coyotes or raptors ensure healthy grasslands,
oak woodlands, or the habitat needed for
lions, bears, coyotes or raptors to flourish?
We’d prefer an easement that pays us for
improving the health of the landscape, not
4 HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT IN PRACTICE #90
The Yainix Ranch in the Upper Klamath
Basin in Oregon has a typical history
for the Western U.S. Between
agricultural producers and environmentalists,
the Klamath Basin has been a bone of
contention for years and conflict has run high
around the issue of water rights and land use.
It is home to dozens of endangered species
and a long history of Native American
heritage and agricultural use. Like other land
in this basin, the Yainix was worn out from
chronic overgrazing, and it looked like it was
one more lost ranch in a basin where viable
agricultural production was highly in question.
Until Taylor and Becky Hyde came along.
Creating New Opportunity
In February 2002, Taylor and Becky
purchased the 480-acre (192-ha) Yainix Ranch
at the confluence of the Sprague and Sycan
Rivers. Currently the Sprague waters flow into
Upper Klamath Lake in low volume, high
temperatures, overloaded with nutrients, and
poorly oxygenated due at least in part to such
land practices as poorly timed grazing, control
levies, damaging irrigation practices, and a
generally poorly functioning water cycle.
While the Yainix was about 25 miles from
the Yamsi Ranch near Chiloquin, Oregon
where Taylor and Becky were living with
Taylor’s mother, Gerda, and brother, John,
Becky had never seen the property until
approximately four years ago. She has been
involved in watershed issues in the region for
many years and was representing the Upper
Klamath Basin ranching community as part
of an educational bus tour of watershed
partners. When they happened upon the
property that was to be Yainix Ranch, Becky
was appalled. “It was the most devastated
property I’ve ever seen. There were yearlings
in the stream, and no willows growing
because of the chronic grazing. The sight
of it continued to haunt me.”
Her first step was to contact Martin Goebel
of Sustainable Northwest, a non-profit whose
vision is to develop partnerships to promote
environmentally compatible economic
development in the communities of the Pacific
It wasn’t that the Hydes were poor
financial planners, it was that they needed
a short term remedy to get over the next
payment. What the Hydes and SNW
discovered through this need was an
opportunity that could serve other ranchers
who need “bridge” capital to move toward
more sustainable operations.
So the first step was for SNW to set
up a portion of the Yainix Ranch as an
investment opportunity. After initially
investigating potential response from
philanthropic investors, Sustainable Northwest
developed a prospectus for the Yainix
Ranch Holdings LLC and agreed to be the
investment broker. They also agreed to
approach those potential investors.
The Yainix prospectus educates potential
investors about the financial barriers that arise
when a rancher wants to regenerate degraded
land and remain economically viable as a
business. For this reason, the Yainix “requires
supplementary sources of patient capital to
bride the gap in income created by the shift to
more sustainable grazing practices. Thus, LLC
Members will be essential partners in making
sustainability a reality on the Yainix.” They will
also benefit from gains in real estate values.
James Honey notes that this investment
prospectus was a modest idea that could be
tweaked to work for other ranches. “We sent
that prospectus out to a very focused audience,
and we’ve really been surprised by the interest
generated and how quickly that prospectus
spread. We got responses from people we
hadn’t sent it to. There is a real desire from an
urban population to be involved with the rural
restoration. We are working to tie urban capital
to that rural change.
“We think that the next step might be
to engage some of the socially responsible
investment funds with this kind of work.
As far as I our ongoing role with the Yainix
Ranch, we need to ‘manage’ the investors
through organizing field days and responding
to their requests so the Hydes can spend their
time managing the ranch and working with
the Yainix Partnership. The base of that
management and the changes we have
already seen in one year is the Hydes’ Holistic
Management practices.”
The LLC Operating Agreement plans for
a 10- or 20-year investment period at which
point the Hydes will purchase Members’ shares
of the LLC to become outright owners of the
ranch. A full appraisal of the value will
determine share value and any gain on the
Members investment from the appreciation
I n vesting in a Sustainable Future—
The Yainix Ranchby Ann Adams
Northwest. The Hydes and Becky’s parents,
Doc and Connie Hatfield (all long-time Holistic
Management practitioners), had worked with
Sustainable Northwest before on other
projects. Becky thought that perhaps they
could help them with this project.
She also approached U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service to get more information about the
wildlife value of that corridor. She found out
just how special that property was with two
miles of river, 15 springs, and numerous
potential wetlands. The Hydes realized that
the potential outcome for restoring this
property was huge and wanted to engage all
those who had a vested interest in healthy
land in the Basin as part of the process.
With visions of fish spawning in regenerated
springs, waterfowl and wildlife flocking to
restored wetlands, and increased plant
biodiversity along riparian corridors, the
Hydes took over the lease option on the land
as part of a purchase agreement in February
2002. They also began some planned grazing
with less than half the stocking rate of the
previous owner.
The land is already responding to this
treatment with thousands of willows coming
up in spring areas. “The comeback has been
amazing,” notes Becky. “There’s a lot of nesting
because there is finally some cover where
there hadn’t been any cover before.” In fact,
James Honey, a program officer for Sustainable
Northwest (SNW) who works with the Hydes,
notes that there haven’t been baby willows
along the riparian areas for 20 years. “The
Hydes are already bringing the Yainix back
to life in one season,” says James.
Getting Creative
When Taylor and Becky reduced the
number of cattle on the property to bring it
closer to the sustainable carrying capacity,
they reduced the income they could produce
to service debt. The conservation easement is
expected to make up that difference, but it
was going to take time to design, sell and
implement it. SNW worked with the Hydes
to develop the concept—it was a joint idea,
and untested at that time.
HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT IN PRACTICE • JULY / AUGUST 2003 5
managed ranches. Defenders of Wildlife has
called the Hatfields “pioneers of proper land
stewardship” and “proof that ranching can
be both environmentally beneficial and
economically positive.” The Conservation Fund
has noted that “every private landowner in
American can benefit from the example set
by Gerda Hyde and her family.”
Becky Hyde says, “We are very excited
about the wonderful possibilities presented
by the Yainix. Taylor and I come from
two innovative ranches, and we can
use that background to develop new
opportunities for ranching through
this project.
“Holistic Management plays a part
in everything we do. We were both
raised with it, so it’s really hard to
define how we integrate it in our lives
because it is such a part of us. We’ve
spent hours and hours
talking about our own
personal holistic goal,
and those discussions
shaped our decision to
buy this ranch and
how to go about
engaging with the
larger community.
We have been very
deliberate about
defining our whole,
and how we build
relationships. There’s
no government process
driving us, so we really
do have a lot of
opportunity to see
what can work.
“It’s been an enormous
time commitment to work with this
partnership, really a full-time job, but we’ve
been having fun and are committed to this
process. We wanted to start small so that we
had a greater chance at real, workable
solutions to the problems facing our neighbors
in the Upper Klamath Basin and throughout
the West. We want to make it replicable. Our
idea is to keep it a low-key, open door
approach so anyone can ‘look over our fence,’
and begin to figure out how they can make
changes in their management to improve
their circumstances. We couldn’t have done
this alone.”
Becky and Taylor Hyde can be reached
at [email protected]. James Honey can be
reached at [email protected].
In the first year of operation, the Hydes
will also be working with Sustainable
Northwest and some members of the
partnership on developing a “working lands”
conservation easement for the Yainix that
can serve as a model for other ranchers. Such
a conservation easement would be different
than the more typical conservation easements
in that it would recognize the important
role of livestock and agricultural production,
but pay ranch families to restrict their
management practices
to environmentally
compatible grazing.
Payments would give
ranchers incentives for
changing management practices, and assure
buyers of permanent protection of wildlife
and increased restoration of habitat. They
hope to have a prototype by fall, and have
gone slowly in creating the easement
document because it is such a specific legal
tool. They really want to look at what is
viable, how the easement is monitored and
enforced so the easement supports the
work without being overwhelming. Above
all, the key monitoring criteria for this
easement is an upward trend toward the
future landscape description that everyone
has agreed upon.
Exponential Factoring
At the Yainix Ranch, Becky and Taylor
bring with them a legacy of holistically
due to restoration activity. While agricultural
land values are fairly flat, the “beauty” or
“recreational” value of land (how it looks)
can increase ranch value.
The combined value of the two parcels
of land that make up the LLC’s holding is
$828,000 (the 480-acre Yainix Ranch and the
320-acre Yainix Annex). The current LLC
offering is for $50,000 with a minimum
$5,000 investment for Membership. Within two
months of public offering, the LLC already has
$40,000 in investments with several
additional investors interested.
The prospectus consistently
points out that investors should
see such investment as
philanthropic, patient capital and
that all operating decisions for use
of the real estate will be in the
Hydes’ hands. However, there are
opportunities for the Members to
participate in annual “Open Ranch”
weekends where they can visit the
ranch and learn about the changes
and innovations at the ranch
with other members and the
Hyde family. The weekend will
feature speakers, tours, and an
“appreciation barbeque.” They
will also receive an annual report,
as well as regular, informal
communications and updates and
priority participation in public
events or natural resource-based
businesses (such as guided fly-
fishing) that may operate on the ranch.
In turn, the LLC will lease the ranch to
the Hyde family for their livestock business
and any other businesses that may be
compatible with the Yainix Vision and the
goals of sustainability.
