A Word From the Ranching Community

Posted by jesikah maria ross

April 17, 2008

It's been an uplifting but hectic week. Our hour-long documentary special Saving the Sierra: Grassroots Solutions for Sustaining Rural Communities is playing in 12 states on over 50 stations and the calls, requests, and emails keep coming in! It's incredibly gratifying to know that public and community radio stations across the country are airing the show...and we've only just begun our distribution and outreach efforts!

But maybe more gratifying are the personal notes we are receiving from Sierrans who've listen to our program or looked at this website and took the time to send us their comments.

Here's one, for example, from rancher Jenny Brown:

Hello Jesikah,

I am a member of the Local Food Coalition, as well as a member of the Yuba County Resource Conservation District.

My daily life as a rancher, and producer of Grass fed beef brings home the continual message that we must be engaged in the educational outreach to everyone who lives in the Sierras, as well as those who visit our area. I have lived on my ranch for over 19 years and have seen so many changes, especially in the political and legislative forum.

As an elder and one who lives and practices sustainable agriculture, I have been asked to speak to many groups about my life and how I ranch.

I would appreciate the opportunity to share my thoughts with you.

You my visit my web site at www.highsierrabeef.com

Til then, thank you for all that you are doing to educate and ENLIGHTEN.

Bless your day,

Jenny Brown

Hearing from folks like Jenny really makes me feel that our project has been a success. Saving the Sierra is about creating ways for folks up and down the range to share their what they value about this place and what they are doing on it's behalf as a way to build a community for stewardship throughout the mountains and among up and downstream communities. We've wanted to help start conversations, make connections, share best practices, and get more folks involved in preserving the Sierra's natural and cultural resources. When I get a note like this from Jenny who is asking to start a dialog, sharing her life work  (High Sierra Beef!), and supporting the idea of using media to education and enlighten--it makes my day!  Thanks Jenny!

So send in your thoughts and comments! Let us know what you are doing to conserve the culture, economy, and environment of the place you love.