CHICO, Calif. — Students interested in rangeland management took the first step in advocating for their passions with the establishment of the College of Agriculture’s newest club. Sept. 14, 2017 marked the inaugural meeting of the CSU, Chico Rangeland Management Club with some 20 students in attendance.
Advised by Professor Kasey DeAtley, the Rangeland Management Club aims to provide students with the capability to explore rangeland science and water quality through interactive trips, networking, hiking trips, and guest speakers. The club also plans to represent CSU, Chico at the National Society for Range Management (SRM) meeting in the spring, where Chico State teams have twice placed in the top two in the last three years in the Rangeland Cup.
At the Sept. 14 meeting, students participated in an icebreaker game integrating livestock and range identification while letting members get to know one another. They discussed the subject of rangeland as well as the mission statement and goals for the group, and then elected officers.
The officer team for the CSU, Chico Rangeland Management club are president Alejandro Orozco-Lopez, vice president John Boyes, secretary Bridgette Eldridge, treasurer Sierra Blackford, Inter-Club Council representative Johnny Rowe, and social media and fundraiser chair Nikke Werner.
The mission statement for the club is “to protect and enhance the future of Rangeland Management whilst providing our diverse membership with opportunities by keeping them informed, educated, and involved within rangeland and natural resource management.”
Orozco-Lopez described the club as an open environment where everyone with an interest in rangeland management and natural resources are welcome with no prior experience required.
Orozco-Lopez said, “One goal of the club is to give students the opportunity to network with rangeland technicians and scientists which provides the possibility to obtain internships.”
The CSU, Chico Rangeland Management Club plans to hold meetings the second Thursday of each month at the University Farm at 5:30 p.m. in classroom 009. The next meeting will be held Oct. 12, 2017.
—CSU, Chico
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