Jessica Ilalaole is a New Mexico-based artist who specializes in handcrafted jewelry inspired by the natural world and the landscapes of the American West. Through her online store CobraCult Jewelry, Jessica has built a loyal following of customers and admirers who are drawn to her uniquely stunning designs, as well as her authentic and unconventional lifestyle. Jessica's personality is a unique mix of confident yet humble, social yet solitary, fiercely independent yet fully devoted to her friends and family-- a special blend of traits that have allowed her to create unique art and one-of-a-kind life.

Jessica grew up in Hawaii but now lives on a spectacular property in Northern New Mexico on the western slope of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. Her jewelry studio looks out onto the mountains, and she and her partner Cody are in the process of building an adobe cabin from the ground up. But while the views are spectacular, their lives are currently fully focused on hard work-- home construction, jewelry making, and the day-to-day realities of running Jessica's business. Their vision and work ethic are extremely inspiring, and it was a pleasure to meet and record this episode at the property.

We sat down in Jessica's studio and had a wonderful and wide-ranging conversation. We started by chatting about the property-- how they decided to move there, how they acquired it, and their plans for it. We then talked about Jessica's journey as an artist, and when and why she decided to make a go of it as a full-time jewelry maker. We discuss the influence of her parents, her artistic influences, her love of motorcycles and tattoos, and how social media has helped her to grow her business. We also discuss her commitment to positivity, the roots of her independent streak, and she offers some excellent advice for other aspiring artists. And as usual, we discuss favorite books, films, the best advice she's ever received, and more.

Be sure to check the episode notes for links to everything. Hope you enjoy!

---

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• 3:10 - Jessica describes her property
• 5:40 - Growing up in Hawaii
• 8:10 - Being considered a haole
• 10:10 - Source of Jessica's independent streak
• 11:10 - Similarity to parents
• 15:55 - Early years as an artist and jewelry maker
• 18:00 - Decision to make jewelry making a full-time job
• 20:00 - Skills learned from taking jewelry classes
• 22:00 - Deciding to take become a full-time artist
• 24:10 - Challenges of working solo while being a social person
• 25:40 - Relationship with Cody and building their cabin
• 30:10 - Artistic influences
• 31:10 - Riding motorcycles
• 37:00 - Jessica's connection to tattoos
• 39:40 - Independent streak revisited
• 42:00 - Daily routines
• 44:40 - Exciting personal news!
• 47:30 - Long-term plans
• 49:10 - Influences or heroes
• 51:40 - Meaning of CobraCult
• 54:00 - Instagram's role in her business and life
• 59:30 - Favorite books
• 1:03:00 - Favorite documentary
• 1:04:00 - Favorite location in the West
• 1:05:30 - Best advice ever received
• 1:09:30 - Advice for aspiring artists

----

ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE:

• Mountain & Prairie Podcast
• Mountain & Prairie on Instagram
• Upcoming Events
• About Ed Roberson
• Support Mountain & Prairie

Kate Kavanaugh is an entrepreneur and regenerative agriculture advocate who co-owns and operates Western Daughters Butcher Shoppe in Denver, Colorado. Along with her partner Josh Curtiss, Kate sells fresh, local, grass-fed and pasture-raised meats that are all raised and harvested within 150 miles of Denver. Although she has been featured in such notable publications as "The New York Times" and "Forbes," Kate is most proud of the deep connections she has formed with regenerative ranchers and farmers-- and the positive impact her business has had on the land.

As you'll hear in our conversation, Kate is deeply committed to regenerative agriculture and specifically the role that ruminants play in the health of soil and grasslands in the American West and beyond. She's also a seasoned businesswoman who has paid her dues and suffered the bumps and bruises that come with any entrepreneurial endeavor. And it is the combination of her passion, toughness, curiosity, and willingness to think outside the box that has made Western Daughters such an inspiring success story.

