Aug. 29, 2008

“Program Helps Find Common Ground between Cattlemen, Regulators: Davies”

(Stacy Davies is manager of the Roaring Springs Ranch in Southeast Oregon.)

Cattlemen and the government agencies in Washington, D.C. that regulate their actions don’t always see eye to eye. The “Walk a Mile in my Boots” program is out to change that, improving the relationship and understanding between employees at the Natural Resources Conservation Service and ranchers.

Stacy Davies manages the Roaring Springs Ranch in Southeast Oregon. A 2008 participant in the program, he says it was a helpful experience.

Cut  #1:       :20        Out cue: “… very, very interesting.”

According to Davies, getting agency personnel into the field to actually experience what is happening on the ground is a key to the program.

Cut  #2:       :14        Out cue: “… where things happen.”

Davies had the opportunity to visit with personnel from the National Fish and Wildlife Service personnel in Washington, and came away encouraged that it didn’t have to be an adversarial relationship.

Cut  #3:       :26        Out cue: “…and our industry.”

According to Davies, cattlemen should welcome the chance to be part of these kinds of programs. He says Brian Arroyo of the National Fish and Wildlife Service was open to this exchange, which produced excellent back-and-forth discussion in a number of areas.

Cut  #4:       :17        Out cue: “…find common ground.”

The Roaring Springs Ranch is a fully-integrated cow/calf, stocker operation in Frenchglen, Oregon, which also sells natural beef products. It was a regional Environmental Stewardship Award winner from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association in 2007.

The Walk a Mile in my Boots program is coordinated by the National Resources Conservation Service, in cooperation with the NCBA and the National Cattlemen’s Foundation.