Written by Jacob McDougal, student at OSU

The Society for Range Management’s annual event, held this year from February 9–11
in Spokane, Washington, was by far my favorite event of the year so far. As an aspiring
Rangeland Conservationist, I was highly motivated to attend this educational experience. From
participating in symposia and workshops to networking with professionals, I couldn’t imagine a
better way to spend what was an exceptionally cold week.
This year, I was particularly impressed by the number of research posters presented by college
students and professionals. Engaging in discussions about their work sparked new ideas of my
own. Additionally, browsing through the memorabilia being auctioned off provided fascinating
insights into the 78-year history of SRM and the rangeland profession.
On the first day of the event, I attended the workshop "Healthy Lands and Healthy Horses." I
was surprised by the extensive efforts being made to educate young minds on the importance of
Wild Horse & Burro management. On Tuesday, I was especially eager to attend the symposium
on riparian restoration. The talk on Low-Tech, Process-Based Restoration of Riparian
Systems reinforced the importance of not relying solely on technology but instead getting into
the field to truly understand the land we aim to manage.
Of all the presentations, my favorite was the discussion on why passive land management is
destined to fail. It emphasized not only the need for research but also the importance of
applying that research to create a better future.
All in all, this event was one for the record books, and I can’t wait for next year’s meeting in
California!