Ucross High Plains Stewardship

In May 2013, the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies began a joint activity with the Ucross Foundation, the Ucross High Plains Stewardship Initiative, with the purpose of integrating state-of-the-art research tools and models with ranch management. The project originated with Ucross Foundation Chairman and Founder Raymond Plank’s (Yale ’44) long-term vision for Ucross as a working model of land stewardship for the 21st century. After interviewing several faculty throughout Yale, Raymond invited me to start a small summer project on his ranch, using two of my Yale graduate students (Zach Parisa and Tom James). The students’ success to my initiating the Ucross High Plains Stewardship Initiative at Raymond’s request and support.

Many students worked on the project, and Charles Bettigole soon became the Staff Director. Both Charles and I stepped aside from our positions at the end of 2018; Dean Indy Burke currently runs the project.