July 2025 SDALT newsletter

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“The majority of Larry Wagner’s ranch in southern Brule County was already protected by conservation easements,” said Lyle Perman, SDALT President, Lowry, SD.  “Larry’s donation of a conservation easement on 444 acres that were previously unprotected will ensure the entire property will remain a productive agricultural operation that also provides essential breeding habitat for wildlife.”

“When I learned of SDALT and their focus on preserving working lands, it was apparent to me that they were the ideal organization to hold a conservation easement on my property,” Larry Wagner said.   “SDALT will help me ensure that the efforts I put into creating a profitable grass-based agricultural operation are sustained into the future.”

In support of the donation of the easement by Wagner, SDALT secured financial assistance for the transaction costs from Ducks Unlimited and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

“We are honored to have been entrusted to hold and steward this conservation easement,” said Perman.  “This project demonstrates the important role SDALT can play in assisting landowners who want to preserve the future of agriculture, open spaces, and conservation in our state.”

SDALT was founded by the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association, South Dakota Association of Conservation Districts, South Dakota Grassland Coalition, and South Dakota Farm Bureau Federation to work with landowners to conserve South Dakota’s agricultural heritage and working landscapes for the benefit of future generations.

From left: SDALT President Lyle Perman, landowner Larry Wagner, and SDALT Executive Director Tony Leif

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Eastman comes to SDALT after 27 years of working with landowners as a Conservation Officer and Habitat Biologist for South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks.  Eastman is well-known in Butte and Lawrence Counties for his conservation efforts and his ability to work with farmers and ranchers throughout western SD.

“We are excited to have Bill joining our team at SDALT” said SDALT President Lyle Perman.  “We need the local presence, and the skill set that he has to help us deliver over $20 million in conservation easement project funding to ranchers in and around the Black Hills of South Dakota.”

The funding that SDALT has secured for these easements comes from the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program and their Agriculture Conservation Easement Program.  Additional easement project partners include the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, and the National Wild Turkey Federation.

“I have seen first-hand how low-density residential development of rural areas has impacted land values and the ability of ranch families to retain their property as agricultural.” Eastman said.  “I welcome the opportunity to help those landowners who are seeking assistance from SDALT with this challenging issue.”

SDALT was founded by the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association, South Dakota Association of Conservation Districts, South Dakota Grassland Coalition, and South Dakota Farm Bureau Federation to work with landowners to conserve South Dakota’s agricultural heritage and working landscapes for the benefit of future generations.

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SDALT President Lyle Perman discusses the importance of SDALT and conservation easements as part of a News and Information Hour program on KOTA News.

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Check out California Rangeland Trust’s new podcast celebrating PORT’s 20th Anniversary! BONUS: Celebrating 20 Years of PORT! – California Rangeland Trust

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SDALT is among recipients of The Northern Great Plains Program, which again reports record-breaking grant awards, supporting 27 projects across the region.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 31, 2024) – The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced $22.8 million in grants to protect vital grassland habitat in the Northern Great Plains while also strengthening ranching operations and communities. The 27 grants announced today are the largest grant slate in the program’s history, and will leverage $42 million in matching contributions to generate a total conservation impact of $64.8 million and benefit iconic wildlife species such as pronghorn, Sprague’s pipit, chestnut-collared longspur, Baird’s sparrow and greater sage-grouse.

“Grasslands in the Northern Great Plains support a broad suite of wildlife species found nowhere else in the world,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. “These systems are threatened by conversion to other land uses, development and the spread of invasive species, but thanks to the incredible work of our partners, including Indigenous-led organizations, ranchers, state and local partners, and other nonprofits, we are working to preserve these iconic landscapes.”

The grants were awarded through the Northern Great Plains Program, a partnership between NFWF and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the Bezos Earth Fund, Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies, Burger King, Capri Holdings Ltd, Cargill, Marathon Oil, Nestlé, Oxy and Sysco. This year’s record-breaking funding level builds on a long-standing public-private funding partnership and includes a major contribution from the Bezos Earth Fund.

