Celebrating Rangelands: Connecting research to on-ranch management

2026 is the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. 2025 also marks over ten years since the Stavely and Onefour Research Ranches were transferred from the Government of Canada to the Government of Alberta. To celebrate these events, the Research Ranch Advisory Committees, along with local municipalities and associations are promoting events that celebrate the importance of rangelands to the province, and the link to historic and current research that contributes to sustainable rangeland management and economic viability.

We are proud to host the Range Science Forum showcasing the Stavely Research Ranch on November 13th at the Claresholm Community Centre. The forum is themed “Celebrating Rangelands: Connecting research to on-ranch management” with an intended audience of local producers, researchers, range management professionals and municipal representatives. Along with presentations, there are opportunities available to network with non-profit agencies, industry, and students through booths and posters. The expectation is this forum will precede a field tour of the Stavely Research Ranch in June 2026 (date TBD).

The committee is looking for sponsorship to support these events. Sponsorship could include support for lunches, coffee breaks, facility, audio, advertising or just a general donation. Please note that the organizers are aiming to recover costs from the event and any overage will go towards hosting the field day in 2026. Groups providing sponsorship of $250 or more will be identified as sponsors at the beginning and end of the day and provided a booth if desired. Another option is to register for a booth during the forum (includes single admission plus a table in designated areas of the hall) for either $50 (non-profit) or $75 (industry). Further descriptions of the events including a poster are below:

• Stavely Range Science Forum (Nov 13, 2025): The organizing committee consists of members from the University of Alberta Rangeland Research Institute, Government of Alberta Forestry and Parks, Municipal District of Willow Creek, Municipal District of Ranchland, and the Foothills Forage and Grazing Association. Keynote speakers will address the significance of Alberta’s rangelands internationally, an overview of the history of rangeland management in Alberta, and the importance of the research ranches in sustaining Alberta’s natural systems. The remainder of the day will include presentations linking current research topics to rangeland management including grazing systems, precision ranching, drought, and results from Living Labs projects. All topics will tie research to the management of southwestern Alberta rangelands.

• Stavely Research Ranch Field Day: Planning is underway for the June 2026 tours during the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) ; the organizing committee consists of the same members. This field day will bring attendees to some of the original sites of Canadian range management research. The tour will include historic research, and information on current projects occurring on the ranch and in the surrounding area.