Desert Speaks

Home On The Range

Come along for a day in the life of a ranching family in Southern Arizona's San Rafael Valley along the Arizona-Mexico border. Born and raised as ranchers, the family is ranching for the long haul. The program demonstrates that ranching done responsibly results in healthier cattle, healthier land and healthier wild species. In essence, everyone and everything benefits. By rotating livestock, not overgrazing and managing the land with an eye on more than the bottom line, the long-term results can be positive. The program visits the headwaters of the Santa Cruz River, a biologically rich area with 30 species of native grasses in the midst of ranch land. Peter Warren, a biologist for the Nature Conservancy, interprets the surrounding ecosystems and riparian areas.