The California Rangeland Trust honored two leaders in land stewardship during A Western Affair 2025, held recently at Rancho Santa Barbara near Santa Ynez.
The gathering brought together 400 supporters, landowners and partners to honor California’s ranching heritage and the families who conserve and care for the land.
The 2025 Conservationist of the Year Award, recognizing extraordinary volunteer conservation achievement by a private landowner, was presented to Karen Sweet and her late husband Darrel Sweet in honor of their lifetime of dedication to ranching, leadership in the cattle industry, and steadfast commitment to conservation.
“Few families have done more to advance both the ranching way of life and the protection of California’s open spaces than the Sweets,” according to the Rangeland Trust.
“Darrel, a respected rancher and visionary leader, served as president of the California Cattlemen’s Association and was admired statewide for his advocacy on behalf of ranchers and private land stewardship,” according to the trust.
Darrel Sweet was a founding member of the California Rangeland Trust’s Board of Directors, later serving as chair, then as an emeritus council member, continuing to lend his insight and passion to the organization’s mission.
Karen Sweet is a leader in her own right, serving as a board member of the Alameda County Resource Conservation District; an active member of the Alameda County CattleWomen; and a longtime leader in the California Rangeland Conservation Coalition.
Karen Sweet’s advocacy, mentorship, and commitment to protecting working lands have earned her respect among her peers and within the broader ranching community.
Together, she and Darrel voluntarily placed their ranch in the Altamont hills near Livermore under a conservation easement with the Rangeland Trust, permanently protecting more than 360 acres of working rangeland.
“Darrel and Karen have been part of the Rangeland Trust family from the very beginning,” said Michael Delbar, Rangeland Trust CEO. “Darrel’s passing was a tremendous loss to all who knew him, but his influence continues to guide our work and inspire our mission.
“Karen has carried that same spirit forward with such strength and grace,” Delbar said. “Their shared vision for the land and their belief in the power of conservation have shaped this organization in lasting ways, and we’re deeply honored to celebrate them.”
The 2025 Conservation Impact Award, honoring an individual who is not a rancher but has made a significant contribution to rangeland conservation in California, was presented to Sheila Barry, county director and Livestock and Natural Resources advisor in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Through decades of research, education and outreach, Barry has helped bridge understanding between urban and rural communities, advancing the public’s appreciation of the ecological and social value of grazing and working rangelands.
“Sheila’s research has helped connect people from all walks of life to the land,” said Delbar. “Her leadership has strengthened collaboration between ranchers, conservationists, and communities, ensuring that rangelands remain a vital part of California’s landscape.”
“This year’s honorees exemplify the spirit of stewardship, innovation and collaboration that define the Rangeland Trust’s mission to serve the land, people, and wildlife by conserving California’s working rangeland,” the trust said.
The California Rangeland Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Sacramento. Founded in 1998 by a group of ranchers committed to protecting the working landscapes they steward, it is the only rancher-led land trust in the state.
Over the past 27 years, the Rangeland Trust has permanently conserved more than 420,000 acres of open rangeland, helping to ensure clean air and water, carbon sequestration, critical wildlife habitat, and healthy food systems that benefit all Californians.
Learn more at www.rangelandtrust.org.