[Iyrp-gcg] Jim O'Rourke's Celebration of Life Ceremony

[Ann Waters-Bayer]

Dear all in the IYRP Global Coordinating Group,

In the most recent issue of the newsletter of the Society for Range Management (SRM) in the USA, there is a short article about the celebration of Jim O’Rourke’s life on 22 June 2024. It includes links to video clips of the ceremony, which were taken by Jim’s wife Lora. 

As Jim was the driving force behind the IYRP initiative and the first chair of the IYRP International Support Group, I thought you might be interested to see these. 

Thanks, Lora, for making the videos and sharing them with us! So many people spoke so well about Jim and his achievements during his long and very full life - something to be celebrated also at the joint sessions of the International Rangeland Congress (IRC) and the IYRP coalition in June 2025 in Adelaide.

Cheers,
Ann

Dr Ann Waters-Bayer
Agrecol Association for AgriCulture & Ecology
German Institute for Tropical & Subtropical Agriculture (DITSL) Research Fellow
Coalition of European Lobbies for Eastern African Pastoralism (CELEP) Core Group
International Year of Rangelands & Pastoralists (IYRP2026) Global Secretariat
E: waters-bayer at web.de / waters-bayer at agrecol.de / a.waters-bayer at ditsl.org
W: www.agrecol.de <http://www.agrecol.de/> / www.ditsl.org <http://www.ditsl.org/> / www.celep.info <http://www.celep.info/> / www.iyrp.info <http://www.iyrp.info/>