The Northern Great Plains Program works on a voluntary basis with private landowners and local partners to conserve and restore native prairie and wildlife populations while also benefiting local ranching operations and tribal communities. The projects supported by these grants will tackle several conservation obstacles including encroachment of invasive species, human development and land use conversion, poor grazing practices, and conservation capacity.

This year’s awards include projects in Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming and the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. These 27 grants will contribute to the goals of the Northern Great Plains Business Plan by:

• Restoring 123,300 acres
• Improving management on more than 1.3 million acres
• Improving 277 miles of fencing
• Protecting 101,400 acres via conservation easements

“The Northern Great Plains are a national treasure – and they deserve more attention,” said Cristián Samper, Managing Director and Leader for Nature Solutions, Bezos Earth Fund. “We’re thrilled to partner with NFWF to support the ranchers, Indigenous leaders, and community groups working to safeguard this precious ecosystem. Their vision of thriving, intact grasslands spanning Canada, the US, and Mexico is one worth fighting for.”

“As a native North Dakotan, I deeply value Marathon Oil’s partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Northern Great Plains Program,” said Zac Weis, Government and Community Relations Manager with Marathon Oil. “This program’s focus on habitat restoration, innovative livestock management and community education is vital for conserving North Dakota’s grasslands. These efforts ensure the preservation of our natural heritage and support sustainable agricultural practices, benefiting local wildlife and communities alike.”

A complete list of the 2024 grants made through the Northern Great Plains Program is available here.

About the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Chartered by Congress in 1984, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) protects and restores the nation’s fish, wildlife, plants and habitats. Working with federal, corporate, foundation and individual partners, NFWF has funded more than 6,800 organizations and generated a total conservation impact of more than $10 billion. NFWF is an equal opportunity provider. Learn more at nfwf.org. 

About the Natural Resources Conservation Service
As the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s primary private lands conservation agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) helps America’s farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners make investments in their operations and local communities to keep working lands working, boost rural economies, increase the competitiveness of American agriculture, and improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and habitat. Through one-on-one, personalized and voluntary assistance, NRCS works with producers and communities to find the best solutions to meet their unique conservation and business goals to ensure the health of our natural resources and the long-term sustainability of American agriculture.

About the U.S. Forest Service
The mission of the USDA Forest Service is, “To sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.” The Forest Service manages 193 million acres of forest lands with tribal governments, state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forest research organization in the world.

About the Bezos Earth Fund
The Bezos Earth Fund is helping transform the fight against climate change with the largest ever philanthropic commitment to climate and nature protection. Jeff Bezos has committed $10 billion in this decisive decade to protect nature and address climate change. By providing funding and expertise, we partner with organizations to accelerate innovation, break down barriers to success and create a more equitable and sustainable world. Join us in our mission to create a world where people prosper in harmony with nature.

About BURGER KING®
Founded in 1954, the Burger King® brand is a global quick service hamburger chain known for food quality and value and as the only place guests can get the iconic flame-grilled Whopper® sandwich. The Burger King system operates more than 19,000 locations in more than 120 countries and U.S. territories. Nearly all Burger King® restaurants are owned and operated by independent franchisees, many of them family-owned operations that have been in business for decades. To learn more about the Burger King brand, please visit the official brand website at http://www.bk.com/ or the newsroom at news.bk.com, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok. 

About Cargill
Cargill is committed to providing food, ingredients, agricultural solutions, and industrial products to nourish the world in a safe, responsible, and sustainable way. Sitting at the heart of the supply chain, we partner with farmers and customers to source, make and deliver products that are vital for living. Our 160,000 team members innovate with purpose, providing customers with life’s essentials so businesses can grow, communities prosper, and consumers live well. With 159 years of experience as a family company, we look ahead while remaining true to our values. We put people first. We reach higher. We do the right thing—today and for generations to come. For more information, visit Cargill.com and our News Center.