I had a great time chatting with Kate, and I learned a lot from our conversation. We started by talking about the story of Western Daughters--how the business began, challenges of running a brick and mortar store, and specifics around how the company supports local agriculture. We discuss Kate's upbringing in Colorado and how she felt a deep connection to the land and the environment from an early age. We talk about Kate's childhood commitment to vegetarianism and why she began eating meat again at age 20. We also chat about Kate and Josh's exciting recent purchase of a farm in upstate New York, and how they plan to balance Western Daughters with farming their new land. We discuss food's role in mental health, and Kate graciously shares some of her daily practices that help her manage anxiety and depression. Kate is a voracious reader, so there are tons of good books mentioned-- be sure the check out the episode notes for links to all the books and more. Hope you enjoy!

---

More Episode Notes: https://mountainandprairie.com/kate-kavanaugh/

---

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• 3:15 - Western Daughters Butcher Shoppe, explained
• 4:45 - Kate's early interest in agriculture
• 6:15 - Kate's seriousness as a child
• 8:45 - Ending her run with vegetarianism
• 10:30 - Authors that helped Kate understand regenerative ag
• 11:15 - Starting Western Daughters
• 13:15 - Tribalism around food
• 15:45 - New York Times article
• 17:45 - Working with farmers and ranchers
• 22:45 - The ins and outs of regenerative ag
• 29:15 - The challenges of explaining regenerative ag to the masses
• 30:45 - Unexpected challenges of running Western Daughters
• 34:45 - Economic challenges of regenerative ag
• 37:45 - Kate and Josh's new farm!
• 40:15 - Realities of running a brick and mortar business
• 45:15 - Thoughts on leaving the West
• 49:00 - Advice to people who want to farm
• 53:00 - Heroes and mentors
• 55:30 - Managing mental health
• 1:00:45 - Diet's role in mental health
• 1:03:45 - Favorite books
• 1:04:45 - Favorite documentaries
• 1:06:15 - Favorite location in the West
• 1:07:15 - Most powerful outdoor experience
• 1:08:45 - Best advice ever received
• 1:10:45 - Request of the listeners

----

ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE:

• Mountain & Prairie Podcast
• Mountain & Prairie on Instagram
• Upcoming Events
• About Ed Roberson
• Support Mountain & Prairie

Peter Heller is a renowned novelist, as well as an award-winning adventure writer and former contributing editor to "Outside," "Men's Journal," and "National Geographic Adventure." Since age eleven, Peter has been committed to the craft of writing, and his lifelong love of words and stunning prose are the threads that connect all of his work– from fiction to non-fiction to poetry. His most recent novel, "The River," is the culmination of Peter's decades of storytelling– the book weaves a masterful tale that combines adventure, deep friendships, wild places, chilling violence, and page-turning suspense. [For those of you who subscribe to my bimonthly book recommendations email, you may remember that I devoured the book in less than two days and absolutely loved it!]

Peter was born, raised, and educated on the east coast but headed West soon after college to paddle rivers and immerse himself in the wide-open spaces of the American West. His writing career has taken him to some of the most far-flung corners of the earth. Still, he always returns to the Rockies, where he currently splits his time between Denver and Paonia, a rural community on Colorado's Western Slope. The people and landscapes of the West play prominent roles in all of Peter's novels, and his talent for capturing the beauty and complexity of people and wild places is second to none.

We met up at Peter's home in Denver and had a fun, wide-ranging conversation covering everything from his early obsession with writing to his current writing process to our mutual love of surfing. We discuss his first big paddling trip in Colorado, which started his decades-long love affair with the West. We talk about his early days as a professional writer– discussing everything from how he made it work financially to how he dealt with rejection. We dig into the specifics of his daily writing routine, and why he stops writing at 1,000 words, even if he is mid-scene. We also talk about how he avoids thinking when writing novels, his obsession with "finding the flow" in writing and outdoor pursuits, the importance of momentum, and balancing physical exuberance with the writer's life. If you love Peter's books, the West, or learning about writers, you will love this episode.

And as a special bonus, I'm giving away a copy of "The River" via Instagram. On Friday, January 3, 2020, I'll post all the details, so head to my Instagram page, give me a follow, and be on the lookout for the giveaway. You can either search by my name- Ed Roberson- or follow this link. "The River" was one of the best books I read in 2019, so I know you'll enjoy it too.

Thanks again to Peter for being so generous with his time and so insightful with his answers. I hope you enjoy!

