Society for Range Managementis the professional society dedicated to supporting persons who work with rangelands and have a commitment to their sustainable use. Rangelands comprise almost one-half of all the lands in the world. They are extremely important to society for the goods and services they produce and for the ecological services they provide. SRM is dedicated to the conservation and sustainable management of rangelands for the benefit of current societies and for future generations.
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Our Mission
to promote the professional development and continuing education of members and the public and the stewardship of rangeland resources.
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Our Vision
a well-trained and highly motivated group of professionals and rangeland users working with productive, sustainable rangeland ecosystems.
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Current Officers:Jameson Brennan - President
Tyler Swan - First Vice President Krista Ehlert - Second Vice President Sandy Smart – Secretary Jeff Vander Wilt-Treasurer Directors: Jessica Michalski 2021-2024 Mitch Faulkner 2019-2023 Tom Nadgwick 2023-2026 |
Message from the PresidentThere is a lot to be optimistic about for the South Dakota Section of the Society for Range Management this year. For starters, this past fall we were able to host our first in person meeting in three years. It was a great opportunity to re-connect and see everyone in person again. A focus of this meeting was to re-visit out priorities as an organization and brainstorm ways to maximize our efforts now that the pandemic has subsided.
Time and again when we visit about the SD SRM priorities, the question comes up “What do I get for my membership?”. Most of us involved with the SD SRM have been enriched greatly through trainings, professional development, mentorships, scientific discovery, and networking opportunities that occur between universities, land management agencies, and livestock producers. However, when I reflect on why I am a member of the SD SRM, I can draw parallels to why I put money in the collection plate every Sunday. In that scenario, I’m not asking what I get for my money, but what is my money supporting. This year we will host the 39th annual Rangeland and Soils Days, where youth ranging from 8 years old through high school will have the opportunity to learn about the importance of grasslands. In addition, the top oral presentation from Rangeland and Soils Days is selected to represent South Dakota at the national SRM meeting in the High School Youth Forum. This past week in Boise, our student representative placed 4th nationally! SD SRM also supports the range FFA teams from 4 regions across South Dakota that compete in Oklahoma City each year at the National Level. In addition, the SD SRM provides travel scholarships for the SDSU Range Club Students. This past meeting in Boise, the Range Club placed 2nd place nationally in the undergraduate range management examination (URME), a great accomplishment! We will also host our 48th annual Range Camp which provides training opportunities for approximately 50 early career representing multiple organizations. Over the years, our organization has helped educate 1000’s of youth and early career professionals in the science and art of range management. On top of that, over 100 ranches have been awarded the Excellence in Range Management Award, highlighting the continued efforts of those conserving these working landscapes across the generations. For the SD SRM, overwhelming what our money is supporting is youth education and the privilege to support the next generation of rangeland managers. That is something when I ask what I get for my money, I can proudly get on board with. -- Jamie Brennan |