Build a support network. Learn to develop ranch resiliency.
Deepen your knowledge of grazing planning and livestock nutrition in the high mountain West.
Join us for High Country Rancher Days, a two-day educational event on August 28th and 29th, 2026, hosted by Park County & Chaffee County CSU Extension. This unique event is tailored for new and long-time production ranchers in the Colorado High Country seeking to deepen your knowledge, build a local network, and improve your ranch’s resiliency in the face of uncertainty.
Participants will have the opportunity to learn from experienced local ranchers, expert speakers such as CSU Extension Veterinarian, Kathy Whitman, and NRCS Agent, Dixie Crowe, as well as interns and apprentices from the host ranches.
Key topics include:
- Grazing planning as it relates to soil health, drought, and land monitoring.
- Livestock health (mineral programs for Colorado Mountain Region soils/plants).
- Local topics (trout conservation programs and/or range law and addressing conflict).
- And, hosting interns and apprentices.
Location and lodging information
Day 1 will take place at Badger Creek Ranch (an hour northwest of Canon City, CO) and will conclude with opportunity for music and gathering with one another around the campfire.
Day 2 will be held at La Dolce Vita Ranch near Guffey, CO.
Tent camping sites as well as limited lodging are available at the host ranches. Additional accommodations nearby include RV camping, glamping, Airbnb rentals, and the Wild Spirit Lodge in Guffey. A full and detailed list of options can be found on the registration page.
Thanks to assistance from funding partners – Western SARE and the Rangeland Living Laboratory, this opportunity to connect with local ranching leaders, gain hands-on experience, and network with peers in the industry is made available to you for just $50 for both days (or $30 for one day). For questions, contact Monica Pless at monica.pless@colostate.edu.