--

More Episode Notes: https://mountainandprairie.com/peter-heller/

Instagram Book Giveaway: https://www.instagram.com/mtnprairie/

Bimonthly Book Recommendations Email: http://mountainandprairie.com/reading/

---

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• 5:00 - Where Peter grew up
• 6:30 - Deciding to be a writer at 11-years old
• 10:00 - Specific disciplines to become a writer
• 10:40 - Peter's parents' backgrounds and their influence
• 13:30 - Peter's love of writing as a career
• 14:50 - Childhood adventures
• 15:40 - Falling in love with the West
• 18:30 - Starting out as a writer
• 21:00 - Dealing with early rejections
• 22:50 - First published story
• 25:00 - "Not thinking" while writing fiction
• 29:00 - Starting Dog Stars
• 31:30 - Peter's method - 1,000 words per day
• 36:00 - The inevitability of Peter's stories
• 38:30 - Winslow Homer paintings and other real-life influences [Click to see "The Gulf Stream" painting]
• 41:45 - Importance of confidence and craftsmanship in writing
• 46:50 - Importance of momentum
• 49:00 - Love of entering "the zone" through writing, surfing, fishing, and more.
• 51:30 - Peter's love for Paonia
• 55:00 - Surfing!
• 1:02:15 - Favorite books
• 1:04:00 - Favorite location in the West
• 1:05:45 - Best advice ever received

----

ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE:

• Mountain & Prairie Podcast
• Mountain & Prairie on Instagram
• Upcoming Events
• About Ed Roberson
• Support Mountain & Prairie

Hal Herring is an award-winning journalist and writer whose work has appeared in such notable publications as the Atlantic, the Economist, and Orion. He is also a contributing editor at Field and Stream and a regular contributor to High Country News. Most recently, Hal has made a name for himself in the podcast world as the host of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers' popular podcast, called the Podcast & Blast with Hal Herring. If there's one common thread that runs through Hal's prolific and wide-ranging career, it's a love of the West, its people, and its public lands.

I've long admired Hal and specifically his refusal to be boxed in by any particular political party or close-minded ideologies. He could be considered progressive on some issues and conservative on others, but his opinions are always the result of a lot of deep thinking, extensive research, and thorough consideration. And as you'll hear him say in this interview, he's endlessly curious and always open to having his mind changed-- two characteristics that I personally admire and try my best to emulate, especially when it comes to issues here in the American West.

Hal and I covered a lot in a little over an hour, and regular listeners will enjoy his depth and breadth of knowledge, as well as his unbridled passion for the West. We start by discussing his upbringing in Alabama and why he decided to move West. We talk a lot about books, and Hal offers up a massive selection of titles that have influenced his work, most of which have never before been mentioned on this podcast. We discuss the importance of journalism at this specific moment in history, and how he goes about finding the facts in today's overwhelming deluge of media. We also chat about his work ethic, family, his current home in Augusta, Montana, his climbing and mountaineering adventures, and his recent success in the world of podcasts.

There's a lot to learn and digest in this episode, so be sure to check out the episode notes for links to everything. Also, I hope you enjoy the southern accents-- I think Hal really brought mine out in full force. Hope you enjoy!

COMPLETE EPISODE NOTES: https://mountainandprairie.com/hal-herring/

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• 3:05 - Growing up in Alabama
• 4:15 - Intro to Montana
• 5:50 - Deep love of Alabama
• 6:45 - Early years writing & traveling
• 9:30 - Source of Hal's early wanderlust
• 11:35 - When Hal got serious about writing
• 15:00 - Importance of constraints
• 18:00 - How Hal's work on public lands influences his journalism
• 20:45 - Decision to focus on public lands
• 22:10 - Need for real journalism
• 25:00 - Where does Hal get his news?
• 29:00 - Public land discussion
• 32:15 - Optimistic or pessimistic for the future of public lands?
• 36:30 - Mountaineering and climbing
• 41:15 - Having kids
• 44:00 - Hal's foray into podcasting
• 48:15 - Most important books
• 50:50 - Connection with Teal Blake
• 55:30 - Importance of preparation and hard work
• 57:15 - Hal's new book
• 1:00:30 - Favorite films
• 1:01:50 - Favorite location in the West
• 1:06:30 - Request of the listeners

