2026 Impact Highlight
Mesa County, Tri-River Area, Western Region
Many recreationists recreate on working rangelands without understanding how to safely and respectfully interact with livestock infrastructure. This lack of familiarity can lead to accidental damage, safety concerns, or negative encounters with ranch operations.
The Desert RATS Running Race Expo Ultra Marathon in Fruita, Colorado, provided an ideal opportunity to introduce runners to real ranch scenarios they may encounter on the range.
CSU Extension and the Mesa County Farm Bureau coordinated an educational booth where runners could practice opening and closing a real livestock gate, mirroring the type they might encounter during practice, training, or races across grazing allotments in the United States. Staff demonstrated proper gate handling, explained why correct closure matters for livestock safety, and answered questions about cattle behavior on shared use landscapes.
Because all public lands are managed under a multiple use mandate, the booth emphasized how recreation and agriculture coexist and why respectful interaction with livestock infrastructure is essential. This hands-on activity created a memorable, low-pressure way for runners to build confidence and awareness before heading onto the course or heading out for a run in their local area.
To further support agricultural literacy, volunteers handed out beef sticks and backpack friendly meat snacks while sharing information about the beef industry. A grant from the Mesa County Farm Bureau funded the educational materials, infographics, and supplies distributed at the booth, helping ensure high-quality outreach and strong engagement with participants.
Results
Runners consistently engaged with the gate demonstration, with many expressing that they had never opened a livestock gate before and appreciated the chance to learn. Participants reported increased understanding of how their actions impact ranch operations, and several noted they felt more prepared for future livestock interactions on public lands.
The booth also strengthened visibility for CSU Extension and highlighted the importance of shared stewardship between recreationists and agricultural producers. This interaction helped bridge the urban–rural divide by giving runners a firsthand look at the realities of working rangelands and the responsibilities that come with shared spaces. By increasing awareness of how recreation and agriculture coexist, the program supported more informed conversations about competing uses for agricultural land and the need for mutual respect on Colorado’s open landscapes.
The expo booth increased public awareness of how to respectfully navigate working rangelands, supporting safer interactions between recreationists and livestock. By teaching runners a simple but essential skill—proper gate handling—the program helped reduce potential conflicts and fostered a sense of shared responsibility for Colorado’s open spaces.
This model can be replicated at future races and outdoor events to broaden agricultural literacy and strengthen rural/urban understanding across the state. As a direct result of the success of this booth, multiple future race partnerships have already been planned, including upcoming bike races that will further expand outreach to new recreation user groups.
The project has also catalyzed new collaboration with the West Slope Outdoors Alliance (WSOA), integrating agricultural literacy into broader outdoor recreation education efforts. Additionally, other counties have committed to implementing similar outreach activities, demonstrating the program’s growing influence and its potential to improve shared-use understanding statewide.