Erik and Cindy Davies (center) received the award Sept. 17, also pictured, Brenda Younkin, BLM Senior Advisor (left), and Marlo Draper, BLM Division Chief for Forest, Rangeland, and Vegetation Resources (right).

Photo courtesy of BLM

The Davies and Sanders families of Roaring Springs Ranch were recently awarded the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) 2025 Rangeland Innovations Award – Permittee Category. This national level award recognizes the ranch’s leadership in blending long-standing land stewardship with modern science and technology to improve outcomes for livestock, wildlife, and rangeland health.

Roaring Springs Ranch, a beef operation spanning over a million acres of deeded land and BLM grazing allotments in Harney and Lake counties, has participated in the BLM’s outcome-based grazing authorization initiative since 2016. Among other things, their innovative work also includes the use of virtual fencing and e-collars on livestock, digital water and plant monitoring systems, and science-based grazing strategies that maintain clean water, open spaces, and abundant wildlife.

“Roaring Springs Ranch shows how partnerships and innovation can sustain both working lands and natural resources,” said Barry Bushue, BLM Oregon/Washington State Director. “We are proud to recognize their leadership and the example they set for stewardship on public lands.”

The Rangeland Stewardship and Rangeland Innovations awards program highlights BLM permittees and partners across the West who demonstrate exemplary land management practices. Other 2025 honorees include:

• Rangeland Stewardship Award – Permittee Category: The Molsbee family, Cottonwood Ranch, Wells, Nev.

• Rangeland Innovations Award – Collaborative Team Category: Massey Ranch Precision Ranching and Virtual Fencing Project, Animas, N.M.

Nationwide, the BLM partners with 18,000 permittees to manage livestock grazing on about 21,000 allotments covering 155 million acres of public lands. These partnerships support 36,000 jobs and generate $2.87 billion in annual economic output while helping conserve the health of western landscapes.

Discover more in the full announcement of the Rangeland Stewardship and Innovation Awards at www.blm.gov under Our Stories. You can also watch a feature video showcasing Roaring Springs Ranch on the BLM Oregon and Washington YouTube channel: youtube.com/@BLMOREGON/videos.