----

ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE:

• Mountain & Prairie Podcast
• Mountain & Prairie on Instagram
• Upcoming Events
• About Ed Roberson
• Support Mountain & Prairie

Mark Kenyon is a conservationist, outdoorsman, and author of the fantastic new book "That Wild Country: An Epic Journey through the Past, Present, and Future of America's Public Lands." For years, Mark has been well-known and respected in the hunting world, thanks in part to his website, blog, and podcast called Wired to Hunt, which focuses on the finer points of big game hunting. Mark and Wired to Hunt recently joined forces with Steven Rinella's MeatEater brand, which has helped to amplify Mark's impact on the worlds of hunting and conservation. "That Wild Country" is the culmination of many years of Mark's adventures, experiences, and writing, and I expect that Mountain & Prairie listeners will thoroughly enjoy it.

From the outside, it appears that Mark is cruising through life, living the dream-- he hunts, writes, creates shows, and generally pursues his passions at full speed on a daily basis. But when you scratch below the surface, you'll see that Mark's professional path has been (and still is) defined by extreme focus and hard work, as well as an insatiable curiosity for everything from whitetail deer to US history to the finer points of public lands legislation. He walked away from an impressive and safe career at Google to merge his vocation and avocation, choosing to bet on himself rather than corporate America. And his bet paid off-- between his podcasts, articles, essays, videos, and, now, a book, Mark's body of work has educated and inspired countless people throughout the world.

We started our conversation by discussing "That Wild Country," which is one of the most engaging and "user-friendly" explanations I've read of the history of public lands, as well as the modern-day controversies surrounding public lands. We discuss the conservation legacy of the other Roosevelt-- Franklin D Roosevelt-- and how his presidency revived our nation's commitment to public lands stewardship. We dig into the details of the Pittman-Robertson Act, a historic piece of legislation that all of us who love the outdoors need to understand. We discuss the short and impactful life of Bob Marshall, the famed conservationist who is the namesake of Montana's legendary Bob Marshall Wilderness. We also discuss a lot about Mark's personal backstory-- his decision to leave Google for Wired to Hunt, his recent merger with Meateater, how having a son has changed his perspective, his daily routine for maximum productivity, and much more. And finally, we touch on why Michigan seems to produce so many committed conservationists and outdoor writers.

I've admired Mark and his consistent, high-quality work for years, so it was a thrill to finally chat. I encourage you to check out "That Wild Country" and the Wired to Hunt Podcast, but in the meantime, enjoy this wide-ranging conversation with Mark Kenyon.

https://mountainandprairie.com/mark-kenyon/

"That Wild Country: An Epic Journey through the Past, Present, and Future of America's Public Lands" by Mark Kenyon

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• 5:00 - An overview of "That Wild Country"
• 9:00 - Timeline of writing the book
• 11:00 - FDR's influence on the conservation movement
• 16:30 - Ins and outs of the Pittman-Robertson Act
• 20:50 - Arguments around a "backpack tax"
• 21:40 - Who was Bob Marshall?
• 25:00 - How to write about dry subjects in an entertaining manner
• 29:00 - The effort of writing a book
• 29:40 - How having a kid changed Mark's working style
• 32:20 - Mark's morning routine
• 35:45 - Mark's unique career path
• 38:00 - Epiphany moment in Mark's career
• 40:30 - Merging with Meateater
• 42:30 - Secrets to Wired to Hunt's success
• 47:00 - Mark's "Back 40" project
• 50:00 - Why does Michigan produce so many outdoor leaders?
• 52:45 - New information learned about Theodore Roosevelt
• 57:45 - Optimism or pessimism for the future of public lands
• 1:01:30 - Important non-profits that Mark supports
• 1:06:45 - Mark's favorite books

----

ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE:

• Mountain & Prairie Podcast
• Mountain & Prairie on Instagram
• Upcoming Events
• About Ed Roberson
• Support Mountain & Prairie

Matt Skoglund and his wife Sarah are bison ranchers and the owners of the North Bridger Bison Ranch, which is located in Montana's iconic Shields Valley. The Skoglund's bison operation is deeply rooted in Holistic Management and Regenerative Agriculture principles, and their goal is to produce healthy and delicious meat, while simultaneously improving the land, helping the environment, and contributing to Montana's economy. Through hard work and genuine curiosity, Matt has found his life's true calling in bison ranching—a challenging yet deeply rewarding business that combines so many of Matt's passions into one dream job.

