International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists Tour

The International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists was declared by the United Nations General Assembly for 2026 to raise awareness of the economic, environmental and social importance of rangelands and the people who steward them.

In Canada, the initiative serves as a platform to connect with the public, celebrate stewardship successes and advance policies that support both producers and the landscapes they manage.

Public and Stakeholder Engagement (PSE) has launched tour events across Canada, which began with stops in British Columbia and Saskatchewan. These events brought together a variety of attendees from ranchers, government representatives, conservation organizations, industry leaders to media and content creators.  

The tour is delivered in partnership with provincial cattle associations, with support from the Canadian Forage and Grasslands Association (CFGA) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).  

On June 15, in partnership with the Saskatchewan Cattle Association (SCA), participants toured Steven Balzer’s CFGA demonstration site near Langham, and Saskvalley Shorthorns near Rosthern, hosted by father-daughter due, Barry and Morgan Lehmann. 

The event highlighted the importance of Saskatchewan’s grasslands and the role of ranchers as modern-day pastoralists. Participants explored how well-managed grazing lands support healthy ecosystems while gaining a first-hand appreciation for the passion ranchers have for caring for their land and livestock and for passing it on to the next generation.

Alongside CFGA and DUC, the event was also funded in part by the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative. 

Follow along and view highlights from the tour through the perspectives of participating influencers on PSE’s consumer-facing Instagram channel - @raisingcdnbeef 

Read more about the BC tour at www.newswire.ca/news-releases/ranch-tour-highlights-importance-of-british-columbia-s-rangelands-and-grasslands-for-food-production-climate-resilience-and-wildlife-habitat-845739289.html