Partnering for Results
Yainix Ranch now hosts regular meetings
of the “Yainix Partnership” as they seek to
collaboratively develop and test new methods
and tools to support private lands stewardship
across the Upper Basin. Besides the Hydes and
Sustainable Northwest, this partnership
includes the Klamath Tribe, federal and state
government agency employees, environmental
groups, and interested ranchers. The ranch will
also be a learning site to share best practices
for sustainability with their neighbors as all
these groups can be involved in the ongoing
monitoring of the ranch’s ecological and
ecomomic health (and culturally sensitive sites
important to the Klamath Tribes).
The Yainix Ranch had all the signs of
“liquidation ranching” (i.e. trash, loss of
biodiversity and eroded river banks), so
Taylor & Becky Hyde will work to improve
the land as all the Hydes have done on the
Yamsi Ranch where Becky and children
play in a stream at right. Abo ve:
Volunteers from the Yainix Partnership
help clear out a tire dump the Hydes
inherited.
6 HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT IN PRACTICE #90
Several years ago in a small community
in Texas, a mere flip of a coin
determined much of what consumed
our time for years to come. It’s hard to think
of a nickel being flipped as an estate planning
tool, but it was about the only tool Jim and
his brother had at the time.
At the time of Tillman Reed’s death
(Jim’s father), a revocable living trust was in
operation. This revocable trust contained all
the assets of Jim’s parents and was being
used to operate things up until the death
of the first parent. When Tillman died, the
assets were to be split among Jim, his
brother (Lary), and his mother (Ora Anna).
Most of the task of deciding how the
individual assets were divided fell on Jim
and his brother. Yikes!
This was a crucial test for the Reed
family, since we had read and heard of the
many horror stories of family conflict,
misunderstandings and miscommunications,
and tales of close family members not
speaking to one another for the rest of their
lives. We already understood the possibility
of close family members being forced into
difficult and emotional decisions, which
might have been best made by the deceased.
Both Jim and his brother agreed that it
was best for this not to happen to them.
After most of the interest-bearing assets
were separated out for the benefit of Ora
Anna’s care and immediate income needs,
work began on dividing the remainder of
the assets into two equal parts.
After both Lary and Jim agreed that the
appropriate level of equity was achieved, they
flipped a nickel to see which brother would
receive which set of assets. The ranch was part
of one set of assets, and Jim received the ranch
and other assets by virtue of the coin toss.
Since that coin toss, we’ve had the
opportunity to experience Holistic
Management and how it affects our
happiness, peace of mind, and quality of life.
We felt like it made sense to apply these
same principles to the planning of our estate
rather than rely on a coin toss the next time
around. This article explains the direction
for quality legal, tax, and financial planning
advice. Just like finding good ranch hands,
good estate planning help is hard to find!
Our Story
We were fortunate to find a financial
planner (who’s also an attorney), who’s
willing to listen and learn about Holistic
Management, and also has sufficient
background to understand how important it
is to set goals for yourself. We’ve found that
many attorneys and tax accountants don’t
have sufficient background in goal setting
and many don’t understand its importance. It’s
also tough to find a good fee-based financial
planner, whose livelihood isn’t based on
selling you a product or investment.
The big disadvantage of many financial
planners is that they may not have the
sufficient depth of knowledge or credentials
required to work through all the tax and
legal implications of estate planning. So, to
find good help, you may find yourself
gathering a team to help out; instead of
choosing a single individual.
Once we were able to find someone to
help us, we developed a basic framework from
which we can continue to tweak our estate
plan as we see fit. That framework includes:
• A Will for both of us which creates bypass
and marital trusts at either of our deaths. This
is the strategy we’re using to eliminate or ease
the blow of federal estate taxes if one of us
should die.
• A special provision in our Will referencing
special consideration for the ranch; its goals
and Holistic Management principles. We hope
that such focus will speak volumes to our
kids and others about how a ranch can be
run in a sustainable and profitable manner.
• Special treatment of our separate property
(since there’s an extended family created by
virtue of an earlier divorce). By the way, it’s
important to know the laws within your own
state or country as it can really influence the
choices you make about your estate plan.
• The attachment of our holistic goal to
our Wills, the support of Holistic
Management and consensus building,
and the use of the Holistic Management®
testing questions to manage and resolve
things. You can read our holistic goal at:
http://www.reedfamilyranch.com/
ranchgoals.html.
• The naming of a third party trustee at
both of our deaths.
Most of the estate planning we’ve read
about appears to be driven largely by the size
B e yond Nickel Flipping—
Reed Ranch Estate Planningby Jim and Judy Reed
we’re heading in our estate planning.
K ey Points
Before we get into our specifics, here’s
what we think is the best advice we can offer
you in terms of your own estate planning:
• Estate planning is important for your own
peace of mind and for the generations that
follow. We owe it to the people coming
after us!
• Your estate plan has to be customized to
your own set of circumstances. Like ranches,
everybody’s situation is different!
• It’s very important to keep up-to-date on
your net worth. If you don’t know this, you’re
flyin’ by the seat of your pants!
• GET A WILL, if you don’t have one. Or,
make sure the one you have is UP-TO-DATE!
The size of your estate doesn’t matter.
There’s no excuse for not having a will!
• You should to be prepared to search hard
Lottie and James Lawrence Reed, Jim Reed's
paternal grandparents, in 1890 before coming
to Texas in 1893. James died in 1913 after
falling from a horse and breaking his neck
while working cattle.
HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT IN PRACTICE • JULY / AUGUST 2003 7
of the estate to be settled and methods to
avoid estate taxes. But we’ve planned our
estate plan to integrate Holistic Management
into because it will help future generations to
improve their lives and this land.
Estate Ta xes
Federal estate tax can be mean and ugly!
If not planned properly, estate taxes can take
so much value from the estate that the kids
will have to sell any property because they
can’t afford the taxes. Of course, there are
special provisions for a family-owned business
deduction, so be sure to ask your tax and
accounting expert about this very important
provision. Again, the key is to plan so the
most money can go to the people you want
it to go to. Sure, there are lots of things
beyond your control, and that’s all the
more reason for planning what is in
your control. So here’s some other
things to consider:
• You may not be a millionaire now, but
just think how much your assets may be
valued at in the future. It’s important to
plan both for what’s now and for what’s
in the future.
• Unless you have an up-to-date net
worth statement, you may be worth
more than you think you are.
• You don’t know who’s going to be in
control of the government at the time of
your death, or how badly they will
wants or need your money, so it’s best
not to count on any government policies
that might encourage you not to do your
planning (i.e. potential repeal of estate taxes).
We found out that you don’t have to
be a millionaire to be able to take the
opportunities that’s afforded by doing good
estate planning with all the family included.
It’s our belief that, if you work hard enough
and are committed to it, there’s ways to
have your cake and eat it, too.
Maximizing Your Estate
By planning ahead, you may be able to:
1) Pass on your estate free of all federal
estate taxes
2) Encourage your family in managing your
estate holistically
3) Have little to no family conflict in settling
your estate
4) Keep your property from being sold or
divided to settle your estate
We recognize that there are many other
ways to look at an estate plan and how it can
be influenced by Holistic Management. To us,
example, here’s what we put in our Wills
regarding the desire for the ranch property
to be managed holistically:
“If agriculture ranch property is contained
within any or all of the trusts named herein,
the trustee of the trust(s) shall recognize the
influence of the Holistic Management
principals as promulgated by the Allan Savory
Center for Holistic Management, and shall
give due consideration to the ranch(s) holistic
goal (attached herein). More specifically, the
use of consensus building techniques (led by
a Certified Holistic Educator), and the use of
the seven testing guidelines (as documented
by the Allan Savory Center for Holistic
Management) shall be an integral portion of
the management of any ranch(s) contained
in the trust(s) named herein.”
Working for the Future Now
Lastly, we believe that an integral part
of estate planning has to include some
meaningful financial planning for the on-
going operation of the ranch; and sticking
to it. For us to keep the ranch in the
family and for it to be something
worthwhile in the future, it has to be both
financially and operationally sustainable.
This means holistic financial planning in
a responsible manner; in a way that suits
our needs. More specifically for us, this
means limiting our expenses to half of the
ranch’s income (or planning 50 percent
profit) and operating the ranch with little
or no equipment. One of the most
important things we’ll do in 2003 is to
fulfill our current ranch motto of
“equipment free by the end of 2003.” In doing
so, we are better able to hit our 50 percent
profit objective and add to the health of
the land base.
For several years now, we’ve been posting
all our income and expenses (both ranch and
personal) in Quicken and running net worth
and income/expense reports on a monthly
basis so we can assess our estate on an
ongoing basis.
We hope you found this article
worthwhile and that it may be helpful to
somebody. Holistic Management has helped
us achieve what we want now, and we are
working to make sure it continues to help
the Reed Ranch for generations to come.
Jim and Judy Reed own and operate
Reed Wildlife Ranch in Corsicana,
Texas. They can be reached at:
[email protected]. Their
website is www.reedfamilyranch.com.
merely passing things down through the use
of a Will, without any regard to what our
heirs will have to pay in estate taxes seems
kind of unfair to the kids (especially if federal
estate taxes can be avoided with a little bit
of work and things are kept neat and tidy
before they’re passed down).
We also wanted to make the execution
of the estate as easy as possible emotionally,
which is why it’s really important to pick the
right executor or trustee if you are setting
up a trust like we did. This is the person that
pretty much calls the shots, and his/her
responsibilities are spelled out in the Will.
These are listed underneath a section in our
Wills called “trustee title, powers, duties,
immunities, and discretions.”
At this time, none of our children are
named as trustees. Although both of us are
named as each other’s trustee in the case of
each of our individual death, our trusted friend
and financial planner/attorney is named as the
alternate trustee and the eventual trustee in
the case of both our deaths.
