Sunset over the Great Plains

2023 WLFW Workshop Agenda

The 2023 Western Working Lands for Wildlife workshop is
an invite-only event that will bring more than diverse stakeholders together to share ideas, swap stories, and celebrate private land conservation.

"Defending America's Grasslands"

2023 Western WLFW Workshop

July 12-13, 2023
Manhattan, Kansas

Tuesday, July 11, 2023

Travel day to the meeting
- Please note that the Manhattan airport (MHK) will be closed during this timeframe, so flight options are either Kansas City (MCI) or Wichita (ICT).
Meeting space available for individual meetings

Wednesday, July 12, 2023

7 - 8:30 a.m.	BREAKFAST
8:30 a.m. - Noon	GENERAL SESSION Welcome & Housekeeping Dean Krehbiel, State Resource Conservationist, Kansas NRCS - Moderator Introduction of Keynote Speaker Clint Evans, State Conservationist, Colorado NRCS Cade Rensink, Great Plains Grasslands Initiative Landowner Board Keynote Address – Importance of Private Lands to Conservation Robert Bonnie, Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation, USDA Landowner Panel – Landowners on the Front Lines Shelly Kelly, Executive Director, Sandhills Task Force - Moderator Sara Grim, South Dakota Russell Blew, Kansas Tell Deatrich, Nebraska BREAK Working Lands for Wildlife Panel: How Did We Get Here and Where Are We Going? Steve Jester, Executive Director, Partnerscapes Tim Griffiths, National Coordinator, West Working Lands for Wildlife, USDA David Naugle, WLFW Science Advisor, Wildlife Biology Professor, University of Montana Defend the Core, Grow the Core: A Winning Strategy Jeremy Maestas, National Sagebrush Ecosystem Specialist, USDA-NRCS West National Technology Support Center
Noon - 1:15 p.m.	LUNCH
1:30 - 2:15 p.m.	GENERAL SESSION Reducing Woody Encroachment to Conserve Rangeland Production in the Great Plains Dirac Twidwell, WLFW Science Advisor, Professor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
2:30 - 3:30 p.m.	BREAKOUT SESSIONS - Reducing Vulnerability to Woody Encroachment Northern Great Plains - Ritch Nelson, State Wildlife Biologist, Nebraska NRCS - Moderator Southern Great Plains - Brandon Reavis, State Range Management Specialist, Oklahoma NRCS - Moderator Sagebrush Steppe - Connor White, Range and Wildlife Conservationist, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever - Moderator
3:30 - 4 p.m.	BREAK
4 - 5 p.m.	GENERAL SESSION Technical Transfer: Moving from Awareness to Action Moderator: Jeremy Maestas, National Sagebrush Ecosystem Specialist, USDA-NRCS West National Technology Support Center Panelists: Dillon Fogarty, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Doug Spencer, State Grazing Land Management Specialist, Kansas NRCS Dusty Tacha, Area Range Specialist, Kansas NRCS
5:30 - 7 p.m.	EVENING RECEPTION

Thursday, July 13, 2023

7 - 8:00 a.m.	BREAKFAST
8:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.	GENERAL SESSION Opening Remarks Dean Krehbiel, State Resource Conservationist, Kansas NRCS - Moderator New Technology Alert: Landscape Explorer Available! Scott Morford, Associate Director, WLFW Science Team, Research Scientist, University of Montana Panel: Spotlight on Wyoming Migratory Big Game Project Tim Griffiths, National Coordinator, West Working Lands for Wildlife, USDA Arthur Middleton, Senior Advisor on Wildlife Conservation, USDA T.J. Wilson, Deputy Director, Conservation Division, USDA Farm Service Agency Jackie Byam, State Conservationist, Wyoming NRCS BREAK Keeping Grass Green-Side Up: Using Both Short-Term and Long-Term Conservation Opportunities Alan Lange, Natural Resources Specialist, Farm Services Agency David Naugle, WLFW Science Advisor, Wildlife Biology Professor, University of Montana Closing Remarks Dean Krehbiel, State Resource Conservationist, Kansas NRCS - Moderator
11:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.	FLINT HILLS GRASSLAND TOUR Mushrush Red Angus Tallgrass Prairie Preserve Spring Creek Ranch
6:30 - 9:00 p.m.	EVENING EVENT Clover Cliff Ranch

Friday, July 14, 2023

Travel day home from the meeting
- Please note that the Manhattan airport (MHK) will be closed during this timeframe, so flight options are either Kansas City (MCI) or Wichita (ICT).