FEATURING: Steve Boies, Kathryn Dyer, Agee Smith, Sherman Swanson.

How do creeks function for us? For the things we care about? By focusing on water, plants, soils, and landforms, we've learned that some plants grow tremendous root systems that withstand floods, slow water to build floodplains, and protect soil to create a sponge. Ranchers Agee Smith and Steve Bois, Nevada Range Program Lead Kathryn Dyer, and riparian Extension Specialist Sherman Swanson will use photos and videos to tell firsthand stories showing how water-loving plants grow in response to the movement of wildlife and livestock. While each ranch is unique, they all demonstrate the benefit of animal movement in supporting healthy creek ecosystems and dreating abundance.

Hosted by Dave Voth.

From the 40th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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ABOUT THE PRESENTERS

Steve Boies
Jackpot, NV
A native Nevadan, Steve Boies is a rancher and cattleman with operations near Wells in the far northeastern corner of the state. Steve understands the issues family-run cattle ranches face today. In addition to representing ranching on the Sagebrush Ecosystem Council, he serves as N-1 and central Committee Chair for the state Grazing Board. He has been an active participant in industry and resource issues for several decades. Steve Boies attended the University of Nevada, Reno, where he studied Agricultural Sciences. Steve operates the Boies Ranch alongside his wife Robin, working in a holistic, collaborative manner that has been recognized for improving land and riparian areas and restoring wildlife habitat through sustainable range practices.

Kathryn Dyer
Washoe Valley, NV
Kathryn Dyer is the Range Program Lead for Nevada Bureau of Land Management (BLM). With nearly 20 years of experience in BLM offices across California, Nevada, and other western states, she has focused her career on topics such as Outcome Based Grazing, Targeted Grazing, and other ways to incorporate greater flexibility into grazing authorizations. Kathryn continues to work on innovative ways to provide tools for livestock operators and BLM offices throughout Nevada. She is a strong advocate for cooperative management approaches as a means to achieve functional, working landscapes. Kathryn is a long-time resident of Nevada and alumna of the University of Nevada, Reno.

Agee Smith
Wells, NV
Fourth-generation Nevada rancher Agee Smith brings his forward-thinking approach not only to the family business but to collaborative stewardship efforts around the region. Agee is the managing partner of the Cottonwood Ranch located in the remote O’Neil Basin of northeastern Nevada. After serving in the Marine Corps in Vietnam for two years, he graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno, with a degree in animal science. In 1995, the Cottonwood Ranch changed its grazing program using Holistic Resource Management as a way of thinking and managing, taking into consideration and working with the people, land, animals, and plants (above and below ground). The ranch is a participant in multiple holistically minded stewardship groups, and Agee avidly pursues continual learning in resource management, livestock handling, grazing, and history.

Sherman Swanson
Spokane, WA
Sherm Swanson is an emeritus professor at University of Nevada, Reno, where he worked as a rangeland and riparian scientist, teacher, and extension specialist. He led the interagency and stakeholder consensus-based process for the revisions of the Nevada Rangeland Monitoring Handbook for both the 2006 and 2018 editions. Since retiring in 2019, Sherm continues to coordinate Nevada Creeks and Communities, teaching riparian proper functioning condition assessment, integrated riparian management, and riparian grazing management to individuals interested in understanding creeks, springs, and other waterways in dry lands. He also represents the public on the Nevada Sagebrush Ecosystem Council, serves on the Bureau of Land Management Sierra Front-Northern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council, and is active with the Coalition for Healthy Nevada Lands, Wildlife, and Free-Roaming Horses.

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Filmed in front of a live audience at the Elko Convention Center’s Laurena Moren Theater on Feb. 1, 2025.

Made possible by Northeastern Nevada Stewardship Group and by the multitude of staff, artists, volunteers, and community members working behind the scenes to make this show happen.

Brought to you by the Western Folklife Center, using story and cultural expression to connect the American West to the world.
www.westernfolklife.org

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