As each of our children mature and
develop their own lifestyles and interests in
the future, this method of trustee naming
may eventually change if it becomes
apparent a change is needed.
In other words, in consideration of our
own particular situation for family peace
and cooperation, we feel it’s best for the
presumption to be that a third party (other
than a family member) be named as the
trustee, unless it becomes readily apparent
that a single family member can be named,
and there’s a level of confidence that peace
and cooperation can be maintained.
The more you can spell things out in this
section the easier it is on everyone. For
Four generations of Reeds left to right: Jim Reed with
his son, James, granddaughter, Kaylee, and mother,
Ora Anna Reed.
8 LAND & LIVESTOCK IN PRACTICE #90
The tiny town of Saguache, nestled at the foot of the mountains
at the north end of the San Luis Valley in south central
Colorado, is rich in scenery but seemingly little else.
Abandoned buildings, sleepy little neighborhoods, and general
untidiness create a picture that’s all-too-common across the West. The
sign at the town’s edge reads “Gateway to the San Luis Valley.” Most
passers-through are happy to get through the gate and keep right on
going. The town’s decay mirrors that of its surrounding natural
resources. It’s not the sort of place where one would expect to find
any lasting solutions to the complex problems that bedevil our efforts
to steward the earth.
It’s not the sort of place, that is, until you start talking to George
Whitten. George’s family has ranched and farmed on the flats
immediately south of Saguache, and far up into the mountains to the
west, since 1906. He is one of those rare guys possessing a combination
of practical grit, extreme humility, hands-on creativity, and high-minded
idealism. It’s a marriage of traits that has led George down a path of
discovery and learning, and to some realistically doable, holistically
sound solutions to some of the world’s most complex problems. I
recently called to find out if I could come pick his brain for a day.
George claimed he could tell me everything he knows “in about ten
minutes.” I pulled up to his house at nine in the morning, and by five
that afternoon we hadn’t stopped talking for more than about three
seconds, and we could have gone on all night. I learned a lot about
the crises currently facing the San Luis Valley, and about George’s
efforts, not only on his own land, but in his community, to tackle
these issues head on.
Water Weary out West
Perceived resource scarcity is nearly always at the root of human
conflict. In the western United States, water is the resource that garners
much of the attention. Farmers, ranchers, wildlife, endangered species,
and western towns all vie for their fair share. So do misplaced
concentrations of humanity (with their thirsty urban landscaping and
water guzzling golf courses) in places like Phoenix and Las Vegas. This
competition grows especially fierce during times of extended drought.
As our desert cities continue their relentless sprawl, and as the water
cycle across our landscapes continues to deteriorate, even “good”
precipitation years will eventually seem like drought years. It’s a
daunting and incredibly complex issue.
In the San Luis Valley, water issues have been debated, researched,
and haggled over for years. Lying at an elevation of 7000 to 8000 feet
(2130 to 2440 meters), surrounded by two of the West’s most dramatic
mountain ranges (the San Juan and Sangre de Cristo ranges), and
comprising the headwaters of the vast Rio Grande watershed, the
San Luis Valley is a microcosm of everything that’s “complicated”
about water. At the soil surface, a whopping 7 inches (180 mm) of
precipitation settles in an average year. Under natural conditions,
most of the valley is a high altitude, very cold semi-desert with about
a 90-day growing season. Beneath the soil surface, a shallow, vast
underground aquifer, made possible by a unique geology and
underground flows from the surrounding mountain ranges, supports
a state-of-the-art agricultural industry based on center pivot sprinkler
irrigation and high dollar (and high input) potato farming. Surface
flows from creeks that cascade out of the mountains, and from canals
diverted out of the Rio Grande itself, are the backbone of the valley’s
haying and cattle/sheep ranching industry.
In 2002, the valley floor received an annual deluge of 6 percent
of its normal 7 inches (180 mm). That’s .42 inches (11 mm) of total
moisture, all year. The surrounding mountains finished the winter
with snowpacks below 10 percent of normal. So far, 2003 has been a
little better, but not much—certainly not sufficient to make up for the
shortfalls of 2002. As I write, snowpack is at 43 percent of normal and
falling daily due to high winds and no new moisture. During last year’s
LAND L I V E S TO C K& A Special Section ofIN PRACTICE
JULY/AUGUST 2003 #90
The Whitten women rest after working on a seeding project over a
new pipeline on their summer Bureau of Land Management range.
From left to right: George's daughter Denise, granddaughter Elise, and
wife Julie.
The Whitten Ranch—
Creating More with Lessby Jim Howell
IN PRACTICE • JULY / AUGUST 2003 LAND & LIVESTOCK 9
growing season, static water levels in irrigation wells dropped
precipitously valley-wide, surface water flows dried up early in the
season or never started flowing to begin with, artesian wells that
hadn’t stopped flowing since being untapped suddenly ceased
production, and native range grasses on the hills skirting the valley
never greened up, preventing ranchers from going to their summer
ranges and forcing many to severely destock. Suddenly, the gross
unsustainability of the valley’s agricultural model hit everyone
smack in the face.
Ready for Drought
But back on the Whitten Ranch, things were tough, but not grim.
George attended his first Holistic Management courses about 15 years
ago, and could immediately see lots of room for improvement on
his own place, coupled with some
realistic means to get it done. Fifteen
years later, he has figured out how
to get by on a fraction of his former
water use. He has increased the
diversity and vigor of the plants
in his irrigated meadows and hilly
native rangeland, and they can thrive
even in dry years. He has selected
a herd of cows that can hold their
condition and breed back on tight
rations through fierce winters, and in
dry summers when the pickin’s are
slim. He has cultivated his creative,
inventive side and makes, builds, and fixes just about everything with
salvaged scraps that most of us would throw into the junk heap. His
rare purchases are generally made at a steal, opportunely nabbing
“priceless” assets that others find useless. When the drought of 2002
hit the San Luis Valley, George was ready for it.
When you’ve got rights to water coming out of the ground in
great natural gushes or in perennially flowing creeks and rivers, the
tendency of most humans is to use it all, assuming the wetter the
ground the better. For many years, when flood irrigation ruled, this
was the case in the San Luis Valley. Today, all of the water is still used,
but most of it is pumped through center pivot sprinklers, and very
little of it reenters the aquifer. With heavy flood irrigation, a big chunk
of the water at least percolated back into the underground aquifer, so
there was plenty of recharge. With the sprinklers, this vital recharge
isn’t happening, which is at the root of the present crisis. Under heavy
flood irrigation (still in practice across much of the valley, especially on
hay and pasture ground), the plant communities that developed were
far from ideal. They progressed to hydrophytic, water-loving rushes
and sedges. It looked good, but these plants are high in fiber and
tough to digest, especially if not put up as hay while still green. They
don’t tap the soil’s natural productive capacity either. Water-logged
conditions and poor aeration result in low levels of evapotranspiration
and thus photosynthesis.
George used to use all his water, but with a greater awareness of
how plants grow and the ill effects of over-irrigation, now uses roughly
half of his former use. Most of the irrigated ground has never been
plowed or worked in any way, so is still characterized by a true mosaic
of slightly undulating topography. Within a few feet, the ground can
transition from a knob, to a gentle slope, to bottom ground, and then continued on page 10
right back up to another knob. We’re talking elevation differences of
inches, not feet. When George floods this type of ground, he only lets
the water run through the bottoms and part way up the slopes. The
knobs never get inundated, but they do get water through sub-surface
moisture that percolates over from the low areas.
Before, when the whole pasture was inundated for prolonged
periods, the entire landscape was dominated by rushes and sedges.
Now, the knobs support a very high quality species of vetch
(a leguminous forb) along with a diversity of native and introduced
grasses. The slopes are dominated by high quality white clover. The
bottoms still contain a high concentration of Baltic rush, but also
support higher quality grasses such as timothy. Overall, biological
productivity has increased dramatically. On satellite images that
measure plant evapotranspiration rates (which is directly correlated
to photosynthetic activity) George’s ranch stands out like a sore
thumb. Inside George’s fence,
evapotranspiration is double that
of the neighbors, with roughly
half the water usage.
Grazing Patterns
With the exception of last year’s
drought, this irrigated ground (along
with several hundred acres of dryland
range down on the flats) has always
been used for winter feed. In 2002,
George elected to stay off his summer
range in the foothills southwest of
Saguache. He knew the extreme
drought conditions would keep his native grasses (dominated by
ground-hugging, sod-forming, warm season blue grama) from
recovering from their previous season’s grazing, and even though
the BLM (government agency that administers the public lands
grazing permits throughout much of the West) gave him the green
light to graze, George kept his cows home. Without his usual summer
grass, severe replanning was necessary. By having to graze the
flatland through the summer as well as the winter, his grazing
planning indicated a need to destock 30 percent and buy two
months worth of hay.
In most years, and starting again this year, George’s typical pattern
is to use the native hills for four months in the summer, beginning in
mid-June and coming off in mid-October, when the cattle return to the
flat country and stay clear through the winter till late spring. Many of
the species in the irrigated areas lose much of their quality after going
into dormancy. This is especially so for the coarser rushes and grasses
that grow in the bottom areas. The quality drops off so much that it’s
hard to get cattle to even eat them. The higher quality clovers and
vetches also lose quality, but the bigger problem is that their more
succulent form causes them to shrivel up to nothing in the dry,
extreme cold of winter. To conserve this forage in a form that could
be used by the cattle, George’s family used to spend all summer
putting up close to 30,000 small bales of hay, much of which was sold.
