The Cultural Heritage of Family Ranches

摘要

When federal and state agencies make decisions about historically grazed allotments, ranching should be considered a cultural resource and not just an economic activity. Family ranching is an American subculture with a unique cultural heritage, and itis increasingly threatened.1 Only 2% of US citizens belong to a farming or ranching family, yet 97% of US farms are operated by families. In the face of the expansion of cities and the movement of most Americans away from an agricultural life, family ranches maintain a distinctive way of relating to the land, preserving historic sites, and continuing traditions that pass on local ecological knowledge. Rather than considering family ranchesas stakeholders with only an economic interest, land management agencies should recognize the considerable cultural resources that are embedded in contemporary family ranches. Decisions that affect family ranches should include assessment of the potential impact to the continuity of their cultural heritage and local ecological knowledge.