Members Present:

Gene Gade, Frank Henderson, Ed Bradley, Ron Cunningham, Tom Heald, Eric Peterson. Troy Cooper spent a good deal of time with the team, as well. This meeting was informal and a good opportunity to refine thinking on several issues which were left in a raw state at the September meeting.

Recounted the September meeting for those who were not there. Eric shared the "6 mo. Highlights" which would be shared at the initiative briefing session later in the week.

Reveled in Frank's Elk hunting story. Discussed Drought and research efforts, specifically taking the Saratoga model statewide through cooperative efforts of agents, etc.

We discussed delivery method for the "Thinking About Range" effort (aka "Range Basics"). Generally agreed that it makes sense that information should be posted to web until a "finished product" is suitable for CD ROM.

We talked about the focus of and potential topics for the "Range College" series of meetings. Generally, the title or focus of the session would be something on the order of "Tools to Understand Your Range - How to get what you want from it and keep it healthy"

A quick brainstorming session yielded the following topics:

How to keep your plants healthy
Plant ID, Selection and Management
Problem Species and Management
Carrying Capacity of Range (Stocking Rates)
Public Land Grazing - what are the increasers-decreases
Things that make sense in Riparian Grazing
Important Range uses/values other than livestock
What plant should I select
What is native?
How Grass plants grow - how use impacts them.

The format would provide about 6 topics, each of which would consume 45 min to an hour. We will consider this list, invite refinement, and select a group of topics to assemble into a program.

We talked about backing this with the meetings that the Sustainable Ag Committee is organizing. Thought that perhaps it could turn into a 3 day deal, with a day each for the initiatives and a third day of the "College" being selected by the Area/District personnel. Eric, as chair, will visit with the Ag. Sustainability Team regarding coordination of the effort.

Meeting Adjourned.
 

Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (SMNR) Initiative Team October 22, 2001
Name	Position	Term Expires in December of :
Ed Bradley	Department Head	Perpetual
Ron Delaney	Department Head	Perpetual
Tom Thurow	Department Head	Perpetual
Doug Hixon	Department Head	Perpetual
Tom Whitson	Specialists	2004
Mike Smith	Specialists	2003
Gene Gade	Field Educator, NE Dist.	2002
Blaine Horn	Field Educator, NE Dist.	2004
Frank Henderson	Field Educator, SE Dist.	2002
Tom Heald	Field Educator, SE Dist.	2004
Ron Cunningham	Field Educator, NW Dist.	2003
Vacant	Field Educator, NW Dist.	2003
Vacant	Field Educator, SW Dist.	2003
Eric Peterson	Field Educator, Chair, SW Dist.	2002
Glen Whipple	Administrative Liaison	Perpetual

NE = Sheridan, Johnson, Campbell, Crook, Weston

SE = Natrona, Converse, Niobrara, Platte, Goshen, Albany, Laramie

NW = Park, Bignorn, Washakie, Hot Springs, Fremont

SW = Lincoln, Teton, Uinta, Sublette, Sweetwater, Carbon