Cut and Pile Hay
Beginning about 15 years ago, George and his brother, Donnie,
changed that whole ritual and began conserving forage quality in a
George Whitten found that this 1946 Case Tractor and dump
rake did the job when he needed to find a more economically ,
ecologically, and socially sound way to conserve forage quality .
10 LAND & LIVESTOCK IN PRACTICE #90
much more ecologically, economically, and socially sound way. Now,
the irrigated forage is left to grow throughout most of the 90-day
growing season. In late August/early September, when the grasses and
legumes are still green but have produced mature, viable seed, George
sends out his 80+ year old dad (George Sr.) on an old windrower first
thing in the morning. After George Jr. gets done with morning chores,
he heads out with an old 24-foot (7.3 meter) -wide dump rake pulled
by a 1946 Case tractor. Driving with the rake perpendicular to the
freshly cut windrows, George gathers up two rows at a time into small
piles. As the rake starts to ride up over the pile, he trips the rake, the
pile gets dumped, and the next pile begins to form. George Jr. (on the
rake) catches up to George Sr. (on the windrower) by mid-afternoon.
The forage has to be piled when
wet and green. If it’s left to dry before
being piled, there is a great risk that the
gale force winds that sweep the valley
floor could blow the whole season’s
crop over the Sangre de Cristos and
into Kansas. The piles are loose and
highly aerated, and because of the very
dry, cold air, don’t grow any mold
inside. We looked at the last few piles
of the season, cut 8 months prior, and
they were still fresh and green under
the weathered surface. The piles
typically test 9-11 percent crude protein,
which is about the same as when baled. I asked if snow cover ever
made them inaccessible, and George said they seldom if ever get
enough snow for that to be a problem. He actually prefers to get a
nice layer of snow on the ground. The snow cover protects the piles
against the intense solar radiation of their dry, high climate, and less
of the forage on or near the pile’s surface deteriorates in quality.
The piles are rationed out with portable electric fence, with just
enough piles allotted per day to meet the herds’ needs. This minimizes
waste, maintains a constant plane of nutrition, and keeps the cattle
happy with a daily, predictable routine. If there is snow on the ground,
daily rationing is even more important. As soon as the snow gets
compacted around the piles, the piles get frozen in place. More than
one day of trampling results in excessive snow compaction and lots
of wasted forage.
Waiting till September to cut and pile, after the seed is hard and
mature, has great ecological benefits. Typically, hay is put up before
the seed is viable. Even if it is viable, a specific bale of hay is seldom
fed exactly where it grew. Any viable seeds are therefore not
necessarily dropped in the specific ecological microniche where
they are most likely to germinate and grow. With cut-and-pile forage
conservation, the forage is piled in nearly the exact location where it
grew, and all those viable seeds are right where nature would have
naturally deposited them. A diversity of small mammals uses the hay
piles as winter cover, which in turn has drawn healthy populations of
raptors. Economically, taking into account all costs, George estimates his
cost per ton of piled forage at about $10. The cost of making hay is at
least triple that, not including the machinery, fuel, and labor expense
to feed it all back out again. Because it requires so much less work,
and because they aren’t fretting constantly about rain falling on
drying windrows (which was the case back in the days of baling),
the quality of life benefits are right up there with the financial and
ecological benefits.
Out on the Range
Up on the summer range, called Tracy Canyon, which takes in
about 20,000 acres (8,000 ha) of “dry, tough old country,” George has
developed three permanent pastures, but strings portable fence “all
over the place” to create dozens of smaller interior, temporary
paddocks. He uses high ridgelines and
other topographical features, along
with these strategically placed portable
fences, to create these smaller divisions.
The temporary fences are typically
wound through areas that have
sufficient brush to keep the wire off
the ground, so very few posts are
needed. Generally, he plans to vary the
timing of grazing so that each patch of
ground gets grazed at different points
in the growing season in successive
years. Most areas will only receive one
grazing per year, but sometimes
exceptional moisture will generate enough recovery that the cattle can
return to some spots for a second grazing. Lots of effort has been put
into developing water points. Small springs at the tops of drainages
(the largest produces only 1.3 gallons/5 liters per minute) are plumbed
together with 1.5 inch (38 mm) black poly pipe to create water flows
capable of watering the 200+ head herd.
George admits that after 15 years of careful grazing planning on the
Tracy, grass species diversity hasn’t appreciably improved, but there has
been a great influx of valuable shrubs such as saltbush and winterfat.
Cottonwood trees have also begun to make a comeback along riparian
areas. Because he has minimized overgrazing of existing plants so
effectively, those plants do show an increase in vigor, but George still
isn’t satisfied. He’s not sure if the grass community will ever really
take off as long as “every year grazing” during the growing season
continues. George feels plants in this low production, highly brittle
country need the chance to periodically grow through an entire
growing season without being grazed, allowing them to build roots and
accumulate significant above-ground material that can add to the litter
bank. By grazing/impacting every year, even under well-timed, well-
planned grazing, it’s tough for either of these things to happen. With
new pipelines and water points developed this spring, George has
opened up lots more country that previously was poorly utilized by
cattle. He plans to use those areas (which are suffering from too much
recovery, or overrest) more heavily in the near term, enabling the
planning of longer recovery periods on much of his historically more
frequently grazed/impacted country.
Creating More With Less
continued from page 9
The forage is piled up green and wet to keep the gale winds
that rip through the valley floor from blowing it to Kansas.
rights are only valid during the
growing season. If water is trapped
in a reservoir during the winter, or
diverted into a gravel pit to run
back into the aquifer, or even run
out on the ground and stored as
ice, it’s a different use of the water.
Now it’s “storage water,” and that
use has to be filed on.
George thought he had the
answer, but his neighbors all
balked at the idea of filing on
water that they already assumed
was theirs. After months of futile
attempts to convince his neighbors
that winter flows were indeed
not theirs for the taking, George
took desperate measures and filed
on most of the water himself.
Suddenly he got everyone’s
attention. To make a long story
short, now the ranchers along
Saguache Creek are working
together to get some of this winter
flow back into the ground via
diversion into large gravel pits. If
they can measure a rise in the
water table as a result, that water
will legally be theirs during the
growing season. North Star Farm
would not be able to use it, thus
ensuring the aquifer would not be
pumped dry. Hopefully, with a
higher water table, Saguache Creek
would also provide surface flows
longer into the growing season, and potentially all season. It’s a grand
and complicated scheme, but George is convinced it just might work.
Tough Country, Tough Critters
Wintertime temperatures in the San Luis Valley are among the
coldest in the U.S. Mid-winter lows can drop to -20 to -30 F (-30 to
-35 C) for weeks at a time. Strong, whipping winds amplify the
extreme cold even further. The high altitude can cause pulmonary
hypertension (commonly called brisket disease) in cattle, which are
more adapted to lower elevation grasslands. The sparse, erratic,
unpredictable precipitation creates a sparse forage resource on the
native ranges, and on the valley floor, high soil alkalinity and
molybdenum excesses can create bovine metabolic disorders. Despite
the abundant ground water and dramatic scenery, the San Luis Valley
is a long ways from paradise, and it takes one heck of a tough cow
to make a living here. George’s selection criteria are pretty
IN PRACTICE • JULY / AUGUST 2003 LAND & LIVESTOCK 11
When he was growing up, the
Whittens were sheep ranchers,
and they used the Tracy for
winter sheep grazing. George
remembers knee high blue
gramma blowing in the wind way
back when he was little. The
sheep would willingly graze right
to the ridges, and as long as there
was a little snow on the ground,
the sheep didn’t need any other
source of water. George thinks
this well-distributed dormant
season grazing and impacting
(on predominantly warm season
grasses) might be what the
country is truly adapted to.
Local Water Challenges
George has figured out how
to make his own country work,
but he’s intimately connected to
all of his neighbors via their
common water resource. Because
of the way his neighbors are
managing their water, sustainable
production of high quality forage
and beef on the Whittens is
under grave threat. Saguache
Creek runs down through or near
most of the Whitten Ranch, and
historically they’ve relied on its
flow during the growing season
to irrigate roughly half of their
flat country. The other half is
watered by wells. For the past two years, no water has made it far
enough down Saguache Creek to use for irrigation. The same goes for
many of George’s neighbors. A massive haying operation, North Star
Farm (formerly South Farm) just south of Saguache, is the likely
culprit. Thirty-four center pivot sprinklers pull water from the aquifer
that obviously is directly tied to Saguache Creek. Last summer, for
the first time ever, the static water level in the ranch’s ultra-reliable
irrigation wells dropped down so low that the pumps started to surge.
George had to spend several thousand dollars to drop the pumps.
A form of encroachment on another’s property? Absolutely. But how
can it be proven, tracked, quantified?
George got to thinking. When North Star Farm’s center pivots shut
down in the fall, Saguache Creek starts to run again, and it runs all
winter. George figured that if only that winter flow could somehow
be used to build up the aquifer during the non-growing season, they
could quantify that rise in the water table, and would then be entitled
to its use the following growing season. But in Colorado, surface flow
Come winter, the cattle can break through snow (in this case
12 inches or 309 mm) to get to the forage.
Even after eight months of curing, this forage can still be fresh and
green, typically testing at 9-11 percent crude protein.
continued on page 12
straightforward and practical—if a cow can hold enough condition to
breed back every year, she’s got a home. That’s it. Longer legged, bigger
framed cows have a tougher time pulling that off than moderate
framed, deep bodied animals.
