Thurston County Agriculture Day & International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists

Yesterday Thurston County celebrated Agriculture Day and the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists with a proclamation recognizing the important role of prairies and rangelands in Thurston County, and the farmers and ranchers who contribute to a strong local food system.

Thurston County has a long history with agriculture, starting before the county was even established. My great-great grandfather Ignatius Colvin arrived here in 1849 and homesteaded in Tenino, establishing Colvin Ranch in 1854 when he registered his livestock brand. 

But long before then, the People of the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation and other First Peoples cared for this land that we call home today. The native prairies in Thurston County that provide the best grazing land and wildlife habitat would not exist without the people who have managed them for thousands of years. 

Today, less than 3% of the native prairies in our region remain, but the prairies that still exist fulfill many roles in our community. Thurston County’s prairies preserve the rural character and sense of place unique to our region, connecting people to our shared heritage, our community, and to nature. Native prairies also provide wildlife habitat for threatened and endangered species, and act as working agricultural lands that contribute to a strong local food system, provide rural jobs, and support families. 

This legacy of caring for the land can be seen when our leaders prioritize agricultural viability and the preservation of farmland, when individuals choose to support family farms by shopping local, and when livestock producers invest their time, money, and talent to enhance these rangelands for our community and the next generation who will take over as stewards of the land. 

Thank you to our fellow ranchers and pastoralists for the work that you do, and to the non-profits, organizations, and agencies who support landowners by helping implement conservation projects that provide wide-reaching environmental benefits throughout Thurston County and beyond.