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Shaleas Harrison’s ancestors began irrigating in Wyoming’s Bighorn Basin five generations ago. Today, she continues that legacy by supporting her family’s operation each summer, helping to grow dry edible beans, malt barley, and other specialty crops. She irrigates, pulls weeds, and operates equipment—experiencing firsthand the challenges and the rewards of making a livelihood from the land. As the Western policy manager for Western Landowners Alliance, she channels her passion for agriculture and conservation into strengthening the economic opportunities and incentives for land stewardship.

Policy Arena

Working lands, and the farmers and ranchers who steward them, are central to the conservation of wildlife habitat in the West. When managed thoughtfully, these lands provide essential habitat, enable

Steward Tips, Stewardship in Action

This sagebrush ecosystem in Idaho has been fully invaded by cheatgrass. Right: Charred fenceposts and brittle wire make fences a major rebuilding expense for working lands post-fire.

Bottom Lines, Policy Arena

The American Relief Act of 2025, signed into law on December 21, 2024, extended the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) through September 30, 2025. This extension maintains