Instructors come to the Field School from Utah State University, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Bureau of Land Management, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, State Lands, US Forest Service, and the Private Sector. All are professionals with a strong background in rangeland resources, wildlife, watershed, forestry, or natural resources based education. Instructors are members of the Society for Range Management. Below is information about this years instructors.
George Cook, Director
Range Consultant
George Cook, until his recent retirement, worked for the Natural Resources Conservation Service. George's knowledge of rangelands and his desire to help others has made him one of the most sought after range professionals in the state. Over the course of his career, he has been given the "Outstanding Alumni Award" and a "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the the College of Natural Resources at Utah State University, the "Graham S. Quate Award" by the Utah Soil Conservation Commission, the "Range Manager of the Year" award rom the Utah Section of the Society for Range Management, as well as two national awards from SRM - the "Good Fellow Award" and the "Sustained Life Achievement Award." Since his retirement, George has worked as a private consultant, and is frequently called to give advice and help with projects for the private sector and State Government. George has been actively involved with Range Camp since about 1975, and there are many former students who remember and appreciate George for the time and effort he put into helping them understand the material presented - especially plants! George has been the director of the camp since 2002. He is also on the International Committee for the SRM High School Youth Forum.
Roger Banner
Rangeland Extension Specialist, Utah State University
Roger's research interest is in increasing understanding of rangeland systems and
identification of practical, economically advantageous and environmentally
sensitive management practices. It is focused on human management skill and
"soft technology" such as understanding and manipulating plant and herbivore
interaction to accomplish resource management objectives. As the Rangeland Extension Specialist for the state of Utah, his
emphasis is centered on management: rangeland resource management, riparian
area management, application of ecological principles in management, natural
resources conflict management and total ranch management education. He
emphasizes the human dimension in sustainable resource management.
Fee Busby
Professor, Dept. of Wildland Resources, Utah State University
Fee Busby teaches natural resource management classes at Utah State University (USU), including range plant identification and general rangeland management. He coaches the USU Range Plant Identification Team and the Undergraduate Range Management Exam team. Fee has spent much of his career working as an Extension specialist providing educational programs to ranchers and other professionals who manage rangelands. He was the director of the Utah Natural Resources Field School when the program began in 1973 as the “Utah Range Youth Camp” and enjoys the continuing opportunity to work with students who have an interest in natural resources.
Kendall Nelson
Range Specialist, US Forest Service
As a range specialist for the Fishlake National Forest, Kendall has the opportunity to work one-on-one with ranchers currently grazing on the forest. He brings to the camp this knowledge, as well as a knowledge of past grazing practices, as well as some of the issues he works with. This knowledge is valuable throughout the week as we discuss current issues and possible solutions. Kendall has been a member of the SRM since he was in college and has served as a director for the Utah Section.
Mindy Pratt
Extension Associate, Utah State University
Providia Management Group, Logan, Utah
Mindy got her start with the Field School when she attended as a participant while in high school. From there she went on to get her degrees in the field of Range Management. Mindy currently works for USU Extension in the Wildland Sciences Department, and her interests lie in helping teach others about Natural Resources. She currently is the host of the Range CDE for FFA, and is also working with Universities in Idaho and Nevada on the new “Regional Range CDE” to be held starting in 2010. Over the next year, she will be part of a multi-state team that will be developing a Rangeland Management Curriculum for high school students in the Intermountain West. When not busy with Extension, Mindy works with her husband Scott in their private business, Providia Management, helping to provide precision management on large tracts of rangeland throughout the West.
Mike Ralphs
Rangeland Scientist, USDA-ARS Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory
Mike Ralphs is a research scientist with the Agriculture Research Service arm of USDA at the Poisonous Plants Lab in Logan, Utah. Mike brings to the Field School an unparalleled knowledge of the poisonous plants we will see from the Desert to the top of the mountain. His areas of research have included the grazing behavior of cattle in respect to poisonous plants, targeted grazing to control poisonous and noxious weeds, herbicide and biological control of poisonous plants, and the environmental influences on toxin concentrations in plants. Mike is a longtime member of the Society for Range Management, and was awarded the "SRM Outstanding Achievement Award for Research" in 2000. When not busy with work, Mike enjoys spending time at his family ranch in Ferron, Utah.
Kurtis Robins
District Ranger, US Forest Service
As a current District Ranger, Kurt provides the participants with a first hand account of conflicts and solutions occurring on the Fishlake National Forest. Kurt also brings with him an understanding of the area - its geology, the demographics of the people, and the history of range practices on the forest. Kurt has been a member of the Society for Range Management since he attended college and served recently as the President of the Utah Section.
Ron Torgerson
Utah Department of Natural Resources
Ron has been an active member of the Society for Range Management (SRM) since 1988. He graduated from USU in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Range Science. After graduating, he has served as a Range Conservationist on the Sawtooth National Forest and Uinta National Forest until 1999 when he was hired as a Renewable Resource Specialist with the State of Utah School & Institutional Trust Lands Administration in Richfield, Utah. Ron was awarded in 1999 by the Utah Wildlife Federation “For Outstanding Achievement in Natural Resource Management”. He has served as President of the Utah Section SRM and is a Certified Professional in Range Management.
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