Quivira Coalition

"Looking at my laptop, I realize I’m overwhelmed. I stop, get up from my desk, walk to a different room and look out beyond my immediate surroundings. Listen to what is outside of you: I hear the birds and the wind stirring the sleeping native grasses in my front lawn. Listen to what is near you: I hear the furnace blowing and the cats playing tag. Listen to yourself: I hear chaotic thoughts asking what is happening and what are we going to do. But then I listen harder and I hear my own breath. I focus on the inhale, the exhale, and most importantly, the pause in between. In that pause, my system is able to slow down. I look out my window and as I slow, I start to see: the bright blue sky, the birds having a joyous party in the birdbath, and in the distance, the steadfast mountains. My eyes settle on the pi?ons and junipers and I am finally clear and back to myself. Okay, I can do this. And I sit back down to my upturned work world. ? I work in operations at Quivira Coalition. We’re the team that you don’t see often; you may get a glimpse of us when we send you money, check you in at the REGENERATE Conference or mail you publications. But most of what we do is behind the scenes. There is a steady rhythm to our work, overlaid with busy and not-as-busy seasons. This time of year is one of those busier ones as we put last year’s financials to bed and replant the seeds for the new year’s financial, HR, and administrative systems. At the end of January, we were concentrating on filing 1099s, W2s, and government reports when the flurry of executive orders hit. Suddenly, our small team of three had to continue almost everything we were already doing?and?dig deep into new areas." Read more from Carrie Armbrecht, operations director, in this month's In the Field newsletter: https://lnkd.in/gWyHiQzw

?? Are you a land steward interested in federal programs to help you get started or to support a project on your farm or ranch, but not sure where to start? Have you been curious about how to create compost that you can apply to your land? Join us for two days of workshops on the Diné College campus in Tsaile, AZ, and get more information on how to access USDA resources and build an aerated static compost pile. Each day, the workshop will run from 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Diné interpretation and lunch will be provided both days. You can attend one or both days. More info and register: https://lnkd.in/ghnmxq8r

?? Looking for your next great read? Look no further than our resources page that has free technical guides for viewing! Featured here is Bullseye! Targeting Your Rangeland Health Objectives by Kirk Gadzia and Todd Graham. It is a manual to aid users in establishing their own monitoring program in grasslands, shrublands, and grass/shrub mixes, providing a hands-on tool for those who are working directly with the land. Read it or download the pdf here: https://lnkd.in/ga_QRfUD

?? Applications are open for the New Agrarian Wellness Training Program! Quivira Coalition and AgWell have partnered to offer a peer-to-peer wellness training program and support network in 2025. From April-August, participants will learn frameworks for navigating stress, strategies for addressing mental health challenges, and skills to serve as facilitators in a peer-to-peer support network focused on wellness within an agricultural context. For more information and to apply, please visit our website. https://lnkd.in/gKFi7-_t

"I’ve recently made reading a priority again. As a mom to two little ones, I’ve become acutely aware of how much screen time the average American consumes. The American Medical Association noted that children’s screen time has increased by 50-70 percent since the pandemic. We are surrounded by screens. Everywhere you go, there’s something to entertain you: in waiting rooms, at self-checkouts, even at the gas pump. And don’t even get me started on smartphones and iPads. Once I became aware of it, I couldn’t?unsee?it. I noticed that any time I was in a group, people were constantly distracted by their phones. Even during big gatherings, like watching a sports game together, as soon as a commercial hits, everyone instinctively reaches for their phones instead of striking up a conversation. Screens are conveniently distracting us — not just from life, but from each other — putting us all on autopilot. ? It all became a little overwhelming for me. How was I supposed to raise humans in such a society? What example was I setting for them as their mother? I started taking mental notes of the times I reached for my phone or clicked on the TV. As you might have guessed, it was more often than I cared to admit. The topic became quite prominent in my mind, so it was no surprise that it came up in conversation with Dale and Janet Veseth, mentors in the New Agrarian Program, when I visited them for the first time on their ranch south of Malta, MT." Read more from this month's New Agrarian Newsletter written by Hayden Vandeberg, New Agrarian Program Northern Plains manager: https://lnkd.in/gJ74bTD7