Calves are weaned in mid-November, steers are sold in December,
and cull heifers go off the place in January. He weans with a four-
strand electric fence, with mammas on one side and youngsters on the
other. Replacement heifers stay out of the herd for about a month at
weaning, then go back in with everybody else and never come out
again. That places them under
strict selection pressure, and
George insists a heifer learns to
be a lot better cow if she grows
up with her older relatives. The
herd started out as straight
Herefords, just like nearly every
cow herd across Colorado. In
the ‘70s, a switch to Angus bulls
added hybrid vigor and black
hides. In the mid ‘80s, George
started crossing his black baldy
cows to Tarentaise bulls, a high
altitude, very fertile, very tough
dual purpose breed from the
French Alps. That put a little
more milk and hardiness in
them, but George was getting
concerned that they were
getting a little too milky for his
tough country. For the past
several years, he’s been sourcing
bulls from Kit Pharo. Out on the
short grass prairie of eastern
Colorado, Kit runs his cows tougher than most commercial cattlemen.
He offers a line of small to moderate framed forage tested bulls,
mostly of English breeding.
Looking to the Future
That’s the water, grass, and cow side to this story, but it’s the people
side that’s really inspiring. In the fall of 2000, George found himself in
the middle of building a new house, but with no partner to share it.
One of his best buddies told him that his potential mate was unlikely
to come driving up his driveway; he had to get out and look a little.
Turned out that a search wasn’t necessary, because that mate, Julie
Sullivan, pulled through the ranch gate without any prodding. Julie has
had a remarkable career as an unconventional college professor. For
10 years, she taught full-time with the Audubon Expeditionary
Institute, which offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in
environmental studies and environmental education (accredited by
Lesley University of Cambridge, Massachusetts).
For an entire semester, 15 to 20 students and two to three faculty
travel hundreds to thousands of miles by school bus and sleep in tents.
Each semester trip focuses on a particular geographic region of the U.S.,
and students explore every aspect of the ecological, social, and
economic issues of the specific region. The Audubon Institute faculty
caught wind of this George Whitten guy out at the headwaters of the
Rio Grande, and thought he’d probably be an interesting character to
look up. It didn’t take long for George and Julie to realize they’d been
looking for each other for a long time, and by July of 2001 they were
married. Julie remains associated with the college, and they have
plans to develop a semester course that will be based out of the
Whitten Ranch.
George has three
children from a previous
marriage—Denise, Margo,
and Kirk. Denise and her
husband Marcos have
recently made the
decision to leave their
jobs (as a dental assistant
and plumber) in Pagosa
Springs, and have moved
back over the San Juans
and settled into their new
lives back on the ranch.
They are taking over the
ranch’s alfalfa and grass
hay production enterprise
(on a separate property
from George’s grazing
properties), and are
planning to bring
commercially viable
sheep production back
to the Whitten Ranch
enterprise mix. Son, Kirk, and his wife, Caitlin, are also keen to return
to the ranch, but they’re still working out the details. George, Julie,
and Denise have a contagious enthusiasm and inspiring vision, and
for good reason. They’re living their lives fully, consciously, and
deliberately toward their deepest human values. They are in harmony
with their soils and plants, their water, their animals, their wildlife, and
their community. They are free of debt and, due to George’s self-
sufficient, penny-pinching habits, the ranch has always turned a profit.
They humbly envision themselves as catalysts for change in the
human race’s transition to a more holistically-grounded culture. Julie is
passionate about erasing the “false polarity” that blocks constructive
dialogue between well-meaning environmentalists and direct users of
the land, between the urban masses and the rural minority. There is no
polarity—we are all humans with the same essential needs living in the
same ecosystem. As George puts it, “We came to America as Europeans,
and we’re managing our resources like we’re still in
Europe. We can’t make Europe out of this cold desert. We need to
learn to be Americans.” Well said, George. Thanks again for taking
the day off to show me around.
12 LAND & LIVESTOCK IN PRACTICE #90
The calf in this picture is lying along yesterday’s temporary electric fenceline. T o
the left of the calf, you can see the area that has been grazed. To the right, the
cattle are working on the pile du jour.
Creating More With Less
continued from page 11
IN PRACTICE • JULY / AUGUST 2003 LAND & LIVESTOCK 13
by Ian Mitchell-Innes
The tall grass veld (range) of the Natal region of South Africa
is incredibly productive, beautiful country. In its natural state,
a diverse plant community and a favorable climate create
thousands of niches for many varieties of game and non-game
mammals, hundreds of bird species, and thousands of insects. It is
paradise for many forms of life. Unfortunately, it’s paradise for many
organisms that also make life challenging. For cattle ranchers, one of
these nagging forms of life is the tick—and not just one type of tick.
We have numerous species, many of which carry disease organisms
that infect cattle, creating lethal tick-borne diseases.
Ten years ago, before my introduction to Holistic Management, I
was running my cattle as all good ranchers in this part of the world
do: plunge dipping my entire
herd every second week (with
organophosphate and pyrethroid
parasiticides). The dipping worked.
My cattle were clean of ticks, and I
had been successful enough to buy
another two ranches. But suddenly,
my cattle started to become infected
with tick-borne diseases and many
of them died. I was frantic and
called in a vet. He claimed my cattle
were too clean and had no
immunity. Some exposure to the
tick-borne diseases is desirable, he
said, as it enables the animals to
build antibodies against the invading
organisms. If the cattle are so clean
that this antibody production never
takes place, then when they do inevitably acquire a dose of ticks, they
are highly susceptible to the tick-borne diseases.
To avoid a total catastrophe, the vet suggested I “block” the entire
herd. This meant that each apparently healthy animal would receive
one-third the dose of antibiotics normally used to treat obviously
infected animals. The theory is that if the disease organism is present
in the apparently healthy animal, this lesser dose of medicine would
kill the organism before it had the chance to multiply to lethal levels.
Of course, the down side to this was that I was destroying any
resistance that some of the animals may have been in the process
of developing against the tick-borne diseases.
After negotiating this crisis, I decided I needed to take a more
sustainable approach to battling this problem. After much consultation
with our veterinary institute, I decided to follow a route whereby I
could lift the immunity of the whole herd. I planned to gradually
reduce dipping, allowing the cattle to support minor levels of tick
infestation. I had been warned this approach took great courage, as
cattle would still die. It would take some time for the correct immunity
levels to be reached. After seven years, I reached a stage where I was
dipping only once a year and spot treating the odd animal that had an
overload of ticks.
By observing my wild game, I noted that they had very few ticks
while the cattle were heavily loaded. My conclusion was that by
dipping constantly I had destroyed the beef herd’s ability to shed ticks.
Over a period of time of reduced dipping, the cattle started to regain
this natural ability, and the herd’s immunity has improved to the point
where I have no sick cattle from tick-borne disease.
In practicing Holistic Management, I started to become aware of
all the other benefits of not dipping. Dung beetles, which I had not
seen on the property since I was a small boy, started to return. Red
billed oxpeckers, which are birds that sit on the cattle and feed on
ticks, returned. The Guinea
fowl population has increased
dramatically, as has the Shelley’s
partridge (game bird). It was
obvious to me that the dip
chemical was not only killing
ticks but all sorts of insects
on which the natural bird
population relied.
In Allan Savory’s Holistic
Management , he cites examples
where losing one specie leads to
the loss of many other species
because of their interdependence.
The same principle must apply
in the opposite direction: when
a specie returns, many others
are likely to return as well.
This has happened here.
Thirty years ago, my uncle reintroduced warthog (not seen
here in my father’s lifetime) and failed; they simply disappeared.
Having practiced Holistic Management for five years and having had
success in introducing many other species of game, I put in an order
for warthog. The day after I confirmed the order, I saw my first two
warthogs on this ranch. They must have traveled miles to get here,
and I must have created a desirable environment for them. I think that
because I have stopped using chemicals there are more ants. Because
there are more ants, there are more ant bears (aardvarks); and because
there are more ant bears, there are more ant bear holes. Warthogs rely
on ant bear holes as a haven from predators. We are now two years
on, and the warthogs have more than quadrupled in numbers.
With the return of many species of insects, birds, and game to
the ranch, it has given me a better understanding of the power of
the testing guidelines when making a decision towards a future
resource base.
Ian Mitchell-Innes can be reached at [email protected]
Parasite Poisoning Kills More than Bugs—
Losing Biodiversity with Chemicals
Once we stopped poisoning for ticks, many small organisms that
we were unintentionally killing returned to our land. These
organisms—the food source for many other forms of life—allo wed
Guinea f owl to return (among many others).
14 HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT IN PRACTICE #90
New Financial Coordinator
The Savory Center is pleased to introduce
our new Financial Coordinator, Jessica Stolz.
A New Mexico
native, Jessica
graduated from
New Mexico State
University with a
degree in Finance
and a minor in
Global Political
Economy. While
in Las Cruces,
Jessica was active
as the Secretary/
Treasurer for the
Young Democrats
and as Business Manager for the campus
newspaper, The Round Up. As a volunteer she
also participated in fundraising activities for the
Student Association of Latin American Studies.
Jessica’s other volunteer interests have also
included work as a literacy aide, and she is
currently exploring a volunteer position for
Westcorp, a local non-profit working with
microlending for women. She is also beginning
her studies for CPA credentials and then will
begin work on a Masters in Finance.
Jessica was eager to join the Savory Center
because of our global focus and the variety of
tasks that she would be involved in as part of
her employment. “I really wanted to work for a
company that was working for more than just
a profit. The Savory Center’s mix of profit and
non-profit work around the world seemed very
suited to my varied finance interests.”
Electronic Back Issues
The Savory Center now has back issues
#71-89 on sale, all on one CD. The price for
all these issues is normally $60, but this CD is
only $25 plus shipping and handling. To order,
see the back page of this issue.