>> From: "Lora O'Rourke" <lorarujoden at gmail.com <mailto:lorarujoden at gmail.com>>
>> Subject: Fwd: Rangeland Report: Updates from SRM.
>> Date: 24 July 2024 at 18:19:32 PM CEST
>> 
>> Hello everyone,
>> I am forwarding this SRM newsletter which has links to Jim O'Rourke's Celebration of Life Ceremony on June 22. I took the video's of the service. I also have photos and will try to send you a Dropbox link. But it is a learning curve figuring out Dropbox. 
>> The COL was so wonderful and I so appreciated all of the speakers and all of the tremdous help. Jim is in my thoughts continually and dearly missed by me and his family.
>> Please share this with friends.
>> Love,
>> Lora
>> 
>> ---------- Forwarded message ---------
>> From: SRM Staff <info at rangelands.org <mailto:info at rangelands.org>>
>> Date: Wed, Jul 24, 2024, 10:01 AM
>> Subject: Rangeland Report: Updates from SRM.
>> To: <lorarujoden at gmail.com <mailto:lorarujoden at gmail.com>>
>> 
>> 
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>>  
>> SRM Board of Directors Meets in Spokane for Summer Meeting
>> On July 15 - 17, the Board of Directors and several SRM staff members met in Spokane, Washington for two days of important meetings.  The Summer Board Meeting convenes the Board in-person each year to build off momentum from the Annual Meeting and create excitement for the next, while reviewing the goals, mission and vision of the Board and Officers and discussing ways they have been met and how to further them in the second half of the year. 
>> 
>> During the meeting, the Board and several guests in attendance got a sneak peek of Phase 1 of the new data portal being designed by JTech.  Developers demonstrated how the back end of the site will streamline processes like awards nominations and certification applications and store important data associated with society business. 
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>> The Summer Board Meeting was held at The Davenport Grand, the site of the 2025 Annual Meeting, and included a tour of the meeting facility and layout as well. 
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>> Perotto awarded endowed professorship in ranch management
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>> Humberto Perotto, Ph.D., associate professor in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences <https://rangelands.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aabb3bc932b99943fd4ad042f&id=307cd9e4f6&e=1f971c7dbb>Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management <https://rangelands.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aabb3bc932b99943fd4ad042f&id=bee22ba819&e=1f971c7dbb>, was awarded the Joan Negley Kelleher Endowed Professorship in Ranch Management.
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>> It’s truly a privilege to hold this position. I’m very grateful for the trust that the department and College have placed in me, and I will strive to continue impactful research contributions for rangeland management.”
>>  
>> - Humberto Perotto
>> READ MORE
>>  <https://rangelands.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aabb3bc932b99943fd4ad042f&id=f79ef19bf5&e=1f971c7dbb>
>> FIGHT AGAINST CHEATGRASS <https://rangelands.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aabb3bc932b99943fd4ad042f&id=d582ffa771&e=1f971c7dbb>
>> 
>> BLM approves herbicides to control invasive plant species <https://rangelands.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aabb3bc932b99943fd4ad042f&id=a1454f71ee&e=1f971c7dbb>
>> By Mark Davis, in Powell Tribune <https://rangelands.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aabb3bc932b99943fd4ad042f&id=5a7db8148c&e=1f971c7dbb>
>> The BLM has approved the addition of seven herbicide active ingredients to its available tools for vegetation management on public lands, including the use of Indaziflam. The herbicide has been proven to help eliminate cheatgrass, a troublesome and landscape altering terrestrial invasive species in the sagebrush steppe.
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>> Having additional tools to ensure a consistent, thorough and effective invasive plant eradication effort benefits Wyoming's wildlife, fire prevention and habitat improvement programs. It is important to Wyoming’s fight against cheatgrass that federal land management agencies use consistent, proven methods that focus on the goal of landscape health foremost.”
>> - Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon
>>  
>> LEARN MORE
>>  <https://rangelands.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aabb3bc932b99943fd4ad042f&id=eb81ce4b0e&e=1f971c7dbb>
>>  
>> A note from SRM Director Kevin Sedivec.
>> 
>> 
>> Summers bring activities such as camps, fairs, 4-H and FFA contests, and outdoor activities.  Most of these activities involve youth.  Youth have always been the cornerstone of the Society for Range Management.  We rely on youth to become the next generation of range professionals, from the technician that supports our ARS scientists, range conservationists that implement management strategies on private and public lands, Extension agent or specialist that deliver programs to our ranchers and land managers, to the scientist and professor that teach the next generation.
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>> The best way to attract youth to our profession begins at the high school level – and I may argue even the middle school level.  Any activity that involves rangelands provides opportunities to education future land managers, policy makers, outdoor enthusiasts, and even the person that lives in downtown Dallas.  Great summer activities that SRM can support include range camps, range days, pasture walks, and range judging contests.
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>> Many states, including my state of North Dakota, offer range camps during the summer.  Range camps should be designed to educate youth on the value of rangelands to the livestock industry, wildlife, clean water and air, and recreation opportunities.  However, activities should be balanced with education, fun, and meeting new people.  If youth have fun, they learn better, want to continue to participate, come back in future years, and may even select range management as a future career. 
