Rangeland Center

Education and Engagement at Rinker Rock Creek Ranch

Advancing sustainable land stewardship and rangeland management  

Historically, livestock production was a primary focus across the West. Today, the region faces increasing demand for diverse resources, including rangeland for livestock and wildlife habitat, energy production from sunlight and wind, recreational trails and quiet scenic areas for living. These competing interests converge with challenges such as more frequent wildfires, invasive plant species and landscape fragmentation.

Properly managed rangelands play a critical role in addressing these challenges and are essential to the economic and ecological sustainability of Idaho and the West. Rangelands make up half of Idaho’s land area, half of the West and half of all land globally.

The Rangeland Center leverages science to develop long-term solutions for rangeland management.

Our interdisciplinary team includes researchers and educators from seven University of Idaho departments, three colleges and multiple University of Idaho Extension sites. Together, we conduct research and outreach focused on rangelands. Partnerships with individuals, agencies and organizations enhance our ability to serve those who manage and use rangelands in Idaho and across the West. 

Mission:

To create knowledge and foster understanding for the stewardship and management of rangelands. 

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Events

The Rangeland Center hosts events throughout the year to share knowledge and engage with the public, stakeholders, faculty and staff.

  • Fall Forum: Held each fall, this event features presentations from specialists on rangeland topics and opportunities for interactive discussions.
  • Idaho Range Livestock Symposium: Each winter, experts share industry-relevant information for agriculture producers and rangeland managers.

Details about upcoming webinars, conferences and workshops will be updated regularly—check this page for the latest information. 

Who we are

The Rangeland Center is a network of people and partners from across Idaho. Based at University of Idaho, the center spans six departments and three colleges, reflecting a broad, interdisciplinary focus. Members include faculty on the Moscow and Boise campuses, Extension specialists at Research and Extension Centers and county-based Extension educators serving local communities.

Our team brings expertise in areas such as grazing, rangeland ecology, entomology, soil science, economics, rural sociology, fish and wildlife resources, riparian ecology, invasive plants, restoration, forage production, animal science, wildland fire, drone and satellite-based remote sensing and spatial technologies for understanding rangelands.

The Rangeland Center is guided by the deans of the College of Natural Resources and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, and the Director of University of Idaho Extension.

Meet our people

Members of the Rangeland Center
Natural Resources and Society Department
Forest, Rangeland and Fire Sciences Department
  • Charles Goebel - Professor and Department Head of Forest, Rangeland and Fire Sciences(Moscow)
  • Jason Karl - Landscape-scale Monitoring & Management (Moscow)
  • Karen Launchbaugh - Range Animal Behavior and Grazing Ecology (Moscow)
  • Tim Link - Wildland Hydrology and Watershed Management (Moscow)
  • Eric Winford - Rangeland Ecology and Management (Boise)
  • Scott Jensen – Area Extension Educator (Range)
Fish and Wildlife Sciences Department
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences:
University of Idaho Extension County Offices
  • Sarah Baker - Livestock, Range and 4-H, Custer County (Challis)
  • Jim Church - Livestock and Range, Idaho County (Grangeville)
  • Audra Cochran - Farm and Forestry Extension, Clearwater County (Orofino)
  • Nikki Dalton - 4‐H Youth, Bannock County (Pocatello)
  • Selena Davila - Livestock, Range and 4-H, Lincoln County (Shoshone)
  • Tyanne Roland - Livestock and Range, Adams County (Council)
  • Joseph Sagers - Agronomy, Livestock and Range, Jefferson/Clark County (Rigby)
  • Meranda Small - Land and Livestock Extension, Idaho County (Grangeville)
  • Shannon Williams - Livestock, Range and 4-H, Lemhi County (Salmon)
  • Carmen Willmore - Livestock and Range, Bingham County (Blackfoot)
  • Jenn Smith - Livestock, Range and 4-H, Owyhee County (Marsing)
  • Tyler O'Donnell - Livestock, Range and 4-H, Washington County (Weiser)
Agricultural Experiment Station
Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology Department
  • Katherine Lee - Natural Resource and Environmental Economics (Moscow)
  • Paul Lewin - Agricultural Economics and Rural Community Development (Moscow)
  • Hernan Tejeda - Applied and Production Economics (Twin Falls Research and Extension Center)
  • Jessica Windh -Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology (Extension Specialist – Twin Falls)
Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences Department
  • Melinda Ellison - Range Livestock Management (Nancy M. Cummings Research, Extension & Education Center, Salmon)
  • Benton Glaze - Livestock Production and Genetics (Twin Falls Research and Extension Center)
  • John Hall - Ruminant Nutrition and Reproduction (Nancy M. Cummings Research, Extension & Education Center, Salmon)
  • Jim Sprinkle - Beef Production (Nancy M. Cummings Research, Extension & Education Center, Salmon)
Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology Department
  • Steve Cook - Entomology, Insect Ecology and Management (Moscow)
Plant Sciences Department
  • Tim Prather - Invasive Plant Ecology and Management/Rangeland Restoration (Moscow)
  • Lisa Jones - Research Specialist/Weeds in Natural Areas (Moscow)
  • Pramod Acharya - Extension Specialist, Plant Science
Soil and Water Systems Department
University of Idaho Library
Affiliate Members

Affiliate members of the Rangeland Center are faculty or staff at other institutions or organizations that participate regularly in and contribute to Center projects and events.