Recent West Ranch Activities
Joe and Peggy Maddox, ranch managers for the
West Ranch Cooperative Field Station, hosted
an all-day field trip of hands-on activities for the
Ozona, Texas third grade on May 2, 2003.
Students began the field trip with “How the
Wind Helps Us” curriculum at a ranch windmill
where they learned how the windmill pumps
water from underground. Continuing on to the
ranch headquarters for lunch, kite flying, and
storytelling, the third graders returned to Ozona
of Texas at Austin
and Savory Center
Board Member
Dr. Manuel Casas at
the Chapa de Mota
Research Station
in Mexico.
The other two
interns are Julie
Zimmerman and
Nate Chisholm. Julie is
currently studying
Resource Management
at Cal Poly in San Luis
Obispo, California and wants to get hands on
experience at the West Ranch. Nate has just
recently graduated from Montana State
University and wanted to be an intern to
learn more about how to integrate human
communities into healthy ecosystems.
Correction
In our list of contributors from last year, the
Savory Center inadvertently left out Jim &
Carol Hutchinson. We regret this error, and
greatly appreciate the contributions made by
all our members.
S a vory Center Bulletin Board
Jessica Stolz
The Ozona third grade class in Crockett County, Texas enjoying a break
between kite flying and learning about the wind at the West Ranch.
at the end of the day having learned more about
their natural resources and the human resources
within their community.
The Maddoxes are also busy orienting five
new interns at Ozona that will work and learn
through the summer. Juan Carlos Garcia Avilez,
Odette Gomez Garcia, and Janice Ramirez Castro
are all interning on an exchange from
Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico
where they are all currently in the College of
Veterinary Medicine. This exchange was made
possible with the help of Dr. Dick Richardson at
the University
Savory Given Major
Environmental Award
On May 30, Allan Savory was presented one of
Australia’s most prestigious environmental
awards, the International Banksia Award. The
Banksia Environmental Foundation gives the award
each year to “individuals who have made, or are
making, a significant contribution for the betterment of our environment on a global level.” Past
winners include Rachel Carson, Sir David Attenborough and Dr. David Suzuki, among others.
The award was sponsored by DuPont and presented by its Vice President of Safety, Health
and Environment, Paul Tebo. Dr. Tebo is the driving force behind efforts to steer DuPont’s global
operations toward zero injuries, illnesses, incidents, wastes and emissions. And, he is eager to
follow up with the Savory Center to learn more about Holistic Management and how it could
benefit this initiative.
The Banksia Foundation’s Board selects the winner each year from a pool of nominees
whose activities they have followed for several years. Their reasons for selecting Allan this year:
Allan Savory has developed what is widely believed to be an entirely new
decision-making framework through which all people, regardless of their location,
industry or circumstances, can make decisions that are simultaneously environmentally,
socially and financially sound in both the short and long term—Holistic Management.
In short, Holistic Management appears to be a way of putting people back in control
of their destinies and restoring a sense of direction in tough times. Many thousands of
families and businesses around the world are now successfully using the new
framework to radically improve the quality of their lives while simultaneously
regenerating the resource base that sustains them.
Allan Savory at the InternationalBanksia A ward Ceremony near
Brisbane, Australia.
HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT IN PRACTICE • JULY / AUGUST 2003 15
observe life in the villages, but to actively
participate:
“Enjoy children? Join us in primary school;
expect to clap and sing and dance, since the
children do. Or, tell us if you’d like to teach.
“Do you teach? Join us in secondary school.
What you say will be warmly received, just
because you are someone new, from
somewhere else.
“Sing/wish to worship? Join us, Sundays,
in a village church.
“Work with women? Join our women’s
micro-banking project, where entrepreneurs
seek micro-loans and help in launching
ventures.”
In every case visitors
have been so moved by
their experiences with the
villagers that they have
offered to help in any way
they can. And they have.
The villagers in turn have
developed a new
appreciation for what
tourism can become.
“I take every eco-tourist safari to one
primary school,” says Jeff. “Each visit is a
joy—at the beginning. As our truck arrives,
200 kids pour out the doors (and windows),
then surround us, dancing, shouting and
shaking our hands.
“Then they lead us on a singing, dancing
tour of their classrooms—and it is hard to
conceal our shock. A normal classroom holds
58 kids, 6 chairs, no tables, 7 exercise books,
9 pencils, no magic markers, chalk, colored
pencils, puzzles, games, paint, brushes, rulers,
pens or anything else. The roof leaks and the
children lie on the wet cement floor in neat
disciplined rows, chanting lessons to the
teacher’s beat—”A-B-C-D-E-F-”, etc. They write
each letter on the floor—with their forefingers.
They have no books. Nor can they be
bought in town.
“Recess: The kids do have one ball. They
made it out of plastic shopping bags, hand-
held and melted together on a cook fire.”
Jeff has instigated partnerships between
Dimbangombe Conservation Safaris (DCS) and
the teachers/parents of several schools. DCS
provides tools and expertise, the parents and
Africa Centre Update—
A Splendid Partnership
Jeff Fadiman
Three years ago, after visiting the
Africa Centre for Holistic Management
in Zimbabwe, Jeff Fadiman
approached us with an idea. We had
developed the beginnings of an ecotourism
enterprise in an effort to make the Africa
Centre less reliant on outside funding to
further its educational programs. What Jeff
was offering to do was to turn our
amateurish efforts into an operation that
would not only be profitable but also set the
standard for what “ecotourism” should be.
Dr. Jeffrey Fadiman is Professor of Global
Marketing, High Risk Regions at San Jose
State University (Silicon Valley), California.
Educated at Stanford and elsewhere, he
taught for the U.S. Peace Corps, was a two-
time Fulbright Scholar (Kenya and South
Africa), worked as a Kenya Safari guide, and
learned to speak Swahili and Zulu along the
way. He publishes in three disciplines
(African History, Global Marketing, Foreign
Relations), and has 4l publications,
including five books.
Jeff got to work right away, renaming our
enterprise, Dimbangombe Conservation Safaris
(after the name of the property on which the
Africa Center is located), revamping the
activities we had to offer and molding them
into highly desirable packages that proved
irresistible to the clients he soon started
sending our way. Each group would start
their safari with a wilderness awareness
course led by Africa Centre staff member
Roger Parry. “Walk into the bush with us,”
writes Jeff. “Then watch, touch, smell, taste
and listen—by day and night. Learn to sense,
smell and hear animals before they appear, as
they sense, smell and hear you before you
appear. Learn how dangerous animals, birds,
reptiles and insects behave. Once you know,
you can plan ahead, respond appropriately
and even interact.”
These courses, and all the activities
now offered are not only adventurous but
educational. And as attractive as that has been
to all visitors, the most meaningful part of
their experience is the time they get to spend
with villagers in the Wange Communal Lands
that neighbor Dimbangombe. Jeff’s idea from
the beginning was for visitors not to just
teachers agree to provide whatever skills
and labor are needed to get every child up
off cement floors, into chairs and at desks,
and our ecotourists agree to become what
Jeff calls “educationaries.” Each brings one
daypack of educational supplies (and one
ball) on safari.
As we said at the beginning, Jeff’s aim is
to set a new standard for ecotourism. We’re
just glad he chose us to be his example.
In addition to his efforts in the ecotourism
department, Jeff has also launched an intern
program to complement one we initiated two
years ago with an organization in the U.K.
Jeff recruits MBA students from San Jose State
who pay their own costs to participate in a
six-week internship at Dimbangombe in
ecotourism, and wildlife and conservation
marketing/management.
Jeff is also actively involved in the
development of the wildlife management
college we launched informally early this
year with a game scout training course that
included an introduction to Holistic
Management. He is assisting us in developing
the college curriculum and has also
established contact with other wildlife
colleges in East and Southern Africa with
whom we hope to establish links.
We are indebted to Jeff for all of this.
His efforts have greatly enhanced the good
will the Africa Centre staff have worked
hard to earn in our local community over the
years. Where we once reached out to the
community and found only a modest number
of takers, they now reach out to us and in
far greater numbers.
So That All May Benefit
In April the Africa Centre for Holistic
Management received a grant from
the Canadian International
Development Agency (CIDA) for
$15,000 (Canadian) that will give our
staff additional resources for promoting
gender equity/sensitivity in all their
programs. The funds for this two-year
project will cover the time of a “gender
specialist” who will provide training to
our staff and through them to the local
chiefs who serve on the Africa Centre’s
Board of Trustees, our village-based
Holistic Management facilitators, and
ultimately to the community at large.
16 HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT IN PRACTICE #90
forage coming from the big four tallgrass prairie
species—little bluestem, big bluestem, Indian
and switch—those tallgrass species are only
30 percent to 40 percent of the total. There are
short and mid-grasses and high successional
forbs that fill in to make a stable, healthy
prairie community.” By monitoring, they know
they are seeing less bare ground and an
increase in the plant species they desire.
In their forms of production, they have to
generate profit, so that they can afford to
manage the land toward that future landscape
description. One decision they made to
accomplish that was to run sheep and cattle
together. Clint says that took real persistence
and patience on Robby’s part, because they
have guard dogs that stay with the sheep.
When they combined the cattle and sheep, the
dogs would try to chase the cattle off and the
cattle would try to chase the dogs off. Robby
started grazing them in adjacent pastures.
Then on horseback he would ease the sheep
through the cattle or the cattle through the
sheep until the dogs and the cattle relaxed.
Now they all hang together quite contentedly.