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>> Our North Dakota Range Youth Camp structures the activities to teach youth how to range judge, and have fun!  Kids learn how to judge (thus learn the value of our natural resource for livestock and wildlife) plus enjoy nature hikes, free time to play and mingle, and eat good food. Range judging continues to be a popular activity with the western states, with 24 FFA teams (representing eight states) and 12 4-H teams (representing five state) judging at the National contest last May.  
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>> The Society for Range Management can be the primary sponsor for activities such as range camps and range days.  Range professionals can volunteer their time to help with camps or setting up a range contest.  Show our youth that rangelands are fun, and valuable to all people. Maybe, some of those youth will become a future range professional. 
>> 
>> - Kevin Sedivec
>> Board of Directors and North Dakota Range Youth Coordinator for SRM Fargo, North Dakota
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>>   <https://rangelands.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aabb3bc932b99943fd4ad042f&id=43a34d0af5&e=1f971c7dbb>
>> Remembering Jim O’Rourke, SRM Past President                         
>> A Celebration of Life for Jim O’Rourke was held in June.  SRM Executive Vice President, Jess Peterson, shared fond memories of his contributions to the Society and Tom Bartlett offered condolences as well after they became well acquainted at SRM events. SRM members paused during the day for a group photo of those Jim and the Society brought together. 
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>> Watch Clips of the Service
>>  <https://rangelands.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aabb3bc932b99943fd4ad042f&id=0c945a538e&e=1f971c7dbb>
>>  
>> Officer Introductions
>> 
>> Our next intro is our Treasurer, Sadie Leyba!
>> 
>> Hey there YPC! I’m Sadie Leyba, your 2024 Treasurer. I am a Wild Horse and Burro Specialist for the BLM in my hometown of Ely, NV. I graduated from Southern Utah University in 2019 with a BIS of Agriculture Science and Industry with an emphasis in Rangeland Management. After graduation I worked as a Range Specialist for the BLM in Richfield, Utah for almost two years before starting my current job. My hobbies are barrel racing, roping, and stopping to look at plants everywhere I go. My goal for YPC this year is to get more agency folks involved in YPC and SRM.
>> 
>> Thanks for all of your hard work and dedication to YPC!
>> 
>> 
>> July Meeting
>> 
>> Our July speaker was young professional Jake Bonnell who is the University Lands Rangeland Specialist covering over 2 million acres of range in west Texas. The income generated through energy production, grazing, and hunting across the vast area supports the land grant universities in the state. His previous position of managing the Rolling Plains Quail Research Foundation Ranch researched habitat management for quail and applying those principles on the landscape. The Quail Ranch has researched the effectiveness and resulting survival rate of treating eye worms through providing medicated feed. Jake’s work experience in the oilfield prior to college, plant ID skills gained while in school, and his previous position working with quail have helped him be successful in his current role with University Lands. If you have any questions for Jake, he can be reached at txjakeb1995 at gmail.com <mailto:txjakeb1995 at gmail.com>.
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>> Monthly Meetings
>> 
>> Monthly meetings are held virtually on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6:00PM Mountain Time. Come join us! To join you can email YPC.SRM at gmail.com <mailto:YPC.SRM at gmail.com> to receive invites to our monthly meetings or just join with the following zoom link https://unl.zoom.us/j/99483920845 <https://rangelands.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aabb3bc932b99943fd4ad042f&id=2a208b7f7d&e=1f971c7dbb> Next months meeting we will be hearing from Good Grazing Makes Cent$.
>> 
>>  
>> Ensure Your Legacy Includes Sustainable Rangelands
>> 
>> When you give to the Society for Range Management Endowment Fund, we will put it to work ensuring the future of sustainable rangelands across the world.  You can help sustain SRM through the giving of property and/or other assets to the SRM Endowment Fund.
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>>  
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>> The methods include:
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>> 1.    Provide a bequest
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>> 2.    Cash gifts
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>> 3.    Property gifts
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>> 4.    Gift life insurance
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>> 5.    Create a trust
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>> 6.    Honor Groups
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>>  
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>> Create a Trust
>> 
>> You can give a portion of your assets to SRM during your lifetime but retain the income or use of these assets for the rest of your life (and if desired, for the rest of your spouse’s life as well).  A common method of doing this is by establishing a trust.  There are many forms of trusts which can be established to assure income and security for you and your beneficiaries and, at the same time, provide a meaningful give to SRM.  Your lawyer and financial advisor will be able to devise the trust arrangement which will best meet your desires. 
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>> You may start the process by calling the SRM Business Office at 785-865-9456 or contact Jess Peterson, SRM Executive Vice President at 406.850.1592.
>>  
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>> Please go to the website for full information at https://rangelands.org/endowment-fund/ <https://rangelands.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aabb3bc932b99943fd4ad042f&id=ac3db8bc50&e=1f971c7dbb>.  Your cash gift immediately starts doing the good you intend, but all legacy giving will make a significant contribution to the future of SRM.  You can help ensure your legacy includes sustainable rangelands.