By now, you may be assuming that Matt comes from a western ranching family or perhaps holds agriculture degrees from a land-grant university. But the reality is that Matt grew up in the Chicago area, attended college in the northeast, then law school, then began a career as an attorney in the litigation department of a large Chicago law firm. After several years of practicing law, he and Sarah could no longer resist the desire to move West, so they took a leap of faith and moved to Bozeman. Matt found a job with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), where he worked for nearly ten years, digging deep into many conservation issues that affect the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, including bison. Finally, in 2018, after several years of dreaming and planning, they pulled the trigger, bought some land, and started their adventure in bison ranching.

Matt and Sarah's story is inspiring and instructive, especially for those who have dreams of pursuing lives and careers in the West. Instead of jumping all over the place like I normally do, this conversation is pretty much split into two main sections. The first half covers all the details about North Bridger Bison, how they acquired the ranch, their process of field harvesting the meat, who their customers are, and some of the biggest surprises of running their own business. The second half covers some broader personal topics, such as how being a father has affected Matt's outlook, why he was able to walk away from a lucrative career in law, and the life lessons learned from being a college hockey player. Whether you are strictly interested in agriculture or only interested in people's personal evolutions, there are aspects of the Skoglund's journey that will be fascinating to both groups.

Be sure the check the episode notes for a list of everything we discussed. Hope you enjoy!

---

https://mountainandprairie.com/matt-skoglund/

---

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• 4:00 - The location of the ranch
• 5:45 - Why they chose the Shields Valley
• 8:15 - Details around purchasing the ranch
• 12:30 - Genesis of the bison ranch idea
• 14:30 - Books that shaped Matt's business philosophy
• 16:00 - Transitioning from dreaming about ranching to doing it
• 18:15 - Criteria when searching for land
• 22:45 - Collaboration among bison ranchers
• 25:30 - Details of field harvesting bison
• 30:40 - Biggest surprises of bison ranching
• 36:00 - How past professional experiences inform bison ranching
• 37:00 - Lessons learned from stressful situations
• 39:30 - Transition from the law to conservation
• 42:00 - Moving to Bozeman
• 43:00 - Getting off the big law firm "treadmill"
• 44:50 - Where Matt got his independent streak
• 47:30 - Lessons learned from high-level athletics
• 49:30 - How having kids changed Matt's life and perspective
• 54:30 - Three specific heroes and mentors
• 58:45 - Aldo Leopold obsession
• 1:00:15 - Favorite books

----

ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE:

• Mountain & Prairie Podcast
• Mountain & Prairie on Instagram
• Upcoming Events
• About Ed Roberson
• Support Mountain & Prairie

Becca Aceto is an Idaho-based conservationist and is currently the Communications and Outreach Coordinator for the Idaho Wildlife Federation. Prior to this position with IWF, she worked in a variety of jobs closely connected to Idaho'sIdaho's rugged landscapes—as a naturalist, Forest Service wilderness ranger, and a Forest Service Wildlife Technician. Given her professional commitment to the lands and wildlife of the northern Rockies, you might assume that she's a native westerner, but in fact, she grew up in Ohio and attended the University of Kentucky before heading West after graduation.

As the oldest of six siblings, Becca has never been shy about "putting herself out there," learning new skills, or diving head-first into new experiences. She's studied various types of conservation in far-flung places like Thailand and Costa Rica, and she moved to the small town of Stanley, Idaho, without knowing a soul who lived there. Most recently, in 2017, she took up hunting and has fallen in love with the sport, becoming the Idaho ambassador for the sportswomen's group Artemis. Becca's willingness to step outside her comfort zone both professionally and personally can serve as a blueprint for many non-western young people who want to build a fulfilling life and career for themselves in the Rocky Mountains.

