A sign sporting simply the words “UW Range Club” will always make people draw different conclusions than what is actually intended. Some people see “Range” and think of shooting sports, as in a shooting range; others may go along the lines of mathematics/statistics and think the Range Club is a bunch of math whizzes; even some may go as far as think the club is over-achieving chefs who are excited about our stovetops.
But none of those are close to correct!
When someone looks puzzled by a UW Range Club sign, t-shirts, or advertisement, I will explain it as rangeland ecology, like the song “Home, Home on the Range”. Being the President of the Student Chapter of the Wyoming Section Society for Range Management (see why we shorten it to UW Range Club??), I often have opportunities to advocate for the club. I usually start out by getting them on the same page with the song reference. Then I dive into all of the different areas that rangeland management encompasses: plants and plant physiology, hydrology, water resources, livestock, grazing, natural resource extraction, reclamation, soils, insects, vegetation monitoring, economics, wildlife (can’t forget about those deer and antelope), and so much more! The whole field of rangeland ecology is very diverse and is concerned with all regions of the United States, and the world. People who have a passion for the outdoors really enjoy Range Club because we are interested in the science behind everyday things such as hiking, hunting, fishing, ranching, etc.
The opportunities available through Range Club are perfect for developing teamwork, leadership, and networking skills. We attend meetings on both the state and national levels that bring together students and professionals who have a passion for some aspect of range management. On November 15th, 12 students from the University of Wyoming traveled to Cody, Wyoming to attend the Wyoming Section Society for Range Management Meeting. We competed with students from Sheridan College and Southern Utah University in a Plant ID contest, Extemporaneous Speaking, Rangeland Cup Presentation, and the Undergraduate Range Management Exam. At the beginning of February 2017, even more students will brave the potentially snowy Wyoming roads to travel to St. George, Utah where we will compete with almost 26 schools from across the Western U.S., Canada, and Mexico. At each of these meetings we have the endless opportunities to network with the professionals who attend the meeting. Some kids even walk away with a job after the conference!
Long story short, the sky is the li
mit with the University of Wyoming Range Club. Even though I am not a Range Major, I have a passion for sustainable management of our precious rangelands and I enjoy advocating for the club any opportunity I can. Remember, Home on the Range, not those silly shotguns or pesky stoves!
-Tevyn Baldwin