>> 
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>> It's time to look ahead to 2025!
>> 
>> The SRM Annual Meeting will be hosted in Spokane, WA February 9-13, 2025. You can find meeting information as it is ready posted on the meeting webpage.
>> 
>> 2025 ANNUAL MEETING DETAILS
>>  <https://rangelands.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aabb3bc932b99943fd4ad042f&id=f184387bd3&e=1f971c7dbb>
>> 
>> CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
>> Submit your abstract for a poster or oral presentation by August 30th
>> 
>> See the official call HERE <https://rangelands.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aabb3bc932b99943fd4ad042f&id=f3742387e4&e=1f971c7dbb>
>> Submit your abstract HERE <https://rangelands.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aabb3bc932b99943fd4ad042f&id=2813586e0c&e=1f971c7dbb>
>> **This submission portal is NOT for presentations associated with symposia, workshop, campfire or ignite sessions. This is ONLY for contributed oral and poster session submissions.
>> 
>>  
>>  
>>  <https://rangelands.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aabb3bc932b99943fd4ad042f&id=18ba7d34ec&e=1f971c7dbb>There’s still time to register and make travel plans to AUSTRALIA for the International Rangeland Congress on June 2-6, 2025. 
>> 
>> Information has recently been released on the venue, program themes, and exciting tours.  The announcement packet also includes information on submitting abstracts for oral presentations and posters, sponsoring workshops and sessions, signing up a trade show booth, and more. Learn more below!
>>  
>> 
>> INTERNATIONAL RANGELAND CONGRESS
>>  <https://rangelands.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aabb3bc932b99943fd4ad042f&id=f88d8d88b2&e=1f971c7dbb>
>> Join the Soil Health Academy for an Adaptive Grazing workshop in Cimarron, NM next month!
>>  <https://rangelands.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aabb3bc932b99943fd4ad042f&id=9323a941bc&e=1f971c7dbb>
>> A series of 11 virtual webinars hosted by the Southern Plains Climate Hub and the Long-Term Agroecosystem (LTAR) Research Network will provide an update on the knowns and unknowns about the influence of grazing land management on soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics, with a strong emphasis on practical implications. Region-specific results from long-term grazing studies will be discussed by a team of recognized researchers in this field.
>> 
>> Webinar 1- July 22, 2024: “The language of grazing lands research.” Dr. Lynn Sollenberger, University of Florida
>> 
>> Please visit: https://tinyurl.com/CH-LTAR-Webinars <https://rangelands.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aabb3bc932b99943fd4ad042f&id=3f574cb3f2&e=1f971c7dbb> for free registration and further details.
>> 
>> Join USDA ARS to learn about the latest grazing land management and soil carbon research!
>> 
>> A series of 11 virtual webinars hosted by the Southern Plains Climate Hub and the Long-Term Agroecosystem (LTAR) Research Network will provide an update on the knowns and unknowns about the influence of grazing land management on soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics, with a strong emphasis on practical implications. Region-specific results from long-term grazing studies will be discussed by a team of recognized researchers in this field.
>> 
>> Webinar 1- July 22, 2024: “The language of grazing lands research.” Dr. Lynn Sollenberger, University of Florida
>> 
>> Please visit: https://tinyurl.com/CH-LTAR-Webinars <https://rangelands.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aabb3bc932b99943fd4ad042f&id=ece94296c0&e=1f971c7dbb> for free registration and further details.
>> 
>>  
>> Paul Loeffler 
>> Paul Loeffler, TSSRM Past President, passed away on July 3, 2024. He left behind a legacy of love, passion, and dedication. His unwavering commitment to sharing his knowledge and teaching others was an inspiration to all who knew him. For over three decades, he spent his time at the  <https://rangelands.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aabb3bc932b99943fd4ad042f&id=9c74a2647e&e=1f971c7dbb>Texas Section SRM Youth Range Workshop, where he touched the lives of countless young minds and helped shape the future of rangeland stewardship. He will truly be missed. SRM annual meetings will not be the same without Paul.
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>> Paul’s influence in the range and fire worlds (both prescribed burning and wildfire education) cannot be understated, and he had a way of bringing folks from all backgrounds together with little fanfare using stories, laughter and times spent sharing meals, campfires, ballgames and range hikes. It was just his way.
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>> Shiner Webb, YRW & YRW2 director, shared some photos with us from last month’s Youth Range Workshop, capturing Paul’s spirit in a role he loved.
>> 
>> 
>> Read Obituary
>>  <https://rangelands.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aabb3bc932b99943fd4ad042f&id=2c254c3be7&e=1f971c7dbb>
>> Stephan LaVor Hatch
>> July 22, 1945 — June 20, 2024
>> Hyde Park, Utah
>> 
>> On June 20, 2024, Stephan LaVor Hatch passed away peacefully, with his bride of 57 years by his side.  He was born to Elva McBride and LaVor Joseph Hatch on July 22, 1945 in Logan Utah. He came from humble beginnings and was taught early in life the value of working hard, responsibility, and determination. He was the oldest of 7 boys, and he dearly loved his younger brothers, Wade, Darren, Doug, Owen, Kent and Blake. Growing up, he lived in Hyrum, Utah; Pingree, Idaho; and River Heights, Utah. He learned to love the outdoors and animals as he spent most of his time there. His parents started the first 4-H chapter in Utah, where his love for plant identification first sparked.
>> …
>> 
>> Education was also important to our dad. He graduated with his Bachelors in Range Science from Utah State University in 1970. In 1971, he finished his Masters at Utah State University in Botany. He moved our family to College Station, Texas, to attend Texas A&M University, where he go
>> 
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