Becca and I caught up between a few of her fall hunts and had a wonderful conversation, discussing everything from her early days in Ohio to her current life and work in Idaho. We started by chatting about her upbringing—her childhood spent fishing in a small neighborhood creek, her love of horses, and the positive influence of her grandmother (who happens to be a Buddhist and a vegetarian). We talked about her time working as a ranger and some of the hard-won lessons she learned by suffering in the backcountry. We talk a lot about her relatively new journey becoming a hunter and some of the challenges and opportunities that come with learning to hunt as an adult. We also discuss the important conservation work of the IWF, in politics, on-the-ground stewardship, and public lands advocacy. As usual, we discuss lots of books and the best advice she's ever received.

We cover a lot in a little over an hour, and I jump around with my questions even more than usual, so be sure the check out the episode notes for a list of everything we discuss. Enjoy!

--

https://mountainandprairie.com/becca-aceto/

--

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• 4:00 - Where Becca grew up
• 6:10 - Decision to study natural resources at University of Kentucky
• 8:45 - Working in Costa Rica
• 10:00 - Decision to move West
• 11:30 - First jobs in Idaho
• 14:30 - Bravery to move out West on her own
• 16:30 - Becca's Buddhist, vegetarian grandmother's influence
• 19:30 - Working conditions as a forest ranger
• 21:00 - Importance of discomfort and fear
• 25:00 - Starting to work at the Idaho Wildlife Federation
• 29:15 - Importance of politics
• 30:00 - Threat to public lands
• 34:30 - Learning to hunt
• 38:30 - Hunting lessons learned from year to year
• 42:45 - Artemis sportswomen
• 45:20 - Need for diversity in hunting and conservation
• 47:00 - Advice for novice hunters
• 49:15 - Becca's most recent hunting trip
• 57:00 - Writing
• 1:00:15 - Favorite books
• 1:02:30 - Favorite films
• 1:04:30 - Out-of-the-ordinary hobbies
• 1:06:00 - Favorite location in the West
• 1:07:00 - Best advice ever received
• 1:08:30 - Words of wisdom
• 1:10:00 - Connect with Becca

----

ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE:

• Mountain & Prairie Podcast
• Mountain & Prairie on Instagram
• Upcoming Events
• About Ed Roberson
• Support Mountain & Prairie

Duke Phillips III is the founder and CEO of Ranchlands, a Colorado-based, family-owned ranch management company. If Ranchlands sounds familiar, that's because last week's episode was with Duke's son, Duke Phillips IV. You may remember that the younger Duke referenced his father's philosophies around business and leadership several times, so I thought it would be fun to have the elder Duke on the podcast for an in-depth conversation. And in-depth it was—in a little under an hour we covered a wide range of subjects, everything from the future of ranching to world travels to poetry.

Duke has led a fascinating life, starting with his early years spent growing up on a remote cattle ranch in rural Mexico. His twenties were devoted to traveling and working around the world, including places like Europe, Central America, Australia, and the Bering Sea. Around age thirty he started his first "real job" in ranching, which eventually led to the formation of his company Ranchlands. Since its beginnings over two decades ago, Ranchlands has set a new standard what is possible when ranching, conservation, education, and business are successfully combined. And Ranchlands partnership with Colorado's State Land Board is a case study in effective, mutually beneficial public-private partnerships.

I caught up with Duke on the phone, where he was gracious enough to take time away from one of his New Mexico operations to chat with me. We started by talking about his childhood in Mexico and the lessons he learned from growing up in such a wild and remote landscape. Then we discussed the series of travels and jobs that led to his founding Ranchlands in his mid-forties. From there, our conversation hits on a variety of subjects, including the joys of working with his kids, Duke III and Tess, the ins-and-outs of the bison ranching business, and his thoughts on the recent popularity of regenerative agriculture. There's minimal overlap between the topics covered in this conversation and my conversation with young Duke, so be sure to check the episode notes for a full list of all the interesting information discussed.

Palmer Land Trust will be honoring Duke and his family at the 10th Annual Southern Colorado Conservation Awards on October 3rd in Colorado Springs. It's going to be a fun and inspiring evening, so follow the link in the episode notes for more information and tickets. Hope to see you there!

