Completing the Conservation Finance Picture in the West with Lesli Allison
On Land
A new report reveals that Western landowners invested at least $407.5 million of their own money in conservation in 2024, outpacing many of the most well-known public funding programs. This new data fills a major gap in how we understand conservation economics. Today, WLA CEO Lesli Allison and WLA’s communications director Louis Wertz walk through what the data shows, why these investments have gone largely unrecognized, and what it means for the future of conservation in the West. Full report here:
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On Land Presents: Reframing Rural’s “Succession Stories”
On Land
Today we’re sharing an episode from our friends at Reframing Rural, an award-winning documentary podcast telling honest, place-rooted stories of rural people and communities. Their new season, “Succession Stories,” offers an intimate look at the family farm and ranch succession process - something rarely talked about openly, yet central to the future of working lands. Before we roll the episode, we sit down for a short conversation with the show’s creator, Megan Torgerson, to hear what she’s learning from families across Montana. Show Notes: Photo...
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What’s Ahead for America’s Public Lands with Jesse Juen, Former BLM State Director
On Land
Today, we’re looking at the future of the Bureau of Land Management — a federal agency that oversees nearly 250 million acres of land in the West. We’re in the middle of a critical moment for public lands, especially the BLM. Staffing and budget cuts are hitting an agency that’s already stretched thin, there’s still no confirmed director, and a recent ProPublica investigation is once again raising questions about oversight of the grazing program. To help put all these headlines in context, and consider what reforms might even be possible, WLA’s...
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On Water: Slowing Water in the Big Hole Valley with Rancher Erik Kalsta
On Land
Today we’re digging into a deceptively simple tool with big impacts on water and soil health: rock weirs. Rancher and Working Wild Challenge director Erik Kalsta joins us from Montana’s Big Hole Valley to explain how he uses these low-tech structures to slow water and reduce erosion on his operation. He shares what he’s learned from years of observing the land — and why small interventions can create big change. Show notes:
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California Wolves, 87 Dead Cattle, and the NYT Op-Ed Everyone’s Sharing
On Land
California’s recent decision to remove four members of a wolf pack near Lake Tahoe sparked national attention - but the story behind it is much bigger. Today on the On Land feed, we’re sharing a special episode from our sister show, Working Wild University, which WLA produces with wildlife management specialist and prof. Jared Beaver at Montana State University Extension. In this episode, Wildlife Management professor at UC Berkeley, Dr. Arthur Middleton, joins us to dig into his recent New York Times op-ed and explore why America’s predator recovery has outpaced our ability to...
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Inside the Movement to Fund Rural America with Erin Borla
On Land
Only 7% of philanthropic dollars goes toward rural America, and our guest today is working to change that. Today our CEO Lesli Allison sits down with Erin Borla, executive director of the Roundhouse Foundation in Sisters, Oregon. Erin’s helping reimagine what philanthropy looks like in rural and tribal communities, through both the Foundation’s grantmaking and their podcast Funding Rural. Show notes:
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What to do about Sprawl with Ken Mirr
On Land
The American West is changing fast, and one of the biggest forces shaping that change is development. Sprawl - those 35-acre subdivisions and ranchettes you see spreading across the landscape - can mean paradise for some, and the unraveling of communities, wildlife habitat and productive landscapes for others. Today we’re talking about what’s driving that growth, what it means for landowners and rural economies and what kinds of solutions might help us strike a balance between private property rights, conservation and community needs. On the show today, our CEO Lesli...
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Conservation Without Conflict with Leo Miranda
On Land
The Endangered Species Act has helped save iconic species from extinction - but it’s also created real tension for the private landowners who manage the majority of wildlife habitat in the U.S. In this episode, WLA CEO Lesli Allison sits down with Leo Miranda, executive director of Conservation Without Conflict and former Southeast Regional Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. From his early days as a field biologist in Puerto Rico to leading one of the most innovative regional conservation efforts in the country, and as a farmer in Georgia, Leo brings a unique...
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What's next for the Farm Bill?
On Land
The Farm Bill. A piece of legislation that quietly shapes much of life in this country - especially for those of us in rural America. The Farm Bill influences everything from food access to conservation, crop insurance to rural infrastructure. And yet, for how far-reaching it is, most Americans know very little about what’s actually in it - or what’s at stake when it comes up for renewal. To help unpack the history, the politics, and the uncertain path ahead, Lesli Allison, our CEO here at Western Landowners Alliance, speaks with two former high-ranking staffers who served...
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Forged and foraged with Chef Joshua Drage
On Land
For Chef Joshua Drage, fire is more than a cooking method - it is a unifying ingredient in his culinary creations. Drage's passion lies in crafting dishes that pay homage to the American West; emphasizing the connection between fire and food. Drage collaborates with local producers to source the freshest ingredients skillfully blending bold flavors while championing healthy eating. Today's episode of On Land is a literal fireside chat with Chef Joshua Drage. Join WLA's Christina Wenikowski and Zach Altman on a culinary journey to Chef Drage's cabin in the forested hills near...
info_outlineThis week on the On Land Podcast I welcome veteran water reporter Luke Runyon. Luke covers the Colorado River Basin for public radio station KUNC. His podcast, Thirst Gap, digs into stories that show how water issues can both unite and divide communities throughout the Western U.S. Before covering water at KUNC, Luke covered the agriculture and food beat for five years as KUNC’s Harvest Public Media reporter.
I spoke with Luke about the big news in Colorado River politics: the announcement of a grand water savings bargain between California, Arizona and Nevada that now waits for Bureau of Reclamation review: what does the deal mean for landowners, what are the implications for the Upper Basin water savings programs now that the lower basin has made a deal, and what does all this really mean in terms of who is saving water and how? Enjoy the show!
Complete show notes, including links, a timecoded list of topics, and a full transcript, are available at onland.westernlandowners.org/podcast.