In this first episode of Season Five of Tuned in to the Land, host Michael Delbar sits down with rancher Katie Delbar, a former USDA Farm Service Agency County Executive Director and current member of the California State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection. Katie is also Michael’s wife and partner in ranching, bringing both professional expertise and lived experience to the conversation. Together, they explore how life on the ranch informs leadership at every level, from federal agencies to statewide policy tables.

Katie shares insights from her career working alongside ranchers across Northern California, her firsthand experience navigating wildfire on working lands, and her role representing livestock and rangelands in California’s forestry and fire conversations. Together, Michael and Katie unpack how managed grazing, stewardship, and long-term land planning play critical roles in resilience, wildfire mitigation, and the future of working landscapes.

The episode also takes a look at what it means to be a woman in agriculture—balancing family, leadership, and service while helping shape the next generation of agriculturalists. Grounded, practical, and hopeful, this conversation highlights the people and partnerships needed to keep California’s working lands healthy, productive, and thriving.

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In the final episode of Season 4 of Tuned in to the Land, CEO and host, Michael Delbar, sits down with newly elected Rangeland Trust Chair, Clayton Koopmann. A sixth-generation rancher from Sunol, California, Clayton brings deep family roots, hands-on experience, and a powerful commitment to the future of the Golden State’s working lands

Together, Michael and Clayton reflect on a milestone year for the Rangeland Trust—surpassing the conservation of 100 ranches encompassing more than 421,000 acres. Clayton shares the story of his family’s longstanding connection to the Rangeland Trust, his journey from board member to Chair, and the values and goals he brings to this new leadership role. The conversation also looks ahead to upcoming opportunities, continued partnerships with ranching families, and the vision guiding the next chapter of rangeland conservation.

Join us as we celebrate a year of meaningful progress, honor the families stewarding California’s open spaces, and look forward to the future of protecting the landscapes that sustain us all.

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Out here on California’s rangelands, we talk a lot about stewardship—the responsibility to care for the land so it can continue to sustain generations to come. But sometimes, the land gives something back to us in return: peace, perspective, and a place to heal.

This month, as we pause to honor the men and women who have served our nation on Veterans Day, we’re reminded that coming home can often be one of the toughest battles they will ever face. That’s where the Mighty Oaks Foundation steps in. Founded by Chad Robichaux, a former Force Recon Marine and veteran advocate, the organization helps warriors find hope and restoration through faith, brotherhood, and connection—all grounded in the healing power of the land.

In this episode of Tuned in to the Land, CEO and host Michael Delbar sits down with Chad for a powerful and deeply honest conversation about service, healing, and the restorative role that open spaces and working lands can play.

Throughout the episode, Chad shares his personal journey, including the challenges he faced after military service, living with PTSD, and the role that faith played as he worked to rebuild his life. That process eventually led him to form Mighty Oaks, drawing on what he learned and what he wished had existed for others walking a similar road. His story is raw and real, and while parts of the conversation are heavy (a heads up to our listeners), it underscores the profound impact that support, community, faith, and time spent on the land can have in helping people find their way back to hope.

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At the Rangeland Trust, conserving California’s working landscapes means more than protecting open space—it also means preserving the stories of the people who steward them. Ranching families carry generations of knowledge, resilience, and tradition, and if those stories aren’t shared, they risk being lost.

In this episode, we highlight Roots and Resilience: California Ranchers in Their Own Words, a book that brings together the voices of ranching families from across the state through stories, poems, and essays. Host and CEO of the Rangeland Trust, Michael Delbar, is joined by Dr. Susan Marshall, Emeritus Professor at Cal Poly Humboldt and the editor who brought this project to life, to discuss her inspiration, the editing journey, and what she hopes people will gain from reading the book.

As a bonus, we also hear from contributor and Rangeland Trust Legacy Council Chair, Jessica Schley. Jessica reflects on her family’s ranching history and how the loss of their family’s property inspires her work today and fuels her support of the Rangeland Trust. As a special treat, she reads an excerpt from her piece in the book—bringing her words and perspective to life in a way only she can.