About Marathon Oil
Marathon Oil is an independent exploration and production company based in Houston focused on the most significant oil-rich U.S. unconventional resource plays. Marathon Oil’s multi-basin portfolio includes the Eagle Ford in Texas, Bakken in North Dakota, STACK and SCOOP in Oklahoma, and Permian in New Mexico and Texas. The company has a long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship and believes that protecting the environment is a direct and critical outcome of operational excellence. Its stock trades under the ticker symbol: MRO. For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.marathonoil.com.

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James Faulstich

Congratulations to SDALT Board Member Jim Faulstich on receiving an Honorary Doctorate From SDSU!

SDALT Board Member Jim Faulstich is one of four individuals to be awarded an honorary doctorate from South Dakota State University, for his extraordinary contributions to South Dakota and beyond.

The highest honor bestowed by the regents and university, an honorary doctorate is meant to pay tribute to worthy individuals. The doctorate recognizes the efforts of talented, selfless and energetic individuals who have performed beyond the call of duty in service to humankind.

Faulstich and his wife, Carol, own and operate Daybreak Ranch near Highmore. Faulstich is a longtime advocate for and practitioner of natural resource management and applying a holistic approach to regenerative land management, with an emphasis on soil health, wetlands and native grass management.

Faulstich has shared what he has learned from his experience with numerous groups, both on the ranch and at conferences and events in numerous states and Washington, D.C. He was a speaker at the White House Conference on Conservation and hosted U.S. Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar at the ranch when the secretary visited South Dakota.

Faulstich has received more than 20 local, state and national awards for his leadership in agriculture and natural resource conservation. He was recruited to serve on the national Blue Ribbon Panel on Sustaining America’s Diverse Fish and Wildlife Resources, serves on numerous boards representing production agriculture, and improves the land for future generations. He was instrumental in bringing the Leopold Conservation Award to South Dakota to recognize landowners who excel in natural resource conservation and was a leader in starting several landowner-led conservation organizations.

Faulstich is a 1968 graduate of Highmore High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture from South Dakota State University in 1972. He was selected for a Distinguished Achievement in Agriculture Award from the Honor Society of Gamma Sigma Delta in 2011 and the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2015, both from South Dakota State University.

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Johanna Meier Della Vecchia and her late husband, Guido purchased the Oak Hills Ranch in 1996. The conservation easement culminates the pursuit of the famed couple to ensure that the property will always remain as an undeveloped place for ranching and wildlife. While the public will always benefit from the open space views of the ranch on the outskirts of Spearfish, access to the property for recreation will continue to be by permission only, the same as any other private property in South Dakota.

“After considerable study and exploration of possibilities, I have decided to create a conservation agreement with the South Dakota Agricultural Land Trust, an organization which I feel will enhance and solidify my wishes for the future of the Oak Hills Ranch,” Johanna Meier Della Vecchia said. “I think it is vitally important that Spearfish retain the value of undeveloped land close to town, which will allow for undisturbed wildlife habitat and maintenance of historical agricultural property.”

“Having lived and worked in many parts of the world, I still find the Black Hills and my community among the most beautiful and significant areas, and I am grateful that the Oak Hills Ranch has been given into my stewardship,” she went on to say. “I hope the community in which I grew up will value this decision and will join me in maintaining the sanctity of this property in perpetuity for the coming generations.”

“We are honored to have been entrusted to hold and steward this conservation easement,” said Perman. “Protection of this working ranch is an excellent example of the important role SDALT can play in preserving the future of agriculture, open spaces and conservation in our state.”

South Dakota Agricultural Land Trust is a non-profit corporation formed in 2019 to assist South Dakota’s farmers and ranchers in achieving their conservation and operational goals.

You can learn more about the Trust at www.sdaglandtrust.org

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