“I have learned that while everyone operates their land differently, they all value the land they have and want to see it thrive,” said John Graves.
As Sheridan Community Land Trust’s new Director of Conservation, Graves looks forward to helping local families ensure their land remains productive while protecting the wide-open spaces, abundant wildlife, and clean creeks and rivers from which we all benefit.
“Every landowner is personally connected to their land. They have spent blood, sweat, tears, and money to be where they are now on the land. They know every draw, rock outcrop, and tree on their land. They manage it the best way they know how or are able to,” he reasoned. “Sometimes additional education helps a landowner improve their land; sometimes a helping hand is needed to help them make their land that much better.”
Through SCLT, Graves is eager to lend his helping hands to folks in Sheridan County who wish to protect their land.
“SCLT has a great history of working to help those who want to see their land protected so it looks the same way in 100 years that it looks like today,” he stated, adding, “It is a long process to create a conservation easement that meets the needs of all parties. SCLT is here to ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible and meets your family’s needs every step of the way.”
Graves believes ranches and the families operating them are essential elements on the land and in our communities.
“Without a clean and thriving ecosystem, nothing can survive. We need ranchers to raise and grow the food we eat. We need wildlife to foster a complete ecosystem where plants and animals benefit from one another. That, in turn, benefits the soil and waterways,” he explained, echoing Will Rogers, “Simply put, more land is not being created, so we need to ensure we save the land we have.”
It is a belief that has been reinforced during his years as a manager for a horse ranch in Colorado and in Sheridan County, where he, his wife, and their dog have owned and operated a bison ranch for nearly five years.
Bison became his passion while serving as a “Ralphie Handler” at the University of Colorado, where he’d tend to the university’s namesake mascot. He spent 13 years with the Ralphie Live Mascot Program. It led to his involvement in the bison industry, where he has served on several committees with the National Bison Association, overseen youth judging at the National Western Stock Show, and has been the Rocky Mountain Bison Association President since 2013.
“Bison are very unique, majestic, and the icon of the West. I can go out into the pasture and watch bison for hours; they are truly something special.” he shared.
Graves has earned a Bachelor of Business Management from the University of Colorado, a Master of Agriculture from Colorado State University, and has several certificates in humane livestock handling, care, and transportation. He also spent four years as a Production Manager at Weatherby before beginning with SCLT.
When not working, Graves and his wife attend livestock-related conferences and enjoy helping neighbors with their annual roundups and brandings.
“I wanted to do something meaningful in the community,” Graves said, concluding, “Ranching and wildlife are such a historical and important part of Sheridan County. It is very important to preserve this history and the land and allow future generations to experience the West in all its glory, full of productive family ranches and robust and diverse wildlife.”
SCLT Director of Conservation John Graves can be reached by email at [email protected] or by calling the office at (307) 673-4702. You can also meet John at the SCLT Office located at 14 Lane Lane during regular hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information about land protection, please visit >> https://sheridanclt.org/land/conservation/.