  • Bill Ebner – College of Southern Idaho
  • April Hulet – Brigham Young University
  • Sergio Arispe – Oregon State University Extension
  • Will Price – Oregon State University Extension
  • Kelly Hopping – Boise State University
  • Jared Talley – Boise State University
  • Tip Hudson – Washington State University Extension
  • Dan Lauritzen - College of Southern Idaho
Emeritus Members
  • Neil Rimbey – Range Economics and Natural Resource Policy
  • Paul McDaniel – Soil Science and Land Resources
  • Ed Krumpe – Recreation and Wilderness
  • Steve Bunting – Rangeland and Fire Ecology
  • Penny Morgan – Wildland Fire Ecology & Management
  • Glenn Shewmaker - Forage Management and Utilization
  • Eva Strand - Rangeland Ecology and Management
Rangeland Center University Leadership
Rangeland Center partners

Addressing conservation challenges on rangelands requires research that integrates expertise from multiple disciplines across various colleges. The Rangeland Center supports interdisciplinary collaboration and leverages partnerships both within and beyond the University of Idaho.

By working closely with external partners, the center ensures that its research, education and outreach efforts are focused on practical, relevant solutions to current rangeland issues. Partner engagement plays a critical role in generating new knowledge and developing science-based strategies for effective rangeland management.

Partners Advisory Council

The Partners Advisory Council (PAC) plays a key role in advancing the mission of the Rangeland Center by fostering partnerships with rangeland stakeholders. The PAC provides strategic guidance on the Center’s research, education, outreach efforts and overall success metrics.

PAC members come from across Idaho and bring diverse backgrounds, interests and expertise related to rangelands. The council represents a wide range of perspectives, including ranching, public policy, government, non-governmental organizations, elected officials and community leadership.

Members serve voluntarily for three-year terms and may serve up to two consecutive terms.

Members include:

  • Anna Owsiak — IDFG Regional Habitat Manager, (retired)
  • Caroline Nash — Senior Geomorphologist, Rio Applied Science & Engineering
  • Mark Davidson — Blaine County Recreation Department Director
  • Darcy Helmick — Simplot Land & Livestock Land Manager
  • Susan Buxton — Director, Idaho Parks and Recreation
  • Daniel Bertram — Office of Species Conservation, Upper Salmon Basin Watershed Program
  • James Hagenbarth — Rancher
  • Jerald Raymond — Rancher; Idaho Legislator
  • Tina Ruffing — US Forest Service, Range & Invasives Lead
  • Ken Crane — Range Program Lead, Twin Falls District, Bureau of Land Management (retired)
  • Cleve Davis — Rancher/Ecologist, Chokecherry Microfarm
  • Justin Mink — Rancher
  • Chris Colson — Executive Director, Land Trust of the Treasure Valley

What the center can provide

Rangeland Center members are committed to delivering timely, relevant research and providing valuable educational opportunities for individuals who manage, value and appreciate rangelands. 

Research

Our research is aimed at understanding rangeland communities with an eye on how dynamic biological and physical conditions influence the human communities that live on these rangeland landscapes. Our researchers are creating new knowledge to sustain and improve rangelands. Several projects focus on ecological forces affecting rangelands, such as fire, grazing and invasive species.

We strive to bridge the gap between science and land management by using stakeholder input to develop solution-based research that has valuable and real-world implications for rangelands. We aim to conduct research that supports decision making and informs public policy.

Outreach

In collaboration with partners like University of Idaho Extension, we translate our research into science-based practices for stakeholders in Idaho, the region and beyond. The Rangeland Center offers a variety of informational resources on rangeland conservation and management, including:

  • Workshops and conferences
  • Informative web pages
  • Handbooks and management guides 
Engaging the next generation

The future of land management depends on open-minded individuals with strong communication and problem-solving skills. Our students are trained to address the challenges facing rangelands and rural communities through experiential learning opportunities, including:

  • Stakeholder and partner involvement in classroom and field activities to broaden perspectives
  • Summer jobs on the range, where students collaborate with landowners or managers to gather rangeland habitat data for land management and conservation decisions
  • Science review teams that conduct literature reviews and scientific summaries for agency or landowner projects
  • Student research projects focused on the scientific principles that influence rangeland dynamics
  • An internship program where students assist with the daily operations of the Rangeland Center during the fall and spring semesters on campus

To learn more about rangeland courses and degrees:

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