•••

https://www.palmerlandtrust.org/2019-scca

Notes: https://mountainandprairie.com/duke-phillips-iii/

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• 3:30 - Where Duke grew up
• 6:30 - Lessons learned from growing up in Mexico
• 8:30 - Having patience with those new to ranching
• 9:45 - Leaving Mexico
• 11:50 - World travels and adventures in his 20s
• 14:30 - First "real job"
• 15:45 - Lead-up to Chico Basin
• 17:00 - Ranchlands explained
• 22:00- Ranchlands' grazing philosophy
• 26:00 - Joys of working with Tess and Duke IV 27:30 - Keys to running a successful family business
• 29:30 - Keeping kids humble
• 31:20 - Importance of positivity in life and business
• 35:00 - Importance of honesty in business
• 37:40 - Successful partnerships with Colorado's State Board and The Nature Conservancy
• 41:30 - Running a bison ranch
• 45:00 - Regenerative agriculture
• 48:30 - Heroes and mentors
• 52:00 - The future of ranching
• 54:00 - Favorite books and poetry
• 56:30 - Most powerful outdoor experience

----

ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE:

• Mountain & Prairie Podcast
• Mountain & Prairie on Instagram
• Upcoming Events
• About Ed Roberson
• Support Mountain & Prairie

Duke Phillips IV is the Chief Operating Officer of Ranchlands, a Colorado-based ranching and ranch management company that is widely celebrated for its deep conservation ethic. Duke oversees all operations across Ranchlands' properties, which include the renowned 87,000-acre Chico Basin Ranch and the 103,000-acre Medano Zapata Ranch. Working closely with his father Duke III and his sister Tess, the Duke and his family share a commitment to long-term land stewardship, and they embody the Ranchlands philosophy of "Working together to live with the land."

As part of a multi-generational ranching family in southeastern Colorado, Duke grew up with one foot in the ranching culture and the other in a more traditional life of school, sports, and typical childhood activities. After college, he decided to return to the family business, where he began to work his way up through the ranks to his current role of COO. Along the way, he learned lessons in leadership, humility, conservation, stockmanship, and business, many of which he shares with me during this conversation. Duke is one of the more humble and understated people I've met, especially when considering all that he's accomplished so early into his career.

I met Duke out at the Chico where we sat around his kitchen table and chatted-- and it was truly a delightful conversation. We talked about the operations at their ranches, delving into some of the details around their breed of cattle, the Beefmaster. We discussed the apprentice and intern programs at Ranchlands, and why he and his family value teaching and educating both the general public and the next generation of land stewards. We discussed Duke's thoughts on leadership and the importance of being humble and calm in all situations. He also explains Ranchlands open gate policy, and how that philosophy differs from some of the conventional wisdom around access to land in the West. We also discuss books, his heroes and mentors, flying helicopters, lessons learned from living and working internationally, and much more.

Finally, I wanted to mention that Ranchlands will be honored at Palmer Land Trust's 10th Annual Southern Colorado Conservation Awards on October 3rd in Colorado Springs. We'll be debuting a short film about the Phillips family that highlights some of their innovative conservation work throughout the state. If you're interested in attending, follow the link in the episode notes for more information. I guarantee it will be an inspiring and fun evening.

There are many important lessons to be learned from this conversation with Duke-- check the episode notes for a full list of everything we discussed. Hope you enjoy!

https://mountainandprairie.com/duke-phillips-iv/

https://www.palmerlandtrust.org/2019-scca

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• 3:30 - Background on Chico Basin
• 6:00 - Chico Basin's open gate policy
• 8:00 - Education and birding programs on the ranch
• 11:15 - Background on open gate policy
• 14:00 - Beefmaster cattle breed
• 19:00 - Ideal characteristics of the Beefmaster breed
• 22:15 - Good books about grazing and ranching
• 23:30 - How travel and education have shaped their business
• 25:00 - Finishing high school and starting college
• 28:00 - Choice to study liberal arts
• 30:00 - Internship and apprentice program
• 34:00 - Traits Duke looks for in employees
• 40:00 - Duke's evolution as a leader
• 42:00 - Importance of good communication
• 44:00 - Heroes and mentors
• 49:00 - Importance of being positive
• 54:00 - Importance of controlling anger
• 56:30 - Favorite books
• 59:00 - Flying helicopters and planes
• 1:01:30 - Using helicopters in ranching
• 1:03:10 - Most powerful outdoor experience
• 1:07:30 - Favorite place in the West