One benefit to combining the sheep and
cattle is that they don’t need to reduce cow
numbers in order to add sheep, because much
of what they eat is complimentary, and they
all eat the overabundant cool season grasses.
In addition to conflicts between cattle and
dogs, Clint and Robby also struggled with
horses and cattle. They used to have brood
mares and sell weanling colts, but they found
that the horses deliberately keep the cattle
away from the water points. Because they
wanted a single herd of animals for effective
grazing management, they stopped raising
horses.
When asked what they are most proud of
accomplishing, Robby says, “being able to do
as much as we do with as little help as we
have.” Clint believes that Holistic Management
has helped them do that and keep labor costs
down because while it requires more
planning, the result is that you don’t need as
much overhead.
When we asked Clint why he has invested
in such a long-standing and deep commitment
to Holistic Management both with the Savory
Center and with HRM of Texas, he thought
for a moment, and replied, “It’s the only thing
I’ve seen that works. It’s the way to save
agriculture.”
For more information about the
Rendezvous 2003, please see the
enclosed flyer.
For those of you considering coming to
the Rendezvous 2003 on September 26-
28, 2003, I thought it would be helpful
to learn a little bit more about Clint Josey’s LO
Ranch, so I went out to interview him this
spring at the LO Ranch.
Petroleum engineering is Clint’s vocation,
but his avocation is ranching. He purchased
the LO Ranch piecemeal beginning in 1974,
with five tracts at Leo comprised of 1000 acres
of bottomlands and upland prairie hills.
In 1982 Clint went to one of Allan Savory’s
courses. Within a year he returned with his
son-in-law, Tom, and his ranch manager,
Robby Tuggle, and all their wives.
Robby had experience working on
other ranches. When he came back
from the course he was excited about
the possibilities. “It just made sense to
me that on land that carries one animal
per 14 acres, if you can run one animal
per seven acres simply by changing
how you manage them, you just
bought yourself another ranch. You
spend money on fencing, but not near
the cost of another ranch.” In only a
few years they were able to more than
double their stocking rate, and their
monitoring shows no signs of
deteriorating land..
Clint actually bought several ranches after
attending the course, but later sold them, and
with that money he bought the 800-acre
Pittman in 1986 and had enough money left to
put in the additional fencing and water points
to maximize production. He ran the decision
through the testing guidelines and determined
that, given the size of the ranch, it would
make more money to put this infrastructure
in and get the ranch into full production
immediately.
Sharing the Learning
It is apparent as you listen to Clint and
Robby that these two men are enjoying the
collaborative process of running the L O
Ranch and working with their
consultant/advisor, long-time Savory Center
member, Bob Steger.
While Clint and Robby each have their
own personal/family holistic goal, the holistic
goal they discussed the day I visited them was
for the ranch itself. In particular, they talked
about how the ranch’s holistic goal has lead
them to develop the ranch as a Holistic
Management® learning site.
Clint notes that they’ve been thinking
about making that kind of commitment with
the ranch, but it wasn’t until they revised their
holistic goal, that they actually started taking
action toward making it happen. “We’re now
spending money on exclosures,” Clint says.
“We’ll also probably build a pavilion (for
classroom space), and we’re working with
North Central Texas College to come more
often.”
One of the reasons that Clint and Robby
Readying for a Rendezvo u s
by Pat Q. Richardson
Participate in the Rendezvous 2003 near Leo, Texas at
Clint Josey’s LO Ranch in a restored tall-grass prairie.
want to formalize the ranch as a learning
center is because neighbors have not been as
eager to learn with them as they had hoped.
“Our neighbors vary from totally indifferent to
hostile,” says Clint. “Our community beyond
the ranch boundaries is our grazing club, the
Red River Graziers. There are about 20
ranchers in it, and we’ve gotten pretty close.
They all have the same experience of being
considered the freaks in the neighborhood. We
like to get together with people who don’t feel
that way. We talk about mistakes more than
anything.”
The Landscape as Canvas
Like many ranchers, Clint and Robby are
particularly excited about the future resource
base landscape description and their efforts to
manage their whole toward that landscape. In
describing that landscape, Clint notes, “The
tallgrass prairie restored is one of our current
focuses. However, with 80 to 90 percent of
HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT IN PRACTICE • JULY / AUGUST 2003 17
ARIZONA
Kitty Boice
P.O. Box 745, Sonoita, AZ 85637
520/907-5574; [email protected]
ARKANSAS
Preston Sullivan
P.O. Box 4483, Fayetteville, AR 72702
479/443-0609; 479/442-9824 (w)
CALIFORNIA
Monte Bell
325 Meadowood Dr., Orland, CA 95963
530/865-3246; [email protected]
Julie Bohannon
652 Milo Terrace, Los Angeles, CA 90042
323/257-1915
Bill Burrows
12250 Colyear Springs Rd.
Red Bluff, CA 96080
530/529-1535; [email protected]
Jeff Goebel
P.O. Box 1252, Willows, CA 95988
530/321-9855; 530/934-4601 x101 (w)
Richard King
1675 Adobe Rd., Petaluma, CA 94954
707/769-1490; 707/794-8692 (w)
Christopher Peck
P.O. Box 2286, Sebastopol, CA 95472
707/758-0171
COLORADO
Cindy Dvergsten
17702 County Rd. 23, Dolores, CO 81323
970/882-4222
Rio de la Vista
P.O. Box 777, Monte Vista, CO 81144
719/852-2211; [email protected]
Daniela Howell
63066 Jordan Ct., Montrose, CO 81401
970/249-0353
Tim McGaffic
P.O. Box 476, Ignacio, CO 81137
970/946-9957; [email protected]
Roland Kroos
4926 Itana Circle
Bozeman, MT 59715
406/522-3862; [email protected]
◆ Cliff Montagne
Montana State University Department of Land
Resources & Environmental Science
Bozeman, MT 59717
406/994-5079; [email protected]
NEW MEXICO
◆ Ann Adams
The Savory Center
1010 Tijeras NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
505/842-5252
Amy Driggs
1131 Los Tomases NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
505/242-2787
Kirk Gadzia
P.O. Box 1100
Bernalillo, NM 87004
505/867-4685; fax: 505/867-0262
Ken Jacobson
12101 Menaul Blvd. NE, Ste AAlbuquerque, NM 87112505/[email protected]
◆ Kelly Pasztor
The Savory Center
1010 Tijeras NW,
Albuquerque, NM 87102
505/842-5252
Sue Probart
P.O. Box 81827
Albuquerque, NM 87198
505/265-4554
Vicki Turpen
03 El Nido Amado SW
Albuquerque, NM 87121
505/873-0473; [email protected]
Arne Vanderburg
P.O. Box 904
Cedar Crest, NM 87008
505/286-6133
NORTH CAROLINA
Sam Bingham
394 Vanderbilt Rd.
A s h eville, NC 28803
8 2 8 / 2 7 4 - 1 3 0 9
s b i n g h a m @ i g c . o r g
NORTH DAKOTA
◆ Wayne Berry
University of North Dakota—Williston
P.O. Box 1326
Williston, ND 58802
701/774-4269 or 701/774-4200
Chadwick McKellar
16775 Southwood Dr.
Colorado Springs, CO 80908
719/495-4641; [email protected]
Chandler McLay
P.O. Box 262, Dolores, CO 81323
970/882-8802
Byron Shelton
33900 Surrey Lane, Buena Vista, CO 81211
719/395-8157
GEORGIA
Constance Neely
1160 Twelve Oaks Circle
Watkinsville, GA 30677
706/310-0678
IOWA
Bill Casey
1800 Grand Ave.
Keokuk, IA 52632-2944
319/524-5098; [email protected]
KENTUCKY
Joel Benson
1180 Fords Mill Rd.
Versailles, KY 40383
859/879-6365; [email protected]
LOUISIANA
Tina Pilione
P.O. 923, Eunice, LA 70535
phone/fax: 337/580-0068
MINNESOTA
Terri Goodfellow-Heyer
4660 Cottonwood Lane N
Plymouth, MN 55442
612/559-0099
Larry Johnson
RR 1, Box 93A, Winona, MN 55987-9738
507/457-9511; 507/523-2171 (w)
MONTANA
Wayne Burleson
RT 1, Box 2780
Absarokee, MT 59001
406/328-6808; [email protected]
Certified Educators
UNITED STATES
◆ These Educators provide Holistic Management instruction on behalf of the institutions they represent.
To our knowledge, Certified Educators are the best qualified individuals to help others learn to
practice Holistic Management and to provide them with technical assistance when necessary. On a yearly
basis, Certified Educators renew their agreement to be affiliated with the Center. This agreement requires
their commitment to practice Holistic Management in their own lives, to seek out opportunities for
staying current with the latest developments in Holistic Management and to maintain a high standard of
ethical conduct in their work.
For more information about or application forms for the U.S., Africa, or International Certified Educator
Training Programs, contact Kelly Pasztor at the Savory Center or visit our website at
www.holisticmanagement.org/wwo_certed.cfm?