On the latest episode of Regeneration Rising, host Taylor Muglia interviews Jarvisson King, owner and operator of Laughing Goat Gardens in Arizona. Jarvisson shares his journey and how he brings traditional Navajo farming and modern regenerative agriculture techniques together. He discusses the impact of his mother's teachings, coping with grief after her passing, and his shift towards utilizing wool pellets for soil health. The episode highlights Jarvisson's innovative methods, his active presence on social media platforms to share knowledge, and his contributions to promoting regenerative agriculture within his community. Listen now: https://lnkd.in/gfNm4imT

?? Register now for the 2025 NMCEWL Summit: Relationships and Tools to Build Capacity for New Mexico Producers! Join us in Santa Fe, New Mexico for this year’s NMCEWL Annual Summit on April 3-4, co-presented with the Institute of American Indian Arts Land Grants Program. The NMCEWL Summit is a FREE in-person event for navigating challenges in our community, finding peer support, and building resiliency in a challenging climate. Register or visit for more information: https://nmcewl.org/summit/

"Months before my daughter, now a toddler, was born, I remember wondering if I was actually ready enough, and even before that, how I was supposed to know?if?I was ready or not. I read all of my labor prep books, started making my list of items to bring to the hospital, and began putting together resources to help my work colleagues while I’d be out on maternity leave. I thought I had a solid plan, and had just begun getting things ready in earnest for the final stretch, when – bam!?– my daughter decided to show up six weeks early.? ? I had packed my dog’s 'go bag' (priorities, am I right?), but hadn’t yet packed any of my things when we were suddenly off to the hospital. My daughter arrived safely, but suffice to say that the first few months were full of challenges that I couldn’t have prepared for even if I tried. In our case, six weeks early wasn’t just an earlier than expected arrival, but also meant bringing home our baby on supplemental oxygen and months of feeding challenges. ? Was I ready enough? With big life transitions, I’m not sure there is such a thing. This was the first of many lessons that parenthood would teach me; you make do with what you have, and you figure out the best you can as you go. With any big challenge or transition, it’s important to have your North Star – what you’re moving toward and your 'why' behind it – and to expect that there will be adjustments to your path and recalibrations along the way." Read more from Leah Ricci, interim executive director, in this month's In the Field newsletter: https://lnkd.in/gY-C9EpN

?? Big news ?? We have recently reposted our development director position. We are looking for a skilled fundraising professional who is passionate about conservation and regenerative agriculture with a knack for creating compelling requests of support to new and recurring donors. As you know, securing funds is a pivotal part of continuing the important work that we do each day and, now more than ever, it's vital that we find the right person in this role. Please share with anyone who may be a good fit or apply yourself using our website: https://lnkd.in/g2Qgg22v

We are excited to announce that applications are open for the New Agrarian Program’s 2025 Regenerative Ag Fellowship! In an effort to support a broader network of beginning agrarians, this fellowship is designed to be an extracurricular addition to a working experience on a ranch or farm. Fellows will receive access to a community of support and additional resources to supplement their experience and advance their careers in regenerative agriculture. Fellows are responsible for securing their own farm or ranch job in order to participate. The Regenerative Ag Fellowship program specifically targets beginning farmers and ranchers with a deep interest in regenerative agriculture. Applicants must have secured full- or part-time employment at a ranch or farm, with the job lasting at least five months. The fellowship will begin in April/May 2025 and end in October/November 2025. The farm or ranch job can be classified as regular employment, apprenticeship, or internship. Questions? Email us at [email protected].? Check out the Regenerative Ag Fellowship webpage to learn more and to apply: https://lnkd.in/g9_HVuAx