When you purchase a copy of Roots and Resilience, a portion of the proceeds directly supports the California Rangeland Trust and our mission to protect the state’s working landscapes for generations to come. Purchase yours here: https://a.co/d/jhICAL9

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At the Rangeland Trust, we are honored to work alongside people whose livelihoods are deeply tied to the health of the land. Ranchers know that caring for the land is more than a responsibility—it’s a way of life built on stewardship, grit, and adaptability. Yet, the challenges they face are many: from water shortages and unpredictable weather to shifting regulations and rising costs, today’s ranchers are navigating pressures from every direction.

In this episode, CEO and host, Michael Delbar, revisits with the Elgorriaga family—whose story you may recognize from our documentary You Just Can’t See Them From the Road. For generations, they have ranched in California’s Central Valley, meeting each new challenge with persistence, passion, and creativity. Michael sits down with four members of the third generation of the Elgorriaga family—Stephen, Peter, Paul, and Christina—to reflect on their upbringing, the values that have sustained them, and their vision for the future of the ranch as the next generation grows on the land.

More than just a family history, this conversation offers an intimate look at the everyday realities of ranching in modern California—and a powerful reminder of what’s at stake when we talk about protecting working lands and the people who steward them.

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In celebration of the National Day of the Cowboy, we’re taking you to the “cowboy side of California” — the small town of Parkfield — where the Varian family has spent generations stewarding the land, building community, and sharing the values of ranch life. Located in the Cholame Valley, the V6 Ranch is more than a working cattle operation. It’s a living legacy of conservation, hospitality, and heritage.

In this episode, host and CEO, Michael Delbar, sits down with Jack, John, and Lauren Varian to share the story of their ranch. They discuss what it means to protect the land through a conservation easement with the California Rangeland Trust, and how they open their gates to the public through cattle drives, trail rides, and cowboy academies. Together, they talk about what it means to live with the land, to honor the past while preparing for the future, and to keep the spirit of the West alive.

If you want to learn more about how you can get involved in the work that we do, visit rangelandtrust.org

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In this episode of Tuned in to the Land, host and CEO, Michael Delbar, sits down with Natalie Kovarik — a fourth-generation cattle rancher, ag advocate, and co-host of the Discover Ag podcast. Together, they explore the critical role communications plays in sustaining the agricultural industry and fostering understanding between those who produce our food and those who consume it.

From her rural Nebraska ranch to reaching millions through social media, Natalie has built a platform grounded in transparency, connection, and an unwavering passion for the industry. In this conversation, she shares how her journey into digital storytelling began, why it’s essential for producers to be proactive voices, and how authenticity can build trust with a public increasingly disconnected from where their food comes from.

You'll hear how Natalie tackles misinformation, elevates real stories from the land, and empowers other producers to join the conversation with clarity and confidence. Whether you're directly involved in agriculture or simply curious about the people and practices behind your food, this episode offers compelling insight into how communication can bridge the gap between producers and the public.

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Year after year, wildfires in California grow more intense, more unpredictable, and more devastating. We’ve watched fire seasons stretch longer, push first responders beyond capacity, and leave entire communities reeling. Water has run out mid-response. Crews have been forced to focus on active flames, while at-risk properties are left vulnerable. Too often, property owners are left standing alone—garden hose in hand—without a plan or resources to protect what they’ve spent a lifetime building. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

In honor of Wildfire Awareness Month, this episode focuses on proactive solutions—strategies that give landowners the tools and confidence to act before the flames arrive. Joining host and CEO, Michael Delbar, are two experts on the frontlines of wildfire prevention: Shawn Sahbari, founder and CEO of Komodo Fire Systems, and Stuart Mitchell, a Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist with Wildfire Mitigation Advisors. Together, they share real-world advice, innovative products, and field-tested tactics to help property owners protect their land, homes, and legacies from the growing threat of wildfire.

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If you found today’s conversation helpful and want to dive deeper into wildfire preparedness, join the California Rangeland Trust and Komodo Fire Systems for an upcoming webinar titled “Mitigating Fire Risks on YOUR Ranch.”

You’ll hear more from Stuart Mitchell on smart, real-world mitigation strategies, gain insurance insights from a local agent, and explore the range of products Komodo offers to help you protect and prepare your property.

To learn more and reserve your spot, visit rangelandtrust.org/events.

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If you’re interested in having Stuart visit your property to assess and help reduce wildfire risk, head to wildfiremitigationadvisors.com to learn more and get in touch.

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Learn more about the work the Rangeland Trust does by following us on social media @rangelandtrust!