18 HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT IN PRACTICE #90
OHIO
◆ Deborah Stinner
Department of Entomology OARDC
1680 Madison Hill
Wooster, OH 44691
330/202-3534 (w); [email protected]
OKLAHOMAKim Barker
RT 2, Box 67Waynoka, OK 73860580/824-9011; [email protected]
OREGONCindy Douglas
2795 McMillian St., Eugene, OR 97405541/465-4882; [email protected]
TEXAS
Christina Allday-Bondy
2703 Grennock Dr.Austin, TX 78745512/441-2019; [email protected]
Guy Glosson
6717 Hwy 380, Snyder, TX 79549806/237-2554; [email protected]
Lois Trevino
P.O. Box 615, Nespelem, WA 99155
509/634-4410; 509/634-2430 (w)
Doug Warnock
151 Cedar Cove Rd., Ellensburg, WA 98926
509/925-9127
warnockd@ elltel.net
WISCONSIN
Elizabeth Bird
Room 203 Hiram Smith Hall
1545 Obseratory Dr., Madison WI 53706
6 0 8 / 2 6 5 - 3 7 2 7
e a b i r d @ fa c s t a ff . w i s c . e d u
WYOMING
Miles Keogh
450 N. Adams Ave .
B u ffalo WY 82834
307/684-0532; [email protected]
Tim Morrison
P.O. Box 536, Meeteese, WY 82433
307/868-2354; mcd@tctwe s t . n e t
◆ R.H. (Dick) Richardson
University of Texas at Austin
Department of Integrative Biology
Austin, TX 78712
512/471-4128; [email protected]
Peggy Sechrist
25 Thunderbird Rd., Fredericksburg, TX 78624830/990-2529; [email protected]
WASHINGTON
Craig Madsen
P.O. Box 107, Edwall, WA 99008
509/236-2451; [email protected]
Sandra Matheson
228 E. Smith Rd., Bellingham, WA 98226
360/398-7866; [email protected]
Don Nelson
Washington State University
P.O. Box 646310, Pullman, WA 99164
509/335-2922; [email protected]
Maurice Robinette
S. 16102 Wolfe Rd., Cheney, WA 99004
509/299-4942; [email protected]
I N T E R N AT I O N A L
AUSTRALIA
Helen Carrell
“Hillside” 25 Weewondilla Rd.Glennie Heights, Warwick, QLD 437061-4-1878-5285; 61-7-4661-7383 [email protected]
Steve Hailstone
5 Lampert Rd., Crafers, SA [email protected]
Graeme Hand
“Inverary”Caroona Lane; Branxholme, VIC 330261-3-5578-6272; [email protected]
Mark Gardner
P.O. Box 1395, Dubbo, NSW [email protected]
Brian Marshall
“Lucella”; Nundle, NSW 2340
61-2-6769 8226; fax: 61-2-6769 8223
Bruce Ward
P.O. Box 103, Milsons Pt., NSW 156561-2-9929-5568; fax: [email protected]
Brian Wehlburg
c/o “Sunnyholt”, Injue, QLD [email protected]
CANADA
Don and Randee Halladay
Box 2, Site 2, RR 1; Rocky Mountain House, AB T0M 1T0; 403/[email protected]
Noel McNaughton
5704-144 St., Edmondton, AB, T6H 4H4780/432-5492; [email protected]
Len Pigott
Box 222, Dysart, SK SOH 1HO 306/[email protected]
Kelly Sidoryk
Box 374, Lloydminster, AB, S9V 0Y4403/[email protected]
CHINA/GERMANY
Dieter Albrecht
2, Yuan Ming Yuan Xi LuBeijing 1009486-10-6289 [email protected] (international)
MEXICO
Ivan Aguirre
La InmaculadaApdo. Postal 304Hermosillo, Sonora 83000tel/fax: [email protected]
Elco Blanco-Madrid
Cristobal de Olid #307 Chihuahua Chih., 3124052-614-415-3497; fax: [email protected]
Manuel Casas-Perez
Calle Amarguva No. 61, Lomas HerraduraHuixquilucan, Mexico City CP 5278552-558-291-3934; 52-588-992-0220 (w)[email protected]
Jose Ramon “Moncho” Villar
Av. Las Americas #1178Fracc. CumbresSaltillo, Coahuila [email protected]
NAMIBIA
Gero Diekmann
P.O. Box 363, Okahandja [email protected]
Wiebke Volkmann
P.O. Box 182, Otavi, 067-23-44-48;[email protected]
NEW ZEALAND
John King
P.O. Box 3440, Richmond, [email protected]
SOUTH AFRICA
Johan Blom
P.O. Box 568, Graaf-Reinet [email protected]
Ian Mitchell-Innes
P.O. Box 52, Elandslaagte [email protected]
Norman Neave
Box 141, Mtubatuba [email protected]
Dick Richardson
P.O. Box 1806, Vryburg 8600tel/fax: 27-53-927-4367 [email protected]
ZIMBABWE
Mutizwa Mukute
PELUM Association Regional DeskP.O. Box MP 1059, Mount Pleasant, Harare263-4-74470/744117fax: [email protected]
Liberty Mabhena
Spring CabinetP.O. Box 853, Harare263-4-210021/2; 263-4-210577/8fax: 263-4-210273
Sister Maria Chiedza Mutasa
Bandolfi ConventP.O. Box 900, Masvingo263-39-7699, 263-39-7530
Elias Ncube
P. Bag 5950, Victoria [email protected]
HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT IN PRACTICE • JULY / AUGUST 2003 19
CALIFORNIA
Holistic Management of California
Tom Walther, newsletter editor
5550 Griffin St.
Oakland, CA 94605
510/530-6410
COLORADO
Colorado Branch of the Center
For Holistic Management
Jim and Daniela Howell
newletter editors
1661 Sonoma Court,
Montrose, CO 81401
970/249-0353
GEORGIA
Constance Neely
1160 Twelve Oaks Circle
Watkinsville, GA 30677
706/310-0678
MONTANA
Beartooth Management Club
Wayne Burleson
RT 1, Box 2780, Absarokee, MT 59001
406/328-6808; [email protected]
Local Netwo r k s There are several branch organizations or groups
affiliated with the Center in the U.S. and abroad (some publish their own
newsletters.) We encourage you to contact the group closest to you:
PENNSYLVANIA
Northern Penn Network
Jim Weaver, contact person
RD #6, Box 205
Wellsboro, PA 16901
717/724-7788
TEXAS
HRM of Texas
Peggy Jones, newsletter editor
101 Hill View Trail
Dripping Springs, TX 78620
512/858-4251
AUSTRALIA
Holistic Decision Making Association
(AUST+NZ)
Irene Dasey, Executive Officer
P.O. Box 543
Inverell NSW, 2360
tel: 61-2-6721-0123
CANADA
Canadian Holistic Management
Lee Pengilly
Box 216, Stirling, AB, T0K 2E0
403/327-9262
MEXICO
Fundación para Fomentar
el Manejo Holístico, A.C.
Jose Ramon Villar, President
Ave. Las Americas #1178
United States
International
NEW YORK
Regional Farm & Food ProjectTracy Frisch, contact person148 Central Ave., 2nd floorAlbany, NY 12206518/427-6537
USDA/NRCS - Central NY RC&D
Phil Metzger, contact person
99 North Broad St.
Norwich, NY 13815
607/334-3231, ext. 4
NORTHWEST
Managing WholesPeter Donovan
501 South St.
Enterprise, OR 97828-1345
541/426-2145
www.managingwholes.com
OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma Land Stewardship AllianceCharles GriffithsRoute 5, Box E44, Ardmore, OK 73401580/[email protected]
Fracc. Cumbres Saltillo, Coahuila 25270
tel/fax: 52-844-415-1542
NAMIBIA
Namibia Centre for
Holistic Management
Anja Denker, contact person
P.O. Box 23600
Windhoek 9000
tel/fax: 264-61-230-515
SOUTH AFRICA
Community Dynamics
Judy Richardson
P.O. Box 1806
Vryburg 8600
tel/fax: 27-53-9274367
Come Visit Us!
We Offe r:
• Guided Bush Wa l ks
• H o rs e b a ck To u rs
• G a m e -Vi ewing Dri ve s
• A n t i - Po a ching Pa t rol Experi e n c e
• And much more !
In an unfo rget table setting with
comfy lodging, memorable meals
AT DIMBANGOMBE
Come Visit Us!AT DIMBANGOMBE
P ri va te Bag 5950 Ro ger Pa rry
Vi c to ria Fa l l s Email: ro g p a ch m @ a f ri c a o n l i n e . c o . z w
Z i m b a bwe Tel. (263)(11 ) 213 529
w w w. a f ri c a n s o j o u rn . c o m
Board of Trustees
Allan Savory, Chair
Ignatius Ncube, Vice Chair
Chief D. Shana II
Chief A. J. Mvutu
Chief B.W. Wange
Chief D. Nelukoba
Chief S.R. Nekatambe
Councilor Ndubiwa
Mary Ncube
Lot Ndlovu
Emeldah Nkomo
(Staff Representative)
Elias Ncube
(Staff Representative)
Osmond Mugweni - Masvingo
Hendrik O’Neill - Harare
Sam Brown, Austin, Texas,
ex-officio
Staff
Huggins Matanga, Director
Elias Ncube, Community
Programmes Manager
Emeldah Nkomo, Village
Banking Coordinator
Forgé Wilson,
Office Manager
Sylvia Nyakujawa, Bookkeeper
Dimbangombe Ranch and
Conservation Safaris:
Roger Parry, Manager
Trish Pullen,
Assistant Manager, Catering
Richard Nsinganu, Assistant
Manager, Safaris
Albert Chauke,
Ranch Foreman
Africa Centre for Holistic Management
(A subsidiary of the Allan Savory Center for
Holistic Management since 1992)
To order products inAustralia/New Zealand or southern Africa contact:
Australia: Holistic Decision Making Association, Irene Dasey, P.O. Box 543,
Inverell NSW 2360, tel: 61-2-6721-0123; [email protected]
South Africa: Whole Concepts cc, PO Box 1806, Vryburg 8600;
tel/fax: 27-53-9274367; [email protected]