The New Ranch Network's original goal in 2002 was to respond to the specific needs of a landowner, association, or community - 'eager learners' - by giving them whatever assistance we could through a network of ranchers, scientists, consultants, specialists, conservationists, volunteers and others. The purpose was to assist a rancher or other landowner in 'making the leap' to progressive stewardship through collaboration. This assistance came in the form of Referrals, Coaches, Mentors, Specialists, a Grant Program, and a Web-based Directory.

Funding for the New Ranch Network (NRN) has been provided by the U.S. Forest Service - Region 3, the Sonoran Institute, PNM, Environmental Defense, The Dixon Water Foundation and Thaw Charitable Foundation. We thank them for their support.

Before long, the NRN evolved into two main efforts: (1) a web-based directory of service providers which helped to connect users to various services; and (2) a small grants program which re-granted up to $5000 at a time to groups and communities who wished to host a workshop or other educational activity and who would provide a 1:1 match for the money provided by The Quivira Coalition.

Eventually time and technology demonstrated that the directory was not as useful or necessary as we originally intended. The proliferation, for example, of other web-based directories and service networks quickly outpaced our capacity to keep up and stay relevant. In 2010, our work felt redundant and we decided to eliminate the site. Most providers are now listed in our "Resource Links" section of The Quivira Coalition website.

The small grants program, however, was far more effective. Since 2005, because of the funders above, we have been able to provide approximately $140,700 in small grants averaging $3,200 to 44 ranchers and organizations in New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona and Texas.

Some of the projects funded have included helping ranchers or organizations develop:

• •Planned grazing workshops
• •Low-stress livestock handling clinics
• •Wildlife escape ramp building workshop for livestock drinkers (especially bats)
• •Helping to fund a range riders on Forest Service allotments
• •Riparian workshops
• •Monitoring workshops
• •Water harvesting roads workshop
• •Holistic management workshop
• •Science field trips related to water for students
• •Drinkers for bats at Bracken Cave
• •The Range School presented at each of The Quivira Coalition's annual conferences.

An example:
Through the New Ranch Network we were able to provide support for a range rider on the Tio Grande allotment in the Tres Piedras Ranger District. This Northern New Mexico, centuries-old tradition of livestock herding by a solitary individual or two on horseback has largely died out, partly due to a lack of skilled local labor, partly due to a lack of financial resources. In this case, the Tio Grande used the funding to facilitate transferring skills from one generation to another within the same family to three female wranglers.

We continued support for the next three grazing seasons to them and several other allotments through a NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant. The Tio Grande ladies demonstrated themselves as `eager learners' by utilizing and implementing all of the education benefits of offered by The Quivira Coalition. Their mentor and the riders attended our Low Stress Handling clinic, Planned Grazing workshop and the The Quivira Coalition's 8th Annual Conference. We supported their monitoring efforts with a GPS unit and software to use on their home computer to monitor their sites. One of our staff members helped them with training on the unit and software. All of this is in cooperation with their District Ranger.

Having the same riders for three years enabled the Association to maintain consistent control of the allotment because they know the conditions of the range, fences, water and could better manage their own and trespass livestock. They were able to meet their AOI range requirements for the first time in many years and the District allowed them to have full stocking rates in 2010.

Due to recent funding cutbacks, and a souring national economy, we have not been able to maintain the level of re-granting that we would like. This is unfortunate since we feel this program demonstrates how the leveraging power of small grants ($2500-$5000), matched 1:1 by the community, can produce substantial change at the grassroots level. Often, communities simply need a small grant to get over the `hump' that stands between them and an educational opportunity.

The goal of the program ultimately is still progressive stewardship through collaboration. Region 3 of the USDA Forest Service has been involved since 2005 and our current source of funding, although greatly reduced. Because of our mutual interest in the management and conservation of natural resources we agree that there is a need to increase communications and exchange of information between FS land managers and organizations and individuals involved in ranching. The Quivira Coalition hopes to keep this relationship active for the future.

Since funds are very limited, the grants are usually dispersed through our activities by word of mouth. Anyone within Forest Service Region 3 can contact Catherine Baca cbaca@quiviracoalition.org in our office to inquire about fund availability and guidelines.