----

ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE:

• Mountain & Prairie Podcast
• Mountain & Prairie on Instagram
• Upcoming Events
• About Ed Roberson
• Support Mountain & Prairie

This episode is a special recording from a Mountain & Prairie live podcast in Bozeman, Montana. On August 30th more than 300 folks gathered at the historic Ellen Theatre in downtown Bozeman to watch, listen, and participate in a wide-ranging conversation with four amazing women of the West—hat-maker and farmer Cate Havstad; silversmith and all-around artist Jillian Lukiwski; adventure photographer and writer Becca Skinner; and rancher and county commissioner Juanita Vero. We also held a raffle that benefited the Montana Land Reliance and the critical conservation work it is doing throughout the state of Montana.

The show started out with a hilarious, high-energy welcome from the amazing Becca Frucht, who is one of the funniest and most unique human beings I've ever met. Then I spent about an hour and fifteen minutes asking the women questions about their lives, work, and shared love of western landscapes. After that, we had some excellent questions from the audience, followed by a few words from the Jessie Weisse from the Montana Land Reliance. As you'll hear, a good bit of our conversation centered around the land, conservation, and agriculture, so it was very fitting that the Montana Land Reliance was such an important part of the evening. My only complaint about the event is that I wish it could've been much longer—as you'd expect, we only scratched the surface of all the fascinating topics we could've discussed.

A heartfelt thank you to Cate, Jillian, Becca, and Juanita for being so open, thoughtful, and funny with all of their answers—the evening would not have been even a fraction of the success it was without their participation. Thanks to Becca Frucht for her energizing welcome and for figuring out a way to work Road House into her remarks. Thank you to the Montana Land Reliance for all of their important work throughout the state and for being part of the evening. A huge thanks to our sponsors—Chris Dombrowski Fly Fishing, Tom Morgan Rodsmiths, Onda Wellness, Modern Huntsman, Beargrass Writing Retreat, Heyday, Head West Bozeman, and Big Agnes. And last but definitely not least, thanks to everyone who attended the event—I know we had people travel to Bozeman from many other states and even Canada for the show, so I can't thank you all enough for being such important members of this podcast community.

It was truly a night to remember, and I'm excited to do more live shows in 2020, so stay tuned for that. But in the meantime, enjoy this audio version of the Mountain & Prairie Podcast, live in Bozeman!

Notes and photos: https://mountainandprairie.com/bozeman-live/

MLR: http://mtlandreliance.org

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• 3:30 - Welcome from the great Becca Frucht
• 8:30 - A few words from Ed
• 11:30 - Quick intros
• 13:00 - Update on Cate's involvement in farming
• 15:30- Juanita's entrance into county politics
• 20:00 - Jillian's evolving connection to her place
• 21:00 - Becca's immersion in private land conservation
• 27:30 - Juanita's thoughts on private land conservation
• 32:00 - Jillian discusses the importance of hard work and adventure in wild places
• 35:30 - Cate discusses the business realities of farming
• 44:00 - Jillian and Becca talk about "putting herself out there"
• 47:30 - Using social media productively
• 50:00 - Other places the ladies would choose to live
• 55:30 - Best books read in the past year
• 1:01:30 - How their husbands/partners bolster them as individuals
• 1:06:30 - Jillian's "Big Enough Theory"
• 1:12:00 - Q&A - Mentors and mentoring
• 1:17:00 - Q&A - Roots to the past in the women's trades
• 1:20:30 - Q&A - Role of horses in the ladies lives
• 1:28:00 - Q&A - Balancing development and conservation in Montana
• 1:35:30 - Q&A - How do we connect people with their food
• 1:40:15 - A few words from the Montana Land Reliance